My husband and I will be traveling to Italy in October 2003 and going from Rome to London. We have limited time, but aren't sure whether/not to fly or take a train(s??). The train might be a nice way to see some European countryside, but we wonder how long it would take and how cramped would we feel?? Driving is out of the question, as neither of us want to tackle driving in Europe. Any advice?

Flights are efficient and decently priced www.easyjet.com, www.ryanair.com check out www.applefares.com for budget airline rates. Rome to London would be a very long train ride

Just doing a random check on bahn.de and the shortest duration listed for that train trip was just under 18 hours.

www.seat61.com has train info to and from London. Regards, Walter

Take a plane, and get there and relax. Try "Go airlines" .I think they may have joined with Easyjet.

I have flown between the UK and Italy about 6 times and RyanAir always has the cheapest fares. They are on the web. However, they still may not be flying out of Heathrow.

I am another fan of Ryanair. $57 for three to fly one way from Rome to Frankfurt is what I paid in March. Unbeatable. Don't expect any service though.

Take the sleeper from Roma to Paris. If you continue to London straight away, you'll be there in time for lunch, or leave your luggage at the station and spend a few hours in Paris before getting a Eurostar train to London. It's not the cheapest way, but will be a lot more interesting than flying.

Melissa, you're right, Go no longer operate - they are now part of easyJet.

Thanks for all the suggestions!! I think we are going to do a jet from London - Stansted to Rome and another jet from Milan to London - Gatwick. We will be leaving the next day from Gatwick for the US and I did my homework, way too far from Stansted to Gatwick. Any hotel suggestions in London, Rome or Florence?? We are trying to stay under $150/night.