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Cheap Eurostar tickets

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How to get cheap Eurostar tickets

Fancy taking a trip that won’t break the bank? Discover our offers and insider tips to grab low-cost Eurostar tickets for that short stay or lengthier getaway.

Book early to get the best prices

Booking your trip well in advance gives you the best chance to nab a low-cost fare, especially at peak times like bank holidays and weekends. Use the Eurostar app to book with ease and you’ll also be the first to know about new offers and deals.

Don’t worry if you’re still deciding on the exact dates. With Eurostar, you can book tickets up to 120 days in advance and the earlier you book, the better value the fares. Our flexible tickets allow you to change your booking as many times as you want with no exchange fee up to 7 days before departure.

Make it midweek

Savvy travellers know that the cheapest Eurostar tickets are usually for trains on Tuesday and Wednesday. It isn’t only the fare that’s a bargain, the hotels are too. Midweek is a great time to visit Paris – avoid the weekend queues, get a cut-price room (Eurostar packages offer even more savings), and have the museums and galleries to yourself.

No hidden costs

At Eurostar, we pride ourselves on putting our customers first and making your journey a joy. There are no last-minute charges during the booking process – seat selection is free and entirely up to you. This also extends to our luggage allowance – your ticket includes two large suitcases and a piece of hand luggage. All at no extra cost. If travelling light isn’t your thing or if you’d like to indulge in some retail therapy on the streets of Paris, we’ve got you covered.

Join Club Eurostar

Simply sign up online for  Club Eurostar and you’ll earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on Eurostar travel. If you book tickets in another currency, we’ll convert the amount to pounds before working out your points. You can use your points to get cheap Eurostar tickets for your next trip or even upgrade for that extra special occasion.

Keep an eye on our offers

We keep our offers continually updated on our website, so keep your eyes peeled for cheap Eurostar tickets and when the best new deals go live.  Sign up for our newsletter  to be the first to know about our offers and deals.  By downloading our  Eurostar app , you’ll also be the first in the know and have all the best offers at your fingertips.

Start of sales

We also have a golden tip for the early birds among you: be first in line when sales go live on our routes between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. It’s the best time to snap up seasonal tickets that sell out quickly.

Fancy a getaway with friends and family? If you’re travelling in a group of ten or more people, you’ll get a discount when booking your tickets. The sooner you book, the bigger the discount.

Youth offer

If you’re aged between 12 and 25, we’ve got some great news – travelling with Eurostar is even cheaper for you. Take advantage of our special youth fares.

Senior fare

Eurostar travellers over the age of 60 also benefit from special offers. Book a ticket on one of our routes between Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands at a low price and enjoy flexible conditions.

Frequently asked questions

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When it comes to cheap tickets, timing is everything. The earlier you can book your ticket, the better the odds you’ll find our lowest fares. Sign up for our newsletter and download our app to be the first in the know about any sales or promotions.

What about Snap and IZY?

Snap and IZY, our cheap ticket promotions, have ended but you can still find cheap fares on our website by using our top tips and insider secrets.

What do the cheapest fares to Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels actually cost?

Tickets to Paris are available from $52. Tickets to Amsterdam are available from $52. Tickets to Brussels are available from $52.

Can my tickets be exchanged?

We get it, sometimes life gets in the way and plans need to change. That’s why all Eurostar tickets are exchangeable. Read our full flexible ticket conditions here.

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The Back Door to Cheaper Eurostar Tickets

If you book well in advance, Eurostar tickets from Paris to London are usually well under €100 round trip. But if you wait until the last minute like yours truly, then it gets much, much more expensive (like, oh, €300). Even budget airline flights can climb up into the €250 range, which is horrible for the planet (and for your peace of mind, since you have to get to the airport three hours early). But there’s another option when all of the cheap seats from Gare du Nord are sold out.

After a LOT of surfing around, I found a little back door to cheaper (and sometimes ONLY) fares to London when the regular tickets are sold out: alternative stations! The main Eurostar station in Paris is the Gare du Nord. But if you’re willing to schlep it out to the suburbs you have two alternatives that are sometimes a lot cheaper.

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How it works, see all of the fares at once, cheap last-minute train fares between paris and london, alternative eurostar stations from paris to london.

The first one I found was Chessy/Marne-La-Vallée , aka Disneyland Paris. This is a 55-minute RER A ride from central Paris to Chessy for under €10, and if you get there early you can check out Disney Village (no entrance fee). If you have to take a taxi, it can get quite pricey, from €75-€100 depending on traffic. Note that some of these trains are direct from Chessy/Marne-La-Vallée to London, and some have a connection in Lille, so be sure to check if that makes a difference for you.

The second alternative station is at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle , aka the airport, which is about 45 minutes from central Paris via RER B or taxi or Roissybus ( see all of the options and prices here ). Yeah, you’re probably thinking if you’re going to go to the airport, why not just fly? Again, you’d have to be there HOURS earlier and check your bags, and of course you’d arrive at an airport in London, not right in the center of town. Like the Chessy station, sometimes these departures are direct to London and sometimes they include a connection in Lille, so double-check before deciding whether it’s worth it.

When you go to the official Eurostar website , you might see a dropdown menu for departure station and only see this:

But that’s just the “popular searches”. If you type “Paris” into the box, you’ll get one extra station option, for Chessy/Marne-la-Vallée:

To see the schedule from Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, type “Roissy” into the box, et voilà!

I would also recommend you try a few different (official) ticket sellers such as Trainline (a third-party seller which isn’t cheaper but sometimes more convenient when booking multiple train trips) and SNCF Connect (formerly OUI.sncf, this is a subsidiary of the French train network SNCF and sells tickets on the Eurostar, Thalys, and Deutsche Bahn), or Rail Europe (usually for train ticket purchases from the US). They usually have the same rates posted as the Eurostar site, but some people find them a bit easier to naviagte, so have a peek around all three. As mentioned above, try first with just “Paris” in the departure station, then try with Roissy and Chessy to see other options.

When I did a test search today for one-way tickets from Paris to London on Friday August 12th, these are the cheapest rates I found:

• Paris Gare du Nord: €190 direct at 7:13am, 7:43am and 9:12am; €240 direct for the rest of the day and evening.
• Chessy/Marne-la-Vallée: €175 direct at 6:03pm and €222 direct at 7:05pm.
• Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle: €209 at 5:35pm and €222 at 7:38pm, with an hour-long connection in Lille for both

So in this instance, it’s cheapest to leave from Paris Gare du Nord if you’re leaving in the morning, and from Chessy if you’re leaving in the evening (again, taking into account the cost of getting to either the airport or Disneyland Paris). These ratios change every day, so it helps to double-check if you’re not purchasing right away.

If your travel dates are flexible, start looking about five weeks in advance for the cheap €44/each way tickets. Instead of plugging in your dates and seeing what’s available, the easiest way to see the rate calendar is to go to https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/train/cheap-eurostar-tickets and scroll all the way down — almost to the footer — for the box that says “Find the Lowest Fares” (if you’re on the French version of the site , it will be “Trouvez les prix bas”):

Then you’ll see the scrollable calendar for the entire year with the lowest price shown for each day (in June and July the cheapest ones are €49.50, but there are more available at €59). Here are the rates in the French version (shown in Euros; the UK version shows in Pounds Sterling):

There used to be a secret website called Eurostar Snap that sold heavily-discounted, last-minute train tickets between London and Paris (and Lille and Brussels). Sadly, it seems to have permanently ended service in 2021. If you’re not looking for tickets immediately, I recommend you subscribe to the Eurostar official newsletter to be informed of discounts and special sales. And of course, I always let the Secrets of Paris Newsletter subscribers know when I hear of any special rates, please sign up if you haven’t already!

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Lol! I actually only know Celsius and have to look up the Fahrenheit every time. I know my audience is international, but it is primarily American so I’m trying to be kind. I will put both from now on to be fair. 😉

Loved your entry (I’ll keep reading after this.) Just one thing, though: you’re in Paris, must you give temperatures in Fahrenheit? You know, the whole rest of the world uses Celsius, just like in Paris. I say, you’re in Paris, live a little. Speak metric. Try it–it won’t hurt.

F’ king rude. Don’t you think?

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When to Buy Eurostar Tickets

There’s certainly no shortage of  things to do in Paris  – you’re not likely to get bored very quickly or need to go elsewhere to entertain yourself. However, if you can’t resist the pull of a day trip to London during your stay, that’s okay, too. After all, can you imagine how fun it will be to tell your friends later about your vacation to Paris that included a quick spin around London?

Of the many ways to get to London from Paris, the best option for those looking to make a quick day trip is the  Eurostar . Of course, this is a popular method for connecting the two cities; whether you’re going just for the day or transferring between the capitals for a longer stay. The trip takes just under 2.5 hours one-way, so although it’s a long day if you’re there and back in one day, it’s definitely doable as a day trip.

Eurostar tickets can seem expensive if you just decide on a whim to head down to Gare du Nord one morning for the next Eurostar to London, leading to the question posed by the title of this article; when is the best time to buy Eurostar tickets, anyway? Here’s what you need to know.

Here Are Some Eurostar Tickets Buying Tips

Should i buy eurostar tickets at the station or online.

You can, of course, buy tickets for the Eurostar at any Eurostar station before you board the train. If it’s busy, you run the risk of the line being long and running out of time before the train leaves, not to mention the risk that your train will be sold out by the time you get to a ticket window.

Generally speaking, then, it’s a far better idea to book your Eurostar tickets online. This gives you as much time as you need to make the necessary transactions; plus, you’ll know right away when a train is sold out.

You can also book Eurostar tickets in advance by phone if you prefer to do that rather than book online.

Should I buy Eurostar tickets way in advance, or wait?

Again, buying Eurostar tickets right before you want to travel and buying them well in advance of your trip are both viable options; for a couple of reasons, it’s better to book well in advance whenever possible.

First of all, booking Eurostar tickets online in advance means you have more choices on the tickets available. There are different categories of tickets, and the cheaper ones tend to sell more quickly, so the earlier you can get online and book your tickets, the more likely you are to get one of the cheaper tickets.

Second, prices on Eurostar tickets always go up as a travel date gets closer, so the longer you wait to buy, the more you’ll end up paying for your ticket anyway. When discounts are to be had, they’re for advance purchases.

How far in advance can I buy Eurostar tickets?

You can book tickets on the Eurostar between London and Paris as many as 90 days before your travel date; that’s three full months before you’re going to ride the Eurostar.

Now, not everyone plans that far ahead. However, the best deals on tickets are nearly always going to be available in that timeframe. In other words, the sooner you can determine your itinerary and which day you’ll want to take the Eurostar, the more money you’ll save on your ticket.

Bonus Money-Saving Tip for the Eurostar:

Even if you’re only riding the Eurostar one way, check the prices on round-trip tickets anyway; sometimes they’re cheaper than a one-way ticket, whether or not you use the return leg of the ticket.

Peter is the editor of France Travel Blog. He has traveled to France many times and is ready to share the knowledge in this travel guide for France.

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How to save money and get cheap Eurostar tickets to Paris, Disneyland, Brussels and Amsterdam

Use these savvy tips to bag cheap Eurostar tickets and travel to France, Belgium and beyond for less!

Motoring and Travel

lovemoney staff Updated on 3 February 2023

Cheap Eurostar tickets: look out for sales and deals

If you fancy travelling on the Eurostar, look out for special sales and deals on the  website . These come and go and rapidly sell out, so you should sign up for Eurostar's newsletter to stay updated.

If you've missed out on the sales, there are plenty of other options for saving money on your Eurostar journey.

Book your Eurostar tickets early

Cheap Eurostar tickets start from around £50 one-way or around £90 for a return ticket to Paris or Brussels.

According to the rail advice website  The Man in Seat 61 , the cheapest tickets can be found between midday Monday and midnight Thursday, and between midday and midnight on Saturday.

Eurostar tickets can sometimes go on sale 120 days (or even 330 days) before departure so keep this in mind when planning your trip and try to get in early.

Just be mindful that these tickets may be non-refundable, and you'll have to pay £30 (or £40 for Standard Premier tickets) plus the difference in fare if you want to change them within seven days of your departure time.

You can also try out this  price prediction tool , which will let you know of any expected price rises.

Hoping to travel to Paris but prices are still too high for your liking? Eurostar recommends heading to Marne-la-Vallée, which is only a 40-minute train ride from the centre of Paris.

The best time to book a holiday: get your flights, hotels, cruises and more for the lowest price

Check return and Standard Premier tickets

Eurostar's ticket pricing is dynamic, meaning that it can vary hugely with demand, like airline tickets.

This can lead to some surprising bargains for savvy travellers.

For a start, return tickets can –  anecdotally at least  – end up cheaper than single tickets. A return ticket is almost always likely to be cheaper than two separately booked singles.

It might be possible to get a Standard Premier seat that’s not much more expensive than Standard class.

Premier class features bigger seats, a light meal and a round of free alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, so it could be worth the extra expense.

Check out cheap travel deals at lastminute.com

Use an InterRail or Eurail pass

The  InterRail pass  (for European passengers),  MyInterrail  (for UK passengers and European residents) and  Eurail  (for those outside the EU) can get you discounts on  Eurostar bookings .

The passes can cost hundreds of pounds depending on the type you want so it's not worth getting solely for cheaper Eurostar travel, but if you were getting one anyway then you may as well save extra.

You can book through the  Eurostar website .

Read more about cheap train tickets for the weekend and holidays

Join Club Eurostar

Club Eurostar replaced two old schemes, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Frequent Traveller.

It's free to join and worth doing before you book a ticket.

It works in a similar way to  airline frequent flyer schemes , in that you earn points that can be spent on tickets or upgrades.

With Club Eurostar, you can earn one point per £1 spent on Eurostar travel and one point for every £2 spent on train and hotel packages.

Your Club Eurostar points can also be topped up via partners like American Express.

If you earn 2,400 points from Eurostar travel in a year or take 32 return journeys, you'll join the 'Carte Blanche' tier, entitling you to free lounge access and fast-track lanes.

Check for group and age-related savings

Children under four can travel for free on Eurostar trains, provided they don't need their own seat.

Plus, there are discounted prices for under 12s and groups.

There is also a discount for someone accompanying a wheelchair user, who is travelling in Standard Premier or Business Premier class.

Use cashback websites and credit cards

Check to see if cashback websites like  Quidco  or  TopCashback  have any offers to earn money back on your spending with Eurostar before booking your tickets online.

If these websites don't have direct Eurostar offers, they could let you earn cashback by using other train booking websites.

Even without these sites, you could effectively save 5% on your Eurostar journey by paying with the  American Express Everyday or Platinum Cashback cards  (within the first three months of ownership).

Check if flying or a coach or ferry is cheaper

Travelling via Eurostar has many advantages over flying.

It’s a fast way to get to the centre of a city with a generous luggage allowance at no extra cost. There are also no restrictions on liquids, you get more space in your seat and it’s better for the environment.

But it’s worth checking to see if you can get a cheaper flight to your destination if you’re on a tight budget.

Budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair have cheap flights to places like Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam throughout the year.

Read  How to get a cheap flight  for tips on sussing out the best deals.

If you're really short on cash, a coach is a cheap, if not particularly comfortable or rapid way to cross the English Channel.

Or, if you're going to Amsterdam, a combined train and ferry ticket on the 'Dutch Flyer' could be an option.

It's best tackled as an overnight journey, but you'll get your own en-suite cabin.

*This article contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently.

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Eurostar guide: everything you need to know before you travel

We answer the big questions from departure to arrival — and find out what it’s really like on board the eurostar.

E urostar has been whizzing travellers across northern Europe for nearly 30 years via a rail network that connects France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK. Its high-speed trains can reach 186mph, dropping to 100mph when travelling through the Channel Tunnel; and are often a more convenient option when pitted against planes. Most stations are right in the middle of the city, you don’t pay for luggage and there aren’t any liquid restrictions. Journey times vary depending on your destination, with the shortest journey being London to Lille in 1hr 22min. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of the journey.

Main photo: passengers queue for the Eurostar at St Pancras station (Getty Images)

Where does the Eurostar go?

Direct trains link London to Paris , Brussels , Amsterdam and Rotterdam . You can connect in any of the European stations and travel to other destinations across France , Belgium , the Netherlands and Germany . Some of the most popular journeys include connecting at Lille for Disneyland Paris; and taking the ski train from Lille in winter. Station refurbishments in Amsterdam Centraal are due to take place for six months from June 14, 2024. This will mean limited Eurostar trains from London to Amsterdam, and no direct services from Amsterdam to London during this time. That said, it will still be possible to make return journeys to the Netherlands via Eurostar, albeit with a longer journey back to England. There will be three daily services from London to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The return journey from Amsterdam to London will require passengers to take a connecting service in Brussels-Midi, with a wait time that Eurostar estimates will be between 48min and 1hr 48min. When the refurbishment is complete, a new cross-channel terminal will allow for more regular, direct trains between the two cities.

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How early should I arrive for the Eurostar?

Eurostar recommends that you get to London St Pancras around 1hr 15min before departure. This will give you enough time to clear security and passport control (for both the UK and France), and then wait in the departure lounge until the platform is announced. It’s best to stock up on food and drink in St Pancras station as the choice is limited inside the Eurostar terminal. If you’re travelling in Business Premier you can enter via a fast-track entrance so arriving an hour before will leave you with plenty of time to clear security and board the train.

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What will i need to take.

Your tickets, which can be downloaded on the Eurostar app or printed in advance at home; and your passport.

How long does the Eurostar take?

Most journeys from London to Paris take 2hr 16min but some can be as long as 2hr 37min. The Eurostar typically takes 1hr 53min to Brussels; 1hr 22min to Lille; and 3hr 52min to Amsterdam.

What’s the difference between the classes on Eurostar?

There are three classes to choose from — Standard, Standard Premier and Business Premier. The difference between Standard and Standard Premier is that in the latter seats are slightly bigger and you’ll get a light meal and drinks served to your seat. In Business Premier you get a three-course meal, designed by Raymond Blanc, served with a glass of champagne and other hot and cold drinks throughout the journey. You can use the Business Premier lounges with free snacks, drinks and newspapers, use the fast-track gates and your ticket has more flexibility: there are no fees to exchange or cancel.

How much luggage can you take?

There’s no limit on weight and each bag can be up to 85cm at its widest points. Passengers in Standard or Standard Premier can take two pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage while those in Business Premier can take three pieces of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. Children can take one piece of luggage and one piece of hand luggage. You can book separate spaces for bikes. Musical instruments should be in a case up to 85cm long. There are lots of rules around sports equipment, such as skiing kit. If you’re going camping then tents need to be packed in bags or cases up to 85cm long. Here’s everything you need to know on luggage limitations.

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Is there a café onboard?

Yes, you can buy drinks, meals and snacks in Café Métropole, which is reasonably priced. You’re also welcome to bring food and drinks with you on board.

Can you take liquids on Eurostar?

Yes, unlike on flights there’s no limit on the quantity of liquids you can take on board.

What items are not allowed on Eurostar?

Among the items prohibited on Eurostar are unlicensed firearms and ammunition, and some relics from world war sites such as historical weapons, munitions and explosive devices; plus certain inflammable substances, flick knives, gardening equipment and furniture, e-scooters and perishable items such as fish, meat and dairy products. Other items, including authorised firearms, some DIY tools and cut flowers and plants, are restricted. You can find out more about prohibited and restricted items here .

You cannot bring alcohol on board in excess of the Eurostar alcohol policy . This policy limits passengers to a few unopened bottles of alcohol to take to their destination. Alcohol consumption on board the Eurostar is limited to four bottles or cans of beer or one bottle of wine per person. Large bottles of spirits cannot be consumed on board. Passengers who want to bring back large quantities of alcohol on their return must contact a courier service.

Can children travel for free?

Children under four can travel for free if they can sit on an adult’s lap for the whole journey. If they need their own seat you’ll need to buy a child ticket. In terms of luggage, you can take one pushchair and one car seat per child for no extra cost. Café Métropole is on board and handy if your little one wants to move around during the journey. Child tickets, for those aged from four to 11, are 30 per cent cheaper in Standard and Standard Premier. Eurostar also offers discounted youth fares for those aged from 12 to 25 but these are currently not available for trips to and from London.

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Does Eurostar have wi-fi?

Yes, there’s free wi-fi throughout the train, though the signal can be patchy because it relies on mobile data — especially when going through tunnels. Head to settings, wi-fi, select EurostarTrainsWiFi and register your details when on board.

Can dogs go on the Eurostar?

No, only guide dogs are allowed on board.

How can I get cheap Eurostar tickets?

Adult single tickets start from £39 and it’s usually a case of the earlier the better when it comes to booking, particularly if you want to travel over a weekend or on a bank holiday. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest days to travel. Eurostar advises that you book four months in advance for the best prices. You can change your tickets for free up to seven days before departure, so if you do need to change dates, or see a cheaper price, it’s easy to amend your booking.

How far in advance can you book Eurostar?

You’ll typically be able to book Eurostar tickets up to 330 days in advance of your return travel date.

Are Eurostar tickets refundable?

It depends which class of ticket you’ve booked. Standard and Standard Premier tickets are non-refundable but you can change your ticket without an exchange fee up to seven days before the departure of your original train. You will need to pay the difference in fare. If you want to change your train within seven days of the departure date you’ll need to pay a £30 exchange fee for Standard or £40 for Standard Premier, as well as any difference in fare. This is per person, per leg of the journey and you can make any changes on the “manage your booking” section of the Eurostar site, if this is where you booked your original tickets. If you need to make a change in person or over the phone there will be a £10 service charge.

The most flexible tickets are Business Premier. If you need to cancel your journey you can get a refund up to 60 days after your planned departure, but this doesn’t include routes to the Netherlands. Standard Premier bookings and exchanges can be made over the phone or at the station.

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Everything you need to know about booking Eurostar train travel across Europe

If you're already based in Europe, the iconic Eurostar train likely needs no introduction; if you're only visiting the continent, however, you may not be quite aware of the service or how speedy and convenient its connectivity is between the U.K. and mainland Europe.

If you're looking for an easy (and typically cheaper) alternative to flying in Europe , then Eurostar might be just what you're looking for. It provides easy access to several countries — if you're short on time during your vacation, you could opt to take a daytrip from London to Paris using this train service.

Keep reading to find out more about traveling on Eurostar, including how to book tickets and save on fares by using your points and miles . Plus, check out our in-depth overview of each fare type on the Eurostar .

Eurostar trains travel to several destinations

Eurostar began operating in 1994 and is one of Europe's most well-known high-speed train services. The train currently offers direct service to London; Paris; Brussels; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Amsterdam.

Further connecting Eurostar services will take you to Antwerp, Belgium; Liege, Belgium; Dusseldorf, Germany; Duisburg, Germany; Essen, Germany; and Dortmund, Germany.

In addition to operating its own trains, Eurostar serves as a connecting rail service for other high-speed carriers to destinations like Disneyland Paris.

Related: 7 reasons why your next family vacation should be a train trip

What are the different ticket types for Eurostar trains?

The fare classes on Eurostar come in three tiers. The lowest and most affordable is Standard, which is the equivalent of coach or economy class with an airline.

Next up is Standard Premier, which is akin to premium economy. Finally, there's Business Premier, which is Eurostar's version of business class.

The fare classes are broken down as follows:

With regards to pricing, the cost of fares in Standard and Standard Premier fluctuates based on seasonality, peak periods and destination. Business Premier, on the other hand, remains fairly consistent year-round in terms of pricing. Eurostar tickets can usually be booked up to 330 days before your return travel date.

Generally speaking, if you're considering a trip from London onward, you can expect prices to fall somewhere within the following margins for a one-way trip:

If you're looking to snag a bargain, it's worth keeping your eye out for flash sales, which Eurostar regularly runs throughout the year, often with tickets for as little as 30 British pounds (around $38).

How do Eurostar trains compare to flying?

Compared to flying to your destination and transiting through European airports, traveling via Eurostar is much more low-stress.

The most obvious difference is the security experience, which, compared to that at an airport, is effortless, with no removal of liquids or large electric items. Although queues can mount up during busy periods, we've found that we're through security in under 10 minutes when we travel with Eurostar.

Check-in is similar to airport check-in in that you must show your ticket and passport at a desk or kiosk. London's St. Pancras International Station , however, is currently testing biometric face scans , which may make checking in even faster.

Regarding lounge access, it's worth noting lounges are only available at the St. Pancras, Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi/Zuid stations.

If you're used to airline-run business-class airport lounges, you may need to lower your expectations somewhat here. Although comfortable and pleasant, the lounges are somewhat basic — don't expect too much in the way of food.

Related: The best lounges at London Heathrow — and how to get inside

On board the Eurostar, it's like most modern trains you may have taken at home. The differences between Standard Premier and Business Premier are nominal. You'll get slightly more legroom and a slightly more modern seat in both classes than in Standard.

What you're paying for in these classes is the luggage allowance and food service. If you don't deem either of those things a huge must-have, you'll be more than comfortable in Standard.

That said, the food service on the Eurostar is much better than on most airplanes and currently features a menu designed by the renowned Raymond Blanc. Champagne and coffee services are also served free of charge in Business Premier.

How to book the Eurostar train with credit cards

Travel on Eurostar, booked directly with Eurostar or through an online travel provider, should be coded as travel.

The following credit cards offer bonus points for travel expenses, along with strong welcome bonuses:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2 points on all other travel purchases.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve : Earn 3 points per dollar on travel purchases.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, including travel.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Earn 2 points per dollar on all purchases, including travel.
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Earn 3% cash back on transit, including taxis, parking, tolls, trains and buses.
• Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ): Earn 2% on every purchase, with 1% cash back when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.

Related: 14 best travel credit cards

How to earn points and miles for Eurostar trains

Eurostar operates its own loyalty program named Club Eurostar. For every British pound spent (about $1.27), you will earn 1.2 points. This means you earn around 1 point per $1 spent.

Elite members receive the following points bonuses when booking:

• Avantage: 25%
• Carte Blanche: 50%
• Etoile: 75%

Eurostar tickets can now be booked through the Uber app , and you will earn 10% back in Uber credits on Eurostar bookings and National Rail train tickets in the U.K.

Additionally, you can earn 10% back when you purchase your coach tickets with the following U.K. operators: National Express and Megabus. If you decide to opt out of taking public transit, you can also hire a car from Avis, Hertz and other companies in your Uber app. When you book your trip, you'll receive £10 off (about $12).

You can also transfer 2,000 Accor Live Limitless points and receive 300 Eurostar points.

How to redeem points and miles for Eurostar trains

You can redeem 2,000 Club Eurostar points for a round-trip ticket in Standard class (or 4,000 points for a Standard Premier ticket), though these tickets are limited. For 1,000 more points, you can book any Standard or Standard Premier seats available.

A round-trip ticket can easily cost over $200 in Standard class (and double this at peak periods), making Club Eurostar points very valuable.

Business Premier tickets are available for 6,000 points round-trip for any available seat (saver-level space is not offered).

A one-way upgrade from Standard to Standard Premier is 600 points.

If you don't wish to redeem Club Eurostar points for train travel, you can transfer 500 Eurostar points and receive 1,000 Accor points .

You can redeem Virgin points through Virgin Red for the following Eurostar vouchers:

• 2,000 points for a 10-pound E-Voucher (about $12)
• 5,000 points for a 25-pound E-Voucher (about $31)
• 10,000 points for a 50-pound E-Voucher (about $63)
• 20,000 points for a 100-pound E-Voucher (about $126)

We would not recommend redeeming Virgin points in this way under any circumstances, as this will only give you a redemption value of 0.5 cents each, which is only one-third of our current valuation of Virgin points . You can obtain far more value from your Virgin points by redeeming through flights on Virgin Atlantic or partner airlines like Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines.

Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: How to earn and redeem points for maximum value

Bottom line

Eurostar's popularity boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic as travelers looked for ways to move around Europe without relying on airlines. As a result, Eurostar fares can be more expensive compared to flights with the same route. For short journeys like between London and Brussels, taking Eurostar is a much quicker and more relaxing experience, while on longer journeys like London to Amsterdam, the price can be similar.

If you want to travel within Europe and like the idea of keeping your feet on the ground, book in advance or redeem points and enjoy the stress-free Eurostar rail experience.