edbrunetti

I've got to go from Paris to Rome in April 2014.
I've decided to either fly or catch a train.
The train option would be a TGV to Milan, and then and Italo train to Rome.
If I went on a plane, I would fly with Vueling.
The train is 10ish hours, and the plane is only 2.

Price isn't really an issue, so I am just wondering what the nicer option.
I would rather catch a train as I think it would be more enjoyable, but I need some other people's opinion.

Thanks, Ed.

Michael

For me train travel wears thin after a few hours. I would fly.

dutyfree

Definitely fly so you can enjoy Rome more.

michelhuebeli

If you take the night train you save a night in a hotel and you arrive in Rome for a late breakfast. See https://www.thello.com/?iLangID=3 - currently departures are at 7:14PM and arrival in Rome is at 10:20AM. It's too early to see timetables for your travel month, but it will give you an idea. The sleeping options range from a bunk in a shared cabin of six to a private single-bed cabin, and several in-betweens.

The plane trip will take you a lot longer than 2 hours from the time you are heading out to the airport to the time you arrive in the center of Rome.

There are many more options than Vueling - use www.skyscanner.com with a date in the next couple of months, just to get an idea, and check again for real by about January or February or March for your dates.

Man_in_seat_61

Paris-Milan by TGV is a nice scenic run - see the video I took a year or two ago, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B09t_WJz_mM

Book at http://www.capitainetrain.com from just €29 (from €35 in 1st class).

Then book Milan-Rome by Italo at http://www.italotreno.it from around €30 - see video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30yWfXKZ1x0

You can go Paris-Milan-Rome in a single day, or break up the trip a bit by staying overnight in Milan or Turin (the latter being one of Italy's moist under-rated cities, even if you're not a fan of the 1969 Michael Caine film "The Italian Job" - why not spend the morning there?)

If you choose to take the 14:41 TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon and stay over in Turin, you can have lunch at the amazing train Bleu restaurant inside the Gare de Lyon before boarding your train, http://www.le-train-bleu.com - set 3-course lunch with half bottle of wine €56. They'll put your luggage in their cloakroom while you eat, they're used to that being at a station!

asps

If you reserve on Air France well in advance the price is not so bad and travel more civilized than on low cost airlines.

edbrunetti

Wow, I'm amazed that the man in seat 61 replied to me.
I've watched a few of your videos.

I've looked at flights and Vueling seems the cheapest. I don't want to go on the Thello,
so my only option is Flight or TGV + Italo. I'm leaning towards a flight at the moment.

dreamon

We recently took a flight from London to Nice. The flight was 1.5hrs but we were required to be at the airport 2 hours prior, plus 1.5hrs to get from our hotel to Gatwick airport, plus bus from the airport to central Nice.

I know that your journey is different but just factor all the extra time needed with flying. I'd prefer the train myself. Much less stressful and more enjoyable. And it's more environmentally friendly as well.

edbrunetti

I agree, generally trains are much less stressful.
BUT, there are no customs/passport control between france and Italy, so it could be easier.

Unless something REALLY compells me to Train, I think I'll just take a flight.