Need Help: Hamburg to Paris on 20th November

Hello,

Thank you for taking time off to read my query.

I am from UK and I have to be in Hamburg for work b/w 16th - 20th November.

I am planning to go to Paris on the evening of 20th November.

(I have never been to either of the cities!)

What would be a cheap and reasonably comfortable option? The direct flights turn out to be very expensive and the cheaper flights, it seems, go via GB and take 8 - 9 hours (at least all the flights I have managed to find!).

Are there any cheap flights which I have missed?

Are there cheap rail tickets available? If yes, which service provider and which railways station should I go to?

Any help that you can provide will be great.

Thanks again!

By rail:
The cheapest option I've managed to find through Deutsche Bahn is Hamburg to Paris via Hannover.
- Total travel time: 13h 29m
- Hamburg to Hannover: departure 20:01, arrival 21:21
- Hannover to Paris: departure 22:18, arrival 09.30 next morning
- Price: €73 in day couch compartment, €89 in 6-couchette cabin, €99 in 4-couchette cabin

By bus:
There is also a bus option, although it's likely to be less comfortable than the train. The travelling time is a little shorter than taking the train (surprisingly). As you're very close to travelling date now, the price is not that cheap as advance booking discount is no longer applicable.
- Total travel time: 11h
- Hamburg to Paris: Bus T160; departure 22:30, arrival 9:30 next morning
- Price: €73 + €3 booking fees (standard adult ticket)

By flight:
The direct flights with Lufthansa and Air France are over €600, making it incredibly expensive to fly with them. The cheapest would be with British Airways via London.
- Total journey time: 4h 20m
- Hamburg to London: departure 14:15, arrival 14:55
- London to Paris: departure 16:15, arrival 18:35
- Price: €235 (including taxes, fees, charges and surcharges)