To think taking a coach from Paris to London is a horrific idea

[PeachyParisian]

DH and I are planning on moving back to the UK mid September and are exploring our options for getting there. Eurostar was only about £40 each and I looked again and it had more than doubled tried to see if train to Calais and then Eurostar would be cheaper but no such luck.

Not too keen to book it now because our travel date isn't 100% certain (DH needs a visa and application processing times are unpredictable) and we can't afford to lose the money if we can't travel as we need it all for first months rent/deposit until we find our feet in the UK.

We have 4 large suitcases at the moment but may need additional bags if all our stuff doesn't fit. Flying doesn't seem wise because of the baggage fees.

No car, so that's not an option which leaves a Megabus. We would need to leave late afternoon so that leaves the night Megabus which takes an eternity to get to the UK. I really hate coaches and get coach sick- although I suspect this is psychological based on hatred of previous school journeys on coaches-

Does anyone have experience of the coach? Is there another way to get home with all the luggage? Will the prices go up if we book much nearer the time? Dreading it now and weeping in self pity that I didn't just book the bargain eurostar tickets.

It will be fine.

We used to regularly travel by coach from Cumbria to Spain......was no bother. Paris to London would be a doddle.

Good-I, I suspected I was overreacting. I like to plan things meticulously and it's driving me up the wall that I can't.

Coach is fine. You should be able to sleep a bit, but take a good book just in case.

Personally I couldn't face the megabus unless I had absolutely no choice but it is the budget option if you're desperate. How about hiring a car? There must be providers that you can hire from one outlet and drop off to another one? Hertz or one of the big ones surely do things like that. As you'd only need a day's hire then that and a cheap ferry may be about the same as Eurostar and more flexible/much easier with lots of luggage (luggage space on Eurostar is quite restricted.

I did London to Krakov. Never again. Paris no problem!

I did London to Athens in 1981.

I did Cardiff to Amsterdam it was ok, a bit long but would do it again

I can't even drive legally but DH can so I'll look I to that, thanks littleoaktree. He's never driven on our side of the road before and he seems to think he wouldn't cope very well sounds a lot less stressful & flexible than the dreaded coach though. Will heavy luggage make a huge difference to petrol consumption??

I suppose I could even ask/beg DF to meet us at Calais at a push. Day return on the ferry seems about 30quid.

I've travelled a lot by eurostar but only with 1/2 bags, 4 between us should be just about manageable but only if I got seats near the doors for maximum luggage space bagsying. Eurostar probably won't happen as it's likely to be hundreds each by the time we know we can travel.

We have done the coach from midlands to Spain -and back again dozens of times over the years. For a big chunk of it with small children too.
No problem. Just be organized. Plenty to read plenty to eat Battery powered chargers for mobiles and laptops etc.

The amount of books you can get through on that journey is

That's a Relief I thought I'd lost that post

Treat it the same as being confined to the sofa at home. I always loved the journey and their would be no responsibilities just to relax

I know prices can genuinely fluctuate quite significantly but try clearing your history/cookies etc. before checking prices. I've saved hundreds by doing that.

I've done Yorkshire to Amsterdam twice. I'd do it again.

I've done Paris London on the coach. It was fine. Not recently.

I may have missed something, but why can't you get a train to a cross-channel ferry port, go on the ferry as foot passengers and then another train at the other side? Or even combine coach on one side with train on the other, if you're really afraid of a long coach trip.

You mentioned possibly asking your Dad to pick you up in Calais- why could he not just pick you up on the English side?

Another alternative, can you freight some stuff home so that you have little enough luggage to fly with?

My tip is to clear your cookies or try a different computer with Eurostar. The price may have magically reduced again...

I've done London to Paris return with megabus. It really is NOT, not fun. So little leg room, impossible to find a sleeping position and soooo long. But on the other hand, the lovely prices....

Yep I would just train to Calais, go as foot passengers on ferry, then get df to collect you at Dover

Coaches are crap. They take sooooo long!

Eurostar all the way. I've been on it quite a few times and it's brilliant. Every time we've been on it we have had a really good experience, on time, comfortable, clean, pleasant journey.
It's better than flying too, by the time you've checked in and done all that security nonsense at the airport you're actually faster on the train to Paris.

I did London to Istanbul in '76 - Magic Bus!

Never, ever, again!

You could have a luggage issue with megabus last time I travelled with them there was a luggage limit of 1 case per person. Train plus ferry sounds good option.

Coaches are crap, but that's why they are cheap.

Although I think they have got better, I have a friend who travels on them a lot and says in the UK, the internet connection and facilities are better on the bus than on the train now.

I've done midlands to Austria in the days that smoking was still allowed on coach's I was ready to commit murder after 24 hours of constant cigar smoke from the man behind!

uk.megabus.com/luggage-allowance.aspx

Jacks is right, there is a luggage allowance of 25kg per person (can be split into two smaller bags or one large)- imagine if everyone brought four huge suitcases, there would be more luggage than people!

Early morning (8.32 or 9.00am) Eurostar tickets from Paris on Thursday the 18th of September currently cost 62 Euros each. I'd rather pay treble that than to go by coach.

Ive travelled by coach to Paris loads of times, the most recent being last month. I travel with Eurolines or ID Bus, no problems at all very comfortable journey from London Victoria coach station. I do Eurostar sometimes too. Im not fussed really..I don't care about the longer journey times, once Im on coach or train then thats it. I prefer them than the rigmarole of the airport, including getting to airport in the 1st place