Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

London - Paris - Venice - Flight & Transport Questions

London - Paris - Venice - Flight & Transport Questions

Old Jul 22nd, 2014, 04:11 PM
  #1  
BPN
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
London - Paris - Venice - Flight & Transport Questions

Hello,
We are planning to spend 3 nights in each of London, Paris, and Venice for our 10th anniversary. We'll be leaving US on Oct 4.

Please help us with a coupe of questions below:

1. Our current transportation plan is:
Option 1: New York - (Flight) - Venice - (Flight) - Paris - (Eurostar) - London (Flight) New York
Option 2: New York - (Flight) - London - (Eurostar) - Paris - (Flight) - Venice (Flight) New York
I like option 1 better because once we are in Paris, we can add another piece of luggage to hold all the souvenir. This way the only time we check in baggage is for our flight back to US.
However, I was told that option 2 is what most people do since it's easier to find flights (and cheaper). Any recommendation or it doesn't matter which way we go?

2. Is there any airport we should avoid in these city (i.e. congestion, delay...etc)?
3. What's the best way to get from Paris to Venice (or Venice to Paris)?

Thank you for your help!
BPN
BPN is offline  
Old Jul 22nd, 2014, 04:41 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Which flight option is cheaper depends on your home airports and your dates - you need to do some searches to see your options.

It may be possible to take an overnight train from Venice to Paris to waste less of your very limited time (and trekking to and fro airports in each place). I would consider that - but only with a private cabin for 2 people.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Jul 22nd, 2014, 06:39 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3. What's the best way to get from Paris to Venice (or Venice to Paris)?>

Some folks would say flying as it is a long long daytime train trip - others would say to take the overnight train from Paris to Venice - save on the cost of a hotel too - if you've never considered a night train many Europeans do take these - to understand what night trains and European trains in general are like check out these IMO superb sites: www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteurpetravel.com. Get a private compartment and make romance - my friend says his son was conceived on a Paris to Venice night train! Bring any food or drink you want on board - relax, wake up in Venice right near the Grand' Canale.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jul 23rd, 2014, 01:51 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Taking the train from the center of Paris to the [almost] center of London is much better than going all the way out to CDG and all the way back in from LHR, not cheap. Security for Eurostar is much less onerous than flying, and you don't have to get to the station as early as you do to the airport.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Jul 23rd, 2014, 09:55 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
. Security for Eurostar is much less onerous than flying, and you don't have to get to the station as early as you do to the airport.>

Eurostar is about the only train I know of in Europe that does have a 30-minute (20 min? 40 min?) - whatever minimum bording time of the length before the gates may be closed off - passpsort control and airline-like security is done once inside the turnstiles.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jul 23rd, 2014, 10:32 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 720
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I like option 1 better because once we are in Paris, we can add another piece of luggage to hold all the souvenir. This way the only time we check in baggage is for our flight back to US.

Could you explain that - you are talking about flying Paris to Venice and generally short haul flights only give you one bag (if any).

Can't see how it would be any different to doing the reverse and your claim about "only one checkin" seems strange as you will have two checkins - Paris to Venice and Venice to NY
dotheboyshall is offline  
Old Jul 23rd, 2014, 11:30 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Take the overnight train Paris to Venice and you can bring on the kitchen sink if you like at no additional charge.
PalenQ is offline  
Old Jul 23rd, 2014, 02:52 PM
  #8  
BPN
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We decided to do New York - (Flight) - London - (Eurostar) - Paris - (Thello) - Venice (Flight) New York because it does save some money and the flight from NYC to London is a red eye which give us some extra time.

We plan to take the Thello train from Paris to Venice. I'm sure it will be an interesting experience. Unfortunately ticket for Oct 11 is currently not available (they have some issue for Oct 11/12). So I'll keep checking Thello site until they start selling ticket for Oct 11.

@dotheboyshall We will travel with carry-on only. If we go with option 1 (which we not), once we are in Paris we can add another piece of luggage because we take Aurostar from Paris to London (which we don't need to check luggage) and only check the luggage for our last leg home.

Thank you all for your responses,
BPN
BPN is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TPAYT
Europe
7
Apr 10th, 2009 09:36 AM
SBader
Europe
4
Mar 8th, 2009 12:32 PM
ciaodeb
Europe
4
Mar 19th, 2008 03:16 PM
letsroll
Europe
5
Apr 1st, 2006 12:36 PM
heehaa
Europe
13
Mar 5th, 2006 01:34 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -