Hi, I'm new to fodors and looking for some advice. We are a couple traveling from Paris to Milan in Sept 2013 and I would appreciate best suggestions on best/fastest way from Paris to Milan. We are on a tight schedule and plan to be in Epernay on 19 Sept and plan to meet friends in Milan for transfer to Bellagio on 20 Sept. Are we best to fly or fast train? I gather from previous posts that it will be easier to travel from Paris as opposed to Epernay? I would appreciate your help (even if we by-pass Milan and head straight to Bellagio). Look forward to your responses and thanks in advance for your help. Have a great day.

You can't bypass Milan and head to Bellagio by train. Bellagio doesn't have a train station. You would take a local train to Paris (about 1 1/2 hours) and a TGV to Milan (about 7 hours). From Milan to Varenna and then ferry. You are talking about a very long travel day by train.

Yes Milan is the closest point to Varenna-Esino (takes 1 hr) so no point in bypassing it. There is also overnight Thello train that departs Paris (Gare de Lyon) at 19:59 and arrives at Milan (Centrale) at 05:38

There's been a recent poor review of the Thello train. Also there was going to be some line maintenance and it wasn't going to be running at certain times.

You can fly with easyjet departing from CDG and be in Milan in less that two hours..

http://www.easyjet.com/en/cheap-flig...rles-de-Gaulle

Thank you for all your advice

There are three daily direct TGV trains, city centre to city centre, a relaxing and quite scenic trip.

Book at www.voyages-sncf.com or www.loco2.com from just €29 in 2nd class, €35 in 1st class.

See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B09t_WJz_mM

Timetable at http://www.seat61.com/Paris-to-Milan-by-TGV-train.htm

Top tip - have a meal or at least a coffee at the famous Train Bleu restaurant and bar inside the Gare de Lyon in Paris before your train goes!

Remember the plane takes 4 or even 5 hours of grotty RER suburban trains to the airport, intrusive security checks, the actual flight, then more buses or trains into the city centre. The train is centre to centre with a glass of wine through the countryside!