Travel from Amsterdam to Pisa
Feb 25th, 2015, 11:18 AM
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Travel from Amsterdam to Pisa
Trying to find out the best way from Amsterdam to Pisa. We are a little concerned with low budget airlines like Transavia. The fares are great but how safe is this airline? Train appears to require taking an overnight and changing trains along the way.
Feb 25th, 2015, 11:23 AM
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<<The fares are great but how safe is this airline? >>
Where do you live? Are you in Canada, the US or UK? If so, every commercial flight that goes down is reported as national news. That's because commercial passenger flights are presumed to be extremely safe.
Even iffy landings become headlines (e.g., a wing to wing fender-bender at LaGuardia last year) - sheeyoot, I still remember the real-time OJ Simpson chase type coverage for a Continental flight that had to land on one set of landing gear because the others didn't deploy (no problem whatsoever).
Where do you live? Are you in Canada, the US or UK? If so, every commercial flight that goes down is reported as national news. That's because commercial passenger flights are presumed to be extremely safe.
Even iffy landings become headlines (e.g., a wing to wing fender-bender at LaGuardia last year) - sheeyoot, I still remember the real-time OJ Simpson chase type coverage for a Continental flight that had to land on one set of landing gear because the others didn't deploy (no problem whatsoever).
Feb 25th, 2015, 11:30 AM
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And considering that the EU air traffic control system is better than the one in the US (which still uses ground beacons - this is why the pilot tells you that the flight will go past ____ and ____ on the way to your destination), this is likely not a concern. Budget airlines + crash = budget airline collapses.
P.S. - Southwest is renowned for its safety record and it is a budget airline.
P.S. - Southwest is renowned for its safety record and it is a budget airline.
Feb 25th, 2015, 01:21 PM
#6
Most any of the European budget airlines are totally fine (better than Alitalia 
). Just be sure to read/understand their rules especially for luggage and cabin bags.
Also look at flights to Florence.
). Just be sure to read/understand their rules especially for luggage and cabin bags.Also look at flights to Florence.
Feb 25th, 2015, 03:08 PM
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The relevant sense of "safe" with these airlines does not lie in the area you are concerned with. It has more to do with "safety" of your intended budget.
For legacy carriers, the terms and conditions of sales small prints are designed more for preventing passengers from abusing the system. But in case of budget carriers, the T&C small prints are the primary way they earn profits, and they will enforce the smallest of the terms to extract every fee the airlines have stated they would collect.
For those who have read the entire T&C and can comply with the minutia of the conditions, they are great bargain. It can be a disaster for those who don't bother to read all the T&C assuming they operate like full service carriers but at lower prices.
For legacy carriers, the terms and conditions of sales small prints are designed more for preventing passengers from abusing the system. But in case of budget carriers, the T&C small prints are the primary way they earn profits, and they will enforce the smallest of the terms to extract every fee the airlines have stated they would collect.
For those who have read the entire T&C and can comply with the minutia of the conditions, they are great bargain. It can be a disaster for those who don't bother to read all the T&C assuming they operate like full service carriers but at lower prices.
Feb 25th, 2015, 05:35 PM
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I am curious what these t's and c's are? I don't need a beverage or snack. are there unusual restrictions I should be aware of? also, why the suggestion of Florence instead of Pisa? We chose Pisa because we are heading to CT.
Also, can anyone recommend a driver who could pick us up at the airport and give us a quick tour of the city before taking us the CT? Any idea what this would cost?
Also, can anyone recommend a driver who could pick us up at the airport and give us a quick tour of the city before taking us the CT? Any idea what this would cost?
Feb 26th, 2015, 03:06 AM
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I've flown Transavia from AMS to Pisa and it is fine. I also fly Alitalia all the time and it is equally good and much better if you are carrying heavy luggage you want to check. Can't remember if they fly Pisa to Amsterdam.
A taxi driver showing you around Pisa will not cost you 300 dollars, but you probably don't need one, as the small city is better seen on foot, and easily done in a few hours unless you plan to spend a lot of time inside Pisa's museums. You can stow your luggage in the Pisa train station. If you want a guide, here's an oft-recommended company
http://www.caftours.com/pisa-guided-walking-tour.html
You're absolutely right: Why on earth fly to Florence if you want to go to Pisa? Janisj is an idiot or a hilariously witty poster (who has never flown either airline, I'll wager) depending on your experience of Europe.
A taxi driver showing you around Pisa will not cost you 300 dollars, but you probably don't need one, as the small city is better seen on foot, and easily done in a few hours unless you plan to spend a lot of time inside Pisa's museums. You can stow your luggage in the Pisa train station. If you want a guide, here's an oft-recommended company
http://www.caftours.com/pisa-guided-walking-tour.html
You're absolutely right: Why on earth fly to Florence if you want to go to Pisa? Janisj is an idiot or a hilariously witty poster (who has never flown either airline, I'll wager) depending on your experience of Europe.
Feb 26th, 2015, 05:46 AM
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Sandralist:
Heharris asked: "Also, can anyone recommend a driver who could pick us up at the airport and give us a quick tour of the city BEFORE TAKING US TO THE CT"
I suppose CT should mean Cinque Terre.
Heharris asked: "Also, can anyone recommend a driver who could pick us up at the airport and give us a quick tour of the city BEFORE TAKING US TO THE CT"
I suppose CT should mean Cinque Terre.
Feb 26th, 2015, 07:12 AM
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yes, I am sorry, I was referring to Cinque Terre. If we take the one Transavia flight offered, we land around 5:30 pm and we would want to get to Varennza before dark. I believe it is at least an hour drive. Since we have never been to Pisa and don't have a lot of time, we were hoping for a quick loop around the city (especially to see the tower) and then onward to Varennza before dark. Do you think a driver would cost about $200 for this drive?
Feb 26th, 2015, 08:08 AM
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I think the suggestion of 'look at flights to Florence' was only meant as a possible alternative, there may be more flight options available to Florence from AMS. I have no idea.
I would not make your schedule so tight, flights have a way of being delayed.
I would fly to Florence, stow my bags at the hotel, see one of their great museums, then overnight.
You want to go to Vernazza, if you are going to the C.T.
Do not confuse with Varenna, which is north of Como on Lake Como.
Anyway, next day have a picnic lunch ready. Then take the train (1 hour) - to Pisa; we only wanted to see the tower so had a cab take us from the station to Pisa. (We stowed our bags in train station lockers but this might not be necessary if all you want, literally, is to look at the tower.)
Walk through the piazza, towing bags if those are with you, pick up a cab on the other side of the piazza to take you back to the station.
From there it is about 2 hours by train to Vernazza.
I suppose you could manage to fly, cab from airport to tower, cab back to train station, and train to Vernazza all in one day, but that is a lot of 'moving parts' and easy to have something go wrong. Split it up if you can.
I would not make your schedule so tight, flights have a way of being delayed.
I would fly to Florence, stow my bags at the hotel, see one of their great museums, then overnight.
You want to go to Vernazza, if you are going to the C.T.
Do not confuse with Varenna, which is north of Como on Lake Como.
Anyway, next day have a picnic lunch ready. Then take the train (1 hour) - to Pisa; we only wanted to see the tower so had a cab take us from the station to Pisa. (We stowed our bags in train station lockers but this might not be necessary if all you want, literally, is to look at the tower.)
Walk through the piazza, towing bags if those are with you, pick up a cab on the other side of the piazza to take you back to the station.
From there it is about 2 hours by train to Vernazza.
I suppose you could manage to fly, cab from airport to tower, cab back to train station, and train to Vernazza all in one day, but that is a lot of 'moving parts' and easy to have something go wrong. Split it up if you can.
Feb 26th, 2015, 08:58 AM
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Transavia is one of the better low cost airlines, widely used by holiday companies for charter flights.
We use them to fly to La Palma, and have never had a problem with them.
If want water for the flight it is cheaper on the plane than at Schiphol.
We use them to fly to La Palma, and have never had a problem with them.
If want water for the flight it is cheaper on the plane than at Schiphol.
Feb 26th, 2015, 08:59 AM
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Then take the train (1 hour) - to Pisa; we only wanted to see the tower so had a cab take us from the station to Pisa. (We stowed our bags in train station lockers but this might not be necessary if all you want, literally, is to look at the tower.)>
Actually if you have bags on sheels or a light load and wish to just see the Leaning Tower you can take a train to the Pisa San Rossore station, a small sleepy station on the main line to La Spezia and the 5 Terre (have to change in Pisa Centrale usually to get a train to S Rossore station - that station is a long stone's throw from the actual Leaning Tower area - no luggage storage in station I believe but there is (or was when I last visited) at the entrance to the Leaning Tower itself) - easier than going from Pisa Centrale - just a short walk when ready to leave for La Spezia and area.
Actually if you have bags on sheels or a light load and wish to just see the Leaning Tower you can take a train to the Pisa San Rossore station, a small sleepy station on the main line to La Spezia and the 5 Terre (have to change in Pisa Centrale usually to get a train to S Rossore station - that station is a long stone's throw from the actual Leaning Tower area - no luggage storage in station I believe but there is (or was when I last visited) at the entrance to the Leaning Tower itself) - easier than going from Pisa Centrale - just a short walk when ready to leave for La Spezia and area.
