Eurostar 2 for 1 promotion

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  • ruthiejane
    ruthiejane Posts: 1,217 Forumite
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    Victors_Bruvver wrote: »
    Very sad that it has taken GNER, and possibly loads of other TOCs, to wait for the opening of St Pancras as they have never, to my knowledge, actively promoted the fact that you could have bought a 'London International CIV' ticket and receive exactly the same protection on your journey to connect with Eurostar and vice versa. All those hundreds, and possibly thousands, of travellers in the past who have never had the opportunity to buy these tickets and missed out because they were not informed of their existence - shame on you GNER.

    As a travel agent specialised in European and UK rail tickets - this rule applies not only to tickets that say CIV on them but any rail tickets for a through journey from anywhere in Europe to anywhere else in Europe - which of course includes anywhere in the UK to anywhere else in the UK.
    Laura_Biding wrote: »
    I don't know whether this is still in effect but up until recently if you travelled to Brussels via Eurostar, your ticket also gave you free rail journeys anywhere on the Belgian network.

    This still applies - and for an additional £10 the ticket is valid to any Dutch station. The only exceptions are trains that require reservations.
    Melodyx wrote: »
    I wouldn't mind spending that without an offer but whenever I've looked on the Eurostar website tickets cost at least £150 return even when I've looked a month or two ahead, and that's with no flexibiltiy.
    The cheapest Eurostar tickets don't have flexibility - the flexible tickets cost much more. To get £59 return tickets, or anything close to that price you need to buy the tickets as soon as they are released for sale - 120 days before departure. I think if you are buying through the website that would have to be 120 before your return journey.
    ilovefreegle.org - give it away don't throw it away :)
  • Donnie
    Donnie Posts: 9,862 Forumite
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    This is not the case at all. There is easily found availability in January for Paris at £59 return.
  • ruthiejane
    ruthiejane Posts: 1,217 Forumite
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    Donnie wrote: »
    This is not the case at all. There is easily found availability in January for Paris at £59 return.
    I was trying to explain why looking a couple of months ahead you are unlikely to find this price. There are always going to be occasions when it is possible. The more popular a train/date the less likely you are to find the cheaper tickets and to have the best chance you need to look 4 months ahead!
    ilovefreegle.org - give it away don't throw it away :)
  • Red_Panda_2
    Red_Panda_2 Posts: 261 Forumite
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    I agree with the others on the loss of Ashford to Brussels services.

    Its a nightmare for anyone in most of Kent and Sussex to get to Ebbsfleet. I dont fancy taking a suitcase on a couple of trains and then a bus!
    Its easier and quicker to get to Gatwick now and fly.

    ps for cheap ways to travel If you do know anyone who works for Eurostar ask them nicely for their PALS tickets. All employees are given loads which are to give out to friends / family for cheap travel.
    Any spelling mistakes are entirely on purpose to check you're paying attention :p
  • Donnie
    Donnie Posts: 9,862 Forumite
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    ruthiejane wrote: »
    I was trying to explain why looking a couple of months ahead you are unlikely to find this price. There are always going to be occasions when it is possible. The more popular a train/date the less likely you are to find the cheaper tickets and to have the best chance you need to look 4 months ahead!

    I understand the priciple of your explanation. That didn't stop me from finding return journeys for £59 in January, on my initial search.
  • Mids_Costcutter
    Mids_Costcutter Posts: 844 Forumite
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    As a couple of people have pointed out, pretending you are resident in another country can result in significant savings. Apparently Spain is the cheapest: €38.50 compared to a British fare of £154.50 for the same off-peak one-way London Paris journey. The Independent's travel writer, Simon Calder wrote an article about this:

    http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/article3077066.ece

    The train operating companies (including Eurostar) still have a lot to do to compete with budget airlines for travel to the near continent, especially for journeys starting outside London and SE England.
  • TimothyEBaldwin
    TimothyEBaldwin Posts: 445 Forumite
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    Red_Panda wrote: »
    I agree with the others on the loss of Ashford to Brussels services.

    Its a nightmare for anyone in most of Kent and Sussex to get to Ebbsfleet. I dont fancy taking a suitcase on a couple of trains and then a bus!
    Its easier and quicker to get to Gatwick now and fly.

    It's easier to go to St Pancras, with a change a London Bridge to the Northern Line or Thameslink (which from the 9th December is step-free). Unfortunately most of the Ashford to Lille trains were removed as well, but the 1 or 2 that remain can be used to travel to Brussels by changing in Lille.

    It's just plain silly there isn't a local international service.
  • boxoctosis
    boxoctosis Posts: 6 Forumite
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    igman3 wrote: »
    GNER very good for booking direct from north to Paris.... This morning I booked 4 returns from Leeds to Paris from 9-14 Feb for £80 each. ...

    Iggyman


    Yep, I've just got a pair of returns from Durham to Paris for £85. Can't complain about that, given that the cheapest return from Durham to London on the same days was showing as £185!
  • theloft
    theloft Posts: 1,703 Forumite
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    All of you that are complaining about the loss of Ashford Eurostar service should bear in mind that you have had the benefit of this service for several years, whereas it is now the turn of those that live North of the river, to get easier access!! Hooray!! for St. Pancras International I say.
    Still looking for a good deal though.
    "0844 COSTS YOU MORE"
  • TimothyEBaldwin
    TimothyEBaldwin Posts: 445 Forumite
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    theloft wrote: »
    All of you that are complaining about the loss of Ashford Eurostar service should bear in mind that you have had the benefit of this service for several years, whereas it is now the turn of those that live North of the river, to get easier access!! Hooray!! for St. Pancras International I say.
    Still looking for a good deal though.

    That is a fair statement about Waterloo but not about Ashford, the present situation is that travellers from Ashford have to make a 2.5-3 hour detour! Travellers from the North have only gained 40 minutes from the opening of St Pancras, with the journey time from Waterloo the same as before.

    Then there the silly business of having to pass UK border controls before boarding any London-bound Eurostar train, people travelling between Belgium and France or within France has been none of the UK governments business since the privatisation of British Rail. Even the Iron Curtain didn't have such restrictions.

    Not being allowed to make journeys within the UK.

    And security checks which delay passengers and help would-be terrorists.
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