Poster: A snowHead
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Dumb question but is boarding at Ashford a simple process or are there airport like border controls, bags scanned etc..Do we need to allow any time there or is it like any normal train station?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If it's the same as St. Pancras, then there will be a search, hopefully not by someone as rude as mine when I went. This is after barriers that open when you hold up your QR code to the reader, and before a couple of utterly disinterested Frogs glance at your passport and shove it at you. The whole thing is max. ten minutes. Straight on to the train afterwards!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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andersont, Thanks. Yes I love the French review of passports compared to UK border control.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Yeah. I sometimes rather like the Frogs' attitude to public service. There is so much more leeway for common sense and people who know the score there. Fewer throbbers try and hide behind laws to disguise laziness, although once you've mastered the art of prodding a reluctant French official to do their job the world is your oyster.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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thefatcontroller, Please do a report on here about the journey, as I hope to use the train more regularly once I'm not tied to school holidays
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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thefatcontroller, I once got on at Ashford. It was very simple. They do a passport control type check so you want to allow 15 minutes or so to get through. It wasn't too busy though, and all well managed.
For parking, we agreed with Premier Inn that we'd leave the car there for a £20 donation to their charity box. Which was a lot cheaper than parking at the station. I dropped the family off, parked and walked back (20 mins approx I think). Taxi would have been £5 each way.
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Ray Zorro, Have read about the Premier Inn but in the whole cost of the holiday I haven't got the energy for doing this thanks. Its going to be a very lazy week away without kids.
Boredsurfing, Will do, its a complete DIY, no agency used to book train. Booked Eurostar and TGV on line. Very simple. The rail europe website is awful, much easier to go on the TGV site direct. Using the overnights each way out of Paris and Bourg. Will obviously give full report when we get back but it is cost from Ashford to Bourg, with couchettes out of Paris, £190 each. Much cheaper than flying and hiring
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At Eurostar Ashford at the moment. Just had a 1st in a lifetime experience. A chatty, smiling French passport officer. Bizarre. Having to have a beer to get over shock
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Will do full report when I get home as promised however on the parking front I went in the multi storey which is £11 a day as everyone knows. However as I was leaving I saw an NCP guy I asked him if this was the cheapest option. He told me NCP have an outdoor car park (car park D) 2 minutes away that was £5 a day. So he let me out and went there. It's on the left just before you turn right into the set down area. Nice £42 saved and at £5 a day not worth hassle of using Welcome Inn. Empty secure car park. Multi storey packed.
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