With Hotel Direct you can make your break for LESS money. It's cheaper because when you book a break, we pass on special discounts for packages from hotels and train companies as well as making the total price lower. And you'll make a break in LESS time because in one place you can book your hotel, your train plus 1000s of shows, events and attractions.
We’ve put together this handy guide to help ensure you have a smooth trip on the Eurostar.
Arrive early - to allow enough time to get through passport and luggage checks.
The suggested station arrival times below are a guide - check your ticket for the precise recommended arrival time (above the QR code on your tickets), and the Eurostar website 24 hours prior to travel for any last minute updates.
We strongly recommend the above minimum arrival times to allow for passport control, security and time to get to your gates, which close 30 minutes before departure. Please note if you miss your departure train your will be liable for the cost of new tickets and no refund will be available for any lost hotel nights or other costs that result from missing the booked departure train.
Your ticket is only valid for your booked train - you cannot board a different service without exchanging and paying any additional applicable costs
Passport required: Must be valid with at least 3 months remaining (UK passports travelling to EU)
UK ETA: EU/EEA citizens travelling to the UK may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (apply at gov.uk/eta)
All checks before departure: Passport control and security happen before you board, not on arrival.
Download your ticket before travel: for up-to-date gate times and easy scanning
Advanced Passenger Information - the UK government requires all passengers travelling to or from London to submit Advanced Passenger Information. You will need to submit this online to Eurostar prior to travel via the email that we will send you after your booking, or going to the Eurostar website
Travelling to/ from London requires extra time for passport and security checks.
Important: Arrive by the recommended time (in bold above and on your tickets), not just before gates close. All passport and luggage checks happen before departure. So while it’s important to arrive on time, the upside is you get to step straight off the train and into your destination city on arrival, with no baggage queues or passport control to worry about!
If you arrive after the gates have closed, you will miss your train. You'll need to exchange your ticket for a later service, subject to availability and fees. Your ticket is only valid for the specific train you've booked. You cannot board a different service without exchanging your ticket first. No refund will be available for any lost hotel nights or other costs that result from missing the booked departure train.
If you don’t need a visa to travel to the UK, you may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead.
Children of all ages need their own valid passport.
Although not a requirement, we strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance.
At All Stations (to/ from London)
Detailed and complete information for EU Customs can be found here, and for UK Customs can be found here. Here’s a brief overview of the most common customs considerations:
Please note: Customs may conduct random checks on platforms or on board.
Advanced Passenger Information (API) is part of the UK border control measures for all people leaving and entering the UK. It involves filling out a form for each person with a ticket prior to travel. You must submit this to Eurostar before travel, ideally as soon as possible, either from the email that we will send you shortly after your booking, or going to the Eurostar website and logging in with your booking reference and surname.
The information required includes the following as they appear on your travel document (passport):
Children under 4, without a ticket who are travelling on an adults lap do not need to complete API.
There is no weight limit for your luggage pieces or hand luggage, as long as you can safely transport and store your bags yourself and the length of your luggage does not exceed 85cm. Hand luggage includes items such as backpacks, handbags, briefcases and laptop bags. There are also no restrictions on liquids (not including alcohol), so you can bring full sized toiletries with you. Please ensure that your luggage is labelled before boarding.
If you would like to book additional luggage or any oversized luggage (such as bikes, instruments, sports equipment, or bags over 85cm long), call our team on 0800 633 8000 to arrange this for an additional fee. Please ensure that all additional luggage is booked at least 72 hours prior to your departure.
Travel methods and suggested journey times from other London stations to St Pancras:
St Pancras Underground Station: Served by Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines. Then take escalators up to the main station & Eurostar departures terminal.
Note: all suggested journey times are for guidance purposes only and Hotel Direct will not accept responsibility for Eurostar trains missed due to connecting transport services. Remember to allow an extra 75 minutes to clear passport control, security and get to your gate at St Pancras.
The simplest way to get to your hotel from Gare du Nord is to use Paris’s Metro. Unlike London Underground you cannot tap your bank card on the reader at the ticket barriers. However, you can purchase and store tickets on your phone and use at the Metro ticket barriers if you download The Bonjour RATP app, which is the official public transport app for the Paris and Île-de-France region. To download:
With the Bonjour RATP app you can buy individual tickets, or Navigo 1-Day or Weekly passes. No need to use ticket machines or kiosks. Be aware though that the Weekly Navigo passes are valid from the next Monday to Sunday so unless those days coincide with your stay, you are best advised to purchase individual tickets or 1-day Navigo passes via the app. Once you’ve stored tickets on the app, simply tap your phone on the reader at the ticket barrier. Unlike London Underground, you only need to do this at the ticket barriers in your departure station.
There are also interactive Metro and bus maps on the Bonjour RATP app – everything you need to get around Paris!
Need Help? Our customer service team will be more than happy to help and answer any questions - give us a call on 0800 633 8000
