I've just booked on the Lille weekend in August, my nearest city is Birmingham. Doesn't worry me making my own way to St Pancras, in some ways I think it's easier. More flexibility..

I think it's a nice idea, Actually I'm new to the community and solo holidays, I do have to travel by train for work sometimes and find the whole process of train times/ticket prices really time consuming.and confusing. Some time i am late almost 2 to 3 hours than my regular timing....

Hello,

Although I am rather older than Cindy, I try to do one long-haul each year (just come back from NZ) plus a shorter break. The previously-offered coach holidays were a nightmare with the time in transit so I would welcome more Eurostar holidays plus hotel packages. Train ticket booking would be helpful, but not exactly difficult on the web.

David

David,

Never cosidered the protection part its certainly worth considering from that point of view if travelling down same day.

Coming from Yorkshire if i chose a eurostar holiday I'd arrive at Kings cross so handy for St Pancras.

The prices you quote for hotels back up what I say, a very expensive area for what you get, much cheaper at heathrow I've just booked a 4 star hotel night before i fly and parking for the week for £62.

Mick

Hi Mick. Thanks for replying and sorry for the slow reply from me.

If we did UK tickets for Eurostar holidays, it would be still optional. The main idea for us doing the tickets instead is based around simplicity for you and also that if we could brochure a simple, straightforward price, then you'd know your outlay up front.

The other benefit is that we would buy tickets to "London International". This station doesn't appear on TheTrainline, etc., (though it does appear on raileasy.co.uk) and means, should your UK train be late, then you're 'protected' by Eurostar on to the next available train. Same on the return, in saying if the Eurostar was late and you missed your UK connection, your UK rail supplier would still have to get you home.

As you can imagine then, it's proving less than easy to sort this out where we know we can offer you consistent prices!

Regarding the St Pancras hotels, we are in a position now to offer several in the area. We did previously just offer the Hilton, but it often came back at £200 for a night! We now can offer a range of hotels in the St Pancras/Kings Cross/Euston area (in fact, anywhere in London), and prices seem to come in circa £90-150 depending what you want (i.e. Comfort Inn, Jurys Inn, occasionally the Hilton comes out ok, etc).

Hope that's of help and answers some of the questions.

Kind regards

David

David,

I agree with what Puer says that it can be really cheap if you plan ahead (plus some people have rail cards that get cheaper tickets), hence the option to book your own must stay.

The cheap options usually come online about 12 weeks before the journey and get more expensive as you get closer to the date. I use "east coast" to book my tickets butothers such as "trainline" offer the same deals.

I've not done eurostar but have seen posts on here from people looking for hotels near St Pancras, there certainly seems a lack of decent quality accomodation in the area without paying a small fortune. Many travellers like to stay over the night before (I often do at airports) and wonder if JY could negotiate hotel deals in the area.

Mick

Thanks all, I will investigate further though UK rail is looking like a mine-field! Cross your fingers for me!

David

David, its a good idea, lathogh the option to book your own needs to be available, as it can be really cheap to book tickets if you plan far enough in advance, I've had mega cheap first class ticks from Bristol To London just by booking direct on First Great Western website at the maximum time you can book ahead.

More rail trips would be a good idea.

Hi

Although I'm new to the community and solo holidays, I do have to travel by train for work sometimes and find the whole process of train times/ticket prices really time consuming.and confusing.

If you did offer travel from local stations as part of the holiday I would book!

Jan

David

of course you can ask.....the answer is while I am on the younger side..LOL!!!! I am concentrating on the long haul flight touring holidays! you know the ones where you need to sleep for a week when you arrive back home.

I MIGHT be tempted to go by train somewhere when my long haul days are over.....but I am not a good traveller so would opt for flight over train! but train would so be a much better option than boat..!!!!

This is why we are all different and why JY is so good you have so many different options for the so many different people out there that travel with you..

Cindy