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Train from Florence to Milan same day as your flight

Train from Florence to Milan same day as your flight

Old Nov 24th, 2011, 12:48 PM
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Train from Florence to Milan same day as your flight

Our flight leaves Milan at 1:15 p.m. to come home. Anyone have experience taking a morning train from Florence to Malpensa the day your flight leaves and, once at Malpensa, was it easy to get around to your airline's terminal?
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 01:02 PM
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jessicadog,

I have done an early departure from Florence to Pisa to catch a flight at about 11am, but of course it is closer and was just within europe so i only had to be there an hour in advance.

if this is a transatlantic flight, you presumably have to be there at least 2 hours in advance, possibly more, so you'd need to be there at the latest 11am, 10.30 to be safe.

there is a direct train [the first of the day] showing at the moment leaving SMN at 7am, arriving Malpensa aeroporto at 9.38. the next one leaves at 8am and arrives at 10.38 but you have to change at milan central.

personally, I think that I would spend the night in Milan and have a leisurely stress-free morning!
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 01:31 PM
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there are far too many train strikes in Italy for me to do that - if I have a non-changeable non-refundable flight. Stay in Milan the night before and if you have not been there be prepared to be glad you did - historic center a delight and just to see the famed Duomo, ah!
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 04:15 PM
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Add me to the list of people who suggest staying over in Milan--or if possible flying there from Florence.

To answer your question, several years ago I took the train from Florence to Milan the same day as my flight out and it was a real nail biter; hence my advice above.
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 04:39 PM
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I guess you've all made up my mind. The night before in Milan it is then. Not my favorite city. Maybe stay near the airport where there's a hotel shuttle?
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 07:03 PM
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13:15 isn't so early that you HAVE to stay by the airport. There's a direct train from Milano Centrale now to Maplensa. Leave by 10am and you'd be fine. Not that you need time in Milan in the morning (not my favorite city, either), but at least you'd be able to hang out in Milan later the night before. I'd rather be in Milan the night before than at an airport hotel. There are hotels walking distance from Milano Centrale.

Still, let's play devil's advocate: suppose you train from Florence (earliest seems to leave at 7:00, arrive Milano Centrale at 8:45) is late or there's a strike? Then what? Suppose you miss your flight? What happens? Is there a later set of connecting flights on your airline after 13:15? What is the penalty (if any) for missing a flight especially if you have an excuse like a train strike? (American airline or Italian?)

Also, it's somewhat likely that you'd hear some advanced word of a train strike - aren't they usually announced in advance? Then you could make a last-minute adjustment and move your last night to Milan?

I'd still consider my last night in Florence instead of Milan, unless you HAVE to catch that 13:15 flight at any cost or it would be a catastrophe. It's a slight risk, but if it wouldn't be a catastrophe if you missed it, I'd take the risk.
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 07:46 PM
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Andrew, are you sure there's a direct train from Centrale now? I understood that one has to take the Metro/transfer at Cardona station. Not a huge issue, but relevant if one is carting significant baggage. We ended up taking the Malpensa Express (bus) from Centrale for that reason two days ago, catching a free shuttle to our (airport) hotel.

If an airport hotel is wanted for MXP, Hotel Cardano is where we stayed this past Monday night--we stayed in Milan for dinner and then went out to the hotel.

Jessica if you do stay in Milan proper (yes, several good hotels right near Centrale, such as Hotel Berna), which isn't a bad idea, I'd allow enough time to get to the airport if you take the Malpensa Express bus during commute hour (I personally would either take the train or stay near the airport, or you might end up with the "will I catch my plane" problem after all).
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Old Nov 24th, 2011, 08:16 PM
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annw: Andrew, are you sure there's a direct train from Centrale now?

Yes - I took it in two months ago, in September. It's fairly new. Last time I was in Milan in 2009, I had to take a bus - opposite direction from Malpensa to Milano Centrale.

Actually, I took a train from Levanto early that morning to Malpensa via Milano Centrale catch a plane at about the same time as the OP. I probably arrived at the airport about two hours prior, but my flight was only to Amsterdam and not back to the states, so less of a worry about prior arrival. And I knew there was another flight on to Amsterdam four hours later.
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Old Nov 25th, 2011, 03:30 AM
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Presently there are 2 suitable departures leaving Florence at 7 or 8 and arriving Malpensa at 9:38 or 10:38. Time is 2 hr 38 min and cost as little as 52 euro for mini fare. To check schedules or buy a ticket go to http://www.trenitalia.com/ paste "firenze" in box 1 & "milano malpensa" in box 2.
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Old Nov 25th, 2011, 07:47 PM
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The train that departs Florence at 6:55 doesn't require a change in Milan Centrale. I believe there are currently only three trains per day (they are supposed to be adding more) that don't require a change and the other times wouldn't work for the OP.
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Old Nov 26th, 2011, 03:55 PM
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I would take the earlier train. I had a misfortune to get stuck on Italian trains more than once; both times for less than a hour. First time there was problem with switches; second time train broke & we had to wait for the next scheduled one.
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Old Nov 26th, 2011, 04:26 PM
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I wouldn't risk it, but I know I'm a jittery flyer and would just obsess about the following morning turning into a disaster.
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