BananaSlug

We're headed to Paris for 9 days in early April. While there, our 16 year old son will head to London to visit friends staying there the same week. I've been checking Eurostar round trip prices and they seem to be creeping up. We'd rather wait until we're actually there to figure out the exact timing for his stay in London. My question is whether there are any "last minute" deals that pop up for either Eurostar or other options to get to London (plane, perhaps?)? Or should I just bite the bullet and book the Eurostar now.

Suzanne2

In my experience the sooner you buy the better the price.

jamikins

Nope, it will be MUCH more expensive to wait. Cheapest tickets are limited and go fast so book as soon as you can. You can book up to 4 months out.

zmac

Just a note on planes. If you add transfer time and costs, especially in London, a cheap flight is not that cheap any more. I'd choose the Eurostar. Ticket prices also depend on the day of the week and the time of the day, so check different options if you are flexible.

BKP

Are the friends IN London or a suburb of London? We live about 30 miles west of London and it's easier for us to fly than to take the train. But if they are IN London I agree that the train is easier.

I don't believe there are last minute deals for flights either.

BananaSlug

Thanks for the helpful responses. Our friends are staying in London proper, so I guess the train is it. We have some flexiblity, but I think since we're already within 60 days the pricing doesn't change too much except for Friday (much more). Just hard to commit before we get there but I guess I'll have to.

Sarastro

Tickets go on sale 120 days before any given departure date. The sooner you purchase, the cheaper the fare:

http://www.tgv-europe.com

Gare du Nord is a lot easier to reach from Paris than is any of the Parisian airports and when making rail/air comparisons consider transportation costs to the airport as well as the time both in route and pre positioning for a flight. The train is faster and usually much cheaper when all costs are considered.

glenmd

I paid 289£ for a last minute return ticket 2 years ago. Just so you have an understanding of how high the last minute prices can get.

BananaSlug

glenmd - YIKES! At that price, my son may be swimming the English Channel.

annhig

Will he be travelling by himself?

can I suggest that you check the eurostar website to make sure that he travels with the right documents? it looks as if at age 16, all he needs is a full valid passport, but it might be as well to check.

BananaSlug

annhig, thanks for the suggestion. I'll be sure to check.

Peteralan

Many years ago we travelled across from Europe to UK by ferry. Is that still possible? My partner is claustrophobic and doesn't want to use the train ,much to my disappointment.

jamikins

You can Peteralan - but it takes about 8 hours to get from London to Paris via trains and ferries. You are 'only' under the channel for about 30 mins if that helps? It takes about 2.25 hours on the train.

RM67

''You are 'only' under the channel for about 30 mins if that helps''

Actually, it's even less than that - about twenty minutes in the tunnel, of which only about 8 are actually underwater (not that you'd know it!)

janisj

Peteralan: There is absolutely NOTHING claustrophobic about the Eurostar. Your partner won't know s/he is even under the channel. There is no dramatic OMG moment. The train just goes into a tunnel well inland and comes out again in France. There is no announcement or anything. The cars are roomy and well lit and there is no sensation of confinement.

The ferry would be a LOT more hassle --and especially if s/he gets seasick.

Peteralan

Thank you so much for that info which I will pass on. I think he envisaged the train being downunder all the way!

tarquin

When the channel tunnel was being built, I swore I would NEVER go through it. I have, many times, with no nervousness (or only a little tinge.)

DKA

To me, the Eurostar is a lot roomier than a plane. Of course, the -idea- of being in a tunnel may be a problem. There's lots to see on the rest of the trip.

annhig

really, it's no different to being in a train anywhere - they all go through tunnels from time to time, don't they?

we used it on our recent trip to Paris, and honestly, you couldn't tell when you were in it and when you weren't!

surfmom

I'm pulling this from my trip report on the Eurostar.

The entire trip was happily uneventful. I thought that we would be more cognizant of when we were under the English Channel, but with the other smaller tunnels as warm-ups, we really didn’t notice. In some ways, I felt like I missed something! I don’t know what I expected but big signs saying, “you are under the English Channel” would have been cool.