Where on the web can I purchase Eurostar tickets at discount prices for APEX style purchases?<BR><BR>I have seen references in searches, but no exact web addresses.<BR>So can someone clue me in?<BR>

what's APEX?

Where will you be travelling from? If you are starting in Paris, you can buy tickets in advance on www.sncf.com and opt to collect them at the station before you get the train. If you're travelling from London, I think the site is www.eurostar.com. You may have to try a few dates and times to get the best value fare.

Eurostar.com will ask you where you are, prices for some reason being different. Also, be aware that the default display of services matching your chosen dates and times is for First Class prices - you have to make a point of clicking the option to search for the Standard Class fares, though the button isn't too hard to find...

Geith,<BR>APEX means advance purchase excursion fare, usually 7 or 14 days in advance. Tickets can be purchased online on raileurope.com or eurostar.com.

About 2 weeks ago, I went to Rail Europe to book Eurostar for the weekend of 14 February just over 65 days away. The web site listed an APEX fare of $60 each way, what with a $7 Premium train fee and a $15 delivery fee, I booked it ($142)..<BR><BR>After booking it, I got an E-mail from them telling me the fare had been sold out and they now wanted over $200 for the same trip. What a bunch of crooks.<BR><BR>I went on to the Eurostar web site and booked the same trip for &pound;89...no delivery fee for the tickets no hidden charges. In real time, they showed me what was available.<BR><BR>Two days later I had the tickets.<BR><BR>I wouldn't use the crooks at Rail Europe ever again.

Do Not buy eurostar tickets online...get them at the train station!!! They will charge you triple the price online. I made the mistake last summer, now I know better

eurostar.co.uk is good <BR>Avoid places like Rail Europe who will charge you &pound;&pound;&pound;.

Does anyone have an actual phone number where you can talk to an actual person and book over the phone? I don't care if there is a $10 service fee,I'd just like to be able to do this transaction with a live person and not a website. It can be a UK number, if they will ship to the US I'll call them. I do not want to wait till we are in London to get tickets as we will be there over the Easter holiday. I've contacted 800-269-6044 (eurostartickets.com) and they require you to use the web site and know what train you want. Wouldn't it be better to talk to someone to find out if the fare you are ordering is indeed available on the train you want or am I just dreaming here?? I don't want to purchase the 65 day in advance fare ($120 r/t) only to find my credit card billed for more because this fare was not available.

I'd like to know this too. How can you talk to someone on the phone and order tickets? Phone Number anyone??? Please

You can go to the Eurostar web site and will be in the British Eurostar system (Eurostar.com). You can book and see the prices for the various trains and it will only list the trans that are available. Prices will be quoted in UK&pound; but even if you speak to a real life human being, they will quote the price in &pound; so don't be the dirty American and ask how much that is in real money.<BR><BR>The web site is pretty easy to use and in many respects I prefer it as there can be no mistakes in transcribing your name and address and phone contact information. You see it right there and they do not charge for mailing the tickets to the US....<BR><BR>The transaction on the web is far more convenient than continuing to talk to an operator and you see in front of you the various prices for different trains. You can also request a specific seat.<BR><BR>Trust me, in this instance, the web is every bit as good if not better than calling Eurostar in London.<BR><BR>(Incidentally, in fairness to Rail Europe, they did not charge my credit card for the higher price...they sent me e-mail that the fare I thought I had booked was not available...in other words their web information is not in real time. The Eurostar web site canvasses the same inventory as does the operator in London so when you book a train at a certain price, it is booked....<BR><BR>The other problem with waiting to get to London at a peak period is seats may not be available or discount seats may not be available.

xxx: I had no intention of asking &quot;how much is that in real money&quot; - I've been to London at least 15 times and I can think in pounds with no difficulty. My concern with the Eurostar.com website is what people on this board have said before, that they &quot;switch&quot; you over to RailEurope once you note that you are in the U.S. I don't want to deal with a third party if I can help it. I do not want to wait till we are in London because it will be over the Easter holiday and I need to have tickets in hand. It's too risky to hope they have something.

Lori:<BR><BR>I wasn't referring to you about the line how much is that in real money. But trust me, I have seen that line used by many stupid Americans in Europe. Recently Eurostar.com has not been switching you to Rail Europe. I think the way to prevent this is at the beginning if they still ask where you live, enter UK.....I just booked and you can get to the Eurostar London web site from the US.<BR><BR>As I said, being a computer person, I prefer making bookings with the computer. Less chance of transcription errors (wrong address, phone #, cc #), I see on the screen that the dates and fares are right.<BR><BR>The Eurostar web site, as long as you don't allow them to direct you to Rail Europe, is a pretty good one!

My husband and I take the eurostar weekly on business and the advice about using the www.eurostar.com is good. PatrickW's and others advice are good about the site; they do have the lowest fares. Also his point about the default being First Class fares: make a point of requesting Standard fares to get the best ones. It's easy to try earlier/later times to see if you can find a cheaper seat. <BR>Phone number:<BR>I just called Eurostar frequent traveller and the agent said the best thing to do is to either book via the website, www.eurostar.com or to call this number from the U.S. because 'the prices I've heard quoted from U.S. travel agents are astronomical.' Phone:<BR>011 44 1233 617575. He said it would switch you thru to frequent traveller.<BR>If not, the phone number I dialed from London is: 0870 5104 105 and should be: 011 44 870 5104 105 from the U.S.. <BR><BR>Hint on booking seats from a frequent traveller:<BR>From London to Paris, it's better to be in coach numbers 16 - 18, since you're closest to the exit on arrival and can get to the taxi queues first. This is a real priority if it's rush hour, late in the evening or raining as Paris never has enough taxis. Taxis are to the far right of the building as you leave the end of the train.<BR><BR>Less of a problem for the exits from Paris to London as there are several escalators to the exit from either coaches 2/3 or near coach 11.<BR><BR><BR>I tend to buy a 'picnic' at either end to eat on the train; it's usually better than the meals served in first class. I think first class is way overrated and agree with everyone that it's best to go standard class.<BR><BR>Seats with high numbers are usually booked last and therefore less croweded: i.e. in the 70's or 80's. Eurostar has a dumb seat assignment system which puts everyone on top of each other unless you request a different seat.<BR><BR>Finally, if the train is crowded and you want coffe or snacks, go early as the queus can get very very long --only one person mans the snack bar.<BR><BR>Finally, finally: the Gare du Nord and Waterloo have become good targets for pickpockets given the number of tourists taking the Eurostar. So really watch your wallets and purses; don't leave them in your backpack or an easily accessible place.

Madelyn, Thank you for the helpful hints, it's really good to know about the seating too.

Madelyn - aren't you feeling bold: beginning to post under your real name? No more ads for your apartments? Did you think we didn't know?