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Any ideas on good prices for plane tickets?

Any ideas on good prices for plane tickets?

Old Feb 27th, 2005, 09:45 AM
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Any ideas on good prices for plane tickets?

Looking for good place to search good plane prices from Dulles to Florence. I've never flown to Europe before and can't find good prices. Also, I've heard about the V.A.T. in Italy-20% sounds like a horrible fee to have to pay-Is this really true? Thanks for any advice?
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Old Feb 27th, 2005, 09:48 AM
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The VAT is incorporated into prices in Europe in almost all cases, so you'll never actually notice it as a separate item.

Try other DC-area airports and try other Italian cities other than Florence. Milan or Rome might be cheaper.

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Old Feb 27th, 2005, 09:50 AM
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Hi suzy,

For round trips see www.mobissimo.com.

Also check prices for Pisa (PSA) and Rome (FCO). You can easily train to Florence.

The VAT, about 19%, is included in the price. You can get VAT refunded, on merchandise only, if you spend about 250E at one store.


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Old Feb 27th, 2005, 10:07 AM
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Check out and register for flights into London with britishairways.com. You can pick up very inexpensive flights to Italy with Ryanair and other (check out whichbudget.com) from there.
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Old Feb 27th, 2005, 10:12 AM
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When are you flying, Suzy?

Flying into Florence will probably be more expensive than flying into Rome and taking the train to Florence, which is not difficult.

Also, VAT is not applicable to airline tickets.
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Old Feb 27th, 2005, 12:56 PM
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Suzy, I read in one of your previous posts that you're planning a trip for September. (Did you know you could access all your posts by clicking on your name way at the top of the page next to the word "Welcome" or by clicking on your name at the begining of the post?) What prices are you finding vs the prices you're looking for? You may be trying to book your flight a bit too early. I suggest you keep searching until you're in the range you've budgeted. Subscribe to the TravelZoo (www.travelzoo.com) weekly newsletter for the fare sales each week. Another good site is www.itasoftware.com.

I'm traveling with an informal group (not an organized tour) to Italy this spring. All of us booked separately and all found the best fares directly on the airline's own web page.

A correction to the post above. Actually I have no idea whether VAT is added to airline tickets or not. But I do know that you don't have to pay an extra 20% VAT beyond your fare. However, there are many other taxes and fees (sigh...), so make sure you understand exactly what is included in your fare price before you buy.
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Old Feb 28th, 2005, 06:39 AM
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The best price I've been able to find has been $720-Dulles to Florence. I get conflicting advice as to looking too soon for flights/accomodations for a trip in Sept. The slowtrav site seems to be saying "grab these accomodations soon or they will be gone!"
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Old Feb 28th, 2005, 09:18 AM
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Check out the Cheap Flight forum on the Eurotrip discussion board at www.eurotrip.com. One of the moderators, Don, is a respected airfare guru. Try posting your question to him at that site. He'll probably be able to advise you about when to buy and approximately how much the ticket will cost.

Have you searched Dulles to Rome? If there's a price advantage, I'd consider booking that route and take the train to Florence.
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