Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
station, 45 minutes from Paris on RER-A. So you can hang at Disneyland Paris before (or
after) your trip south and connect with a direct TGV. Initial promotional fares were very
cheap and the service is no frills. You can't use a railpass, and only one carry-on-size bag
plus one handbag are free. Larger or extra luggage is €5/bag if you pay when you buy
yourticket.Ifyoujustshowupwithoutpayinginadvance,it's€40/bagonthetrain—yikes
The fastest and most convenient way to get from the Eiffel Tower to Big Ben is by rail.
Eurostar is the speedy passenger train that zips you (and up to 800 others in 18 sleek cars)
from downtown Paris to downtown London (1-2/hour, 2.5 hours) faster and more easily
than flying. The train goes 190 mph both before and after the English Channel crossing.
The actual tunnel crossing is a 20-minute, silent, 100-mile-per-hour nonevent. Your ears
won'tevenpop.Getreadyformorehigh-speedconnections: Eurostar'smonopolyexpired
at the beginning of 2010, and Germany's national railroad is negotiating to run its bullet
trains through the Chunnel by 2016.
Eurostar Fares:
Eurostarisnotcoveredbyrailpassesandalwaysrequiresaseparate,
reservedtrainticket.Eurostarfaresvarydependingonhowfaraheadyoureserve,whether
you can live with restrictions, and whether you're eligible for any discounts.
A
one-way, full-fare ticket
(withnorestrictionsonrefunds)runsabout$460forfirst
class and $300 for second class.
Discounts
can lower fares substantially (figure $60-160
for second class, one-way, usually not refundable or changeable) for children under 12,
youths under 26, seniors 60 or older, adults booking months ahead or traveling roundtrip,
and railpass holders. The early bird gets the best price in each category. If you're ready to
commit, you can book tickets as early as 4-9 months in advance at
www.eurostar.com
.
Buying Eurostar Tickets:
Becauseonlythemostexpensive(full-fare)ticketisfully
refundable, don't reserve until you're sure of your plans. But if you wait too long, the
cheapest tickets will get bought up.
