In Europe, they have this radical thing called efficient train travel. Instead of driving, they use trains to go on vacations. Crazy stuff to hear for our American audience, I know. For this winter, there will be a new train service that will connect London to some of the best ski resorts on the planet.
This winter, Eurostar is partnering with Travelski to connect London to numerous skiing destinations in France. The 515-mile Eurostar Snow trip starts at London St Pancras International and has three stops: Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne, and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. From there, access to 16 world-class ski resorts, including Courchevel, Tignes, and Val d’Isere, is only a short bus or taxi ride away.
There’s a catch though: The train ride to and from requires a changeover on both rides at Lille. Notably, the service used to be direct, but this is no longer the case due to various reasons. That sounds agonizing, so I’m no longer interested. Now please excuse me while I mentally prepare myself to wait in bumper-to-bumper traffic in Little Cottonwood Canyon next winter.
Service from London will be available on weekends starting on December 16th and concluding for the winter on February 4th, 2024. The train will depart London at 9:01 a.m., and arrive at the final destination, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, at 6:20 p.m. The return trip departs Bourg at 8:26 a.m. and gets to London at 4 p.m. The fares start at £99 (around $125) for standard/economy class and £149 (around $189) for the ‘standard premier’ seats. Guests are allowed to bring two suitcases, one piece of handheld luggage, and skis/snowboard.
Francois Le Doze, who is the Chief Commercial Officer of the Eurostar Group, released the following statement to the Daily Mail about the new service:
“We’re proud to offer our customers a sustainable travel option to the Alps by launching our first connecting service as Eurostar Group…With a quick and easy connection, competitive pricing, and five stops to choose from, passengers can enjoy a seamless experience with us from the city of London to the snowcapped mountains of France.”
The tickets will be on sale starting today (August 31st) and can be purchased by clicking here.
Image Credits: Jack Finnigan (Featured Image), Spurwing Agency (Header Image), Piotr Figlarz
