Upset about a surprise trip to Paris?

[FoxOfWallStreet]

So my partner has surprised me with a trip to Paris for my birthday.

I was absolutely thrilled.

But I then found out that we will be going there by coach. It's not the fact that its a coach, it's the fact that it will take us 12 hours to get there.

I haven't said anything or moaned to him as obviously its a lovely surprise non the less but aibu to be dreading it slightly?

Hour and a half*

xBEing a bit unreasonable. take it in the spirit in which it was given

Eastwick - there's free WiFi on National Express coaches apparently

LittleMiss 12 hours on a coach with my DH wouldn't be quality time, id be throwing up on him the whole time!

Fair enough Massa, she's playing cards and reading Hello with her DH

Its about 3 hours on the autoroute to Paris once you hit Calais and Coquelles. Add a couple of hours for ferry/eurotunnel and thats 5. So where do the other 7 come from.....?

I can't read, look at a screen, play cards or anything else in a car or coach. I can look straight ahead. 12 hours of that plus the smells from other people (stale cigarettes, perfume, food) and I'd be puking.

I'm honestly shocked at the posts on this thread and how ungrateful so many of you are, bloody hell

How can you be ungrateful for something you never wanted?

I too would be sick every five minutes. I'd have to eat Stugeron by the dozen.
Seems an awfully long time just to France. But I suppose they have stops every couple of hours for toilet and coffee etc.
The plane isn't all that expensive and takes about an hour from almost any UK airport.
Train to London and Eurostar is good too.
I'd rather not go than have all that travelling time in a bloody coach!

Sturgill maybe the journey from wherever she lives to the ferry port?

Ditto sukie

Sturgill the north of England, or even Scotland, to the ferry port maybe?

If we were to go to Paris from here the choices would be:

Eurostar - at least 4 hours train to London, then transfer time across London from Kings Cross and the channel crossing. So, what, 6/7 hours total and the faff of going through London.

Plane - two hours drive to the airport, at least, check in time, flight, transfer from airport - 5/6 hours and again faff at each end.

Coach - if it was straight through probably about 12 hours but at least all spent in one place, no parking, no transfers, no waiting at ticket desks...honestly I can't say I wouldn't prefer it. If you live far from airports and major rail stations travelling abroad is not so simple as "oh the flight's only 30 minutes!"

I just had a look at the fares/times as posters were saying it was cheap and not that long. Although I think I read one claimed it was 4hrs London to Paris - not sure how if it includes a ferry. Anyway both eurolines and megabus were £30 each way and took 7.5 hrs. The end destination for eurolines was not that central either. It was take us an hour to Victoria, especially as tube is not really close to the coach station.

You cab take whatever size bag you want and any sized liquids.

I'd be having a wine or two happy in the knowledge I can sleep it off without getting kicked out the airport lounge, plane or metro in 40 minutes.

You get to see the countryside and a lovely ferry. Who doesn't love a boat?

£30 each way? so it doesn't even save any money, you can fly for the same.

'Who doesn't love a boat?'

Aaaaagh! I'm even worse on boats than on a coach. I'd have my head over the side the whole time. If my dh suggested such a thing as a ferry I'd bash him with a large salami sausage.

Brian you wouldn't have to cross London if your train gets you into kings cross. Eurostar goes from St Pancras which is just next door. Just a 5 minute walk

When I did the coach to Paris from London it was 10 hours. You can get stuck for quite a while in Dover. And yes, you do get dropped off in the far eastern suburbs so it's a bit of a trip on the metro to get into town.

Doesn't everyone get the train to Paris these days?

I hate coaches due to sitting on one for days going to and from the Czech Republic as a teenager. It actually was massively traumatic in the end as I had a really bad stomach and in nearly 20 years I have never gotton back on one!!

Op YADNBU, I would be saying i'll meet you there and book myself on the eurostar

OP YANBU and I would be less than grateful if DP bought me a coach trip to be fair.

I think it depends on context and expectations though. I'm sure some people would consider a coach trip to Paris a real treat. I wouldn't (but fortunately my DP knows that).

I would much prefer to go to Paris on the Eurostar but the coach could be bearable if you prepare. Is it in the day or overnight? You could doze, chat to your partner or listen to music/radio/an audio book if reading makes you travel sick. I've done some long coach trips in the past and have mostly been comfortable and slept well. Plus it is miles greener than flying.

coaches have free wifi at least. I dont think eurostar do except at stations. Ive travelled eurostar many times and its not some luxury journey. Its often cramped and crowded.
Of course it is faster than the coach, but the coach is the greenest way to travel and its also the cheapest. You can get a ticket to paris for under £20.
I think its pretty savvy in all honesty. Get the overnight one and take a sleeping pill and a blanket, then breakfast in paris!

Flippin ell you could be in Thailand or the Caribbean in less than That! And Paris is a shithole anyway.

Have just been on Eurostar this week, albeit to Brussels. It was delayed both ways by about an hour, and on way I had a very annoying colleague next to me, on way back a rather overweight Dutchman.

I would still chose Eurostar to go to Paris, but it's not always fantastic. Last weekend would have been hell. No services at all!

My AP chose to go home at Christmas by bus. Longer, but cheaper. He didn't complain.

I hope you have a good weekend.