tell me about eurostar
- Thread starter Pingu
- Start date
We'll see on this. I've looked into Eurostar several times and the cost has never stacked up for me. I can't see them competing with Easyjet out of Gatwick for £60 - £80 return. This being said I'd prefer to go by train but I'm going to guess returns are generally going to be around £200.
In general intermediate stops would be a bad thing but Rotterdam is a possible as it lacks direct flights at the moment, bar CityJet out of London City I think.
Winot
I wholeheartedley agree with your viewpoint
We used this website for European train travel last year. It was very straightforward.
Europe by train made easy | Loco2
scifisam
feck! arse! girls! drink!
Isn't that partly because you live quite close to Gatwick? It costs me quite a lot of money to get there but King's Cross is one short tube journey. And then at the other end you're already in the city too.
Eurostar is cheaper for disabled people and people under 26 too (it's free for under-fours).
Gromit
International Man of Misery
For trips to Paris it stacks up when you factor in getting to and from airports to the city centres.
Uk / Dutch Airport taxes are pretty ridiculous so Amsterdam may end up pretty competitive.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Gatwick is pretty well connected so even adding the extra for the train fare I'd be surprised if it still isn't a lot cheaper to fly. Also I used Gatwick as an example because it was the cheapest flights to Amsterdam when I went in November. You can fly to the dam from pretty much any UK airport.
I appreciate your point about families and disabled people. I really hope the Eurostar works out cost wise because I'd love to use it (I've got the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland and then the train to the dam twice) but I've never yet managed to make Eurostar work for me cost wise. Maybe its just the sort of travel I do.
What? Don't you live in Wales? Is there a stop in Tenby I don't know about.
scifisam
feck! arse! girls! drink!
It'd be at least £30 return to Gatwick for each person (from Victoria). The new route is going to be cheaper than the current system but yeah, it'll probably still be cheaper for some people to fly.
Gromit
International Man of Misery
London.
I’m one of them immigrants coming over and stealing your English jobs.
It’s obviously a London market thing.
The telling point as to desirable - see how the fares even out.
London to Paris: Flying is cheaper. Bluntly, it’s the poor person’s option. End to end slower, loads more hassle. So they have to be cheaper than the leader.
The dam is on the edge, but I think they’ll tip it.
The telling point as to desirable - see how the fares even out.
London to Paris: Flying is cheaper. Bluntly, it’s the poor person’s option. End to end slower, loads more hassle. So they have to be cheaper than the leader.
The dam is on the edge, but I think they’ll tip it.
scifisam
feck! arse! girls! drink!
Not just London, but the areas around it (esp counties bordering North London). It's quite a lot of people really.
Yeah.
I think it will do well.
You’re right. “London” is broad when it comes to travel.
Gromit
International Man of Misery
If you know how* London to Paris on Eurostar is £50 return.
Tube to St Pancras.
No need for an airport taxi (most expensive cabs in the world), train or coach to or from central Paris.
Hours saved in airport lounges.
It’s always a nobrainer for me.
* I’m not sharing how.
WANT
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
That's gromit you're asking, so the answer will be contained somewhere here: The Inbetweeners Episode Scripts | SS
Nivag
Well-Known Member
Caravan club discount?
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
TBF, unless one plans many months in advance, I suspect weekend air fares from April until the late Autumn will not be that cheap.
In my mind, if an air fare does it for £75 and Eurostar does it for no more than £40 more, it should be a no brainer when you factor in transfer costs. And as many people might be inclined to pay for seat selection to ensure not being separated, the financial benefits soon shrink to nothing.
In my mind, if an air fare does it for £75 and Eurostar does it for no more than £40 more, it should be a no brainer when you factor in transfer costs. And as many people might be inclined to pay for seat selection to ensure not being separated, the financial benefits soon shrink to nothing.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
Rotterdam. 3 hours and 1 minute from London
That's fucking awesome. Have friends there, we're walking distance from St Pancras here (well, 25 mins or so, a fairly long traipse) and friends the other end are a similar distance. That's so little fucking about compared to flying, although the break on the return at Brussels will be a bit of a pain for now. Plus the nipper is young enough to go free on Eurostar (up to 4 is free) whereas he has to pay for a seat on flights now.
We did New Year there a while ago, flew from City Airport which was cheap as most of the suits that usually fly out of that place were on their Christmas break (spaces on the plane), minimal pissing about compared to Gatwick and about 45 mins in the air. I can recommend New Year in the Netherlands, they go a bit mental with fireworks in the street.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Saw the millennium come around in Amsterdam, like a war zone with all the bangs going off, then at 4am got the first train to Bergen op Zoom where a free party was underway, that small town was also covered in the red paper of a gazillion bangers from midnight
I've just been reading up... apparently the hold up is that it needs a new British-Dutch treaty, which is delayed. I think one of the Dutch media outlets said the delay was Brexit related - but how true I don't know.
scifisam
feck! arse! girls! drink!
Probably true. I would have thought it would be difficult to arrange a treaty between two countries that are in the middle of leaving a union between them, and even if it were technically possible everyone who might have the skill to do it is probably a bit busy right now.
Yeah, I was speculating the same.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
I like the idea of Thalys to Brussels then Eurostar on to London, if you're in first class you'll get two meals 
I like the idea of Thalys to Brussels then Eurostar on to London, if you're in first class you'll get two meals
Or for Standard Premiere, one and a half meals.
hash tag
Books, not bombs
I'm all for eurostar. Its so much easier than flying. What with checking in, luggage and boarding. You get to your destination and just walk, no baggage collection, no ticket check, nothing. Amongst other trips. We took the inaugural train to Avignon. Brilliant.
left a cold grey London and walked off in a hot sunny south of France...so damn cool.
left a cold grey London and walked off in a hot sunny south of France...so damn cool.
There is something magical - a bit - about these journeys.
I did a European tour last year. Going to sleep in a mint compartment (just for me), cheaper than flying and a hotel, and waking up to fresh snow out of the window and breakfast delivered to my door.
New day, new city.
sim667
All aboard the 303 bus.
Nivag
Well-Known Member
An anytime off-peak return starts at £32.40 from a return within a month
The Gatwick Express is £32.70 for the same ticket.
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