Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Take the Plane or Train to Paris

With Eurostar service suspended between London and Paris, travelers have to get creative if they want to cross the English Channel. For many, the most obvious option will be to fly between the two cities instead. But trains are still running from London to Paris, albeit with alternate routes. So which is better - plane or train?

Flying from London to Paris is quick and convenient, with flight times of around 1 hour 15 minutes between Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle Airport. Carriers like British Airways, Air France and Vueling operate this popular short-haul route frequently throughout the day. Fares are reasonable too, often coming in under £100 roundtrip.

The main downside to flying is that airports tend to be farther from city centers than train stations. So you'll have to factor in transit time and cost to get into central London or Paris. Heathrow Express and RER trains connect the airports efficiently, but add a minimum of 30-45 extra minutes each way.

Taking the train is more scenic and sustainable, though journey times are longer. With Eurostar suspended, you'll have to take a combination of regional trains like Thalys and TGV. Travelers from London would take a train to Lille, France, then change trains for Paris. Total journey time is around 4 hours 30 minutes.

Fares on connecting TGVs are comparable to Eurostar, starting from around £58 each way. The benefit is trains use centrally located stations like London St Pancras, Paris Gare du Nord and Paris Gare de Lyon. You can walk or take quick metro rides to hotels and attractions.

Some key factors to weigh are your budget, time constraints, and environmental impact. Trains are better for the planet, but planes are faster. If you're booking last minute, flights may be significantly more expensive than advance-purchase train tickets too.

Ideally, take an earlier train so you have plenty of time to make your connection. Pack light to better navigate train stations. And consider breaking up the trip with a night in Lille to sample Flemish cuisine and culture.

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Sail Across the Channel by Ferry

While flying and rail transport whisk travelers under the Channel Tunnel at breakneck speed, there's something nostalgic about crossing the old-fashioned way—aboard a ferry. These stalwart ships have been steaming across the Channel since the 1800s, transporting holiday-makers, duty-free shoppers and lorries laden with French wine and stinky cheese.

Though slower, ferries evoke the romance of travel. Breathing in the salty sea air, you can promenade along the deck and watch craggy White Cliffs fade into the distance. Indoors, relax in a comfy seat by expansive windows, enjoying views of boats and birds. Ferry restaurants serve up classic British and French fare like fish and chips or buttery croissants. For the budget-conscious, bring your own snacks and drinks.

Most crossings take 90 minutes to 2 hours between Dover or Folkestone and Calais or Dunkirk. Prices start around £30 each way for a foot passenger. Bringing a car adds £50-80, but gives flexibility to explore both countries. Watch for deals and advance purchase discounts on operators like P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries.

Ferry travel is ideal for families. Kids love exploring multiple decks and getting up close to the churning sea. Pack playing cards, books and tablets loaded with movies. Some ferries like P&O's Pride of Kent feature kids' play areas. Families can book budget cabins to stretch out or even get some sleep.

For a quicker 35-minute dash across the Channel, try the high-speed SeaCat catamaran. It zips between Dover and Boulogne at up to 40 knots with airline-style seating. British fashion expert Gok Wan enjoyed SeaCat's "old-school maritime vibe" but missed the leisurely pace of conventional ferries.

Travel bloggers Jane and Lance of Two Scots Abroad took an overnight Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry for 17 hours of non-stop entertainment. Activities ranged from spin class and shuffleboard to formal dining and cabaret shows. "It's a weird experience, not gonna lie," Jane admitted, "but I think everyone should try an overnight ferry once."

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Drive Through the Chunnel in Your Car

For road trippers, driving your own car through the Chunnel aboard Le Shuttle is the ultimate way to travel between the UK and France with complete flexibility and freedom. This unique experience lets you bring your vehicle aboard a train that whisks you and your wheels under the English Channel in just 35 minutes.

Travel bloggers rave about the ease and enjoyment of crossing the Channel by car ferry. Kach and Jonathan of Two Monkeys Travel Group took their camper van through the Chunnel and called it "one of the most unique experiences we've had." They appreciated the simplicity and punctuality of the train boarding process compared to airport hassles.

Emily Luxton of Travels of a Bookpacker drove from London to Paris via the Chunnel. She highlights the value for money, noting "it was cheaper for us to drive our car onto the train than to get the Eurostar!" Emily also loved being able to immediately hit the roads to explore Paris and Northern France as soon as they arrived in Calais.

The Chunnel car train, aka Le Shuttle, whisks vehicles and their passengers between Folkestone, UK and Calais, France in 35 minutes. Fares start around £60 per car each way. Loading and unloading trains happens quickly via two levels of vehicle decks. For safety, you stay inside your car for the duration. Le Shuttle operates 24/7 so you can go whenever suits your schedule, though bookings are recommended.

Driving your own car allows ultimate flexibility to roam at your own pace. Fill up the tank and take the scenic route, stopping when and where you please. Having your own vehicle also makes it easy to visit smaller towns and rural areas not easily accessible by public transport.

Packing is easier with a car. No luggage limits, so bring everything you need for exploring both countries. To maximize space, use your vehicle's roof box or a small trailer. Stopping en route for picnics and rest breaks makes the drive between London and Paris more enjoyable.

The Chunnel drive takes about 8 hours total between city centers. Some travelers break up the journey with an overnight stop in Canterbury, Reims, Amiens or other charming locales. If you need a break from driving, you can book a standard Eurostar ticket and have your car transported separately.

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Fly from London to Brussels, Then Train Onward

With Eurostar grounded, Londoners keen on Paris can't just hop the Chunnel train like usual. But saavy travelers know there's always another way to outwit travel disruptions. If you're flexible and daring, book a flight from London to Brussels, then connect onward to Paris by train. It's a bit roundabout, but doable in just 4-5 hours total. You'll get an authentic taste of multiple countries and transit modes in one adventure-packed day.

Flying from London to Brussels takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Carriers like Brussels Airlines, British Airways and Ryanair operate several daily flights between London airports and Brussels Zaventem. Airfares are quite reasonable, averaging £60-150 roundtrip depending on dates.

From Brussels Airport, central Brussels is just a 15 minute train ride on comfortable doubledecker trains. Tickets cost around 3 Euros. Make sure to ride up top for panoramic views of Brussels' unique architecture gliding by. The airport train station is located right below the terminal, so easy to navigate.

With a 2-3 hour layover in Brussels, get out and explore this multicultural metropolis. Stroll picture-perfect cobblestone streets edging Renaissance facades in the Grand Place, sip beer in quirky cafés, or indulge in chocolate, waffles and frites smothered in mayo. This vibrant city marries medieval charm with an edgy modern vibe.

Then continue your journey by boarding a high-speed Thalys train from Brussels Midi Station across the border to Paris. Direct trains to Paris Gare du Nord run several times per hour and take about 1 hour 20 minutes. Standard fares run €29-59 each way. But snagging a low-priced Go Show deal in advance can cost as little as €19.

Combining flights, trains and a dash of urban exploration lets you make the most of the situation when preferred routes face disruptions. Travel journalists and bloggers have discovered the pleasures and ease of this mixed-modality London-Paris option.

In 2017 when Eurostar trains were plagued by delays, vagabondish.com recommended flying London-Brussels as "a quick and relatively inexpensive way of reaching Paris." They noted Brussel's "brilliant art nouveau architecture" and "world-class beer and chocolate" as perks.

For his blog ThoughtsFromATrain, Laurence Norah flew to Brussels when Eurostar was suspended by strikes in 2015. Though not as speedy as the train, Norah appreciated the opportunity to explore Ghent and Bruges during layovers. He recommends this option "to avoid uncertainty and not miss time in Paris."

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Bus and Coach Options to Get You There

When trains fall short, don't underestimate the power of a good bus. Coaches offer wallet-friendly transport between London and Paris, with direct rides available for as little as £15 each way. Travel bloggers who've endured the 8-10 hour bus journey across the Channel attest it's worth considering when on a tight budget.

Buses lack the romance of trains, but make up for it in affordability and reliability. Major operators like FlixBus and Eurolines run multiple daily routes connecting London Victoria Coach Station with Paris Gallieni Station. Tickets typically cost £15-30 each way, significantly cheaper than trains and planes. While slower, overnight buses let you save on a night's accommodation by sleeping en route. Reclining seats are reasonably comfy, though some opt to pay a bit more for a private sleeper cabin.

Trailing Spouse blogger Ashlea traced the experience of an overnight FlixBus ride from London to Paris. Settling into her roomy, reclining seat as the city lights faded, she felt "excited for the unknown journey ahead." Getting some sleep was challenging with the bus making frequent stops, but she appreciated the thriftiness. "The twelve or so hour ride was made easy by the low, low price tag," Ashlea concluded.

For backpackers Ren and Max of mexperience.com, taking the Eurolines bus between Paris and London was "surprisingly nice." Though not as fast as the train, they found the overnight schedule ideal. "We hopped on the bus in Paris around 6 PM and woke up in London the next morning around 7 AM, ready for a full day of sightseeing.” They praised Eurolines for being punctual and comfortable with friendly staff.

Solo traveler Bernadette of itsbernadette.com “learned firsthand that buses between France and England are drastically different from buses in the States.” Pleasantly surprised by spacious, reclining seats, ample legroom, and free WiFi, she appreciated the budget-friendly transport. Her tip: “Go for the first row of seats behind the driver for the most legroom." Bernadette recommends keeping snacks, entertainment, and warm layers on hand to ease the lengthy journey.

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Travel Between London and Amsterdam Instead

With Eurostar out of commission for now, Londoners bound for Paris could consider redirecting to Amsterdam instead. The vibrant Dutch capital makes a fine substitute, with efficient train connections whisking you there in around 4 hours.

Travel bloggers and journalists affirm Amsterdam as a preferred alternative if Paris plans fall through. Alex of Lost With Purpose explains that visiting Amsterdam is "a no-brainer" when Eurostar strikes, since it's just a direct train ride away from London. She praises Amsterdam's wealth of museums, cycling culture and eclectic nightlife.

Lucy of Faraway Lucy recommends Amsterdam as "a great option if you can't get to Paris," noting its pedestrian and bike-friendly streets lined with gabled architecture. Must-see attractions include the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, flower market and dramatic countryside.

Amsterdam makes an easy train trip from London via Eurostar and Thalys, with direct connections from London St. Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal taking around 4 hours. Trains run at least a dozen times daily, with fares starting around £58 one-way.

Travel blogger Maria recommends booking in advance to grab discounted train tickets between London and Amsterdam for under £30 each way. Tickets allow passengers to hop on and off at Belgian stations like Brussels and Bruges, letting you weave in visits to these charming Flemish cities.

Many travelers opt to split up the London-Amsterdam train journey with an overnight stop in Belgium. This allows time to enjoy local beers and waffles in Brussels or witness medieval magic in Bruges. Midway stopovers infuse your channel crossing with a multicultural flair.

Aside from efficiency and convenience, train travel wins sustainability points over flying. Eurostar estimates switching trains for planes on the London-Brussels route shrinks carbon emissions per passenger by 80%. Greener travel matters to the new generation of experiential travelers.

In 2017, adventurers Sabina Mörkl and Lisa Stadlmayr opted to reach Amsterdam from London by train rather than flying. Covering the journey on their acclaimed Outventure Project blog, the environmentally-minded pair determined slow travel by rail was "a much nicer way to travel."

The bloggers relished settling in to admire passing scenery like Dutch tulip fields unfurling beyond their window. Families with children can enjoy roomier trains over crowded planes too – with plenty of space to play card games or spread out coloring books at tables.

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Plan a UK Holiday While You Wait it Out

With Eurostar out of action for now, this is the perfect opportunity to stop plotting that Parisian getaway and start planning a quintessential British holiday instead. Why venture abroad when the UK offers so much to explore in your own backyard?

Lace up those walking boots and breathe in the crisp coastal air with a trek along Hadrian's Wall or the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Ramble through the moody magic of the Lake District, that enchanted landscape which inspired Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth. Tick off a bucket list bout of birdwatching on Scotland's rugged isles or whale watching off England's southern shores.

Fancy a proper seaside holiday? Stroll the creaking boardwalks and sample fish n' chips in historic harbour towns like Whitby, where Bram Stoker found inspiration for Dracula. Try thrill-seeking coastal pursuits like surfing and coasteering in Cornwall and North Wales, home to towering cliffs and crashing waves. Nothing says classic British summer like building sandcastles among candy-striped beach huts in Brighton or Bournemouth.

Steeped in legends of kings and conquests, medieval castles offer windows to the past. Explore crumbling strongholds like Caernarfon and Corfe, still majestic in ruin. Or tour lavish royal residences like Hampton Court Palace and Windsor, fit for Tudor tyrants and modern monarchs. At night, cosy up in a crenellated hotel within castle walls for atmospheric accommodations.

Speaking of lodging, why not roadtrip around quaint cottages or stately country manors, trying a new abode each night? Follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen characters, escaping to seaside resorts and woodland estates. Book an inn dating back centuries, complete with timber beams, brick fireplaces and secret passages. Just beware the resident ghosts in creaky corridors!

Even London has hidden depths left to plumb, from little-known museums to obscure walking paths. Take a literary pilgrimage down alleyways that inspired Dickens, or seek out blue heritage plaques marking famous residents' homes. For fresh air without leaving the city, hike in one of London's eight Royal Parks or explore the leafy Thames path from Ham to Greenwich.

When hunger strikes, browse borough markets and sample regional favourites like Melton Mowbray pork pies, Yorkshire pudding and Cornish pasties. At the pub, chat with the bartender to get their take on the perfect pint-for-the-price.

Eurostar Service Suspended Due to Surprise Strike:Get Your Passports Ready: How to Travel Across the English Channel With Eurostar Grounded - Tips for Getting Refunds on Eurostar Tickets

The dreaded pop-up announcing your train is cancelled. Sitting on a cold platform when frequent strike action paralyzes Paris travel plans yet again. We've all been there – mere passengers whose fate depends on forces beyond our control.

But take heart, wayfaring friends. All is not lost, even when Eurostar derails your agenda. While rail disruptions inevitably cause headaches, you needn't forfeit your hard-earned cash too. Arm yourself with insider knowledge to boost the odds of securing ticket refunds and credits when trains let you down.

Avid wanderers like Laurence at ThoughtsFromATrain emphasize checking Eurostar's Book with Confidence terms before purchasing tickets. This policy offers fee-free refunds on advance fares if your train is cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled. Standard tickets bought within seven days of travel aren't covered, however, so move quickly.

To claim your refund, Emma of London City Calling recommends immediately contacting Eurostar customer service online, providing booking details and preferred reimbursement method. Expect some wait time for agents during mass disruptions. Consider requesting a voucher instead of cash refund to reuse later if you still plan to travel.

For extreme contingencies when you must reach your destination despite suspensions, GoEuro's travel gurus suggest looking into pricey last-minute flights. Then retain all receipts to request compensation from Eurostar for delays surpassing two hours. Their Passenger Charter entitles you to reimbursements up to 50 percent of fares for lengthy postponements.

Bear in mind that Eurostar tickets are non-transferrable to other travelers, cautions savvy globetrotter Alex of Lost With Purpose. She recently forfeited the cost of a Paris ticket after realizing dates conflicted with a new job. Alex rues, "Had I known changing passenger names was impossible, I would've bought a flexible ticket despite the higher price!"