I'm looking for the fastest, cheapest, best way to get from Paris to Florence. Speed is important, but so is money. What do ya think, trains or plains? We're looking at late May.

Use air lib express out of orly airport in Paris Flts are runing about $50.00 per person with tax air tax in Europe is high. Book 2 months in advance for Best price.Milan to florence by train is about 1:30. Travel time is 1:25on the air lib run. hope this helps Tom

There is a direct overnight train from Paris to Firenze ("Florence&quot with a restaurant car, couchettes and various grades of sleeping compartments - fares vary according to the accommodation.

Actually just researched this as I was in Florence, Venice and Paris over the last two weeks. Cost of 4 seats Florence to Paris on Airlib was about E280 one way but would have been as cheap as E180 (or less perhaps)if I had booked alittle earlier. Flights are out of Pisa airport which is about 1 1/2 hour train ride from Florence. Flight to Paris takes about 1 1/2 hours and leaves at 1530 or so if my memory serves me (check the web site). Flys to Orly Sud which is a E30 taxi ride to the Notre Dame.<BR>Train overnight couchette was E530 for 3 adult and one child fare. Leaves around 7pm and gets into Paris at about 0800. I do not find couchettes that comfortable and greatly prefer a hotel. You will however save a 1 hotel night bill if you go by train. I do not know what the train fares are if you just took the high speed train without sleeping accomadations as it is about a 9 hour train ride from Florence to Paris with I believe a change in Milan.<BR>This question may however be moot in May as there are some questions about Airlib's finances and they may not be around in May.<BR>Sorry I cannot be more accurate but I just flew in from Paris last night with a 6 hour delay in Frankfurt and am abit lagged. Good luck.

We took the overnight train from Paris to Venice in 1999. When you consider what you are paying for a hotel room, it probably pays to go by train instead. Plus, if you have to go out to the CDG airport and then back in from Florence, those are additional expenses you don't have when you go by train; and a whole day of your precious vacation time is wasted when you consider the overall time from hotel to hotel. If I spend a few dollars more, well, it takes that much longer to pay off the trip; but I can't get extra days.<BR>When we went, we took 2nd class couchette; leave Paris at 7PM, through Dijon (mustard, anyone?) Domodossola, and Milan. Arrive in Venice about 9am. So we had a full day in each location.<BR> The French train crews were on strike, so the whole train was 2nd class couchette. (Shoulda heard the 1st class ticket-holders complain!) Fortunately, there was only the 2 of us and some Italian guy in a compartment for 6. I would take first class if it won't break your budget. (and if they're not on strike) Pay a little extra for a private room.

how did you book your train ticket?

Hi Hope,

You can book train tickets from Paris to Florence online at the French National Railway site

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/...=1057599169260

Since this thread has been revived I would like to point out that Air Lib has since gone out of business.

The most convenient low-cost air service you can use is Volareweb to Rome, and take the train from there.
www.volareweb.com

Hope this helps,
Andre