The Eurostar Works for Me (Eurostar)

Member Name: DavyMichelle

Product:	Eurostar
Date:	18/11/08 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Speedy, Can be Affordable, Clean

Disadvantages: Cramped, Prices Fluctuate

I've travelled on the Eurostar a few times now and thought to review it when I just got an email a few minutes ago informing me that my upcoming trip is subject to delays thanks to the recent fire in the tunnel forcing trains to take a small diversion around the work area.


The first time I went on the Eurostar I was surprised by how clean it is. I don't why I was so suprised because it is quite a new thing afterall! I was though and thought it was noticeably clean which is more than can be said for a lot of standard inland trains.


The seats on all the eurostars I've travelled on have been really quite small which is embarrassing for most normal people a bit I think. I'm not a huge bloke but I'm well enough built to have to make an effort to ensure I'm completely in my own seat. On one trip, the woman next to me had a three or four year old on her lap and between the three of us we could hardly breath the whole two hour journey! It does say on the Eurostar site that children under four can travel free on laps so do be warned. If you want space, you have to pay for it and upgrade to a better quality of coach.


How good the value for money is depends on the price you pay I think. The Eurostar is VERY much like an airline in its charges. If you book one week you might pay £120 for a return to Lille, but another week you'll only be billed £60 for the same journey! I just can't figure out the pricing structure at all. The only thing I can say with any certainty is that Monday and Saturday are expensive days to travel and that midday trains are the cheapest usually. That's all I've worked out so far.


Overall I've been happy with the Eurostar to date. It's not the most pleasant experience thanks to the cramped seats but it's clean, the price is right as long as I book a few weeks in advance and I get to Europe in just a couple of hours which is considerably faster than if I tried to fly or took the ferry.

Summary: Recommended at the right price.