Travellers could cut the cost of European rail trips by up to half by using a little-known version of the Eurostar website, according to experts at Martin Lewis' money saving website. However, the discount comes with a significant trade-off.
How the Snap Fare System Works
The tip, highlighted by a MoneySavingExpert team member, involves replacing the usual 'www' in the Eurostar web address with the four-letter word 'SNAP'. This redirects users to a separate booking platform offering heavily discounted tickets on selected routes. Explaining how the system works, the expert said: “These four letters could get you 50% off Eurostar tickets. If you just book on the regular Eurostar website, it can cost you hundreds for a return trip. But if you know the date you want to travel on and you have a bit of flexibility, typing SNAP into the URL can save you a decent buck.”
Booking Flexibility and Restrictions
The so-called 'Snap' fares allow passengers to book trips up to two weeks in advance, often at significantly lower prices than standard tickets. In one example, fares from London to Paris were shown for as little as £50, writes Andrew Nuttall from the Express. However, the lower cost comes at the expense of certainty. Instead of choosing a specific departure, travellers must select a broad time window - either between 6am and 1pm or 1pm and 8pm. The exact train time is then allocated by Eurostar at least 48 hours before departure.
The MoneySavingExpert team member added: “You choose a day and select the earlier or later slot. At least 48 hours before your train, Eurostar will confirm your exact time.” Tickets booked through the Snap system are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged, meaning passengers must be prepared for less convenient travel times, including very early or late departures. The expert described it as a 'no risk, no reward' approach, noting that one booking saved around £80 compared with standard fares.
Eligibility and Routes
The discounted tickets are available on routes from London to cities including Paris and Lille in France, Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Brussels in Belgium. There are also restrictions on who can travel using the offer. Bookings are limited to a maximum of four adults and tickets are only available for passengers aged 16 and over. Eurostar warns it cannot guarantee that groups will be seated together. According to Eurostar, infants under four can travel free on an adult’s lap, with a limit of one infant per adult.
On its Snap platform, the company encourages travellers to embrace spontaneity, saying: “You pick your travel dates and time slot, we pick your train times and you get up to 50% off the price of your tickets. Sometimes it pays to be spontaneous.” While the scheme offers a way to secure cheaper fares, it is best suited to those with flexible schedules who are willing to trade certainty for savings.
