GGAfrica

My DH and I will be in Barcelona on 4/16, and need to get to Venice in 6 days, by 4/22. We have never traveled independently in Europe and could use some suggestions, other than flying, on how to get to Venice. I have been looking around, and know that train travel is one way, but have no clue how to book it. I have also found a boat/ship that goes from Barcelona to Italy....is that practical, and how would we cross Italy to arrive in Venice?? Is that waaayyyy too much hassle??

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated; this forum has always been a huge help to planning our trips, so I thank you in advance!!

jamikins

I believe there is a ferry Barcelona - Genoa. Then you could train from Genoa to Venice. Or drive if you'd like.

Perhaps this link could help with the ferry:
http://www.directferries.co.uk/barce...enoa_ferry.htm

Never used it before but I just googled and it came up...

jnjfraz

I don't think a boat is very practical that time of year.

Train or car are very enjoyable and practical. I'm sure someone will comment and let you know how to book the train.

Our preference is to rent a car and autoeurope.com is a great comapany to rent from. We have driven this many many times and it is such an easy and enjoyable drive. You just need a driver and a good navigator or a GPS.

There are beautiful places along the way and I'll list them from East to West. I must prefice this with the fact that we mainly love smaller towns with lots of character.

1. Cadaques, Spain which is north of Barcelona and the western most point in Spain. Salvador Dali is from this beautiful coastal town.

2. Aix en Provence, France is a wonder town in southern France.

3. St Paul De Vence France is close to Nice and is a very beautiful artsy town in the hills.

At this point you can go north from Genoa up to Piedmonte, (Alba is great) Milan (lake Como is incredibel) and over to Venice.

Or stay on the coast and

4. Camogli, Italy is on the other side of the penninsula from Porto Fino and is a very beautiful Italian Gem.

5 Lucca, Itlay is a wonder village with Roman Ramparts.

6. Florence or course.

From here you head north and it is 3 1/2 hours from Florence to Venice.

You really do not want to spend a week checking in and out each night as you will be exhausted when you get to Venice. So look at a map and pick one or two of these place and maybe stay for a couple of days.

April can be a great month to travel and meet many locals as there are very few tourist, but either book rooms or do some research to find out what places are open.

ribeirasacra

One way car hires are far too expensive.
Fly and use the extras days in either one of the cities you will not regret it.

jamikins

Agree that renting a car in Spain and dropping it in Italy will be horribly expensive.

qwovadis

Did this last May train is sort of long but nice.

Took the Talgo Mad to Montpellier then Nice

then Portofino/CT www.metropole.it wonderful there.

Then on to Venice usually via Bologna

www.seat61.com

If short on time money fly econo Barcelona Milan book ahead.

www.skyscanner.net take a regional or intercity train

to Venice from Milano Centrale for 15 euro or so

couple of 3 hours double cost and half time for fast trains

Happy Travels.

kybourbon

>>>jnjfraz on Feb 5, 11 at 7:57pm
I don't think a boat is very practical that time of year.<<<

I'm not sure why you would think that. There are overnight ferries from Barcelona to Genoa on Grand Navi or Barcelona/Civitavecchia (Rome's port), Barcelona/Livorno (considered Florence's port) on Grimaldi Lines. If you book a cabin, they are much more comfortable (pool, bar, casino)than an overnight train.

http://www3.gnv.it/en/gnv-passeggeri...assengers.html

http://www.grimaldi-lines.com/england/index.jsp?lan=EN

jnjfraz

Maybe it is all in the eye of the beholder. A car would cost about $400.00 and allow someone to see some beautiful country and meet some wonderful people.

A boat gets you there faster and you certainly can sleep!

GGAfrica

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I am getting a bit overwhelmed with the choices, so I will narrow it down. Much as we would love to drive, we have decided to take the train from Barcelona to Venice (time/$$). What I would like to know is how to do that. I don't know where the train station is in either city, and which area of the cities would be hotel adjacent (both ends have cruises attached, as well....are there areas between ports/train stations for hotels??) I hope this makes sense, as I am so new at this, it is confusing to me.
Please help : ) Thanks!!

Dukey1

Your decision involves TWO train journeys at a minimum.

IF you choose to take the overnight service Barcelona to Milan (which only runs on certain nights of the year in the "off season") you would get that train at the Barcelona Franca station and change the next morning once you arrive in the Milano Centrale station. From centrale you can take a direct train to Venice.

This is NOT your cheapest option (which would probably be flying either directly to Venice or to Milan and onward by rail (www.skyscanner.net or www.whichbudget.com for cheap flights withIN Europe)

What I would do given your difficulties in figuring this all out is to call someone like Byron at the Budget Europe Travel Service (Google it for their website) they can explain everything, make the booking, etc., or at least explain the particulars (with no obligation) and you could attempt to book on your own) Seats can be reserved at least 60 (sometimes 90) nights ahead.

GGAfrica

Thank you all, again....decided to fly (thanks Dukey1 for extra info) from Barcelona to Venice via Vueling Airlines.
Will post another train question for a trip from Venice to Vienna.
PS..I did call Byron at Budget Europe Travel Service and he was brilliant and patient!

batman61

we are doing the same thing...cruise flying into Venice and leaving from Barcelona. What did you end up doing and do you have any recommendations???

Man_in_seat_61

There's a direct sleeper train, the Elipsos trainhotel 'Salvador Dali', three times a week, Barcelona to Milan, connections for Florence, Venice, Rome.

It has an elegant restaurant car, a cafe-bar, 4-berth tourist sleepers with proper beds and washbasin, 1 and 2 bed 'preferente' sleepers with washbasin (breakfast included) and (may favourte!) Gran Clase 1 and 2 bed sleepers with private shower and toilet en suite, 3-course dinner with wine, coffee and liqueurs and breakfast included.

fares start at 79 euros or so with a bed in a 4-berth sleeper, see www.elipsos.com for timetable, days of running and a nifty virtual tour, book at www.raileurope.com (or .com.au etc) (in this case it's about the same as booking at www.renfe.com, but more likely to accept your credit card without hassle)

Book onward trains Milan-venice at www.trenitalia.com