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Original poster

12yr old DS solo on Eurostar?

68 replies

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 19:55

My son is desperate to go to a language summer camp in France. Staff from the camp can pick him up from Gare du Nord and travel onwards with him.

I have checked Eurostar's website and he is old enough to travel solo with written parental consent.

Has anyone's DC done this at a similar age?

I can accompany him as far as security I think. My concern is not the journey itself but the other end.... It is years since I took the train to Paris.

Can someone remind me how simple or otherwise the arrival in Paris is? From memory it goes straight onto the concourse and you just follow everyonr else to the ticket gates. Staff can meet him the other side.

Thanks v much!

OP posts:
LordEmsworth · 08/05/2023 19:57

I did it in 2021 and it was just like arriving at Kings Cross... Off the train and down the platform.

The check in was a bit more pressured, but there were COVID restrictions, plus travel was just picking up - I imagine it's more straightforward now...

LawksaMercyMissus · 08/05/2023 19:58

Do you know the arrival and departure hours are very strict at that age?

When you arrive at the Gare du Nord, it's just the same as getting off any train so an agreed meeting point is essential

plasticpens · 08/05/2023 19:59

I would travel with mine at that age tbh

geogteach · 08/05/2023 20:01

I would check he can get through passport control. I travelled with my 17 year old DS last summer and we ended up going through different gates. He was asked where his accompanying adult was

Cupcakegirl13 · 08/05/2023 20:05

There is no way I’d let my 12 year old do this alone !

Suprima · 08/05/2023 20:09

If he has form for being a bit of a plonker and is likely to faff and miss the train, then no. Departure times are strict. It would be unfair to put him in this position.

However, if he is a trustworthy, punctual kid and will be met by staff at the other end- that’s fine. He can always stay on FaceTime to you when he has signal.

Original poster
TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 20:09

@geogteach ah, ok. I think Eurostar's t & cs require you to accompany them to a certain point and then sign a consent form in front of Eurostar staff just before they go into the departure lounge.

My preference would be to travel with him, but the cost of an adult return x 2 makes the whole thing unfeasible. We could consider travelling together by coach to Paris the day before and staying in a cheap hotel near gare du nord....

OP posts:
Original poster
TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 20:11

@suprima he is sensible, yes. He would pay attention. He has travelled solo on a train in the UK and was fine, plus we live in London and he has used the tube solo.

OP posts:
NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 08/05/2023 20:12

I work on a language summer course near the Eurostar at Ashford and lots of our kids are coming in the other direction. He'll have to be accompanied and checked in by an adult UK side, so he'll be fine. He won't be allowed to board without an adult present to hand him over Any reputable language organisation will be waiting for him the other side.

cheekyffer · 08/05/2023 20:14

I wouldn't. Gare du Nord can be rough and crowded. Unless the language school has a very tight meet and greet plan in place.

Original poster
TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 20:15

@NowZeusHasLainWithLeda this is really helpful. Yes, I will need to be with him up to the last minute UK side.

OP posts:
Suprima · 08/05/2023 20:16

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 20:11

@suprima he is sensible, yes. He would pay attention. He has travelled solo on a train in the UK and was fine, plus we live in London and he has used the tube solo.

Yeah I think this absolutely fine, especially when you consider the protocol of Eurostar that previous posters have explained.

How fab for him :))

I was mollycoddled massively. I hope my DD will be able to have experiences like your son.

ChocChipHandbag · 08/05/2023 20:19

Going on the tube alone is much more risky! If you're happy for him to do that, this is no problem at all.

Great that he's keen on a language camp, not many 12 year-old boys would be.

Original poster
TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 20:20

Thanks @Suprima and for everyone's comments so far.

I am a bit scared at the prospect as he won't know any other kids at the camp, but I think it's great that he wants to do it and is keen to learn French and meet kids from all over. If I can get him there I will!

OP posts:
HappyMeal564 · 08/05/2023 21:00

I wouldn't. He will be unaccompanied on the train and your are responsible for making sure someone meets him at the other end. Anything could happen on that train, you have no idea who is on there with him

Kickingupmerrybehaviour · 08/05/2023 21:04

at 12? Not a chance. You could get any pedophile clock him travelling alone. Anything could happen to him while at the camp as well and he’d be a long way from home.

Original poster
TooManyPlatesInMotion · 08/05/2023 21:25

@Kickingupmerrybehaviour the staff at the camp are fully trained and have tbe french equivalent of dbs checks. Don't be so alarmist, by your reasoning he'd never go anywhere.

The travel is a different issue (hence I posted) but why on earth would I distrust the camp itself?

OP posts:
DorisParchment · 08/05/2023 21:28

Yes, why not? Mine travelled to the US and throughout Europe by plane and train at 12.

AlltheFs · 08/05/2023 21:32

I think as he’s used to train travel on his own it’s fine. Just have an agreed protocol for any issues the other end in case he can’t find the people he is meeting. Pre-prepared note on his phone in French he can show to someone if he needs help. Only approaching staff at the station etc.
I would’ve been fine at 12 in terms of common sense, just a bit too shy. If he is confident I think it’s all good.

mondaytosunday · 08/05/2023 21:52

I flew internationally at 14, had to then find and get on a train to my final destination. I was tall for my age snd ignored the FA who was supposed to supervise unaccompanied minors - I wondered what they did when I obviously didn't join them. I was nervous but found it ok.
My cousin was put on a train on her own age 5 - but that unusual back then! Not international though.

Haricot · 08/05/2023 21:57

My daughters did just this a few years ago - Eurostar to gard du nord where they were met by the rep from the summer camp. The camp made it very clear exactly where to meet them and it was very straightforward. Gard du nord does have a reputation but it is not a difficult station to navigate

Haricot · 08/05/2023 22:00

And just to add to my previous post, one of my daughters is still good friends with two Swedish girls she met at the camp nearly 10 years ago

maidmarianne · 08/05/2023 22:27

My initial reaction was god, no! But then I remembered I flew with just an 11 year old friend when I was 10 so that's a bit hypocritical!
If he's used to the underground, and it's definitely ok with Eurostar then it should be fine. Gare du Nord gets pretty rammed when a Eurostar empties out, but it's not a particularly complicated station, find a map online and talk him through it. It's probably worth preparing him for how ridiculously long the Eurostars are, finding out in advance how he will find his carriage and also maybe advise him to hang back a little when getting off so he's more following the crowd than getting pushed along by it. Then it should be easier to find his teacher.

QueenOfWeeds · 10/05/2023 16:54

A couple of things to consider… my friend had a (senior) colleague miss a meeting because he managed to board the Brussels Eurostar and not the Paris one. No idea how he managed it, but if you can’t put him on the platform make sure he double checks.

The Eurostar, when it goes down, is absolutely atrocious for communication. He needs to be confident with who to contact if there is a delay, but be aware that announcements on the train can be few and far between. Twitter often more informative.

I agree with PP suggestion of having a note prepared in French, but I wouldn’t have it on his phone. Valuables kept firmly out of sight would be my advice.

What an adventure though! How wonderful that he is confident enough to want to go, and that you trust him enough. Perhaps give him an emergency place to go in GdN if he can’t find the camp staff - the Eurostar departures area would be an obvious one, but the staff aren’t always the most helpful.

gogohmm · 10/05/2023 16:58

I would, my my eldest had travelled cross country in the U.K. changing in b'ham by that age. She's transport obsessed (asd, goes to airport for fun) they are all different