How to Book Train Travel From Glasgow to Paris

You've visited the museums and gardens of Glasgow and maybe even drank a few pints at the local bars. Now you want to toast the good life in the 'City of Light,' Paris. Brace yourself for a culture shock between these two very different cities-but don't sweat the travel plans. Getting between most major metropolitan cities in Europe is merely a matter of knowing what train to book.

Things You'll Need

• Valid passport.
• Telephone with international dialing capability.
• Computer with Internet access for making reservations.

Instructions

Plan Your Trip

1. Expect to have at least one connecting train along the way to Paris. Though you may be able to book a direct route to London, you will need to transfer there for a train to France.

2. Experience the 'Chunnel,' or the tunnel under the Channel, which connects England and France by high-speed rail. Napoleon Bonaparte suggested the idea for an underground tunnel connecting the two countries in the early 19th century, so your passage will be an historic one.

3. Plan to spend a day in transit. Pack a book, bring your laptop or other entertainment. It will be a long ride from Glasgow to Paris.

4. Check out the different station options within the UK. Depending on which train you select you may need to allow for transit between stations in London.

Reserve Your Tickets

1. Make your reservations through a qualified and respected travel agent. By using a professional familiar with travel between European countries, you may feel confident that all appropriate arrangements have been made.

2. To book accommodations, contact First ScotRail at 011 ([phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

3. Consider whether you should invest in a railpass. Because you are traveling from the UK to a country in the EU, you would need to purchase one for each leg of your journey. The Eurail pass will be good for travel within the EU and the other will only be useful in the UK.

4. Pick from any number of vacation packages offered on both sides of the Channel. Most rail service providers offer packaged train transit between major destinations in Europe.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware of visa requirements when traveling between two countries.