How to Travel with Eurostar, the Most Convenient Train in Europe

Here’s how to travel Europe like a pro.

We get it : Planning a multi - city trip anywhere outdoors of America can be a little moment daunting . Many of us are used to startle in a car and hitting the wide - open route when it comes to towns within a one - state radius . It ’s a fabulous excuse to load up onroad tripsnacks . But when it comes tooverseas travelthere are a bunch of add - ons to consider , even for an country of land smaller than Texas : passports , words , andgulp , public transit . In Europe , public transit is totally the norm , and many go without cars in their daily lives . So how do the mass travel short distances , betweenParisand London , or Brussels and Amsterdam , without flying or taking a ferrying ? They take thetrain — Eurostar , to be specific .

Eurostar is the most frequented high - speed geartrain service in the area and the only one that directly links the UK to France , Belgium , and the Netherlands via the Channel Tunnel . It ’s wildly pop , but if you have n’t heard of it before , fear not . Here , we exhibit everything you involve to have intercourse about the Eurostar , so that you may hop countries like a pro .

What is Eurostar?

Eurostar is a gamy - speed train divine service and both the fast and most convenient way to get between the UK and France , Belgium , and the Netherlands . It zooms powerful into the nitty-gritty of each goal city and has been doing so since it was launch in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II and then French President François Mitterrand . Think Amtrak — only faster , smoother , nicer , and it can travel under the ocean .

The undersea expression might have you expecting some variety of submarine watercraft , but Eurostar is an average train . It travels underwater via the Channel Tunnel , aka the tenacious undersea tunnel in the world , which run from Folkestone , UK to Calais , France . It does n’t take long to traverse by train ; you locomote between 100 and 186 miles per hour , so you have time for just a small cup of coffee before you ’re back on solid ground .

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And ride some of the most beautiful routes in the world.

Where does the Eurostar go?

The most popular route is London to Paris , traveling between St Pancras International and Gare du Nord in just over two hour . The service also operates direct path to Brussels ( less than two hours from London ) , Lille in France ( around an hour and a one-half ) , and both Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands ( less than four hours ) . Disneyland Paris visitant will need to take a connect geartrain from Lille or Paris to the House of Mouse .

If you care to take the Eurostar toother areas of Europe , you could make connections to go further afield . For example , those heading from London to Geneva will need to change in Paris and purchase a new ticket from another supplier . Those traveling to Cologne , Germany can connect to a Thalys train in Brussels to nail their journeying . You ’re spoiled for choice !

How do you buy Eurostar tickets?

There are a number of ways to buy a Eurostar ticket , but the best way is verbatim , via theEurostar site . Tickets are available to purchase at stations , but you might find prices get steep if you look till you ’re in Europe and buy them in person at the last minute of arc .

To that point , we ca n’t accent enough that it ’s key to book early if you want a good deal on tickets . Like , three calendar month early . Prices almost always increase as you get closer to the departure date . Tickets are also cheaper if you book less democratic dates ( by which we mean you should skip holiday and weekend ) . If you ’re smart , you ’ll be able to snag seats to Paris for $ 52 each way .

One last hint : Be sure todownload the Eurostar appfor updates , deals , and your tickets .

Eurostar train

Flickr/rhemkes

What’s it like on board?

Price is n’t your only consideration when booking tickets . Eurostar provide three unlike course of instruction to select from : Standard , Standard Premier , and Business Premier . All of these class let you to bring ample baggage at no excess cost , plus allow for limitless ticket exchanges . Standard Premier seat are roomier and guest are volunteer a light meal and drinks , like croissants , yield , and chocolate , while Business Premier client get to nosh on a three - course repast designed by Michelin - present French chef Raymond Blanc . of course , bubble are included to wash down the cheese , duck , and patty . There ’s also a nice wine selection on the streetcar .

The seats are surprisingly expert for all classes , even if you ’re traveling in Standard . You ’ll find exit to level your devices , as well as free Wi - Fi , which can be a little patchy at sentence ( this is a moving fomite , after all ) . The desk in front of you fit a stock laptop , so download your Dr. and work aside . the right way clean public lavatory are locate in every motorcoach , and there ’s at least one cafe - legal profession usable for when you want to stretch your legs and grab some grub .

What’s it like at the train station?

Traveling with Eurostar is n’t aeroplane travel , but you ’ll still desire to admit around an minute and a half to get through security and ensure there are n’t any takings . For security , you ’ll need to put your bags and yourself through scanners , transfer laptops and liquid . gratefully , there ’s no restriction on liquid , so you could pack a full - sized bottle of perfume or even wine-colored . The in-migration process happens before departure , so get your traveling documents ready . At the terminal of your trip you ’ll take the air through customs , and so long as you are n’t smuggle entire suitcases of baccy , it ’s a breeze .

The waiting areas for Eurostar wagon train are usually very adequate , with plenty of seating , free public lavatory ( note , in Europe many public area buck ) , and cafes . In most city center stations , you ’ll incur scores of creature comforts , so arrive too soon to make the most of them — no penury to pack a sandwich . If you ’re traveling in the Business Premier division , you ’ll have access to single Eurostar lounges in London , Paris , and Brussels , plus get at toNS Internationallounges in Amsterdam and Rotterdam . couch pop the question snacks , drink , and free glossy magazines .

quick to travel with Eurostar ? Book your tickets , bump off the geartrain place , and fix to climb aboard — whatever your address , it ’s sure to be an adventure .

Eurostar train