Am landing 6:20 AM. Can freshen up in arrival lounge then ????? It has been suggested we catch express from Heathrow > Paddington then Paddington > St Pancras Then take Eurostar through to Brussles (23 min transfer) then on Thalys to Cologne. Used RailEurope for train info. This good advice? Do we need to per-purchase Express tickets?
I assume we should per-purchase the train tickets.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
Is your heart set on the train? You can fly from LHR for peanuts.
Posted by
OP
Ravenna, OH, United States
21 posts
Yes I now see 45 Pounds pp on Germanwings. Is this a reasonable airline or cattle car?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33845 posts
What time is your Eurostar train reservation to Brussels?
Posted by
OP
Ravenna, OH, United States
21 posts
No reservations yet but we arrive 6:20 AM at Heathrow. There is Eurostar at 12:58 and another at 14:04 both connecting with the same Thalys train. 2nd one has 23 min connection in Brussels.
http://www.raileurope.com/us/point_to_point/ptp_results.htm?execution=e1s1&resultId=67343344&noLock=1&cobrand=public&saleCountry=us&cobrand=public&saleCountry=us&itemId=-1&cobrand=public&fn=fsRequest&isAtocRequest=0&c=USD&georequest=1&rows=1&v=&roundtrip=0&from0=st%20Pancras&to0=Cologne,%20Germany%20%28CGN%29&deptDate0=05/09/2013&time0=12&nA=1&nY=0&nC=0&nS=0&resultId=67343344 I am looking at fly on Germanwings as it gets to Cologne/Bonn at noon which gives us time to drive to destination that afternoon but if we take train we have to spend night in Cologne. Am still researching Germanwings. Fair is Low but lots of add-ons which will significantly increase the cost.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Is there a reason you're flying to Heathrow when your goal is to get to Cologne? If the only reason is that you've already booked your ticket, see how much it would cost to change it. The hassle saved may be worth the money; not only will you save lots of connections (schlepping luggage all the way), but if your plane is late getting to LHR, the airline will put you on the next flight to CGN, as long as it's all booked on one ticket. For train schedules, don't use Rail Europe. Follow Rick's advice on using the Bahn (German Rail) website: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/db_tips.htm For more information about traveling from London to Cologne by train, here's the Man In Seat 61: http://tinyurl.com/3j5hxmj The price of the Eurostar, the Thalys, and the ICE all go WAY up the closer you get to travel. But if you miss your pre-booked discount train, the cheaper tickets are non-refundable (yet more reason to fly there all on one air ticket).
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5457 posts
Germanwings is the low-cost subsidiary airline of Lufthansa. They have moved most of their short-hall flights apart to/from Frankfurt and Munich into it.