ellen

I'm planning a trip to Europe in June. Will start in Italy-- Rome, Capri, Sardinia, Venice then proceed to France-- Paris, Bordeaux, Nice and if there is time hopefully Spain-- Madrid, Barcelona. Only have 21 days alloted for the trip and would like to minimize travel time without blowing off my savings. <BR><BR>Whats the best way to go from Rome to Capri to Sardinia to Venice? Pls tell me how to book the trains and how long the train ride will take and how much. If i take the plane how do i book flights? <BR><BR>What airline do you suggest for Venice to Paris? How long is the train ride to Bordezux, Nice?<BR><BR>Pls help!!

Geoff Hamer

You can check train schedules and fares on www.trenitalia.com and www.sncf.fr, but for schedules, I use www.bahn.de which covers the whole of Europe. For Sardinia, you need to specify where you want to go as it's a big island; most ferry crossings are overnight so you don't waste any days travelling.

Ben Haines

As usual, I agree with Mr Hamer. I write just to add that you can save travel time, but miss views of the Alps, if you take a sleeping car from Venice at 2000 to Paris at 0823. Or, you can cut both travel time and miles if you travel thus, by sleeper.<BR>Venice at 2243 to Nice at 0905 or 0942. <BR>A 4 berth couchette compartment from Nice at 2226 to the Pyrenees at 0614, and on at 0735 with a buffet car for breakfast to Barcelona at 0942. <BR>Barcelona at 2300 to Madrid at 0800<BR>Madrid at 1900 with a restaurant car to Paris at 0827<BR><BR>On your plan, Paris to Nice by day is 6 hours, by sleeper is 11 hours<BR>Paris to Bordeaux by day is 3 hours to 3 ¼ hours, and on Sunday night by couchette is nine hours.<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further<BR><BR>Ben Haines, London<BR><BR>

nancy

no real advice, but I did the train from Venice to Milan and then milan to Naples becasue I thought it would be a great way to &quot;see the country-side&quot;<BR><BR>Even going first class ES, it was a long and not terribly comfortable trip.<BR><BR>I would fly, unless you get night time trains.

nancy

oh, time wise stuff.<BR>I took pretty direct , <BR>non-stop type trains.<BR>6+ hrs from Naples - Milan.<BR>3 hrs Milan - Venice.<BR><BR>for your italy section,<BR>I think major stops will be Naples, Rome, Milan, Venice. <BR>Bologna also is a &quot;major&quot; stop.<BR>You might be able to do a Naples- Venice, but it would probably be at least 6 + hrs.<BR><BR>The train from Rome to Naples <BR>(the stop for Capri) takes about 2 hrs , more or less.<BR>

Rex

For the option of flying (for example, Venice to Naples) check out AlpiEagles or other low cost carriers -- more info on www.europeair.com or other sources - - like flybudget.com for example (this might not be the right name).<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>