Visiting Flanders made more convenient with Eurostar
Mitch McClung
For Canadians, the love affair with Europe continues to thrive, with over 4.98 million arrivals recorded in the first eight months of 2024. Unlike our European counterparts, Canadians are accustomed to long distances, whether it’s enduring long highway commutes or making weekend treks to cottage country. This unique ability to embrace long journeys makes Europe’s seamless rail networks an even more attractive proposition. Unlike Canada, however, it’s possible to be in a new country within just a few hours.
The Eurostar experience
In today’s world of blended work and leisure travel, Eurostar provides a premium experience that redefines convenience and comfort. After spending five nights in London attending World Travel Market, I experienced the newly renovated Eurostar departure lounge in the heritage-listed St. Pancras station. These lounges, exclusive to Eurostar Premier passengers and Carte Blanche or Etoile Club Eurostar members, are also available in Brussels and Paris.
After passing through passport control and entering the lounge, the journey begins. From an array of exciting culinary options, including smoothie bars, regular bars, and fridges stocked with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, travellers will find no shortage of premium comforts. These lounges rival business-class airline lounges and set the stage for a superior journey.
In addition to lounge access, Eurostar’s Premium service includes FastTrack priority lanes at St. Pancras Station, flexible tickets, and boarding guarantees.
Once onboard, I settled into a spacious four-seater area and was warmly greeted with a glass of champagne and a menu crafted by Michelin-starred chef Jeremy Chan and sommelier Honey Spencer. The short, two-hour journey under the Chunnel and through the picturesque Flemish countryside brought us to Brussels-Midi station, where my adventure in Flanders began.
Connecting Europe with Eurostar: 30 years of Excellence
For clients seeking to explore Europe with ease, comfort, and reliability, consider Eurostar. In 2024, Eurostar marked a milestone by becoming the first non-airline partner to join the SkyTeam alliance. This partnership allows Canadian travellers to book seamless air-and-rail journeys through a single reservation system. SkyTeam members Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic (soon offering a YYZ-LHR route) provide direct connections from Canadian cities to major Eurostar hubs like London, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Travel advisors can access Eurostar’s Advisor Portal for comprehensive information, including deals, schedules, and booking tools. With Eurostar now integrated into major GDS platforms, advisors can efficiently manage multiple aspects of their clients’ trips, simplifying the entire process.
As I boarded a train to Amsterdam to catch my direct flight back to Toronto, I reflected on the seamless convenience of rail travel in this region. Within 90 minutes, I was at Schiphol Airport.
With Eurostar’s comfortable and efficient service, exploring Flanders’ culinary, cultural, and historical treasures has never been easier.
For a look at what to do in Flanders, don’t miss this story!
