I've found that booking trains early yields the best price. Like airlines, they allocate a set number of seats for a variety of prices on each train, and, naturally, the cheapest go first.

Thanks for the info Oursdor. I'll look into it.

Given the rotten exchange rate for the Euro and Pound to the dollar, I would suggest checking the website for the train vs what you can find out the prices are at the station. My guess is that its likely a bit cheaper to buy and reserve tickets ahead of time, especially if they are giving some sort of tourist discount. I would guess that the Engish website (www.eurostar.com) is likely to have deals, although everything is with respect to London leave/depart. Not sure if you can jigger the depart and return times. I just checked and a round trip for two is $231-250 for a mid-January round trip. Perhaps someone else with a tie-in to the French side can compare the prices.

Can someone tell me if it is better to purchase your ticket for a day trip to England before you go to Paris? Things are always changing, so I'm trying to keep up on the latest. Is it still best to purchase it online and have a reservation before heading to Europe? My husband and I will be going to England from Paris just for one full day. Thanks!

One benefit of the fast day trip is the extra hour one gets in the AM portion because of the London/Paris time difference.. It shouldn't be a factor on the return because you're only going back to Paris to sleep.

Whew -- I feel vindicated. I think I'll book another day. I saw the "tea dancing" afternoon at the Globe Theater. It was a trip into the way way past!

We did take a daytrip to London when we were in Paris in June. It was mainly to see some dear friends who had moved back to England 5 years ago. They took the train from Cambridge to meet us there...we took the Eurostar. Enjoyed the train ride...and enjoyed our time in London, all 7 hours of it! The best thing we did was take the tour of the new Old Globe Theater. Wonderful. Had lunch in a pub, walked a lot...went to Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, saw and heard Big Ben. Really enjoyed the day. We fell asleep on the train back to Paris, so when we arrived at 9 p.m. we had a second wind and wound up walking around the St. Germain de Pres area and had a very late dinner at a cafe and soaked up the sidewalk scene. Topped it off with a sundae and coffee at Les Deux Magots and fell into bed well past midnight. A very full and glorious day!

I guess I can sleep anywhere & did on the train!

I went to London for a luncheon and to see a dear friend whom I wouldn't have been able to see were it not for my crossing the Channel.

I left Paris at 06:37 & arrived at 08:26 am.

My return train was around 7 PM.

I paid 70 Euros for the A/R ticket and even saw an exhibit at the British Museum I'd been wanting to see. I would have liked to have stayed the weekend but my schedule did not permit it.

By the time I boarded the train, I was exhausted. However, I saw more of the city in that compressed time than I often do when I am there for longer.
It's one of the luxuries of living in Paris.

It's so centrally located.

Last time we went to London for a day, we fit it into the end of a trip. We wanted to see an all-day seminar on recent activities in Egypt for archaeologists. We flew from Paris to London, stayed overnight at the Sheraton at Heathrow, and took the tube in to London. I agree with CHuck that a one day trip wastes too much time commuting, and one side or the other of a day trip is spent at the destination. There is no such thing as a one day trip to Paris, as my friend Claude and his kids would be insulted if I didn't visit each, separately, for dinner (= at least 3 nights)

Karen, I think now it is technically possible to do, and as you say there is a "cheaper than cheap" fare avalible. However (personally) rather would do a 2 or even 3 day trip, as out of a one day trip, percentage wise you just spend too much on commuting. I have been to london a sufficient number of times, so I do not have to go over just to say I was there.

BP Chuck

How many of you have gone to London (or Paris) for the day?
There's a cheaper than cheap weekend fare. Have any of our readers gone up for a museum show or for a meal?

Would you?

That's the BEST attitude and one that will serve you well through life!

I have been known to walk by a travel agency or see a REALLY cheap last minute travel package on the Internet. BOOK it and go. As I live in Paris, I have spent long weekends in Morocco, Tunisia, Italy .and the UK The trips cost less than staying home. And each time, I've met some nice group members with whom to have dinner. I always take the morning "city" tour (if there is one) and plan on walking and getting lost. I always keep a map with me with the name of the hotel and where it is circled on the map.

Do not look vulnerable and don't wear jewelry or carry your passport or extra money.

The way I came to know Paris was buying a metro pass. Hopping on and off at various stops and exploring those surrounding blocks. I did this for weeks until I had a feel of the city.

I am newly divorced at 50 years old (my heart is still quite raw). I am trying hard to move on and create new experiences for myself. I will be alone in Paris and England (4 days each) in July with a week's stay in Tuscany with friends in the middle. Can anybody recommend an experience/place/adventure/spot that you feel is special-maybe off the beaten path? Of course I will do the usual tourist things but I whole heartedly believe that you must immerse yourself in any new expeience to get the full flavor of it. Help me find some avenues of healing. I know I will be sad at times, but I truly believe that life is to be lived and I intend to keep on traveling this journey- whether alone or with someone....
Thank you!