Eurostar questions?

[annatinker]

hi guys,

Just taken advantage of the flash sale- would be rude not too!!
We are going at the end of september and last time we drove & went on the eurotunnel, but am looking at the eurostar from Ebbsfleet, just wondering if some one could fill me in about parking and the 1 change i think at Lille?
also the luaggage and whether not having seats for two under 4's would be a problem?!!

thank you
This time our mission is to see Buzz, Lighning McQueen and Rapunzel!!!

 

[Ms Poppins]

Congratulations on your booking

We usually go Eurostar from St Pancras or Ashford, so can't help with changeover I'm afraid.

Luggage should be fine - there is normally enough room. The seats are quite bit on Eurostar, so should manage ok with the kids. You might get lucky and have some spare ones around you.

 

[BabyAriel]

Hi annatinker.

Lucky you!!!

We went from Ebbsfleet on our last trip, before they'd introduced the direct service. We were 3 adults plus DD1 (age 4) and DD2 (age 13 months) so had paid for 4 seats and it was no problem squeezing DD2 between 2 adults. Most of the time she was on my lap though.

My OH organised the parking - I think he booked it online via the Ebbsfleet station website. The car park is right outside the station so we didn't have to walk far at all. Great.

Ebbsfleet was lovely, very quiet!

As for the change in Lille, it was a bit of a hassle with the youngest who couldn't yet walk, and all our luggage and the buggy. OH was basically the luggage handler...I guess a 'simple change' is always made that bit more complicated with children hey? We had time to nip out of the station to grab a snack though. It was HEAVING on the TGV on the way back, OH had to stand out in the corridor with all the bags (not sure if it's always like that ). I'd definitely go for the direct service if you can

HTH

 

[annatinker]

Brilliant thanks Ms Pooopins and baby ariel for the info, love this forum for how friendly and helpful everyone is. I'll definitley look at the direct service as Buggy's etc do make it trickier to do changeovers etc!!
We only booked a couple of weeks in advance last year and thnaks to all th einfo from here had a fab time but now i've got two months to plan, can't wait to get started!

 

[Lisa_C]

Hi I also took advantage of the flash sale, living in Ashford it would be rude not too I've booked Eurostar - indirect via Lille on the way, and direct coming back. I decided that going there would be ok changing (I have a 15 and 7 year old, and will have two suitcases (sm and med) plus a backpack with food in.) I have found out that you collect the tickets from the machine at the top of the stairs, though you get the TGV from the same station as you go off, so it will mean that your OH or you will have to wait with the kids and luggage while the other collects them. It might be a bit difficult, but there is usually about an hour between trains so you will have no problem doing this as long as one of you is prepared to collect the second leg tickets

Coming home, I opted for direct as I want to be able to take advantage of the hotel's Disney Express service, and I didn't want the hassle of changing trains as usually I am so depresses i've left that I just don't want to move (plus the hour or sometimes two hours lay ove is NOT good when you want to get home!) I paid £99 for the outbound indirect train (1 adult, 1 youth and 1 child) and £150 for the return direct leg. My usual price for us three is around £190 together, so I paid a bit extra, but on the way there I leave at 7am and get there at 11am! That made up for the extra price to me! So think about it, on the way there you should be fine, but coming back i'd opt for a direct train. (Though expense wise, as it is quite late to book tickets, you may find the cheaper option of indirect works for you pocket so book as soon as possible. I was extremely lucky with my tickets and that was the deciding factor in going, if I had to pay any more for my tickets, I simply wouldn't go!)

I'm off 25th August for the summer Season and can't wait. It's my favourite time to go and I'm really excited that the kids will see Tarzan and Fanillision again!!!

Oh while I remember, if you put the arm rest up on the train, you will have plenty of room to sit a little one in between you and one on your lap Book a table and you can sit one on there LOL!!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[annatinker]

Brilliant thanks Lisa for the detailed information, it's really helpful. I am just looking at times & prices now for End september and playing about with ebbsfleet versus Ashford to see which have the best times. Ebbsfleet is edging it at the minute!
Am so excited.
Hope you have a fab trip, i'd go more if i lived near Ashford, we live in the midlands!

 

[siandonna]

we changed at lille last time and thanks to fab info on here it was easy. the only things i didnt expect was that it took a while to show our platform number and we didnt have much time to get on the train as the lifts were really packed. also, be ready to get off at dis, people had piled suitcases against the door, so we couldnt get off. luckily we were waiting by the door, but had to unload loads of suitcases then put them back on. it was madness.