To want to get Eurostar instead of flying to Paris

[Vernatts123]

DW and I are in a heated argument over this.

August Bank holiday break away in Paris Friday morning to Monday evening. 4 adults, one under 3.

Both agree we need to drive down to London from Birmingham as more economical than the train for this many people. (Birmingham flights too expensive) .
Eurostar works out £260 each, maximises time spent in Paris on Friday and Monday. We can park at family in London and get the tube to St Pancras.

Flights that cost 350 each to maximise time, hand luggage only so likely more than this once luggage included. £80 minimum parking fee at Heathrow.

DW is being pushed by other adults to fly because that’s what they are used to doing. I really don’t like flying, and working in the environment sector I appreciate the impact of short haul flights for carbon emissions.

its got now to the point where DW is calling me aggressive for pointing out basic financial difference and timings.

Eurostar all the way!! It is a bit more hassle-y since Brexit - having to queue to get through two sets of Customs at St Pancras going out, and at Gare du Nord coming back - but there are the same queues and Customs at airports as well. There are also a lot more trains than flights so you can fine-tune your arrival/departure times to get the maximum time in Paris.

This is my weekly commute, it’s so much easier on Eurostar and really pleasant. Flying is my final resort, CDG is a pain as others have said.

Me too and totally agree.

@Simplelobsterhat we use the Eurostar a lot including the 6 hour direct service down to Marseille (currently on pause post covid).

You have an allocated seat, like on a plane, no one is allowed to stand.

There are toilets in every carriage and they are perfectly fine.

You can bring on one large bag and one small bag per person and there are end of carriage racks and overhead racks. If you have a LOT more luggage you ought to speak to Eurostar in advance.

You can take on your own food and there is also a cafe bar where you can buy drinks and snacks. First class passengers get a meal included and served at their seat.

There are a lot of train crew who constantly walk the train through tne journey and are always very nice and helpful.

It isn't like a normal UK train service, more like a train/plane hybrid.

Have you tried East Midlands? You can usually get cheaper parking on just park too.

Shame about Eurostar but if your wife's reaction is medical she can't help it. I can see how it would be frustrating.

@Vernatts123 i think you need to lay down your need to be right and consider that the way you are communicating your rightness is not getting you anywhere.

Your DW is struggling at this point with a change to the way she had thought about this trip. I wonder if she generally struggles when plans change? Or when there is a difference between how she imagined things going and how another person imagines it?

There are lots of things going on in this interaction that have nothing to do with whether the train is better than a plane.

I can't actually think of a flight with more unnecessary hassle than LHR- CDG. Both are big, out of town airports with expensive transport links and there's a centre to centre connection available.

If based in London I'd consider city and would fly from outside the south east (recently did GLA-CDG) but going to London to fly from Heathrow would be my last option.

Good grief, crying and screaming over travel arrangements? If I were you I'd tell her to crack on while you have a peaceful weekend at home.

You don't have to travel together. Meet him out there

Having got the Eurostar it is absolutely fab. Great as you end up right in the city centre, don't need to be there ages beforehand like flying. Can bring back as much as you can carry so not restricted by airline. Before kids we went to Brussels and bright back lots of lovely cheap beer in our luggage.

I agree with everyone else about the train being better as well as more eco friendly.

With a toddler I actually rate the ferry. Cheaper still and it gives the toddler an hour to run about on the boat. Assuming you are not going over a school holiday so won't get stuck in a customs queue.

I'd be tempted to go by train and meet them there if DW was being this unreasonable.

Given DW has anxiety I'd also very much say that big airports are not a place for the anxious to enjoy. I'm generally calm and pre Covid was a regular traveller. My flight last weekend from CdG had the gate changed twice (no announcements, just posted on the screens) and there's always the "did my luggage make it" fear, plus delays are always frustrating.

Better for the environment
More civilised
No brainer.
We did it in April. It was fine!

I would go for the Eurostar!

Sounds like it's the cheaper option as well

You'll arrive in the centre of Paris, no airport transfer needed

I love travelling by train/Eurostar for leisure

Today airport e-passport gates are not working. Yet Eurostar seems OK and no trains are more than 20 minutes late at their destination. Even with all those going to the Disneyland Paris resort via the train before it stops running.

I am not sure I would particularly want to go on holiday with any of the adults tbh.

I would fly and not get the eurostar, the eurostar is hassle, the flight was so straight forward and much cheaper, also from CDG it's so easy to get to disney straight to lille then over to marne le valle don't bother getting proper train just go on metro easy to use and no more than a few euros each

Why would you need an airport transfer CDG literally has the metro underneath??

No brainer, Eurostar. Just look at the chaos at the airports this weekend.

Eurostar all the way, treat yourself to a glass of champagne at the champagne bar in st pancreas before you board!

enjoy the trip. Let them fly.

@marblemad It's not the metro at CDG ( not until 2030!) it's the RER B - there are planned works every summer and it's notorious for delays and strikes.

Lol at the idea flying to Paris is easier and less hassle than taking the Eurostar.

Just re-read your OP and saw that you can park at family home and tube it to KK.
That makes ES an even cheaper option.
It is a no brainer.

Would usually get Eurostar due to carbon footprint - it’s also very convenient. However recently Eurostar has seem to be beset by delays - trains broken down and changes at the last minute. I might have been unlucky. Either which way you’ve got two good options - it won’t matter which one - just book the one that is least likely to disrupted if we have trains strikes in the UK and start to look forward to your break.

slight derail excuse the pun- but we fly to CDG for Disney- 5 of us, what is the cheapest way to get to the grand magic hotel which is near the Marne train station? A train costs a huge amount for a 9 min journey!

Also OP being aggressive isn’t about disagreeing or wanting something different, it’s about HOW you say it. If your dw arranged this trip and wants to do it the same as the others, why is that such a big problem?