Top Ten Tips for Taking the Eurostar

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For residents and visitors to the United Kingdom, Belgium or France, the Eurostar train has become an essential link between countries and a vital service for many.  Since living in Paris from 2006-2009 and with my relocation to London, I use Eurostar quite often as a quick solution for travelling between the two countries and would never imagine flying this route and enduring the difficulties of getting to the airport, leaving liquids at home and dealing with my slight flight anxiety at take-off and landing.  Here are my top ten tips to help you make your Eurostar trip as easy as possible, plus a few secrets I’ve learned through my frequent Eurostar travel.  Hope they are helpful!

Photo credit: alancleaver_2000

1. Don’t Forget Your Passport or I.D. card

Different from other rail journeys, don’t forget that the Eurostar crosses international borders and you will be required to go through border checks on all sides.  If you are a European citizen, your national I.D. card will suffice, but any residents and citizens of other nations need to be sure to bring passports and be sure to have any valid visas necessary for your journey.  Also, be sure to know your address whether it’s a hotel, friends’ house or office at your destination.  This is especially important when entering England.

2. Show up early

The recommended time to arrive before any Eurostar train journey is 30 minutes.  Oftentimes this may not be enough (in my experience) especially at Paris Gare du Nord where queues often snake around the top level of the terminal where the Eurostar security check-in is located.  Be sure to be aware of this when planning your trip to the train station.  It’s not the same as with regional trains that allow you to run up and hop in even when the whistle is blowing.

3. You will be going through security

Though the same liquid bans and baggage size requirements that apply when flying are not at play on the Eurostar, you will still be required to go through security.  This will mean emptying pockets, placing jackets in bins to go through the x-ray belt and stepping through a scanner machine.  Help to speed boarding by removing jackets and any items from your pockets beforehand.

Photo credit: garybembridge

4. You may sit backwards

As is the case for most trains, Eurostar trains have both front and back-facing seat arrangements. This sometimes poses problems to people prone to motion-sickness like myself.  Luckily, the Eurostar website allows you to select your seats and clearly indicates which direction the train will face on the journey, making it easier to ensure a front-facing seat if you want one.

5. There are no snack carts

There is not snack service in your seat, unless you’ve booked a Leisure Select or Premier ticket.  Snack cars are available but queues are often long and food sometimes sells out.  To ensure a quicker trip to the snack car and be sure to get what you want, try heading there about 10 minutes after departure.  By then, the staff should be ready and it will be before the announcement is made that the snack car is open, which is when floods of people usually head there.

6. Need to work? Find a seat with an electrical outlet

In first and business class, all seats have access to electrical outlets but in standard class the plugs are not always at every seat.  Use the handy guide on Eurostar.com whilst booking to make sure you pick a seat with an electrical outlet if you need one.

Photo credit: austinevan

7. Want to save on queues at your destination?

Don’t queue at the Tube ticket machines when you get to London or wait for ages at a French metro stop just to learn that your foreign credit card may not work…buy your transport tickets on the train! Oyster cards for London, carnets of RATP tickets for Paris and STIB tickets for Brussels are all on sale on board in the food car.  See the employee at the counter for help and make your trip even easier.

8. Don’t be scared in the chunnel!

For a lot of people, the idea of taking a train under the English Channel strikes a bit of fear and anxiety.  What if the tunnel leaks? Will we get stuck? Will my ears hurt?  After many journeys on Eurostar, I’m happy to report that it’s not only over before you know it (only about 20 minutes from end to end) but the train moves so quickly through the tunnel that there’s not much opportunity to be nervous or scared.  Think of how many times these trains have made the journey without disaster and realise you’ll be safe.

9. Sign up for a loyalty programme

Even if it might be rare that you use the Eurostar service, it’s always a good idea to sign up for either the Frequent Traveller or Eurostar Plus loyalty programmes to earn benefits from your travel.  It can’t hurt!  Besides, being on the Eurostar email list will ensure that you’re among the first to hear of special fares and promotions.

Photo credit: rightee

10. Enjoy the scenery and the smooth ride

Take some time to sit back, relax and enjoy your smooth ride.  From the picturesque French countryside to the coastal England villages, you’ll have a great vantage point to see some pretty sites along the way.  Enjoy this unique and extremely efficient way to travel.

Tags: Brussels, Europe, eurostar, London, Paris, rail travel, trains

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