Tag Archives: Eurostar Booking Tips

Is the Eurostar frequent traveller scheme worth joining?

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If you are considering a one-off Eurostar trip then my answer is most definitely no. In fact, the registration to the Eurostar scheme can only be arranged after you have made a “qualifying journey” with a minimum ticket price of £250

If you’re likely to travel in premium class several times a year, then read on ….

Business Premier Bookings

If you purchase the most expensive Business Premier (hot food) service at the ludicrous £490 fare, then just 3 tickets will be enough for one free standard class ticket. (I say ludicrous but compare this with City Jet / Air France business class flights from City to Paris Orly which cost £705 return)

But what about “Leisure Premier” class bookings?

Leisure Premier comprises of the same first class seating but with cold food.  Although the name suggests that this is for holiday travelers, it is the category most used by business travelers.

Points are awarded per single fare;

Single fares typically average between £100 and £200 and you’ll be rewarded 100 points up to £154.99 single and 150 points (up to £205 single).

Points are valid and they accrue for up to 3 years before expiry so you have plenty of time to collect a reasonable balance.

How many Eurostar trips do I need for a free ticket?

A standard return ticket costs 900 points and Standard Premier return costs 1,800 (single journeys are 50% and child fares are 2/3).

Or, more simply between 3 and 5 Leisure Premier return = 1 free standard class return ticket OR

Between 6 and 9 trips =  1 free first class return (“Leisure Premier”) ticket.

See the full redemption chart here

How many Eurostar trips do I need to reach Eurostar Carte Blanche Status

Carte Blanche status includes access to the Eurostar Business Lounge and priority 10 minute check-in.

If you’ve ever had to wait at Brussels Midi Station you’ll appreciate the business lounge access.

You require 1,500 points to reach Carte Blanche level.

Explained another simpler way, between 5 and 8 return trips in one year

More general information is available here

Are there any other benefits?

Eurostar will have your mobile number and will text you if your train is cancelled
You’ll be able to retrieve your boarding cards by using your membership card but only if your booking was made directly with Eurostar and not via Rail Europe

How far in advance can I book Eurostar?

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I’ve just been asked this question and for flights, I know that the answer is up to one year but I’ve checked and rail bookings have a surprisingly short selling period:

For Eurostar journeys to mainline Paris, Lille and Brussels stations, you can book up to 4 months in advance, minus 2 days

This applies to both French Rail, the UK arm of French SNCF railways and Eurostar. For the genuine links to both companies and for booking tips please visit my Eurostar Page

How to discount Eurostar Fares to Amsterdam

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The through fares from London to Amsterdam are generally good value when compared with flight costs including all the additional charges of baggage, check-in, transport to the airport etc.

By “through-fare” we mean the price given if you search from London to Amsterdam and the reservation system includes the connection in Brussels. Rail Europe offer these fares – see our Eurostar Page heading above.

But we’ve just saved £116 by booking the cheapest fare London – Brussels – London with Rail Europe, costing £69 for the dates we required.

Then we booked this special offer which is valid for travel 15th July through to 19th August:

19 euro each way for travel from Brussels to any Dutch station. That’s approximately £31 return

To book this onward fare, visit the Belgium Rail site, below:

http://www.b-europe.com/Travel/Promotions/Holland

UPDATE 6th July 2012

The onward fares Brussels to Amsterdam are not valid on the high speed THALYS trains. The intercity trains have to be used which take just under 3 hours.

The through fare includes the THALYS train service.

Do also use our flights page as prices start from £99 return with Air France KLM and Cityjet

Eurostar Departure Board

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Monitor the only Eurostar Departure Board that we have found, here, but the site includes domestic services.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/ldbboard/dep/STP

Alternatively, you can register for alerts on a specific train if you enter a Eurostar booking reference at https://contactdetails.eurostar.com/ but only for bookings made directly on Eurostar.com

If you’re mobile, the best train app that features live arrival information is called “Train Tickets” by Cross Country trains. My experience of this app is that it is sometimes more up-to-date than station announcements!

I hope that this information is helpful. Do come back. We feature the best hotel comparison site in today’s online market here.

If you require hotels near to the Eurostar Terminal in London, read my short article here

Eurostar Arrivals Board

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There are no online arrivals boards dedicated to Eurostar but this site provides live information on all trains arriving at St Pancras International station here.

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/ldbboard/arr/STP

It includes domestic trains so you may need to scroll down. You cannot filter the display because it doesn’t recognise Paris / Brussels or Lille as being valid stations!

If you’re mobile, the best train app that features live arrival information is called “Train Tickets” by Cross Country trains. My experience of this app is that it is sometimes more up-to-date than station announcements!

I hope that this information is helpful and do come back.

If you need a hotel near the Eurostar Terminal in London, read my short article here

If you need hotels elsewhere, we feature the best hotel comparison site in today’s online market here:

http://www.bookingbusinesstravel.com/hotels/

 

 

Eurostar and TGV Train from London to Bordeaux

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We have found return fares of £109 for travel in early August! This compared favourably with British Airways at £280 return

Avoiding the hassle of transiting Paris, you can choose a service via Lille, which should just be a change of platforms.

Also available, return fares at £199 return in First Class !

Other regional destinations in France are available at similar prices.

Use the Eurostar Page to compare Rail Europe prices and availability with those from Eurostar itself.

 

Booking Tips for booking travel online

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Impartial Booking Tips saving time and money when booking travel online

As a former travel agent with 30 years experience, I offer booking tips for the following, and more:

Booking tips for flight search using Skyscanner – the best flight search and comparison tool

Booking Tips for UK Rail – How to avoid booking fees

Eurostar Booking Tips – How to achieve the lowest fares and where best to book Eurostar

Ryanair Booking Tips – Save money on baggage and avoid those extra fees

Booking Tips when booking British Airways – where are the best fares, how booking just one seat even though you need two, can save you money

Please visit my blog category Booking Tips for more information or use the search function.

Sign up to my blog if you book travel online and wish to be kept informed

 

Discount Eurostar Tickets

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Eurostar does not offer discount ticket prices below those on its own site.

You will not find discounted Eurostar prices through travel agents or online websites below those offered direct from the official Eurostar site.

However; we do recommend that you compare fares with those offered by Rail Europe

Rail Europe is the UK representative of French Railways (SNCF) and they use the French reservation system which may offer availability at prices that Eurostar may have sold out of.

Both official search engines are provided on our Eurostar Page

There are benefits of booking Eurostar direct:

• Option to book Rail + Hotel for further discounts
• The system warns you if there are less than 10 seats
• Fixed £4 credit card charge, debit cards are free
• Choice of window/aisle/solo seat preference, or
• Specific seat selection at the 3rd booking stage
• SMS text message option in case of delay/cancellations
• Print ticket at home (or office) option, free of charge, and go direct to check-in!
• Ticket on departure, free of charge, but collection by the card-holder only
• Telephone support: 08432 186 186 from 8am to 7pm Mon-Fri, 9-5 Sat/Sun

For your convenience, we provide both Eurostar and SNCF search forms on our Eurostar Page

Booking Tips to reserve a train to Europe

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For booking a train ticket to Europe to stations other than the Eurostar mainline stations: Lille, Paris, Brussels, we suggest you use Eurostar to price your through journey first.

Then compare the through journey with Rail Europe

Through tickets are more convenient as you will make one online booking, with little chance of making a mistake. However, it may be considerably cheaper to split the booking into two:

Price the ticket as just as far as the Eurostar mainline station with Eurostar, and, separately, using Rail Europe (SNCF), or German Rail (DER), price the onward domestic ticket.

You may reduce the fare considerably.

An alternative to Rail Europe and worth taking the time to check, is French railways SNCF direct, but you must use the French Language Site*

Booking Tips for Booking French Railways French Language Site

If your French is really poor, use Google Chrome as your web browser as there is an automated page translator which will help.

You will be asked, “Sélectionnez le pays de réception ou de retrait des billet” which translates as “Select the country of receipt or withdrawal of the ticket”

If you choose Grande Bretagne you will be redirected to a Rail Europe site which may cost you more.

Choose FRANCE

Choose e-billet …“Imprimez ou modifiez votre confirmation e-billet en ligne quand vous voulez”  which translates as  Print or edit your e-ticket confirmation online when you want

You can even choose to book now and pay later! (Ou posez une simple option et payez plus tard)

Eurostar Prices

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You will not find discounted Eurostar prices through travel agents or online websites below those offered here through Eurostar.com

However; we recommend that you compare fares with those offered by Rail Europe.
Rail Europe is the UK representative of French Railways (SNCF) and they use the SNCF reservation system which may offer availability at prices that Eurostar may have sold out of.

Benefits of booking Eurostar direct here:

• Option to book Rail + Hotel for further discounts
• The system warns you if there are less than 10 seats
• Fixed £4 credit card charge, debit cards are free
• Choice of window/aisle/solo seat preference, or
• Specific seat selection at the 3rd booking stage
• SMS text message option in case of delay/cancellations
• Print ticket at home (or office) option, free of charge, and go direct to check-in!
• Ticket on departure, free of charge, but collection by the card-holder only
• Telephone support: 08432 186 186 from 8am to 7pm Mon-Fri, 9-5 Sat/Sun

For more details, visit our Eurostar Page