Have a meeting in Luxembourg Wed/Thur/Fri, one of those where we finish when we finish and return needs to be flexible.
Flights from Birmingham mean either 1 or 2 changes (Via Aberdeen and Munich is an example), train means getting to St Pancras, two travelling so considering driving.
How likely is the turn up without booking to have space (away from school holidays at least)
Anyone know what they charge if you turn up a day earlier than your booking? Flexible bookings seem extortionate.
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If you haven't ruled out flying, why not BHX - Schipol or BHX - Brussels National on a changeable ticket , then hop on a train Luxembourg?
A quick check on voyages-sncf.com shows direct afternoon trains from Brussels Midi to Luxembourg, and the shuttle train from the airport will leave you at Midi.
There are trains back and forth between the major Benelux airports and cities about once an hour. You also have the option of a ticket to allow change of route as well as time - should still work out cheaper than buring diesel all the way from Birmingham.
Tip: voyages-sncf is the travel agency of SNCF, so a useful website for finding train routes across Europe even if they're not in France. But if you intend to book, the fares offered on the French version are claimed to be cheaper than on the English version. Just opt for collecting your tickets at the station to avoid being asked for a French postal address to send them to.
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I reckon you should book the standard tunnel ticket for you and the car, and if you finish business early then, bonus! Spend a day soaking up the local culture (beer/totty spotting) before heading back to the tunnel. Great opportunity for a bit of downtime.
IIRC, Eurotunnel allow you some leeway either side of your booking for late/early arrival, but 24hrs is pushing it and they'll probably want at least half a dinari extra for that.
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>> Anyone know what they charge if you turn up a day earlier than your booking?
>> Flexible bookings seem extortionate.
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My experience of Eurotunnel is that at this end if you turn up early you'll probably be put on the next train FOC if there's space available and check in is still open for it. At the French end we are often early too; sometimes we have had the option to catch an earlier train and sometimes not, and sometimes there's been a charge and sometimes not. The charge has never been very much - £20 to £30 from memory. I've never turned up a day early though!!
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Recent experience tells me that if you turn up 2 hours early you will be offered an earlier departure free of charge, if you are more than 2 hours early you may be offered a crossing for a £20 fee. Depends on you whether it represents good value.
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Might just book the outbound and either turn up for return, or if we know sufficiently far in advance book the return while we are out there.
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IMO don't try and book it same day expecting anything reasonable to be charged - they'll max the charge unless it is anti-social hours.
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Just looked and same day ticket prices are around 2/ 1/2 times normal . . . .
Looks like a flexible return.
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Eurotunnel - ticket types - Gromit
