btewalt

Hello to All! This is my first post, as I am a newbie traveler to Europe. My friend and I are planning a 2 week trip to Italy. Our travel dates must fall within March 16-April 10, but we are flexible with our departure date. I am researching the cheapest dates and airlines, but am just getting a bit overwhelmed. We will be flying from San Diego and are open to the arrival airport in Italy. We are also interested in open jaw, if it's not too much extra money. Any advice on which airlines, which city to fly into/out of, and best dates to travel (will Easter affect travel costs?)??

GreenDragon

Well, even if you don't purchase their tickets, British Airways has a pretty good tool where you can put in a flight date, and they will show you the cost of flying out on that date, and the 7 days before and after. Same with the return journey. It can give you a good idea as to what days are less and more expensive.

There are many websites out there for getting good airfare. www.mobissimo.com is one, www.sidestep.com is another (now that they've removed the necessity to download their software), opodo.co.uk, etc.

Do some homework and checking around. Priceline also has good deals, but do some reading on www.biddingfortravel.com under the airline flights: Europe before you do any bidding. It will give you some idea of what to do and how to do it.

Good luck!

Betsy

Thanks for the info about Sidestep, GreenDragon! Good news for us Mac users.

Gardyloo

Cheapest one-stop I could find to Rome (Continental via Newark) departing 16 Mar is $661. You can knock $50-$75 off that if you're willing to depart from LAX (including a wider choice of carriers) another $50 or so if you don't mind making 2 stops.

Negligible price difference for an open jaw SAN-Rome, Milan-SAN; again, though, a broader choice of carriers via LAX.

Prices appear to be around $100 higher across the board for 2-week trips departing 30 March.

suze

Don't be overwhelmed! Just start making lists of what you find on all the various websites. Knowing the info or availabiltiy can change at any time. I normally start with Expedia but then purchase directly from the airline's own website or by telephone.

Wouldn't leaving from LAX give you alot more possibilities? The couple times I have purchased open jaw ticket it was similar within a few dollars of a normal same-city RT ticket.

My priority is (and I would even pay a bit more if necessary to get it) to have a smooth itinerary (prefer European carrier, no more stops or changes than absolutely necessary, layovers not too short or too long, good arrival and departure times).

Intrepid1

Check fares using www.mobissimo.com as well...unfortunately it will not let you propose open jaws itineraries, however, but since it is an aggregator site it may give you more possibilities than will Expedia or Orbitz.

You can also use www.farechase.com

ira

Hi bt,

http://airtravelcenter.com/onetrav.htm
is a consolidator site that will let you do open-jaw flights.

btewalt

Thanks for all the helpful advice. We are now trying to determine where to fly into and out of. We are thinking about flying into Milan (or Venice?) and out of Rome (or vice versa). Any advice on the best place to be during Easter weekend? We've read that Rome can be very crowded and are wondering if we should avoid this area completely, but still want to make the most of our trip.

btewalt

Sorry, I meant avoid Rome during Easter weekend.

clevelandbrown

Common lore is that you pay a penalty for flying on a weekend or Friday, but it is said to be something like $25, so I don't usually worry about that. I save more than that by taking a cab or bus to the airport, and not having to pay for parking.

I also don't seek non-stop flights, because that severely limits my choices. Actually, after hours cramped into a tourist class seat, I enjoy changing planes as it gives me a chance to walk around.

Almost all the flights you find will leave one day and arrive the next (to Europe) but arrive the same day returning, so include a lost day in your planning.

The idea of going to LAX for a wider selection, and probably a better chance at a deal, is sound. The train from San Diego is inexpensive, and there is, I hope (we're going for the first time in February) a subway from the train station to the airport.

I always try to plan an open jaw flight as I think that gives me an extra day touring, since I don't have to use a whole day getting back to where I started. I would suggest starting in Rome, then taking a train to Florence, then taking a train to Venice and flying back from there, but my suggestion is premised on your wanting to see a lot of great art; if you want to see countryside, for example, other destinations might be better.

I'm not religious, so I don't know when Easter is, but I would expect a lot of religious crowds in Rome around then, and I think there might be a slight bump in tickets then, and around spring break. Still, you are going well before high season, so I would think you will find some good prices. I would not wait long to purchase, however, as my experience is that prices start to creep up about 60 days before the date of travel, and soar about 30 days later.

btewalt

Thanks to all for your helpful suggestions! Looks like we will be flying San Diego to Rome, and home from Venice for about $650. I'm guessing this is a fair price? We decided to start our trip in Rome, in order to avoid that area over Easter weekend. Thanks again!

Jocelyn_P

Wow, that's a great price--congratulations! Which airline did you end up with?