If you’ve searched for a Eurostar train between the UK and its hubs in mainland Europe, you might have noticed that prices are not cheap..

Fares from London to Paris, Lille, Brussels and Amsterdam can often cost upwards of €200 each way, especially at late notice.

That means that more people are opting to fly – a far less climate-friendly option – as budget airlines offer trips for significantly less and with more frequency.

In a bid to attract more customers, Eurostar has brought back a concept which last ran on-and-off from 2016 to 2019 – ‘Snap’ tickets.

It’s a scheme which will make sure trains are fuller, without pushing existing customers off the services.

Passengers who are able to travel last minute will benefit from significantly reduced fares. Currently, a return from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord at the end of October will cost from £90 (€108), as opposed to £378 (€455), if you were to travel to the French capital this weekend.

“Snap has been a customer favourite, and we’re thrilled to bring it back year-round, offering a smart solution for travellers who can be flexible with their schedules,” François Le Doze, chief commercial officer at Eurostar, said.

“It’s a smart way to travel, ensuring no seat goes unused – a win for our customers, a win for Eurostar, and a win for the planet.”

What are the conditions for using Eurostar Snap?

With such relatively low fares, Snap unsurprisingly comes with strings attached.

While passengers are able to choose specific days of travel, they’ll only find out 48 hours before departure exactly which train they’re booked on.

That means you could be travelling any time between 05:40 am and 20:40 pm, meaning day trips are probably not feasible.

Snap trains can only be booked from 14 days before travel and up to the day before you leave, so that rather excludes people who like to book trips far in advance.

If you’re the kind of traveller that needs to be with your group, this scheme might not be for you, as Eurostar warns that groups may find their seats split up.

There’s also very little flexibility with Snap.

“Just so you know, once you’ve booked with Eurostar Snap, you won’t be able to exchange your ticket, cancel it or transfer any of the tickets to anyone else if one of your friends can no longer make it,” a statement on the website says.

In the 2016 to 2019 iteration of Snap, passengers could choose between morning and afternoon/evening departures, which is not possible now.

One-way fares were also as low as £19 (€23) one way – half what the lowest ticket will set you back now.

Eurostar prices are in general more expensive than they were pre-pandemic, though, and the company’s promise that “up to 50 per cent off the price of a standard ticket when booked a week before departure” holds up in the current financial climate.

There is one significant improvement on the 2016 to 2019 version of Snap.

The current scheme extends to Amsterdam – on the outward leg at least.

Eurostar’s current operating system means that, on your return from the Dutch capital, you’ll have to change trains in Brussels – although that applies for all bookings, not just those made via Snap.

Prague is banning organised bar crawls in its ongoing mission to crack down on rowdy tourists.

The Czech capital will no longer allow guided bar-hopping to take place between 10pm and 6am, local officials announced on Monday.

The move is likely to be a major blow to tour operators who rely on Prague’s reputation as a party city, including one that claimed to offer ‘Europe’s biggest pub crawl’.

It is hoped the ban will reduce nighttime disturbance, contribute to cleaner streets and improve the city’s reputation among locals, tourists and investors, Czech news agency České Noviny reports.

The news comes just weeks after the Czech government announced plans to clamp down on short-term holiday rentals to curb high rent prices and housing shortages in tourist hotspots.

Czechia’s tourist crackdown extends to Airbnb-style rentals

Following the lead of cities like London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris, Czechia is restricting Airbnb-style rentals.

A draft bill approved by the Czech government in August would allow municipalities and cities to limit the amount of Airbnb-style accommodation available.

It is hoped the move will bring down real estate prices and ensure residents are not forced out by tourists in popular cities like Prague.

This could include capping the number of days a property can be rented out per year, as well as defining a minimum amount of space required per guest.

It would also place stricter regulations and relevant local taxes on guesthouses, Airbnbs and other holiday rentals, bringing their obligations in line with traditional hotels.

Property owners would be required to register accommodation and guest details via a new platform called eTurista. A registration number for the property will be provided, which must be displayed on accommodation listings.

If approved, it is hoped the new system will help to increase oversight of short-term rentals, many of which currently operate in a grey area.

Currently, officials estimate that between 40 to 70 per cent of stays via online platforms are not reported, which could lead to almost €32 million in lost taxes annually.

The new rules could come into force in July 2025.

How else is Prague cracking down on tourists?

As well as keeping tabs on rental accommodation, the new rules intend to limit the number of tourist apartments in city centres – reducing noise disturbance in the process.

In Prague in particular, rowdy tourists are driving locals out of the capital’s historic Old Town. The Airbnb crackdown has therefore been welcomed by district councillors.

It won’t be their first attempt to rein in noisy visitors. Earlier this year, one district council proposed a ban on outlandish costumes worn by stag and hen parties, which it said encourage drunk and rowdy behaviour in Prague’s popular nightlife district.

Some councillors suggested that “socially unacceptable” attire was contributing to nighttime noise and unruliness, particularly on organised pub crawls.

A previous plea by the city district to limit business opening hours in the city centre was rejected last year.

However, a ban on cars entering part of the Old Town at night was approved in July to reduce noise in the area. It prevents vehicles from entering the historic district between 10pm and 6am.

Europe’s ski resorts could face a ‘bleak future’, a report warned last week.

Warm and unpredictable weather has left slopes snowless in recent years – a trend that’s already impacting this winter’s ski season.

Yet another French resort recently took the tough decision to close its lifts for good after suffering a lack of snow, dwindling visitor numbers and growing debt.

French resorts aren’t the only ones struggling: high temperatures last February also left ski towns in Austria, Bosnia, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on their knees. Those at low and medium elevations were worst affected, leading to overcrowding at high-altitude resorts.

As we emerge from the hottest summer on record, is this downward spiral set to continue into winter 2024/25?

Here’s a look at this year’s ski season outlook in Europe.

Why are Europe’s ski resorts struggling?

Climate change is the prevailing factor behind Europe’s increasingly high temperatures.  However, in 2024 this was supercharged by El Niño – a natural weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean where changes in pressure cause warm water to flow East, bringing with it excessive heat.

As we move out of this climate system, La Niña is expected to take over which, in contrast, has a cooling effect.

That could make this year’s winter cooler than the last – but will it be enough to boost Europe’s ski resorts?

According to the UK’s Met Office, La Niña could increase precipitation, potentially bringing heavier and more frequent snowfall. The weather system typically means a cold start and a mild end to winter in western Europe – so it could be best to get your ski holiday in early this year.

But since La Niña can be affected by other global climate drivers, it’s impact is hard to predict. A three-month indication released by Météo France last month gives only a 20 per cent likelihood that October to December will be cooler than usual versus a 40 per cent chance that it will be warmer than normal overall.

Even if conditions do improve this winter, it will be too late for some resorts buckling from years of waning snowfall.

Grand Puy and Alpe du Grand Serre in France have already had to close down this year due to piling economic losses.

Snow sports enthusiasts would be wise to opt for higher altitude resorts like Avoriaz, Tignes, Val d’Isère and Val Thorens in France, which are expected to open in late November.

For an earlier start, head to Finland’s Levi and Ruka ski resorts, which opened on 4 October, or Austria’s Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Zell am See, which launched its winter season on 5 October.

Also in Austria, Sölden’s winter ski area is scheduled to open in mid-November and Ischgl’s typically long and reliable snow season is slated to begin at the end of November.

Diavolezza in Switzerland is expected to open on 19 October, while Cervinia – 2,050 metres up in the northwestern Italian Alps – is considered another ‘snow sure’ bet that’s set to open on 26 October.

Why you should take a ski train to the slopes

With climate change painting an unpredictable future for Europe’s ski resorts, it’s never been more important to consider the carbon footprint of your travels.

The energy and water resources needed to operate lifts, snow machines and hotels already make skiing a carbon-intensive activity.

But between 50 and 80 per cent of the industry’s emissions come from holidaymakers travelling to and from resorts.

Luckily, there’s a more sustainable option than flying: Eurostar Snow will operate ski trains to the French Alps from December.

Various other ski destinations can also be reached by rail, including Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo on the Espresso Cadore sleeper train.