London to Brussels

Random

so i'm trying to get from london to brussels at short notice. outward tuesday 23 nov and return friday 26 nov.

i can't make heads or tails of the eurostar websites. they keep promising reasonable return pricing (about 80 euro) and then when you click it's about 240 euro.

i know it's very last minute - does anyone else have any suggestions?

thanks

afatbollix

Depends what time you travel at. For off peek travel you will get a good deal I got it down to £189

KC61

Random wrote: »

so i'm trying to get from london to brussels at short notice. outward tuesday 23 nov and return friday 26 nov.

i can't make heads or tails of the eurostar websites. they keep promising reasonable return pricing (about 80 euro) and then when you click it's about 240 euro.

i know it's very last minute - does anyone else have any suggestions?

thanks

They advertise cheap fares, that, like those on Irish Rail, are available when you book well in advance.

Booking with less than 24 hours notice will always mean more expensive fares.

Cheapest I can see on those dates is EUR 207 return taking the 0620 tomorrow.

ishvalian

By Train:
##################
Outbound at either 6:20am or 14:34 are the cheapest options (£64.50)

Return on the 26th is going to cost you £124.50 - all trains

Return on the 27th and it will be £94.50
##################

Cheaper option is to get the bus. Will cost you £28 each way but will take over 8 hours each way.

http://coach.nationalexpress.com/times-and-fares.aspx?searchId=bc714d19-389d-49fb-ba84-1a08a4bf080f&outboundid=8abc9be8bddde34e1e0a2059af3afab0&returnid=69f761286bcfa180217139b3e06b4ac2

Victor

There used to be a Sail & Rail you could get London-Dover-Oostende-Brussels.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/travel/rail_sea.html

http://www.sailrail.co.uk/

KC61

Victor wrote: »

There used to be a Sail & Rail you could get London-Dover-Oostende-Brussels.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/travel/rail_sea.html

http://www.sailrail.co.uk/

The only Sail/Rail option left to the Continent is Harwich-Hook of Holland Victor.

That is accessed from http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland/

Those lists won't be much help as none cover the route concerned.

Vic_08

Random wrote: »

so i'm trying to get from london to brussels at short notice. outward tuesday 23 nov and return friday 26 nov.

i can't make heads or tails of the eurostar websites. they keep promising reasonable return pricing (about 80 euro) and then when you click it's about 240 euro.

So do the airlines, try booking a ryanair flight last minute on a busy departure and you won't be getting their advertised cheap fares either.

Eurostar use the same type of booking system, the more demand for a departure the higher the fares.Their passenger numbers have been increasing since the move to St Pancras with an added boost from the ash cloud "crisis" cheap fares are getting more difficult to get.

BenShermin

KC61 wrote: »

The only Sail/Rail option left to the Continent is Harwich-Hook of Holland Victor.

That is accessed from http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland/

Those lists won't be much help as none cover the route concerned.

Not entirely true, I know it's a very much indirect route, but if the OP had the time he could have bought a sairail from London Liverpool Street to Rotterdam Centraal. Brussels Central is only 1hr 45mins away from Rotterdam by intercity* train and costs just under €30, even if bought on the day.

If one uses the overnight ferry on this route then it's possible to reach Brussels by 1038hrs. The first Eurostar doesn't get you into Brussels until 0942hrs anyway. Plus you have the added bonus of a nights sleep in a comfy cabin on the ferry crossing.

I know it's very much indirect, but if the Eurostar and airline fares are too dear then it might be worth a shot for somebody in the OPs position in the future.

(*I'm refering here to the slow intercity and not the high speed Thayls train that also does this route but is more expensive)