Railpass or point-to-point tickets

Old Jan 21st, 2017, 11:58 PM
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Railpass or point-to-point tickets

Hi
I'm planning a trip to Europe in September.so excited! Anyways, I plan on spending 4 nights each in London, Paris, Florence and Rome.
As I prefer the trains to flying, would it be advantageous to purchase the railpass instead of point-to-point tickets?
Thanks
plucky is offline  
Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 12:44 AM
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How old are you? And it would be simple enough to find out- just compare the price of rail pass with the cost of the individual tickets.

I'd say if you can stick to a schedule, it will cost less for individual tickets. But if you buy a nonrefundable ticket and then decide you want to go at a different time and have to buy a new ticket at last minute, it could be more expensive so a rail pass would be a better idea.

It might be cheaper to fly too. Paris to Rome at least, and maybe even London to Paris as well.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 01:05 AM
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A cheap flight, apparently from London to Paris, will be a false economy, since - if available at all - it would involve a couple of hours travelling at silly a.m. to an airport to wait an hour or more for a flight to another airport on the outskirts - as opposed to 2.5 hours city centre to city centre by Eurostar. Paris to Rome is much further, so with limited overall time flying would make more sense.

I don't know what sort of pass you have in mind or whether there is one that covers or matches what you can get from buying direct from Eurostar. I suspect not.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 01:12 AM
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A cheap flight is a cheap flight and one that goes to a Paris airport that is connected directly to the Paris transport system such as the Metro/RER is an "outskirt" that is doable.

What you need to factor into this ALSO is the cost of your time.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 02:46 AM
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Paris - Florence is a long train ride.
Paris dp 6.29 - Florence ar 16.15, change at Torino Porta Susa
Paris dp 10.41 - Torino PS 16.18/17.12 - Milano C 18.00/18.35 - Florence ar 20.25
Paris dp 19.14 - overnight train with sleeping cars - Verona 7.54/8.52 - Florence ar 10.30
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 02:58 AM
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The Eurostar is the best way to get to Paris city centre to city centre if you are already in London. Book as far out as possible to get the best price on their website www.eurostar.com
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 03:33 AM
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London to Paris, train, book early fixed deal
Paris to Florence, plane, book early fixed deal (note cost of luggage and size of luggage can be tight compared to USA)
Florence to Rome, train, two train companies, prices vary

I'd buy the individual train tickets.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 03:40 AM
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Thanks everyone. Seems like individual ticket is the way to go. Reason I don't want to fly from Paris to Florence is because I hate flying so I do my best to avoid it if possible.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 03:48 AM
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Check out this excellent site for train travel in europe

http://www.seat61.com
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 06:57 AM
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Paris to Florence can be done with a overnight in Turin (Torino), one of the most elegant Italian cities I know (with the possible exception of Trieste). I've done it the other way last year, and I found it a nice train trip.
Train tickets are indeed best be bought well in advance at the relevant railway companies: Eurostar (London to Paris), SNCF (Paris to Italy) and Trenitalia or Italo (which speaks for itself).
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 08:51 AM
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Anyways, I plan on spending 4 nights each in London, Paris, Florence and Rome.>

NO to any railpass for those plans-London to Paris would not be covered by any pass and not doing enough. for lots of good info on trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

There is an overnight Paris-Milan-Venice train you may want to take -save cost of accommodation and daytime travel time- www.thello.com

Like tom above says book trains well in advance at national rail sites for deep discounts.
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Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 10:54 AM
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>> I plan on spending 4 nights each in London, Paris, Florence and Rome.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 08:22 PM
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>>>Reason I don't want to fly from Paris to Florence is because I hate flying so I do my best to avoid it if possible.
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Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 09:18 PM
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I am with the OP and would rather train than plane. Sure plane is quicker but to 'get over it and fly' is not a helpful answer. I love the overnight train and if you accept that it will cost you time then do it and enjoy it. My only suggestion is to book a sleeper rather than the cheapest option.
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 08:38 AM
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the night train Paris to Milan -then change for Florence is like any night train - good if you can sleep and not if you can't-if you have a private compartment it is neat -bring all food and drink you want aboard and dine in style.

Leave plenty of time in between the night train in Milan to change -not sure it serves Milano Centrale but Porta Garibaldi which if so complicates things a bit.

I've taken literally hundreds of overnight trains and most were just fine -only real problems came not with the train but others in multi-person compartments with loud folks -loud snorers, etc.

flying would be more convenient since the night train itself don't serve Florence but all told it may save as much daytime travel time as flying - getting out to Paris Airport and in from airport, etc- waiting for flights -late flights, etc.

Night trains are a unique experience as well for most Americans at least.
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 09:28 AM
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Paris Gare de Lyon dep 19:14 EN 221 EuroNight
Sleeper and couchette train , Global price , Bordrestaurant
+ 1 Day
Milano Centrale arr 06:00
Transfer time 15 min.
Adjust the transfer time
Milano Centrale dep 06:15 ES 9503

Well the Thello night train EN221 does now serve Milano Centrale so an easy change but rather than taking the next possible train to Florence at 6:15 I would book one about a half-hour later to provide a more leisurely transfer time in one of Europe's largest train stations-and night trains could be late.

If on time and you locate the next train just have a cappuccino in a station caffe!
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Old Jan 24th, 2017, 12:13 PM
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I agree with janisj that your itinerary is rushed. I would cut out Florence and add the nights to your other destinations. I would do 6 nights London, 5 nights Paris and Rome. Could do Rome for a 6th night instead of London if you wish to do a day trip to somewhere like Florence. If you find the time in London too long (unlikely) you could do a day trip to Bath and Stonhenge or to Oxford or Cambridge or Windsor or Stratford upon Avon. You don't have as much time for your destinations as you think because moving eats up more time than you think.
Leave Florence for another trip where you can also visit more of Tuscany and Venice and possibly the CT or Lakes.
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