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London & Paris combo trip
Posted on 2/9/23 at 4:12 pm
Posted on 2/9/23 at 4:12 pm
Taking my wife on a London/Paris combo trip. My initial plan before looking at this was to do an open jaw and fly in to London and then out of Paris, but looking at flights there are tons more options for just round trip flights to London so I am leaning more towards just taking the train back to London from Paris and doing the roundtrip London flight. Not only will this save money from what I'm seeing ($60 per person for the train from Paris to London is much less than the ticket different on flights from London rather than from Paris) but also seems to be way less nonstop flights from Paris.
Has anyone taken the train from Paris to London and then to the airport? Can you take a train to Heathrow from St. Pancras Int or how is that transfer to the proper station? I'm wondering if I should just go straight from the airport to St. Pancras Int and then go to Paris and do Paris first, then take the train back to London and do our London days. Or is it better to just do London then go to Paris?
Has anyone taken the train from Paris to London and then to the airport? Can you take a train to Heathrow from St. Pancras Int or how is that transfer to the proper station? I'm wondering if I should just go straight from the airport to St. Pancras Int and then go to Paris and do Paris first, then take the train back to London and do our London days. Or is it better to just do London then go to Paris?
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Posted on 2/9/23 at 4:42 pm to DukeSilver
I flew in to London, took the Eurostar to Paris, then flew home from Paris. That is a wonderful trip and the Eurostar is a pleasant and convenient way to go.
The Tube (subway) goes to Heathrow. In fact we took the tube from the airport to our hotel. You can take the tube to Heathrow from St. Pancras although you may have to change lines.
The savings would have to be considerable to make it worth my while to have go through all that hassle to fly back from London rather than Paris.
The Tube (subway) goes to Heathrow. In fact we took the tube from the airport to our hotel. You can take the tube to Heathrow from St. Pancras although you may have to change lines.
The savings would have to be considerable to make it worth my while to have go through all that hassle to fly back from London rather than Paris.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 4:43 pm to DukeSilver
There's also cheap flights between them non stop all day long especially on the majors like BA and Air France.
I'm trying to think of a reason to take the train the 2nd time and I can't, because ultimately you are going to have to take another train from the train station in Paris or London to the airport and the flight is much shorter then the train. So any time saved would be lost there.
I would do like you said and fly into Paris, then take a short flight to London. Train back to paris in the middle of your stay. Or vice versa.
Given that, I'd hold out and strongly consider a direct in and out to both. You'll save a decent bit of stress and time, and how much money are we really talking?
I'm trying to think of a reason to take the train the 2nd time and I can't, because ultimately you are going to have to take another train from the train station in Paris or London to the airport and the flight is much shorter then the train. So any time saved would be lost there.
I would do like you said and fly into Paris, then take a short flight to London. Train back to paris in the middle of your stay. Or vice versa.
Given that, I'd hold out and strongly consider a direct in and out to both. You'll save a decent bit of stress and time, and how much money are we really talking?
Posted on 2/9/23 at 4:46 pm to DukeSilver
Make sure to look into "multi city" flights and not just 2 one ways, if that makes sense? Because often times with Multi city you can still get a round trip discount. Other times it can be cheaper to do 2 one way tickets, so search both.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 4:49 pm to baldona
When I search for multi-city flights on Google flights, the flights end up being a few hundred extra each to fly in to London and out of Paris rather than just doing roundtrip to London. There are also no nonstop flights on the way home from Paris where as there are plenty of nonstops from London to home.
Posted on 2/9/23 at 5:41 pm to DukeSilver
quote:
I flew in to London, took the Eurostar to Paris, then flew home from Paris.
I did this as well. We just went from DEC 29 and got home on Jan 8th. Did four days in each city which felt like enough to me but I wouldn’t have minded one more in Paris. I definitely preferred Paris between the 2 but I enjoyed London very much also. Agree with above poster stating that I wouldn’t wanna go through that hassle unless it was a substantial savings . Not sure why but I always find better rates on open jaw flights when I look through Expedia (select multi-city) as opposed to trying to build it myself via google flights.
Posted on 2/11/23 at 8:37 am to DukeSilver
quote:
flights end up being a few hundred extra each to fly in to London and out of Paris rather than just doing roundtrip to London
What’s a few hundred though? $200?
I’m as cheap as anyone and I out think myself on this stuff all the time. Personally I’d look hard at booking the round trip out of London if that’s cheapest and then booking that same airline or a partner from Paris to London. Work on getting it added to your trip. But remember you’ll have to get your baggage anyway so it’s not a huge deal.
Consider too that you will need to add 3-4 hours at least to your journey in Europe if you don’t fly direct out of Europe to the states. Instead of arriving at 10am potentially you arrive at 2pm for example so your first day you really have a lot less time. If you do it in reverse you have to leave incredibly early like 4am potentially to get to the train or airport.
I’m not saying your idea is bad or wrong, but ultimately being cheap to save say $250 ($125 each) and costing yourself 3-4 hours plus more stress is a big juggle. If you save closer to $1000 sure it’s going to make more sense.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:17 am to DukeSilver
quote:
Has anyone taken the train from Paris to London and then to the airport? Can you take a train to Heathrow from St. Pancras Int
St. Pancras is immediately adjacent to a Tube Subway that goes to the airport but it makes like 20 stops. If you cab it 10 minutes from St. Pancras to Paddington, there is an express 15 minute train to Heathrow called, wait for it, Heathrow Express.
Eurostar is pretty good on time, so I would leave 20-30 minutes for delays, 15-20 taxi time, HEW leaves Paddington every 15 minutes, 20 minutes to Heathrow, then 3 hours waiting time for your flight.
Given that most flights back to US leave in the AM, you might consider an evening train Paris-London, crash at a hotel across the road from St. Pancras, Kings Cross, or Paddington, then HEX to the airport in the AM.
Also given that most flights eastbound are red-eye, I would fly over to London, have a full english breakfast at Raffles near Paddington, then cab to St. Pancras and head to Paris. It just makes more sense to me that way.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:24 am to DukeSilver
quote:
I'm wondering if I should just go straight from the airport to St. Pancras Int and then go to Paris and do Paris first, then take the train back to London and do our London days.
I would do this--or just stay your final night in London. As the guy above mentioned, there are a lot of variables and the last thing you want on your final day is for something to screw up on your way from Paris to London and you get stuck in Heathrow.
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:45 am to baldona
quote:It'd be about $450 plus the flight home would be direct instead of a 2.5 hr layover.
What’s a few hundred though? $200?
Posted on 2/13/23 at 9:47 am to TheChosenOne
quote:Yeah I'm leaning this way. We'd be landing fairly early in London so adding a 2 hour train ride would still get us to our hotel around lunch.
I would do this--or just stay your final night in London. As the guy above mentioned, there are a lot of variables and the last thing you want on your final day is for something to screw up on your way from Paris to London and you get stuck in Heathrow
Posted on 2/14/23 at 11:12 pm to DukeSilver
You also don't have to fly direct from Paris. Try routing through FRA or AMS from Paris on the way back (depending on your FF alliance); both are miniscule flights and at least AMS is an easy train ride/drive from Paris. There's probably a direct flight from both AMS/FRA to where you live. I know it's not what you directly asked for, but at least you can get some more variety in your trip.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 12:25 am to DukeSilver
quote:
2 hour train ride would still get us to our hotel around lunch.
Don't forget European hotels are most likely not going to be ready for check in until 2-3PM, even if you're super shiny status. Be prepared to drop bags, eat lunch, and waste time for a while.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 9:31 am to LemmyLives
I just checked google flights and there are $60-130 flights one way March 7 on both Air France and BA.
I would strongly consider flying into one airport then taking the flight over immediately to the other city from the airport. Train back midstay, and fly home direct.
I would strongly consider flying into one airport then taking the flight over immediately to the other city from the airport. Train back midstay, and fly home direct.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 10:24 am to baldona
quote:Good idea, I'll check if there is something similar on my date.
I just checked google flights and there are $60-130 flights one way March 7 on both Air France and BA.
I would strongly consider flying into one airport then taking the flight over immediately to the other city from the airport. Train back midstay, and fly home direct.
A quick question for those who have taken the train. I know there is only 30 minutes or so that is under the channel so other than that is there much to see it terms of countryside/sites or just anything interesting or is it a fairly boring train trip?
Posted on 2/15/23 at 10:47 am to DukeSilver
quote:
s there much to see it terms of countryside/sites
We took the train and loved seeing the small villages in France, each with its own church. Very charming. It was very convenient and we upgraded on the train so that we could enjoy the views with a little privacy/comfort. Once in Paris, it is very easy to get anywhere from the station. We had a driver meet us on the platform and were out of the station very quickly.
Our itinerary had us fly into London and out of Paris, and after seeing the lines at LHR, I am so glad we did. Paris took a little while, but was much easier to get out of, in my opinion. I love Paris!
Posted on 2/15/23 at 11:28 am to bigern19
Everybody who goes to London ends up disappointed. It is not like the London you imagine anymore. You might as well be in Delhi or Lahore.
I would head straight to Paris and spend most of your time there. Spend one night in London before flying home and do a bus tour to check off all the attractions in one go.
I would head straight to Paris and spend most of your time there. Spend one night in London before flying home and do a bus tour to check off all the attractions in one go.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 11:40 am to Mike Joyce
quote:
Everybody who goes to London ends up disappointed
Agree. It was good to see for a couple of days, but we enjoyed Paris so much more. We had our kids with us, and the only part of London they ever mention was going to a Chelsea/Tottenham match but remember in great detail almost everything we did in Paris. There's just something about it.
One thing that made a difference for us - we rented an apartment in St-Germain-des-Pres & The 6th Arrondissement and it really let us have the real feel of Paris. We did not enjoy the heavy tourist areas when went to see the Arc de Triumph and walked the Champs-Élysées, and I think had we stayed in one of the hotels in those areas their memories of Paris would be different.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 12:06 pm to Mike Joyce
quote:
Everybody who goes to London ends up disappointed
The highlight of my six days there was a terrorist attack about 200m away.
Although I value history, the British museum was a waste of time. The War Museum in Paris was 500% cooler.
London is a business town. You can check the box in a single full day, if you avoid the British Museum. Inbound to Heathrow sucks, even if they don't shut down *every bathroom in terminal 5 arrivals* as you're deplaning for a 2+ hour immigration process like they did when I flew in.
Posted on 2/15/23 at 12:08 pm to DukeSilver
We did this a few years ago. Here's the thread with everything we did and suggestions from other posters.
Have a great trip!
LINK
Have a great trip!
LINK
This post was edited on 2/15/23 at 12:09 pm
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