We're going to Paris via London--I need help on transportation!
 

We just bought tickets on Delta's new JFK-LGW route, but we really want to spend the week in Paris, so I'm seeking advice on transportation options. We got a great buy on business elite RT NY-London for $1123 per person(all taxes and fees included) as a promotion for the new route Delta starts flying in November. The flights are not until March, but I like to begin planning in advance.

We land at Gatwick at 6:30 AM on a Wednesday and leave at 11:00 AM on the following Wednesday. I want to go directly to Paris, then return to London on Tuesday afternoon before our Weds AM departure.

Here are some questions for all you informed Fodorites--

1. Train(Eurostar) or plane?

I know that schlepping from one airport to another can be a drag, but we are light packers--taking one rolling 24" and one carry-on each. I tried to check schedules on the Eurostar--it looks like there are trains at 9:07AM(worried that this is too tight a connection) and at 12:50, arriving Paris at 3:59PM. I wonder what my alternatives are, and if 2.5 hours from landing really would be enough time to clear Immigration, and get to Waterloo Station?

Your input will be appreciated--Barb

Barb - what a coincidence, I'm working on the same scenario! My sister & I couldn't resist a $380 roundtrip fare from DFW-LGW in March; however, we really want to spend the week in Paris as well. I've mulled over plane vs. train options repeatedly and having trouble getting it together. We arrive at 7:50 a.m. There aren't any flights that work conveniently (& inexpensively) so we're also figuring out the chunnel option. While I realize the train tickets can't be purchased yet, we do want to line up the hotel reservations. Sorry I can't help with the answer, but I'll be awaiting others input...happy planning to you!

Apart from a couple of very weird companies that fly through Gatwick once ot twice a week there aren't any flights from Gatwick to Paris, so given that getting to any other London airport is a) expensive & b) time consuming, you may as well get the Eurostar (not the Chunnel which is for cars & trucks)

2.5h is insufficient time to get to Waterloo from Gatwick at any time of the day, let alone in the middle of rush hour. Either get a more flexible ticket or delay your Eurostar trip by an hour or so

There are Eurostar departures from London at least once every 1.5 hours on a weekday:

Currently, it's 9:09, 10:10, 10:40, 12:09, 13:41, etc in the time frame you're talking about.

You can book a 10:10 one and give you some more time. It's too early to book now, as complete schedules and fares are not posted yet.

Barb - I'm not sure which dates in March you're leaving, so I went to kayak.com and input March 7th (Wed) as a departure date and March 13th (Tue) as a return date. From what I've seen, it doesn't look like there are any flights that go from Gatwick to Paris, just out of Heathrow.

Considering the horror stories I've read on here regarding Heathrow and CDG, I would opt for the Eurostar. You wouldn't have to deal with the whole flight check in routine, the security issues, etc and it'll take you directly into Paris, no faffing about with an RER train. With Eurostar, it's pretty easy, not to mention it's a nice journey from London to Paris watching the countryside go by. If you do go by Eurostar, treat yourself to the non-flexible Leisure select. It's a bit more than the non-flexible standard fare, but you'll get served either a brunch/lunch and drinks. Plus, you can rest yourself a bit before hitting Paris.

dorkforcemom--good luck with your plans--there are lots of great options for places to stay in Paris in every budget, especially in March, when air conditioning is not needed. We are making a fourth trip to Paris and will stay for the 3rd time in an apartment in Passy that we rent from a friend. We found that we like the apartment option as we get much more space than a hotel room plus the luxury of having living room and kitchen in addition to a bedroom.


alanRow--I was afraid that 2.5 hours wouldn't be enough time to make a Eurostar connection at Waterloo Station, but I didn't find a complete schedule for Eurostar--the website offered 3 morning times with 9:07 being the latest, then I couldn't find other AM times. What is the best website to use for checking Eurostar schedules and how far in advance are they posted?

rkkwan--I'm glad to hear there are other late morning departures--where should I look for schedules?

Just type a date on eurostar.com that's closer to today. The schedule doesn't change much over the year.

www.eurostar.com - 60 days I believe

Hi
One March we rented a flat in London and decided to spend the weekend in Paris.
We took the Eurostar, leaving on the first train out on Sat morning, returning the last train on Sun night.
Sun night was the most crowded..I mean not an empty seat.
There are lines that you must deal with at the train so you will definitely need more time.
It is quite a pleasant ride .. have a wonderful time!

I'd opt for the Eurostar over transferring to LHR. But - you are going to be enroute a long time -- overnight flight, negotiating LGW, into London, Waterloo to Gare du Nord. it is going to be a loooooong day. If it were me - I'd stay one night in London and then take the first Eurostar the next morning. Just seems more relaxing/less stressful. You'd have a full day/night in London and then arrive in Paris well rested.

Let's see: does that makes sense?

Regardless of <u>what</u> you do, you &quot;are going to be enroute a long time -- overnight flight, negotiating LGW, into London&quot;, so the only part that's different is the Waterloo to Gare du Nord leg. Once you get to the train station (instead of your London hotel), you can relax for 3 hours and arrive refreshed in Paris. Plus, you don't have to unpack and pack and check in and out an additional time.

In a word: no.

I'm with those who suggest taking the Eurostar.

Allow at least one hour to clear immigration and claim your baggage. Trains from Gatwick to Waterloo (at least one change required) leave at least every 15 minutes. It's a one-hour ride. You must check in at Waterloo at least 30 minutes in advance.

If you land at Gatwick on time, you should be able to catch the 10:10 Eurostar; but I'd book the 10:40 to allow for possible delays.

i thought checkin was now 45 minutes

Check in is 45 minutes on Eurostar. And IF you buy reduced priced tix and miss your designated train you are SOL . . . . . .

Because of heightened security issues, it may well be 45 minutes. But as of today, eurostar.com still says 30 minutes. (Perhaps the site needs updating.)

I think this was mentioned on a couple of threads over the last few weeks - that Eurostar check in was now 45 mins but that the web sits still said 30 . . . .

I haven't ridden it since the security changes so don't know first hand.

We took Eurostar from London to Paris in July and checkin was 45 mins which we definitely needed (looong lines!).
BTW...We stayed overnight in London on arrival just in case of delays AND because we felt the red eye flight was enough travel for one day!

Thanks to everyone for the input--obviously it's going to be a long day, but as Robespierre says, once we're in London, the worst is over, and we can probably catch a few winks or at least relax while enroute to Paris. The extra time spent travelling is a trade-off for getting to fly business class between the US and London. My husband is 6'7&quot; tall and hates to travel coach, so I was willing to do the trip beween London and Paris.

Once there, we'll make our way to our apartment, and because it's familiar to us having stayed there twice before, it will be rather simple to settle in. We are on the rive droit, just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and we'll probably walk around to get some daylight and to preselect a dinner place. After an hour or 2 out and about, we will have an early dinner and retire, which will let us sleep well and hit the ground running the next AM.

Having once missed a Eurostar train in Tours(I was supposed to go to St. Pierre de Corps) I don't want to go through that again, so when I book the tickets, I'll allow enough time for the trip from LGW to Waterloo.