Eurostar tickets

cadon

Could someone please let me know what the best price for Standard and Standard Premier tickets is from London to either Brussels or Paris? I quite fancy a little jaunt abroad, but I can wait for the next sale if it is likely to make an impact on price.

Depending on dates, I can spot some Standard singles for £29 or Standard Premier singles for £70. Is this as good as it gets or is it worth holding out? If so, are the sales at regular times of the year or is it a bit more random than that?

Haven't travelled in a long time and don't want to be the holiday equivalent of the person who strolls into Pizza Express and pays full price when everyone else has a 50% voucher code on their phone, if you know what I mean...

Many thanks! :beer:

martindow

You won't do better than £29 single which is a special offer below the normal lowest fare.

Seat 61 has all of the info on the best way to book and getting CIV connecting tickets in the UK

https://www.seat61.com/London-to-Paris-by-train.htm

cadon

martindow wrote: »

You won't do better than £29 single which is a special offer below the normal lowest fare.

Seat 61 has all of the info on the best way to book and getting CIV connecting tickets in the UK

https://www.seat61.com/London-to-Paris-by-train.htm

Thanks for this. What about for Standard Premier? Is £70 about right?

I had a look at Eurostar snap via Seat 61 and it looks interesting, but for a short weekend trip, maybe not the best idea, as it could end up taking a day off the itinerary.

Alan_Bowen

You can't get to Paris or Brussels any quicker than by Eurostar when you consider the journey to the airport, check in an hour before and then the journey into the city on arrival, so I am not sure why you think Eurostar would take a day off your itinerary. We used to go to both cities for the day, have a long lazy lunch and take the last train back.

The £29 fare is regrettably a sign that the events in France and Belgium have dampened demand and check when the £29 fares are available, certainly not on a Saturday morning and I think not at all on Fridays!

DCFC79

£29 for a single on the Eurostar is a bargain as far as I'm concerned.

A day off the itinerary by using the Eurostar, not sure about that, didn't think it was that long.

d61mts

They were referring to Eurostar Snap, where you book a ticket blind (for a discounted price) and so within the chosen time frame could end up going outbound late at night instead of afternoon so losing some time, or having to depart back home on the earliest departure again not making the most of the time abroad.

skint_chick

I wouldn't bother with the Premier - there's plenty of leg room in the regular seats and no issue with small carryon type bags going on the rack above your seat. And you get to choose your seat for no extra cost. I went on the Eurostar in May and in both directions it was delayed, the security screening was crowded but slightly quicker than at the airport, and getting on the train at St Pancras was fine because we waited until everyone else rushed on then leisurely strolled onto the train so didn't have to wait to get through the carriage. We paid £34.50 each way to Lille.

cadon

Spot on. I agree the Eurostar is quick, but buying blind for anytime in AM or PM could significantly curtail a mini break.

No comments on Standard Premier? Even if the comments are don't bother; take the cheap £29 Standard fares? I have been thinking about recent events, but let's face it, I live in London so Brussels and Paris are about the same (if not lower) risk!

cadon

Ah, cross posted. Many thanks!

DCFC79

d61mts wrote: »

They were referring to Eurostar Snap, where you book a ticket blind (for a discounted price) and so within the chosen time frame could end up going outbound late at night instead of afternoon so losing some time, or having to depart back home on the earliest departure again not making the most of the time abroad.

Oh I see.

Yes I agree buying blind isn't ideal for a short break.

martindow

The seats are far more spacious than airline seats with a large pitch between the rows even in standard. If the OP is tall and finds plane seats uncomfortable that is not likely to be an issue on Eurostar. It is also helped by having 2+2 seating so you do not have to scramble into rows of three seats as in many planes.

Having said that, sometimes there are quirks of pricing that make other classes of travel cost very little more and makes going up a class worth considering.