Help! Train or Car from Florence to Belgium.
Mar 31st, 2002, 01:23 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Help! Train or Car from Florence to Belgium.
My friend and I are staying a week in Florence and then a week in Brussels. Should we went a car and drive or take the train? I've traveled by train but never that far. Should we take a night train that we can sleep on? I have never driven in Italy - or Europe but I'm wondering if this would be the trip to drive? Any advice? Thanks
Mar 31st, 2002, 01:37 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Train to Milan (or Rome), then fly www.virgin-express.com to Brussels. Save a lot of time AND money.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>
Mar 31st, 2002, 01:41 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
I would consider traveling by train, especially if you never drove in Europe. Not only will you save the rental car drop-off penalty, but also you will avoid the hassle of learning how to drive in large European cities. Also, you will probably not feel at ease having to adapt to the driving condiitons of Italy, Switzerland, germany, France and Belgium. Al those countries are on the way between Florence and Belgium.<BR>There are night trains with couchettes that are pretty comfortable. I would also consider flying, for example good rates with Ryan Air from Pisa to Brussels South (Charleroi).
Mar 31st, 2002, 03:49 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yeah, I guess so, Coupla crashes a week I guess. Why?<BR><BR>Just kidding. You didn't ask about safety statistics along with your question about driving. At least in the US, annual car-related fatalities exceed air-related fatalites by a factor of 10:1 (2001) to 100:1 (most other years). And of course, in 2001, most air-related fatalities were people not in an airplane.<BR><BR>I am big fan of RyanAir, but you should know that their strict baggage limits might tip in favor of VE in this case. 15 kg free and then 4 eur for each excess kg, I think. Plus Charleroi is a bit distant from Brussels proper - - unless it happens to be close to your actual destination in Belgium.<BR>
Mar 31st, 2002, 04:16 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Rex - you are right about the stats for driving - flying is much safer - I'm just not a huge fan of flying on small planes. I suppose I'm assuming they are small planes. Anyway, thanks for the tip about the luggage. Have you flown VE? I was pleasantly surprised with the fares.
Mar 31st, 2002, 06:43 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have not flown VE. But my flights on Ryanair were or normal narrow-body jets (like 727). and the VE website (as you surely saw) shows a picture of what looks similar to a 727. I think that the newer small jets (Canadair, Saab, Brasilia) have not caught on so much yet in Europe.<BR>
Apr 4th, 2002, 09:48 PM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi<BR><BR>The low cost airlines are expanding in Europe as national carriers cut flights to save money ! They are more profitable, and safe.<BR><BR>Ryanair fly new 737's on the London - Languedoc routes.<BR><BR>Don't forget car travel is more expensive here. Gas at USD 3 per US gall, tolls, and for rental cars a drop off fee for returning to a different base (can be quite expensive if in another country).<BR><BR>On the other hand driving gives a better insight to a country.<BR><BR><BR>Peter<BR><BR><BR>
