Enough time to make it Fiumiccino to Milano Centrale via train?
Jul 13th, 2015, 07:15 AM
#1
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Enough time to make it Fiumiccino to Milano Centrale via train?
Hi there, I apologize for positing what seems to be a common question but I have a few different details.
My bf and I will be arriving in Fiumiccino from Split, Croatia on Iberia at 16:20 p.m. We are both US passport-holders and we will be checking baggage.
We need to get to Milan that evening, as we fly out from there to the US the following day at 4:30 pm. I'm using the ItaliaRail website which combines the Leo Express train and the high-speed from Rome. It seems we have two options:
One: Leo Express departs Fiumicinno at 17:27 and arrives at Tiburtina at 18:15 and from there a train to Milano departing at 18:29.
One: Leo Express departs Fiumicinno at 18:27 and arrives at Tiburtina at 19:15 and from there a train to Milano departing at 19:29.
Taking into account the entire customs process and bag delay, which train would you take? There are no later trains. I'd obviously prefer the earlier one to have a little bit more time in Milan before bed but I want to make sure I have enough time to make it.
Thank you!
My bf and I will be arriving in Fiumiccino from Split, Croatia on Iberia at 16:20 p.m. We are both US passport-holders and we will be checking baggage.
We need to get to Milan that evening, as we fly out from there to the US the following day at 4:30 pm. I'm using the ItaliaRail website which combines the Leo Express train and the high-speed from Rome. It seems we have two options:
One: Leo Express departs Fiumicinno at 17:27 and arrives at Tiburtina at 18:15 and from there a train to Milano departing at 18:29.
One: Leo Express departs Fiumicinno at 18:27 and arrives at Tiburtina at 19:15 and from there a train to Milano departing at 19:29.
Taking into account the entire customs process and bag delay, which train would you take? There are no later trains. I'd obviously prefer the earlier one to have a little bit more time in Milan before bed but I want to make sure I have enough time to make it.
Thank you!
Jul 13th, 2015, 08:20 AM
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you don't say what day you are travelling, but I tried a random day this week and there is one later train depart Fiumicino at 19:27 and depart Tiburtina at 20:29. Also note that you will not take the Leonardo Express train from the airport - that train goes non-stop to Termini not to Tiburtina - you need to take the regionale train on the opposite track to get to Tiburtina.
I normally figure an hour from landing to get my luggage at FCO - flight delays are normally the bigger problem.
I normally figure an hour from landing to get my luggage at FCO - flight delays are normally the bigger problem.
Jul 13th, 2015, 08:28 AM
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There is no way of knowing which train to take until you actually have your luggage in hand. Sometimes it takes me less than an hour to get out of FCO (no checked baggage and the passport control line wasn't bad), other times it takes me almost 2 hours to get out of FCO (traveling with someone who checked baggage and the lines as passport control were looooong).
Since so many factors are out of your control (flight delays, luggage delays, long lines), just purchase your train tickets once you are at FCO.
Since so many factors are out of your control (flight delays, luggage delays, long lines), just purchase your train tickets once you are at FCO.
Jul 13th, 2015, 09:26 AM
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Thanks everyone for the advice! SPQR, I'm traveling on Saturday. Didn't see a later train... but I'll check again.
EKC, does purchasing the tickets on the spot mean a significant bump in price? Also, would there be a risk of the train being sold out?
EKC, does purchasing the tickets on the spot mean a significant bump in price? Also, would there be a risk of the train being sold out?
Jul 13th, 2015, 09:50 AM
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Why not buy a ticket with Easyjet and fly to Milano Malpensa where you will be flying out from?
I would imagine that the additional ticket will not cost much more than the train ticket especially if you do not buy it in advance.
For only a little extra you avoid all the hassle of getting from Fiumicino to Rome and then on to Milan.
I would imagine that the additional ticket will not cost much more than the train ticket especially if you do not buy it in advance.
For only a little extra you avoid all the hassle of getting from Fiumicino to Rome and then on to Milan.
Jul 13th, 2015, 09:56 AM
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There are easy jet flights from Split to Milan.
Have you considered ditching the flight to Rome and going straight to Milan rather than the flight plus train. Might be worth it to avoid the extra stress.
Have you considered ditching the flight to Rome and going straight to Milan rather than the flight plus train. Might be worth it to avoid the extra stress.
Jul 13th, 2015, 12:16 PM
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Nochblad and Sassafras, yes, we explored both of these options!
Of course, as luck has it, the flights that would be impossible for us to catch due to the hassle of going through customs and baggage claim again are the ones that are dirt cheap. SIGH. The flights that are an option, time-wise, to us that evening are not cheaper. They are literally double the cost of the train and would get us there at the same time anyway.
As for ditching Rome, the problem is this is a round trip ticket, so we have to return to Rome. The most affordable non-stop flight to the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia (where we are intent on going) is from Rome to Split, a flight from anywhere else on those dates was either ridiculously priced or would have taken an entire day filled with layovers. The most infuriating thing is that we will be in Venice right before we make our journey to Rome to go to Croatia! But we found that the ferries were also a time waster and again didn't bring us down to Split, where we wanted to go. We spent hours doing research, seriously considered taking a ferry to any of the cities in Istria then taking a flight down to any of the Dalmatian cities from there, but again either the costs were astronomical and/or we'd have to spend many hours on a bus. We assumed going to Dubrovnik from Venice would be a cinch, but it certainly isn't, at least our research reflects this!
Of course, as luck has it, the flights that would be impossible for us to catch due to the hassle of going through customs and baggage claim again are the ones that are dirt cheap. SIGH. The flights that are an option, time-wise, to us that evening are not cheaper. They are literally double the cost of the train and would get us there at the same time anyway.
As for ditching Rome, the problem is this is a round trip ticket, so we have to return to Rome. The most affordable non-stop flight to the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia (where we are intent on going) is from Rome to Split, a flight from anywhere else on those dates was either ridiculously priced or would have taken an entire day filled with layovers. The most infuriating thing is that we will be in Venice right before we make our journey to Rome to go to Croatia! But we found that the ferries were also a time waster and again didn't bring us down to Split, where we wanted to go. We spent hours doing research, seriously considered taking a ferry to any of the cities in Istria then taking a flight down to any of the Dalmatian cities from there, but again either the costs were astronomical and/or we'd have to spend many hours on a bus. We assumed going to Dubrovnik from Venice would be a cinch, but it certainly isn't, at least our research reflects this!
Jul 13th, 2015, 12:30 PM
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Even if it is a RT ticket, can you ditch the second half or is it just not an option?
You are right about sometimes a place looking close and easy to get to, but is not. Lots of people think, OK, they are in Italy. They will just zip down to the AC or over to Sicily and find it takes a lot more time than they think.
Please post a trip report afterwards because it could be a real help to others. We want to go to Slovenia and Croatia via Venice, so will be reading all related posts, reports and questions.
Good luck with everything. You will enjoy it no matter what.
You are right about sometimes a place looking close and easy to get to, but is not. Lots of people think, OK, they are in Italy. They will just zip down to the AC or over to Sicily and find it takes a lot more time than they think.
Please post a trip report afterwards because it could be a real help to others. We want to go to Slovenia and Croatia via Venice, so will be reading all related posts, reports and questions.
Good luck with everything. You will enjoy it no matter what.
Jul 13th, 2015, 01:04 PM
#10
I'm not sure why you would be looking on a reseller website instead of Trenitalia since you seem to want Trenitalia trains (the Leonardo Express is Trenitalia). Italo (don't confuse with Italiarail) is another train company operating trains between Rome and Milan, but most of their trains depart from Rome Tiburtina station. Italo mainly uses Tiburtina and they also use a lesser station in Milan.
>>>One: Leo Express departs Fiumicinno at 17:27 and arrives at Tiburtina at 18:15 and from there a train to Milano departing at 18:29.<<<
No, the Leonardo Express does not go to Tiburtina at all. It's a non-stop train that operates between Fiumicino and Rome's Termini station. Use Trenitalia and perhaps you will get better train options.
http://www.trenitalia.com/
http://www.italotreno.it/?sc_lang=en
Tiburtina station is farther from the airport and is served by a local train that makes a lot of stops. There are fewer fast trains departing from Tiburtina than from Termini.
Agree with Sassafrass and others about ditching the return plane ticket. Surprised you booked a r/t unless you booked with a legacy airline instead of one of the budget airlines. Check the budget airlines for one-way flights from Croatia to Milan (search Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa).
www.whichbudget.com
www.skyscanner.com
As for train prices, on Trenitalia the walk-up prices are the same as the base price listed on their website when you search cities/connections. They offer advance purchase discounts until gone.
>>>One: Leo Express departs Fiumicinno at 17:27 and arrives at Tiburtina at 18:15 and from there a train to Milano departing at 18:29.<<<
No, the Leonardo Express does not go to Tiburtina at all. It's a non-stop train that operates between Fiumicino and Rome's Termini station. Use Trenitalia and perhaps you will get better train options.
http://www.trenitalia.com/
http://www.italotreno.it/?sc_lang=en
Tiburtina station is farther from the airport and is served by a local train that makes a lot of stops. There are fewer fast trains departing from Tiburtina than from Termini.
Agree with Sassafrass and others about ditching the return plane ticket. Surprised you booked a r/t unless you booked with a legacy airline instead of one of the budget airlines. Check the budget airlines for one-way flights from Croatia to Milan (search Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa).
www.whichbudget.com
www.skyscanner.com
As for train prices, on Trenitalia the walk-up prices are the same as the base price listed on their website when you search cities/connections. They offer advance purchase discounts until gone.
Jul 13th, 2015, 02:21 PM
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There are four trains you could get to Milan. Two of them depart from Tiburtina and two depart from Termini. There is, in addition to the 17:27 (FL1 to Tiburtina, then Frecciarossa to Milan) there is a 17:53 (Leonardo Express to Termini, Frecciarossa to Milan), an 18:27 (FL1, Tiburtina) and an 18:38 (Leonardo Express, Termini). I also don't see the 19:27 mentioned by SPQR, but I didn't research the two legs separately.
I would buy a ticket in advance in this case, for one of the later trains, because, although the trains rarely sell out, it could be a disaster for you if they did.
Getting a direct flight from Fiumicino to Malpensa and spending the night there might not be a bad idea, but I see only one flight that evening that would be practicable, and if the flight should be cancelled, you'd be in the soup. (It's an Alitalia flight, and they've cancelled flights on me in the recent past.) You'd have to pick up your bags and recheck them, because the tickets would be on separate itineraries.
I would buy a ticket in advance in this case, for one of the later trains, because, although the trains rarely sell out, it could be a disaster for you if they did.
Getting a direct flight from Fiumicino to Malpensa and spending the night there might not be a bad idea, but I see only one flight that evening that would be practicable, and if the flight should be cancelled, you'd be in the soup. (It's an Alitalia flight, and they've cancelled flights on me in the recent past.) You'd have to pick up your bags and recheck them, because the tickets would be on separate itineraries.
Jul 13th, 2015, 04:12 PM
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Everyone, thank you SO VERY much for the input! Here's the thrilling conclusion: I ended up purchasing a $126 per person early morning flight from Split to Milan, bypassing Fiumiccino altogether. Although it cost us twice as much as the train, and although we are kicking ourselves for buying a round trip to Rome in the first place, we will be arriving in Milan at 9 am, giving us an entire Saturday and half of Sunday to enjoy the city before returning to the U.S. And we value that much more than saving a couple hundred bucks. Plus, the Fiumiccino experiences other tourists have had frankly sound pretty dreadful.
I'll soon report back on what will surely be a fantastic adventure! Grazie a tutti!
I'll soon report back on what will surely be a fantastic adventure! Grazie a tutti!
Jul 17th, 2015, 05:03 AM
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A direct volotea flight from Venice to Split (1 hr journey) costs between 50 and 100 EUR/pax.
A direct bus ride from Venice to Pula or Rijeka (Croatia) lasts about 5 hrs and costs 30 USD.
Direct Dubrovnik - MXP flights for next week are sold for about 100 USD/pax.
The night ferry Split dp 21.00 - Ancona ar 7.00 costs 95 EUR/pax (2 berth cabin included) and the connecting train to MXP airport ar 14.46 costs 68 EUR/pax (standard fare).
A direct bus ride from Venice to Pula or Rijeka (Croatia) lasts about 5 hrs and costs 30 USD.
Direct Dubrovnik - MXP flights for next week are sold for about 100 USD/pax.
The night ferry Split dp 21.00 - Ancona ar 7.00 costs 95 EUR/pax (2 berth cabin included) and the connecting train to MXP airport ar 14.46 costs 68 EUR/pax (standard fare).
Jul 17th, 2015, 10:20 AM
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Glad it work out. Sometimes the extra cost is also buying extra vacation time, which is a win win. Saving a little money only to sit in airports or trains is using up the most valuable resource - time.
You just bought yourself a fun last day.
You just bought yourself a fun last day.
