Train, Cruise or Flight from London to Paris?

If price is more important than comfort, take a Eurolines bus and do it overnight. The ticket is cheap and uou'll save the cost of a night in a hotel. Go to www.eurolines.com.

Swuan, I don't have a lot of experience on this, but I did try to find a way other than the Eurostar a few months back, so I researched a lot of this. I didn't try the bus lines, but the Eurostar is spendy, and the ferries from Britain to France aren't really a bargain either, plus the times aren't great. We were going to fly (but ended up skipping London and going straight to Paris). Believe it or not, it was the cheapest option for us. I didn't know about the bus option, though, so that might be good to check out.

Don't forget as of 14 November 2007, Eurostar has a new "home" St. Pancras, no longer leaving from Waterloo.

I guess it depends on your circumstances. Since I:

1) absolutely detest flying,
2) had easy access to the metro,
3) knew someone who could pick me up when I arrived in Waterloo,
4) could buy discount tickets because I'm under 25,

Eurostar worked out being the best option for me. It's clean, fast, dependable, and fun. You can search the Eurostar timetables at http://www.eurostar.com.

I am also traveling from Paris to London (well opposite way as you) and I found that Eurostar was really the best bargain. I looked at RyanAir flights and I wouldn't be saving hardly anything at all considering the airports are way out of town. I didn't look into buses, but based on the prices quoted in Steves' books it wasn't a huge difference.

I got my Eurostar ticket for $94. This is for a 7:30ish Saturday morning trip. Look at different times of day and different days of the week. It can really make a difference. Also this particular time just dropped in price and I grabbed it up. Only the 5:30am one was that cheap and then after debating about having to take a trip that early (and the Underground not running at that time) I seemed to check the website again at the right time.

I'd vote for Eurostar. It's downtown to downtown in under 3 hours. It's certainly faster than flying, and more comfortable and more convenient. and cheaper too: IF you shop for prices. And instead of buying food on the train, do what many Europeans do and put together a "picnic" and save more.

Bargain basement way is bus...eight hours if you catch the 7:30 express bus, for about $40. www.nationalexpress.com. As mentioned, Eurostar fares can be as low as $94. Air can be had for about $50, but that doesn't include time or cost of getting to/from the airports into downtown.

Either or....neither are in the center of Paris, but each is about the same distance....Defense is to the northwest, Bagnolet to the northeast. Both are close to Metro stops, but it might be easier to walk with your luggage from the stop at Defense. However, if the bus stops at Bagnolet first, hop of there, walk a block to the Metro and head downtown. The location of your accommodations might also figure into where you'd like to get off.

I've decided to take the National Express since my travelling date and time offers the cheapest rate.

I would like to know where to get off in Paris. Should it be:

Paris, Eurolines coach stn, Ave du General de Gaulle, Bagnolet, France

or

Paris (La Defense), Coach Stn, France.

I would like to get off at the central of Paris.

The timetables indicate that the bus stops at Bagnolet first and then doubles back all the way across Paris to La Defense. Unless you're staying on the far west side, do as Norm says. Get off at Bagnolet and use the Metro to get to your hotel.