Reality Check for Fast Travelers
Dec 23rd, 2016, 12:03 PM
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Reality Check for Fast Travelers
Every day people come to Fodors with unrealistic wish-lists for traveling around Europe, trying to cram too many places into a short timeframe, not understanding the time it takes to get from one place to another, etc. And every day at least a few people tell them to slow down, citing the conventional wisdom that you lose a half to a full day of travel when you change venues.
We've been traveling all week in Europe, on a 9-day trip from the Dordogne to Toulouse to Milan to Venice, and then back by the same route.
Here's a reality check for some of you.
Monday, December 20:
Left Les Eyzies on an 8:27am train to Toulouse with a change (30 minutes) in Agen. Arrived in Toulouse at 11:44. Hungry, so we had a sandwich at the train station, then looked at a map and decided to take a cab to the hotel (12 minutes away in traffic by cab - 12 euros). Got to hotel before the stated check-in time but they had one room available on the 7th floor. Elevator stopped at the 6th and we had to climb up a tiny spiral staircase to our room. No problem, but between the waiting for the staff at the desk and getting ourselves up to the room, it was 1:15 when we plopped our suitcases down and got out our maps and such for visiting to Toulouse, freshened up a bit, and got ready to hit the streets. So there's almost 5hours out of that day. And that was an easy day.
Tuesday, December 21
Next day we had a 2:45 pm flight (EasyJet) from Toulouse (Blagnac) airport to Malpensa (Milan) airport. We scheduled a cab for 11:45 and arrived at the Toulouse airport at about 12:10 pm (traffic was light - we were told it's normally a half-hour trip). Upon taking the elevator the the 2nd-floor departure level, we were greeted with a snaking line of several hundred people just waiting to get through the automatic check-in machines (you can't check in in person on EasyJet, at least in Toulouse, so GOOD THING we knew that in advance and had downloaded and printed out our boarding passes in advance. You'd be up a creek if you didn't research that and be prepared for it. There were four lines before reaching the check-in machines that morphed into a single one thereafter, and then it was a slow slog to the security area. Staff were yelling "AVANCEZ_VOUS VITE! VITES! AVANCEZ - VOUS!!!!"while everyone madly tried to grab plasstic trays, remove coats, take off belts, take their plastic bottles of toiletries out of suitcases, get their laptops and iPADS and cell phones into trays, and push them madly around the conveyor belt. It was bedlam, and it was now 1 pm.
Then through actual security, with the trays undergoing X-rays or lasers or whatever they are. Then a crush of people getting redressed and repacking their bags. It was now 1:20. OK, we see that we're leaving from Gate 48, so we get our bearings and start walking. We see a sign that says Gates 40-50 turn left, so we know (think we're close). We're also a sweaty mess from all the hullabaloo at check-in and security, so we sit down and share a beer and calm down a bit. That takes 15 minutes because of the line at the cafeteria. It's now 1:45 by the time we use the restroom.
We see that our flight closes boarding at 2:20. No problem, we think, so we round the corner following the sign to Gates 40-50 and...uh oh. There's a very long corridor, then another, then a long people mover, then another corridor, then another people mover, then more corridors...and then we see another mass of people up ahead all clumped together, waiting for...something. Oh, it's passport control. There are easily 100 people ahead of us in that line, which also snakes around so you can't get a clear idea of where you're going or how long it will take. Inevitably a few people get snagged and pulled aside for potential passport issues, and there are only 2 staff manning the passport control windows. When the line in front of us is down to about 20 people it's 2:15 pm. Remember that our flight closes boarding at 2:20. We're desperate. We're not going to make it. Lots of other people are whispering the same thoughts.
We get to and through the passport window (they added a couple of staff people when it became obvious a riot was about to ensue), then start down another corridor and reaize our gate is # 48, almost the last one down. Get there and there's yet another massive backup of people standing in desperate forlorn clumps leaning on their suitcases. And only one EasyJet staff person there to help. Another came along after about 15 minutes and just started lecturing the whole crowd about how if we wanted to get on our holiday flights we had to be patient and be sure to abide by the luggage ruls. 40 minutes later we started to get through the EasyJet checkpoint, then stood in line for another 20 minutes until an incoming EasyJet plane dispelled all its passengers and whatever else they do after a plane lands. Then one by one we had to pick our way (with our luggage) down a four-part rickety metal staircase to the tarmac, then wait while everyone picked their way UP onto the aircraft. Then wait for everyone to settle in and get ready for takeoff. It was nearly 4 pm when we lifted off. The flight was 1 hour 10 minutes, but then of course we had to deboard and wait for the shoulder bag that Mr. A Hole EasyJet had made my husband check, even though it was considerably smaller than the one I was carrying or the ones other guys all around us were carrying.
It was close to 6 pm when we got outside at Malpensa airport. Yes, we knew there was a shuttle for about 8 euros, but by that time we simply could not imagine making multiple stops on the way to the city and having to schlep our bags from the shuttle terminal to the hotel once we got there. So we jumped in a cab. Guess what? Rush hour. And even though our cab driver was going 160 kph in 90kph zones every chance he got, it was an hour and 10 minutes before we reached our hotel - and 102 €!!!!
So, you do the math and see how easy and fast it is to just zip around Europe stopping for a day here and a day there.
I will add that we live in Europe and speak a few languages and travel frequently, so it's not as though we are novices at this stuff. And yes, if anyone wonders why and how I planned this route I'll be happy to explain. Trust me, it wasn't frivolous.
But the point is, think again about planning itineraries that have you racing around the Continent with one-night (or even two-night) stops hither and yon. No matter how young and strong you are. Unless you have the wherewithall, and the funds, to change plans at whim.
That's all.
We've been traveling all week in Europe, on a 9-day trip from the Dordogne to Toulouse to Milan to Venice, and then back by the same route.
Here's a reality check for some of you.
Monday, December 20:
Left Les Eyzies on an 8:27am train to Toulouse with a change (30 minutes) in Agen. Arrived in Toulouse at 11:44. Hungry, so we had a sandwich at the train station, then looked at a map and decided to take a cab to the hotel (12 minutes away in traffic by cab - 12 euros). Got to hotel before the stated check-in time but they had one room available on the 7th floor. Elevator stopped at the 6th and we had to climb up a tiny spiral staircase to our room. No problem, but between the waiting for the staff at the desk and getting ourselves up to the room, it was 1:15 when we plopped our suitcases down and got out our maps and such for visiting to Toulouse, freshened up a bit, and got ready to hit the streets. So there's almost 5hours out of that day. And that was an easy day.
Tuesday, December 21
Next day we had a 2:45 pm flight (EasyJet) from Toulouse (Blagnac) airport to Malpensa (Milan) airport. We scheduled a cab for 11:45 and arrived at the Toulouse airport at about 12:10 pm (traffic was light - we were told it's normally a half-hour trip). Upon taking the elevator the the 2nd-floor departure level, we were greeted with a snaking line of several hundred people just waiting to get through the automatic check-in machines (you can't check in in person on EasyJet, at least in Toulouse, so GOOD THING we knew that in advance and had downloaded and printed out our boarding passes in advance. You'd be up a creek if you didn't research that and be prepared for it. There were four lines before reaching the check-in machines that morphed into a single one thereafter, and then it was a slow slog to the security area. Staff were yelling "AVANCEZ_VOUS VITE! VITES! AVANCEZ - VOUS!!!!"while everyone madly tried to grab plasstic trays, remove coats, take off belts, take their plastic bottles of toiletries out of suitcases, get their laptops and iPADS and cell phones into trays, and push them madly around the conveyor belt. It was bedlam, and it was now 1 pm.
Then through actual security, with the trays undergoing X-rays or lasers or whatever they are. Then a crush of people getting redressed and repacking their bags. It was now 1:20. OK, we see that we're leaving from Gate 48, so we get our bearings and start walking. We see a sign that says Gates 40-50 turn left, so we know (think we're close). We're also a sweaty mess from all the hullabaloo at check-in and security, so we sit down and share a beer and calm down a bit. That takes 15 minutes because of the line at the cafeteria. It's now 1:45 by the time we use the restroom.
We see that our flight closes boarding at 2:20. No problem, we think, so we round the corner following the sign to Gates 40-50 and...uh oh. There's a very long corridor, then another, then a long people mover, then another corridor, then another people mover, then more corridors...and then we see another mass of people up ahead all clumped together, waiting for...something. Oh, it's passport control. There are easily 100 people ahead of us in that line, which also snakes around so you can't get a clear idea of where you're going or how long it will take. Inevitably a few people get snagged and pulled aside for potential passport issues, and there are only 2 staff manning the passport control windows. When the line in front of us is down to about 20 people it's 2:15 pm. Remember that our flight closes boarding at 2:20. We're desperate. We're not going to make it. Lots of other people are whispering the same thoughts.
We get to and through the passport window (they added a couple of staff people when it became obvious a riot was about to ensue), then start down another corridor and reaize our gate is # 48, almost the last one down. Get there and there's yet another massive backup of people standing in desperate forlorn clumps leaning on their suitcases. And only one EasyJet staff person there to help. Another came along after about 15 minutes and just started lecturing the whole crowd about how if we wanted to get on our holiday flights we had to be patient and be sure to abide by the luggage ruls. 40 minutes later we started to get through the EasyJet checkpoint, then stood in line for another 20 minutes until an incoming EasyJet plane dispelled all its passengers and whatever else they do after a plane lands. Then one by one we had to pick our way (with our luggage) down a four-part rickety metal staircase to the tarmac, then wait while everyone picked their way UP onto the aircraft. Then wait for everyone to settle in and get ready for takeoff. It was nearly 4 pm when we lifted off. The flight was 1 hour 10 minutes, but then of course we had to deboard and wait for the shoulder bag that Mr. A Hole EasyJet had made my husband check, even though it was considerably smaller than the one I was carrying or the ones other guys all around us were carrying.
It was close to 6 pm when we got outside at Malpensa airport. Yes, we knew there was a shuttle for about 8 euros, but by that time we simply could not imagine making multiple stops on the way to the city and having to schlep our bags from the shuttle terminal to the hotel once we got there. So we jumped in a cab. Guess what? Rush hour. And even though our cab driver was going 160 kph in 90kph zones every chance he got, it was an hour and 10 minutes before we reached our hotel - and 102 €!!!!
So, you do the math and see how easy and fast it is to just zip around Europe stopping for a day here and a day there.
I will add that we live in Europe and speak a few languages and travel frequently, so it's not as though we are novices at this stuff. And yes, if anyone wonders why and how I planned this route I'll be happy to explain. Trust me, it wasn't frivolous.
But the point is, think again about planning itineraries that have you racing around the Continent with one-night (or even two-night) stops hither and yon. No matter how young and strong you are. Unless you have the wherewithall, and the funds, to change plans at whim.
That's all.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 12:34 PM
#2
Wow, that was one expensive taxi!
But you are so right about how long moving around takes, this is from one of my Fodor's TRs for a flight from London (Luton) to Nice (shoulder season):
"walk to bus stop; take very slooow bus to St. Pancras station; trek the entire length of the amazingly long international platform to reach the regular trains (only taxis, not buses, serve that end!); take a train to Luton Parkway; wait 10 minutes for next shuttle to airport; wait three hours, including 15 minutes standing at the gate, for plane to take off (an hour late); fly to Nice; wait 15 minutes for incredibly crowded bus into town, and walk to hotel.
Flying time: 2 hours
Travel time: 8 hours"
But you are so right about how long moving around takes, this is from one of my Fodor's TRs for a flight from London (Luton) to Nice (shoulder season):
"walk to bus stop; take very slooow bus to St. Pancras station; trek the entire length of the amazingly long international platform to reach the regular trains (only taxis, not buses, serve that end!); take a train to Luton Parkway; wait 10 minutes for next shuttle to airport; wait three hours, including 15 minutes standing at the gate, for plane to take off (an hour late); fly to Nice; wait 15 minutes for incredibly crowded bus into town, and walk to hotel.
Flying time: 2 hours
Travel time: 8 hours"
Dec 23rd, 2016, 12:49 PM
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Yikes! I think we all have horror stories of some sort...
Our Most Expensive Taxi story was from London to that horrible Stansted airport...flight was earlier than the transit, so our taxi was 150 pounds, that was $300 Cdn. Arranged by the hotel. Lesson learned!! And when we got to the disorganized mess inside the airport that just added insult to injury...
St Cirq, was your flight before or after the Berlin incident?
Our Most Expensive Taxi story was from London to that horrible Stansted airport...flight was earlier than the transit, so our taxi was 150 pounds, that was $300 Cdn. Arranged by the hotel. Lesson learned!! And when we got to the disorganized mess inside the airport that just added insult to injury...
St Cirq, was your flight before or after the Berlin incident?
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:17 PM
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these are both funny stories in retrospect but painful while experiencng. you are correct, " if this is tuesday it must be belgium" is not the way to travel
often though what we remember is the agonies and experiences rather than the beauty of the Mona Lisa!
happy new year to all
cheers
AndrewDavid
often though what we remember is the agonies and experiences rather than the beauty of the Mona Lisa!
happy new year to all
cheers
AndrewDavid
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:20 PM
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Yes, thursdays, the taxi was more than the flights for the two of us from Toulouse to Malpensa
sundriedtopepo, I think our flight was before the Berlin incident, but you know how it is when you're traveling all over - it takes time to catch up on the news.
Oh, and I didn't even, in the examples above, mention time taken to pack up each morning, which usually takes us 15-30 minutes because even though we're well organized it takes time to sift through the paperwork/receipts that can be thrown away and those we want to keep, make sure cell phones and cameras and laptops are charged, and reorganize our (small) suitcases for the coming travel day. So you can add another half-hour to all of the above.
sundriedtopepo, I think our flight was before the Berlin incident, but you know how it is when you're traveling all over - it takes time to catch up on the news.
Oh, and I didn't even, in the examples above, mention time taken to pack up each morning, which usually takes us 15-30 minutes because even though we're well organized it takes time to sift through the paperwork/receipts that can be thrown away and those we want to keep, make sure cell phones and cameras and laptops are charged, and reorganize our (small) suitcases for the coming travel day. So you can add another half-hour to all of the above.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:25 PM
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And let's not forgot (oh, let us forget!) the times when you can't find anyone to check you out (or in), or when the lines at a reception desk are so long you miss a connection before you can check out, etc.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:29 PM
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Yes, Andrew, we are already settled in Venice for 5 days and laughing (to some extent) about the travails of getting here. Someday I may post about our trip to visit our translator in Angoulème, which was the ugliest and most unexpected eff-up of our travel careers together. That one we still can't laugh about - just look at each other and go grrrrrrrrrr!
But I just wanted to say that when folks say, e.g., we're spending 2 nights in Bologna and two nights in Venice and two nights in Florence and then want to go to Switzerland for a couple of days....think again.
I'm not even sure my stories were "horror stories." They reflect, IME, what is often the reality.
But yes, we retain a sense of humor, once we've had a shower and a glass or two of wine
But I just wanted to say that when folks say, e.g., we're spending 2 nights in Bologna and two nights in Venice and two nights in Florence and then want to go to Switzerland for a couple of days....think again.
I'm not even sure my stories were "horror stories." They reflect, IME, what is often the reality.
But yes, we retain a sense of humor, once we've had a shower and a glass or two of wine
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:30 PM
#11
@kja - I generally try to settle up the night before (assuming I didn't pay on arrival). That way if there is some glitch with my credit card I have notice I need to come up with cash! I usually do most of the packing the night before too.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 01:50 PM
#13
"Someday I may post about our trip to visit our translator in Angoulème, which was the ugliest and most unexpected eff-up of our travel careers together."
You have to admit, those eff-ups make for more interesting (and honest) trip reports, even though at the time they're very frustrating. Have fun in Venice.
You have to admit, those eff-ups make for more interesting (and honest) trip reports, even though at the time they're very frustrating. Have fun in Venice.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 02:32 PM
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One of the problems with fast travel that you addressed is all the small things ( and sometimes big ) that can and do go wrong. Everyone assumes that things will run/ go smoothly with no hiccups. They seldom do. Not sure you're going to convince those that need convincing but a good post anyway.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 03:41 PM
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In June this year we started our month long vacation in France with 3 nights in Nice. Our United flight was scheduled to depart around 2PM from SFO to Frankfurt to Nice.
When we got to the airport, the flight was delayed for 2 hrs for mechanical reasons. Then it was delayed for another hour. Then they announced that the flight attendants had "timed out" and had to be replaced. Finally the substitute flight attendants arrived around 6PM and all the passengers that had already been waiting for 4 hrs, gave a big cheer. We quickly boarded the plane and sat at the gate waiting for "something" for 1 hr. They finally announced that the pilots had "timed out" and the flight was cancelled. This was around 7PM.
We dashed to the re-booking gate and got there first and were rescheduled for the next day. Stragglers waiting behind us in line had to wait until 3AM that night before they got to the front of the long line to be re-scheduled (found this out the next morning from the same gate agent that rescheduled us).
We arrived in Nice one day late, and our bags arrived in Nice 2 days late. If we had planned on staying in Nice for less than 3 nights - our bags might not have caught up with us.
The almost identical thing happened to us on a flight to Bordeaux about 7 years ago. Then there were the 3-4 annual air traffic controllers strikes that created big problems, and the annual Air France strikes.
Stu Dudley
When we got to the airport, the flight was delayed for 2 hrs for mechanical reasons. Then it was delayed for another hour. Then they announced that the flight attendants had "timed out" and had to be replaced. Finally the substitute flight attendants arrived around 6PM and all the passengers that had already been waiting for 4 hrs, gave a big cheer. We quickly boarded the plane and sat at the gate waiting for "something" for 1 hr. They finally announced that the pilots had "timed out" and the flight was cancelled. This was around 7PM.
We dashed to the re-booking gate and got there first and were rescheduled for the next day. Stragglers waiting behind us in line had to wait until 3AM that night before they got to the front of the long line to be re-scheduled (found this out the next morning from the same gate agent that rescheduled us).
We arrived in Nice one day late, and our bags arrived in Nice 2 days late. If we had planned on staying in Nice for less than 3 nights - our bags might not have caught up with us.
The almost identical thing happened to us on a flight to Bordeaux about 7 years ago. Then there were the 3-4 annual air traffic controllers strikes that created big problems, and the annual Air France strikes.
Stu Dudley
Dec 23rd, 2016, 04:22 PM
#17
Unfortunately, as alluded to above, while the stories are good ones (well, not good), you're preaching to the choir. But it is good to hear others' trials & tribulations and be reminded we aren't alone. I fear we will not be spared even 1 ludicrous itinerary here from those who will tell us how much they love fast travel. Ah, well, carry on, commiseration is good for our souls.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 04:35 PM
#18
While it is true that trials and tribulations happen, my eight hours travel time for two hours flying time would have been seven hours travel time even without the airport delay. So normal travel takes a lot longer than the time you're moving, never mind something going wrong.
Dec 23rd, 2016, 05:23 PM
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I'm always amazed by the people who want a new country every day or two - and it never seems to occur to them that it will be a different language, a different culture, different transit system, different cuisine and the geography of a whole different city to get used to.
I often wonder about the people who insist on these "itineraries". They never seem to come back and tell us how well their trips went.
If some people want to race around this way and see one sight in each place, spending a very large part of their time and money just getting from one place to another - more power to them. But you couldn't pay me to suffer through it.
(I have done enough 2 days turnarounds to clients in Switz that I will never do any sort of trip like that again.)
I often wonder about the people who insist on these "itineraries". They never seem to come back and tell us how well their trips went.
If some people want to race around this way and see one sight in each place, spending a very large part of their time and money just getting from one place to another - more power to them. But you couldn't pay me to suffer through it.
(I have done enough 2 days turnarounds to clients in Switz that I will never do any sort of trip like that again.)
