Eurostar adds new ski trains for half term

Great news if you are looking for train travel at half-term: Eurostar is putting on four additional ski trains at February half term 2017.

Normally, the direct Eurostar Ski Train services are suitable only for skiers whose holiday dates are Saturday – Saturday.  However these new services are suitable for Sunday – Sunday holiday dates instead.

The outbound trains go overnight, departing St Pancras on the evenings of Saturday 11th and Saturday 18th February, arriving in the Alps early on the Sunday morning.  

The return journey is daytime, departing Alps on the mornings of Sunday 18th and Sunday 25th February and arriving back at St Pancras in the afternoon.

You get the usual generous baggage allowance, which includes two suitcases plus hand luggage and skis or snowboards at no extra cost.

Interestingly, if you choose this new service you will be combining an overnight journey on the outbound with a daytime journey on the return. The overnight ski train only had reclining seats, so if you don’t sleep well unless you are lying down, you may not get the best night’s sleep.
 
Fares start at £309 return for adults in standard class, and pricewise that’s a saving versus flying independently.   Easyjet prices from Gatwick to Geneva for Sunday 12^th out, Sunday 19^th back are currently around £520 return – and that’s without adding baggage charges and airport transfers. So there’s a big saving to be made – assuming that Eurostar have most seats priced in the £300 - £450 bracket. Normally fares for children aged 4-11 are about 30% less than adult fares, and those under four can travel free without a reserved seat.

Outbound schedule:

Inbound schedule:

Tickets are available from the 14th September at Loco2.com  and Eurostar.com or by calling Eurostar on 03432 186 186.

You can see the film that I made about why children love travelling by train here: