Eurostar is a high-speed train that connects central London (St. Pancras International station) and central Paris (Gare du Nord International station) in approximately two hours and 15 minutes. Services run from London to Paris on a daily basis (except Christmas day), from 5:30 a.m. during the weekdays and from 6:30 a.m. on weekends. Eurostar standard class starts at an affordable price, GBP39 for a non-flexible single coach ticket between London and Paris with buffet bar. Round-trip fare can be purchased at GBP69 in second class. Book cheap tickets in advance on off-peak trains since tickets run out quickly. It is also a good idea to avoid Friday or Sunday afternoons since they are the busiest days. Once you have paid for, and purchased your ticket online, you can print out your ticket using your own printer or pick it up at the station or e-ticket machines before departure. You can also have the tickets mailed to your residence if you live in the U.K., France or Belgium. Tickets can also be purchased by calling Eurostar customer service. There is an international charge on credit cards.
Eurostar
Times House
Bravingtons Walk
Regent Quarter
London N1 9AW, U.K.
011-44-1233-617575
eurostar.com
Thalys, known as the red train, is France's high-speed train system, and provides services between Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris seven days a week. It also connects to 17 cities in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. You can book cheap fares if you book non-refundable fares on the Thalys website 15 days in advance of your travel date. Discounted travel fares are also available for groups of three to five people, youth, seniors and children, as well as frequent and business travelers. Thalys offers affordable train fares from Brussels, Belgium (Midi/Brussel-Zuid station) to Paris (Nord station) for a price of 25 to 30 euros in Comfort 2 (2nd Class) when purchased 15 or 30 days before departure. To travel from Amsterdam to Paris, cheap Thalys fares range from 35 to 45 euros in Comfort 2. Travel on the Thalys between Paris and Cologne, Germany, can cost as little as 29 to 39 euros in Comfort 2 (2nd Class) with a 15- or 30-day advance purchase. Thalys train offers paid wireless Internet access for riders on Comfort 2 (2nd Class) and free wireless Internet on Comfort 1 (1st Class). Rail passes can be purchased online directly from the Thalys website. In the absence of a paper ticket (if you book online), passengers must present email confirmation of Thalys booking. Thalys accepts only credit cards in Belgium, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
Thalys
B.P. 14
B-1050 Bruxelles 5
Belgium
011-33-825-84-25-97
thalys.com
Cheap InterRail fares can be booked online up to 90 days prior to departure at Deutsche Bahn (DB) AG website. Deutsche Bahn is the German railway that connects German cities such as Hamburg, Berlin and Munich, with Paris and other cities in Europe. A ride in the overnight trains, known as City Night Line is affordable. It offers three categories: seat, couchette or sleeper carriage (suite with two to six beds with optional shower and toilet). The cheapest category of travel on the night train is the seat-only option, which starts as low as 39 euros if you book online at Deutsche Bahn and print out proof of your purchase.
Deutsche Bahn
DB Vertrieb GmbH
Fulfillment Center
Postfach 60 05 04
22205 Hamburg
Germany
011-49-1805-01111
bahn.de
