Train vs. Car in Italy
 

My wife and I and our 20 month old traveling to Italy and are flying into Milan on 3/2/01 and spending our 1st night in Venice, next night in Florence, 3 nights in Rome, 1 night on the Riviera, and then onto France. What would be the best traveling options with this route? Thank you for your advice and response. Mark

First - - depending on how long your trip takes you "onto France" then take this other part - - 1st night in Venice, next night in Florence, 3 nights in Rome, 1 night on the Riviera - - and pare it down to TWO (or three) destinations!! - - perhaps three nights Florence (with at least one day trip? Siena?), and two nights Riviera (or Cinque Terre). <BR> <BR>Or two-three nights in Florence/Tuscany, then two-three nights Venice (and/or surroundings) - - followed by a cheap flight to Brussels (and then a 90 minute train ride to Paris). <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Rex <BR> <BR>Which airline are you suggesting for a cheap flight from Venice to Brussels?

If you're going to do this, take the train. A car is worse than a hinderence in major European cities. <BR> <BR>But my question is: Why are you so ambitious? You're going to spend most of your time in train stations, trains and checking in and out of hotels. Why are you going through such monkey motions with a toddler. Pick a few spots relatively close together -- relax and enjoy yourself.

It sounds like you're going to France. If you're on a budget, it's much cheaper to fly to Paris than it is to fly to Milan. <BR> <BR>As far as cheap European fares are concerned, they are available through US online travel agents. <BR> <BR>If you are going to rent a car, remember that Italy is one of the most expensive places to rent in Europe.

www.ryanair.com - - flies from Venice (Treviso) to Brussels (Charleroi) - - 3210 BEF ($73.60 USD) as currently listed on their website. Pisa would be another alternative - - at only 2210 BEF. <BR>

Thanks, Rex <BR> <BR>Headed over to the Ryan Air website. <BR> <BR>Bon viaggio to you and your travel group.

. <BR>Mark: <BR> <BR>Usually my response would be to opt for the train, at least between all the cities in Italy. I happen to be a 'train' kinda gal. However in your circumstance of traveling with a young child, it might be more convenient & afford you greater flexibility to rent a car.

I agree with others that this itinerary makes no sense. You'll spend all of your time unpacking/packing and in transit from Milan-Venice-Florence. If your time in Italy is truly limited, then you should either not arrive via Milan, if that's an option, or cut out at least one of these cities. <BR> <BR>Even if you stay two or three nights in Venice and Florence, the train between each of these destinations as well as Florence to Rome averages 3 hours each leg..so if you don't plan to stay overnight in any small towns in between (another good suggestion) then point-to point-transit is best by train as renting a car for just one day is silly. These are short train trips. <BR> <BR>As far as seeing some of the smaller towns, I know alot of folks suggest planting yourself in a big city like Florence and doing day trips but to me this is very inefficient. I'd rent a car in Florence and drive to Rome, stopping a few nights in places like Siena and Orvieto enroute and return the car in Rome.

you'd be daft to take a car into Rome Florence Milan or Venice - no place to park, crazy driving, can't leave anything in your car because of theft problems. cars are great for touring hilltowns on Tuscany but a liability in those cities - you may have to pay $20 for more just to park you car, even at a hotel and many don't have any parking.

As the others have noted, you are trying to fit in too much. Having raised two children who both were at one point in their lives 20 months old, your suggested itinerary is impossible. <BR>You have six nights for Italy, and you are flying into Milan. I suggest you find somewhere close for your first two nights. The Lake region is an excellent idea, about an hours train trip from Milan (to Varenna or Bellagio) and you will be at a great place to un-jetlag and get your Italian "legs." Going from a plane to a train to a place with boats will be heaven for an almost-two-year old. Next you might train-it to Venice for two nights, and then train to Rome for the last two nights. Just a suggestion, but certainly it is at least do-able, with minimal travel distances between the three points. There were a couple of posts from folks who traveled with a toddler, and they felt Florence was the hardest to deal with -- so I'd suggest it wait until your child is older by several years. I was there about 4 months ago, and I could understand her point! Good luck with the rest of your plans.