Eurostar single/return

[Graham H]

Hi, havent found an answer on here but I am going to travel Eurostar London to Amsterdam (2 people) and then return (4 people)
Looking at fares it seems they have a price for each leg (as do most airlines now) but I did see that if I just go for a single then the price of each leg is higher than a return. Is that correct in that theres a discount on each leg if buying a return, again the airlines do that as well.
Only reason I was looking at singles was I assumed it would be easier to get 2 going out and 4 coming back to make sure we had seats together. In my example using the 08:16 direct train from London on 27th April the single fare was £87 but if I looked at a return then the fare for that leg was £75.

Is booking/calling Eurostar the best way to obtain what I need ? Is it possible to get a ticket that includes reduced price UK travel (from Portsmouth) as well as the international bit although to be honest I presume a regular Portsmouth to St Pancras ticket would be fine.

 

[rvdborgt]

Eurostar have return fares that are lower than 2 singles. To be seated together, you can use "Manage booking" on the Eurostar website after booking.

 

[Graham H]

Eurostar have return fares that are lower than 2 singles. To be seated together, you can use "Manage booking" on the Eurostar website after booking.

Thanks for that. So 2 returns on one booking and 2 singles on another and then play around on the Eurostar site to move the seat reservations then and hopefully bag a table for 4. Cheers

 

[BahrainLad]

Eurostar really should make more of the fact they offer free seat selection even on the lowest of fares: it’s a key differential from the airlines (even the “full service” ones).

 

[Alex365Dash]

Is it possible to get a ticket that includes reduced price UK travel (from Portsmouth) as well as the international bit although to be honest I presume a regular Portsmouth to St Pancras ticket would be fine.

Eurostar no longer offer through tickets to UK National Rail stations, however you can book a return to London International (you may need to give the ticket office the three-letter destination code LNE) where the Anytime equivalent (Euro Std Return) is vastly cheaper than that to London Underground Zone 1.

You can buy these from your local ticket office with your Eurostar ticket, or from RailUK Tickets - just make sure to put London International as the destination rather than London St Pancras.

 

[Feuillesmortes]

the single fare was £87 but if I looked at a return then the fare for that leg was £75.

At those prices you would want to consider Interrail instead as this includes the UK leg.

 

[Merseysider]

At those prices you would want to consider Interrail instead as this includes the UK leg.

Although Interrail does come with a €30/€38 (std/prem) reservation fee per person per leg on E* so would add considerable expense.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Just book 4 returns and the other two don't use the return half, it's no problem doing this. You could always book these two with a different return date and use this for another trip later on. Tickets are free to exchange until 7 days before departure, after than it's EUR30 a ticket, with any difference in fare payable as well.

 

[Graham H]

Eurostar have return fares that are lower than 2 singles. To be seated together, you can use "Manage booking" on the Eurostar website after booking.

Just booked as 2 separate bookings then used manage seat to get us all together. It was remarkably easy so thanks for the advice