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EU Trip-what to do?
I'm sorry to bombard with questions, but you have already been so helpful (and practical) while trying to plan this trip in March/April: Amsterdam to Paris to Barcelona to London (and Reading, which my sister is living)
My dilema is that there is not an ideal way to get from Amsterdam to Paris on Monday afternoon/evening: Options to get to Paris
1. Fly from AMS to Paris: direct flight is $500+;
2. Fly AMS to London ($40ish, 1hr), take train from London to Paris ($60, 2.5hrs); arrive Monday PM, get hotel in Paris). Total approx cost pp: $100+Paris hotel; total estimated time: 7.5hrs (including airport security)
3. Fly AMS to London ($40ish, 1hr), take bus ($30ish) from airport to Reading and stay with sister (1hr; free lodging) and Tues am: commute to London, take train from London to Paris ($60, 2.5hrs); arrive in Paris by noon. Total approx cost pp: $130; total estimated time: overnight
4. Train from AMS to Paris (3hrs, could leave Mon night or Tues am): ~$117+Paris hotel (for promo rate); est time: 3.5 hrs or so.
So is it obvious, take the train?
Re: EU Trip-what to do?
Personally I would go with #4. It does not make sense to me to go back to London to go to Paris.
I think you are under estimating times in and around London esp. It takes me an hour to get to work in London and I live about 3-4 miles away, zone 2-zone 1.
Heathrow to Kings Cross/ St. Pancras where you get the Euro Star is about an hour and you don't have to change tubes. Then you have to walk through the station which is large, go through immigration etc.
Oh and just because you buy a ticket on a train from Reading to London does not mean you get a seat. This is one of the busiest routes and the mornings are not pleasant even worse with a suitcase. We went to Cornwall this summer and didn't have a seat for 4 hours. I was really upset.
Also if you are seeing prices for the Euro Star for $60 I would buy it NOW.
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Thanks for your input. It looks like we may avoid even traveling on Euro Star then. The last Tues pm - Sun am of the trip we'll be staying with my sister in Reading, but plan on visiting London at least 3 of the days. Is there a punch-card or something equivilent you can buy instead of paying each ride? From the schedule; it's about 30 minutes?
Also, I know we've chatted on TN too...H is dying to go to a Premier Leauge game. It looks like our best option is on Sat, 4/14 in London; either Arsenal vs Wigan or Chelsea vs New Castle. I see that tickets are sold online, but they're not available for these games yet. By anychance, do you have advance on how to go about getting tix or ideas of when they go on sale? I signed up for emails about them, but I'm not sure if there's a better source/timing? TIA
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Getting tickets is kind of difficult, especially for those 2 teams. My dh (who is a huge Premiership fan and is from the UK) said chances of you getting a ticket to either of those matches is slim. For instance Arsenal is now selling tickets to members for a match 4 weeks out. If they don't sell out to members then they will go on sale to the general public, but that would probably be 3-4 weeks out. Just keep checking. He also said Wigan is not a good team (they are ranked low now) so there is a better chance it won't sell out to members.
The Chelsea-Newcastle match will be even more difficult, and it depends if you want to sit in the home or away side. Away would be easier to get tickets for, but Chelsea tickets are hard if you are not a season ticket holder. Keep checking that site as well, most teams, if they sell to the general public, sell 4-6 weeks out. You may have a better chance buying them from someone.
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2nd class is normal. I wouldn't pay extra for 1st class on a 3.5 hour train. Have a nice dinner in Paris instead.
I agree with Fb, I forget her new name, with the football, there are tons of teams in London if you can't get to those teams. If you go to the next league down they will be cheaper.
As for travel in London get an Oyster card. You can put cash on it which is taken off each time you use it. Ie you use the bus it costs ?1.20 now, you use the tube it depends on how many zones and time of day, but it will not add up to more than the cost of a one day 1-6 zone travel card in any one day. Or if you will travel a ton in a week you can get a one week travel card for different zones. You will need to put down a deposit for the Oyster card, which is ?5 now, don't pay to have it shipped to you just get it at a tube station.
My parents were here in Oct and got the Royal Wedding Oyster cards, my mom was very excited.
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I don't think it is impossible to get tickets but it will be very difficult. Just be prepared and keep looking - and you could easily spend $400 or more on 2 tickets to see those teams.