Chic

St. Pancras International is the newest railway hub for London in 100 years. With Queen Elizabeth at the ceremony, the official opening is slated for November 14th, 2007. The station has been in disrepair for almost 40 years and went under a six year, $1.6 billion renovation. A five-star hotel that is attached to the station is still being refurbished and will open in 2009. Located in the King’s Cross section of London, the Eurostar train can whisk you from London to Paris in 2 hours and 15 minutes, London to Lille in 1 hour and 20 minutes, or London to Brussels in 1 hour and 51 minutes. If you are lucky to score tickets to the 2012 Olympics, there will be a separate train service that can shuttle spectators to the stadium in minutes. With excellent amenities such as wi-fi, retail shops, a farmer’s market and Europe’s longest Champagne bar, St. Pancras station is a chic travel pick.

On my flight from England, I was reading a magazine article that had excerpts from a travel guide. The article was funny because a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, went on weekend getaways, romantic jaunts and generally flee from mundane life to fabulous hotels or bed and breakfasts. Their writing was delightful and witty, while giving concise descriptions of what you can get for your money. Check the website for discount cards, books, CDs and hotel offers.