How to travel Europe by Eurostar train

We get it: Planning a multi-city trip anywhere outside of the US can be a bit overwhelming. Many of us are used to jumping in the car and hitting the highway when we come to towns within a regional radius. It’s a great excuse to load up on snacks on the go. But when it comes to overseas travel, even for a land no smaller than Texas, there are many extras to consider: passports, languages, and Dragging, public transport. In Europe, public transport is completely common, and many go without a car in their daily life. So how do the masses travel the short distances between Paris and London or Brussels and Amsterdam without a flight or ferry? They take the train: Eurostar, to be specific.

Eurostar is the most frequent high-speed rail service in the region, connecting the UK directly to France, Belgium and the Netherlands only via the Channel Tunnel. It’s very popular, but if you’ve never heard of it before, fear not. Here’s everything you need to know about Eurostar so you can hit the country like a pro.

What is Eurostar?

Eurostar is a high-speed rail service that is the fastest and most convenient way to travel between the UK and France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It zooms into the heart of each destination city and has done so since its launch in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II and then French President Francois Mitterrand. Think Amtrak—fast, smooth, beautiful, and able to travel under the sea.

The seascape might make you expect some sort of submarine, but the Eurostar is an ordinary train. It travels underwater through the Channel Tunnel, the longest undersea tunnel from Folkestone, UK to Calais, France. It does not take much time to travel by train; You’ll travel between 100 and 186 miles per hour, so you’ll only have time for a small cup of coffee before you return to the ground.

The most popular route is London to Paris, traveling between St Pancras International and Gare du Nord in just over two hours. The service operates direct routes to Brussels (less than two hours from London), Lille in France (around an hour and a half) and Rotterdam and Amsterdam in the Netherlands (less than four hours). Visitors to Disneyland Paris must take a connecting train from Lille or Paris to the Mouse House.

If you want to take Eurostar to other European areas, you can make connections to go further. For example, those traveling from London to Geneva must change in Paris and purchase a new ticket from another carrier. Those traveling to Cologne, Germany can connect with a Thalys train in Brussels to complete their journey. You’re spoiled for choice!

How to buy Eurostar tickets?

There are many ways to buy a Eurostar ticket, but the best way is directly through the Eurostar website. Tickets can be bought at stations, but if you wait until you enter Europe and buy in person at the last minute, you may find the prices higher.

Until then, we can’t stress enough that early booking is key if you want a good deal on tickets. Like three months ago. Prices always increase as you get closer to the departure date. Tickets are also cheaper if you book more off-peak dates (which means you have to skip holidays and weekends). If you’re smart, you can snag seats to Paris for $52 each way.

One last tip: be sure to download the Eurostar app for updates, discounts and your tickets.

What is it like on board?

Price is not your only consideration when booking tickets. Eurostar offers three different classes to choose from: Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier. All of these classes allow you to bring multiple bags at no extra cost, plus allow unlimited ticket exchanges. Standard Premier seats are spacious and guests are served light food and drinks, such as croissants, fruit and coffee, while Business Premier customers enjoy a three-course meal designed by Michelin-awarded French chef Raymond Blanc. Naturally, bubbles are included to wash the cheese, duck and cake. There is also a good selection of wines on the trolley.

Even if you’re traveling in Standard, the seats are surprisingly good for all classes. You’ll find outlets to charge your devices as well as free Wi-Fi, which can be a little sticky at times (this is a mobile vehicle, after all). The front desk fits a standard laptop, so you can download your documents and put them away. Immaculately clean toilets are available in every coach, and there’s at least one café-bar when you want to stretch your legs and grab a bite to eat.

What is it like in the train station?

Traveling with Eurostar is not a plane ride, but you still want to spend around an hour and a half to get through security and make sure there are no problems. For security, you’ll need to put your bags and yourself through the scanners, avoiding laptops and liquids. Thankfully, there are no restrictions on liquids, so you can pack a full-sized bottle of perfume or wine. The immigration process takes place before departure, so prepare your travel documents. You go through customs at the end of your trip, and unless you’re carrying full bags of tobacco, it’s a breeze.

The waiting areas of Eurostar trains are usually quite spacious, with lots of seats, free toilets (note, many public places in Europe charge) and cafes. You’ll find plenty of amenities at most city center stations, so get there early to make the most of them – no need to pack a sandwich. If you’re traveling in Business Premier Class, you’ll have access to exclusive Eurostar lounges in London, Paris and Brussels, as well as NS International lounges in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The lounge offers snacks, drinks and free glossy magazines.

Ready to travel with Eurostar? Book your tickets, hit the train station and get ready to board – whatever your destination, it’s sure to be an adventure.

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