As I finish up sharing my 2017 trip to Belgium (6 years later, I know 😅), I wanted to share some information on the Eurostar. The Eurostar is a train company which has routes connecting you between London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Brussels. It’s a very efficient way to travel without the hassle of going through airports. You also won’t have to worry about how heavy your luggage is. You’ll still go through immigration and passport control, but the lines aren’t as horrible. Plus, you don’t have to throw out your water bottles or other liquids as your go through security. It’s also nice not worrying about airport transfers because the Eurostar stations are right in the city centers. In my case, all I had to do was take the commuter trains over to the Eurostar stations in both Brussels and London.
I’ve used the Eurostar many times over the years but the first time was when I traveled to London from Brussels. I remember I did this because it was a much more affordable option for me at the time – versus flying. The ride was about 2 hours long and really comfortable. During the first hour or so, you’re traveling over ground through Belgium so you have beautiful views to look at. After than, you will be going underground/underwater in a tunnel to get from Belgium to the United Kingdom. This is a good time to pull out a book to ready or just zone out to your music. The trains also have a section in the middle cars with a small cafe. They have your usual hot and cold drinks as well as some snacks and pastries. It’s convenient if you’re hungry and didn’t have a chance to grab food before your trip.
When you purchase a ticket with Eurostar, you can actually choose your seat options – window or aisle. You also have the option of first and second class. The main difference there is that you’re going to be in the first couple of cars for first class. Personally, it doesn’t make a huge difference which one you choose. All the cars are really clean and modern and comfortable. Traveling my train is one of my favorite modes of transportation and I love how there’s so many opportunities to do this while in Europe. The US lacks in this area which is such a shame.
Eurostar is only one of the many long-distance train companies throughout Europe but it’s the first one I used so I wanted to share that. I will talk more about other trains I’ve taken in other countries as well in the future. I went back to Belgium in 2019 and will share those stories soon too. And yes – I took the Eurostar again! 😅 I did a round trip between London and Brussels for that trip. 🙌🏼
Thanks for reading and let me know what else you want to learn about train travel or Belgium! 🫶🏼
An Afghan Abroad 