How to find best international airfare?

[Ken555]

Thanks, Laura. This is a bucket list thing, for sure. My husband has never been to the Med, and has been talking it about it to me for more than 20 years. I was there in the Navy a looong time ago, so it will be mostly new for me as well. The cruise we're doing leaves from Venice, travels through the Greek Islands and stops at Athens, then goes under Italy to stop at Naples, and ends in Rome. We want to see Venice, Florence, and Rome in some combination, before and after the cruise.

Now that we're both retired, and cruising is starting up again, we want to jump on the idea while we are at our best. We don't want to end up like these people:

View attachment 35061

Hey, maybe it's time for a Tug Get Together on a cruise ship! Who's with me?

Dave

I’d suggest considering this itinerary:

Fly to Milan, and either spend a couple nights there, go to Lake Como, or both. Milan is a large and very interesting city with lots to see and do. Lake Como is fantastic and not far from Milan. I suggest staying in Bellagio or one of the smaller towns on the lake, not in Como itself, though it’s hard to go wrong by staying anywhere in the area. I recommend no less than three nights so you have two full days to explore. Bellagio is a wonderful location to stay because it’s in the middle and has multiple ferry routes to other towns, so will save you time transiting from one town to another. On my trip to Lake Como, we flew to Milan and spent the night at the airport hotel and had arranged for a car to drive us to Bellagio the next morning, which worked out well.

Lake Como is a nice option since it’s not one large city to explore like Venice, Florence and Rome and since this is the first trip for your husband, if not Como I definitely suggest considering spending time outside the cities. For instance, when in Florence take a tour of the surrounding region.

From Como/Milan, you can take a train to Venice and explore for a few days pre-cruise.

Post-cruise, you should spend a few days or more in Rome, then go to Florence. Personally, I think Florence is one of the most interesting cities in Italy. If it was my first trip, I would want to spend the most time I could in Florence...there’s just so much to see, even a week would be too little (I’ve spent as much as two weeks at a time in Florence and I’ve been there many times and still find many new places and museums to visit, etc).

Of course, depending on the best flight options, you could do this in a different order. For instance, you could fly to Barcelona or Paris and then fly directly to Florence and start there. Florence has a very small yet modern airport that is just 15 minutes from the city. Other nearby airports to consider with good train connections are Pisa and Bologna. I’ve arrived in the Florence airport a couple times, and they have a light rail stop at the airport so it’s very easy to get to the city center...though if this is your destination on a long travel day, I would just take a taxi to your hotel.

I’m sure many of us will post suggestions on where to stay and what to see before you leave. Italy is fantastic and offers all types of vacation experiences. It all depends on what you want to see.


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[DaveNV]

I’d suggest considering this itinerary:

Wow, Ken. That's fantastic! Thank you so much for this considered reply! Since the cruise starts in Venice and ends in Rome, getting to Florence is the only real concern. I'm thinking there are two good options: 1. Flying into Florence first to explore the area, then get to Venice to explore further before the cruise, OR, 2. Fly to Venice to explore first, disembark the cruise at Rome and explore, then make our way to Florence to explore the area, and fly home from there. I know the train system is better developed than what we have here, so there must be direct trains to take that night add to the experience.

Because the cruise is ten days long, and hits so many scenic areas, we're going to be on "scenery overload" at some point. Breaking the visiting in Italy into parts seems like it'll be a good way to go. Jeff is a major fan of classic architecture, much moreso than me, but he wants to make sure he's seen the things he's heard about all his life. As we talk more and more about what we want to see while we're there, I can tell we'll need to make more than one trip to do it right. Your point about spending weeks just in Florence illustrates this point.

There are so many options, it's daunting trying to sort it out. We're very experienced travelers, but it's a different issue when considering traveling like this in another country.

Dave

 

[Jodyv]

Ken's suggestion that you spend a little time in Bellagio is excellent. The day I spent there was rainy and cold, but the area is drop-dead gorgeous and feels very peaceful. The trains in Italy will take you anywhere easily. I've never rented a car and have not had any problem getting around. The views from the train window are beautiful. We took a Bernina Express ride from Tirano to Poschiavo, Switzerland. Tirano is a quaint little town on the northern Italian border. Poschiavo was one of the first stops in Switzerland. We were in a hurry and had to return early, but you guys are retired, right? You could take that train all the way to St Moritz! That train trip....through the alps, is one of my best Italian memories. I'll do it again sometime.....Another peaceful day I had was in the walled city of Lucca. I think it's about a 30 minute train ride from Florence. I know you are in the planning stages....and my suggestions are outside of the Venice-Florence-Rome loop....but not much. And Ken gave you good information when he said you could plan the trip in either direction. The train from Milan to Rome is less than four hours. The train from Rome to Florence can be as fast as an hour and a half. Train from Florence to Venice is about two hours. I guess my love of Italy is showing.... I'm not going until February of next year. Oh man......I hope the time goes by quickly!!

 

[DaveNV]

Ken's suggestion that you spend a little time in Bellagio is excellent. The day I spent there was rainy and cold, but the area is drop-dead gorgeous and feels very peaceful. The trains in Italy will take you anywhere easily. I've never rented a car and have not had any problem getting around. The views from the train window are beautiful. We took a Bernina Express ride from Tirano to Poschiavo, Switzerland. Tirano is a quaint little town on the northern Italian border. Poschiavo was one of the first stops in Switzerland. We were in a hurry and had to return early, but you guys are retired, right? You could take that train all the way to St Moritz! That train trip....through the alps, is one of my best Italian memories. I'll do it again sometime.....Another peaceful day I had was in the walled city of Lucca. I think it's about a 30 minute train ride from Florence. I know you are in the planning stages....and my suggestions are outside of the Venice-Florence-Rome loop....but not much. And Ken gave you good information when he said you could plan the trip in either direction. The train from Milan to Rome is less than four hours. The train from Rome to Florence can be as fast as an hour and a half. Train from Florence to Venice is about two hours. I guess my love of Italy is showing.... I'm not going until February of next year. Oh man......I hope the time goes by quickly!!

I completely agree, we could spend months and never see it all. As it stands, this will likely be at least a three week trip. The cruise itself is ten days, and adding on to both ends to see other Italian cities and sites just tacks on more days. Traveling out of Italy to other countries only adds to the overwhelming aspects of this trip. First I think we should fly into a place like London and stay over a few days before heading to Florence or Venice, and my brain takes off on a tangent - "Gee, we could spend time in England! But then, Paris is just over there, so we could spend time in France! And then..." The list goes on and on. I have to reel myself in, or I'll be spending every dime we have in savings for this. I have to draw the line somewhere. Trouble is, where is that line?

Dave

 

[Jodyv]

You're right, Dave. You're going to have to make more than one trip there. But now that you are armed with many ways to find airfare deals, you'll be able to do it!!! Good luck! I love all your posts!!

 

[DaveNV]

You're right, Dave. You're going to have to make more than one trip there. But now that you are armed with many ways to find airfare deals, you'll be able to do it!!! Good luck! I love all your posts!!

Thanks, Jody. It's quite a process, isn't it?

Dave

 

[Luvtoride]

[QUOTE="DaveNV, post: 2602034, member: 12565"
Hey, maybe it's time for a Tug Get Together on a cruise ship! Who's with me?

Dave[/QUOTE]

Not me! After seeing what happened (and personally knowing someone it happened to) to people stuck on cruise ships during Covid, cruises are off our travel itinerary for good.


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[Kathleen]

[QUOTE="DaveNV, post: 2602034, member: 12565"
Hey, maybe it's time for a Tug Get Together on a cruise ship! Who's with me?

Dave

Not me! After seeing what happened (and personally knowing someone it happened to) to people stuck on cruise ships during Covid, cruises are off our travel itinerary for good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/QUOTE]
Small ship Croatia? My hand is up. Kathleen

 

[Ken555]

We took a Bernina Express ride from Tirano to Poschiavo, Switzerland. Tirano is a quaint little town on the northern Italian border. Poschiavo was one of the first stops in Switzerland. We were in a hurry and had to return early, but you guys are retired, right? You could take that train all the way to St Moritz! That train trip....through the alps, is one of my best Italian memories. I'll do it again sometime.....

Fabulous train! I was on the Bernina Express in 2019 from Tirano to Singen (https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains/bernina-express; https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/bernina-express.htm), continuing to Zurich the same day. We started in Milan in the morning only to discover that the city was on strike so we only made it to the train station with a couple minutes to spare by taking a taxi (they have taxi "streets" and dedicated lanes and without those we never would have made it since most others were driving due to no buses or subways). I also hope to do that train again, and others - this was my third (fourth?) train over the Alps but absolutely the best option so far.

My hope is to go on the Glacier Express sometime in the next few years: https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains/glacier-express

Another peaceful day I had was in the walled city of Lucca. I think it's about a 30 minute train ride from Florence.

Lucca is a wonderful walled city. I visited a few years ago on a weekend when there were 25+ Ferrari's driving on the "road" on the top of the wall around the city. So many interesting cities in Italy...it's really hard to go wrong.

 

[Jodyv]

I totally agree with you, Ken! And The Man in seat 61 website is a great resource! I'm hoping to do the Orient Express one day!
So, Dave....Your cruise and Italy stay is just going to be the beginning!!!

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Oh man, Lucca was one of the very high points of our Med cruise in 2014. We spent most of our time there just walking the rampart around the city (only about 3 miles or so), and had the place almost to ourselves and a few locals!

 

[Ken555]

Wow, Ken. That's fantastic! Thank you so much for this considered reply! Since the cruise starts in Venice and ends in Rome, getting to Florence is the only real concern. I'm thinking there are two good options: 1. Flying into Florence first to explore the area, then get to Venice to explore further before the cruise, OR, 2. Fly to Venice to explore first, disembark the cruise at Rome and explore, then make our way to Florence to explore the area, and fly home from there. I know the train system is better developed than what we have here, so there must be direct trains to take that night add to the experience.

Trains are great. You shouldn't have to rent a car at all, and they can be a detriment in Florence (there are restrictions on where you may drive and park...for instance, you need a permit to drive in the city and there are time of day restrictions as well). You may buy tickets at https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html for most Italian trains. Between cities you want the "Frecciarossa" whenever possible, as those are the high speed trains. Typically Italian train tickets are available for purchase a few months in advance, but you can search any random date to view typical schedules, prices, etc.

Keep in mind there are many, many museums in Florence. Here are a few of my suggestions for first time visitors to Florence, and I'm sure others on TUG will have more to recommend:

1. The Duomo, Baptistry, and Museum. All of these may be visited in one day and are directly next to each other in the center of the city. Buy a ticket in advance (https://duomo.firenze.it/en/home) - you do not need an organized tour for this unless you want one. I recommend the option to visit the top of the Duomo (there are lots of stairs, but not as many as other cathedrals I've visited, and the view from the top over the city is fantastic). You'll receive tickets for timed entry so you can plan in advance.

2. Uffizi (https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi) and Accademia (https://www.accademia.org/). Two of the most important museums in the world. Buy tickets in advance, or take a small group walking tour that includes both (friends did this in 2019 and said it was enjoyable). Just don't do a tour that includes the Duomo and Uffizi and Accademia in one day - that's too much (and some tours offer this).

3. Palazzo Pitti (https://www.uffizi.it/en/pitti-palace).

4. Boboli Gardens (https://www.uffizi.it/en/boboli-garden). The Gardens are a wonderful place to explore on a nice day (even if it's raining a bit, this is a good place to visit), perhaps on a day between museums, etc.

5. Walking tour of Florence. These can be fun and show you several areas of the city that you might not otherwise see.

6. Florence is known for their leather goods. If you're at all interested in leather, then you must visit the Scuola del Cuoio (https://scuoladelcuoio.it/en/) - it's a leather school with a retail store that has some of the best leather goods in Florence (at mostly reasonable prices). It's a great place to splurge on a leather jacket for those snowy, wintery Las Vegas days. On a practical note, I've personally bought and taken friends and family here who have bought jackets, purses, belts (the belts are great), wallets, and more. They also have a number of small items that are great gifts. Here's a random post about this place that has good info and pictures (https://anamericaninrome.com/wp/2020/01/leather-school-florence/).

7. Mercato Centrale (https://www.mercatocentrale.com/florence/). The central market is wonderful to explore. Downstairs are food vendors of all types, and upstairs are "fast food" restaurants (which are quite good). If you rent a unit with a kitchen, this is a great place to shop - just bring with a backpack to carry what you buy! Surrounding the Mercato are many (100+?) outdoor leather shops (many directly in front of their stores)...the leather sold here generally less expensive and, in my experience, not as good as the Leather School or other stores throughout the city. That said, it's sometimes a good place to find a practical item at a reasonable cost (just don't expect it to last as long).

There are also smaller mercato's throughout the city that are much more focused on locals and don't have as many tourists. For instance, I usually stay near the Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio and it's always nice to walk through it and the surrounding area (which has improved in recent years with new restaurants and stores). Also, this is an area with good restaurants that are outside the prime tourist area, so it's possible to find a more authentic experience here than in the heart of the city (though that's never a guarantee...all of Florence is really a tourist destination).

8. Galileo Museum (https://www.museogalileo.it/it/0). This is a great museum, especially if you're interested in maps. They have a wonderful exhibit of Terrestrial and Celestial Globes (https://catalogue.museogalileo.it/section/TerrestrialCelestialGlobes.html), among much more.

9. Leonardo da Vinci museum (https://www.mostredileonardo.com/en/). This is a very nice small museum which you can explore in less than an hour.

Because the cruise is ten days long, and hits so many scenic areas, we're going to be on "scenery overload" at some point. Breaking the visiting in Italy into parts seems like it'll be a good way to go. Jeff is a major fan of classic architecture, much moreso than me, but he wants to make sure he's seen the things he's heard about all his life. As we talk more and more about what we want to see while we're there, I can tell we'll need to make more than one trip to do it right. Your point about spending weeks just in Florence illustrates this point.

There are so many options, it's daunting trying to sort it out. We're very experienced travelers, but it's a different issue when considering traveling like this in another country.

Dave

I suspect Jeff will be pleased just walking around Florence and the surrounding area, along with the other major cities, just for the architecture. FWIW, I have it on good authority that one of the best times to walk Florence is at 4am when the streets are quiet.

 

[DaveNV]

Trains are great. You shouldn't have to rent a car at all, and they can be a detriment in Florence (there are restrictions on where you may drive and park...for instance, you need a permit to drive in the city and there are time of day restrictions as well). You may buy tickets at https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html for most Italian trains. Between cities you want the "Frecciarossa" whenever possible, as those are the high speed trains. Typically Italian train tickets are available for purchase a few months in advance, but you can search any random date to view typical schedules, prices, etc.

I looked at the Trenitalia website. Looks like the high speed trains are certainly the best way to go. Two hours from Florence to Venice, and 90 minutes from Rome back to Florence. Around $40 to $50 (or was that Euro?) each for train fare is excellent. There may be level of service options to change that, but even if not, that's very doable. We won't be renting a car, and will most likely use trains, taxis, and walking to get around. Any secrets to share about levels of service on the trains?

Keep in mind there are many, many museums in Florence.

That list is excellent! So many choices. I sent it on to Jeff, and he's drooling over things. Thanks!

I suspect Jeff will be pleased just walking around Florence and the surrounding area, along with the other major cities, just for the architecture. FWIW, I have it on good authority that one of the best times to walk Florence is at 4am when the streets are quiet.

I expect we'll do a fair amount of just walking around, soaking it all in. If we punctuate the museums and "formal" sightseeing with neighborhood strolling around, I think this will be an excellent vacation.

Pacing is everything. I learned the hard way on a trip to NYC that it's too easy to try and fill every minute, and at the end of it, the memories all run together. We won't make that mistake again.

Dave

 

[Jodyv]

Again.....I think Ken is right on!! I spent a night in Venice. After a heated exchange with my travel partner, I went for a walk. It was probably about 8 pm. The streets were mostly deserted. I passed a church and the music I heard was WONDERFUL!!!! It was a concert! I paid my 20 Euros and stayed for the rest of the concert at Chiesa Della Pieta, Vivaldi's home church. They were playing music from The Four Seasons. The violinist was phenomenally talented!! (I didn't know any of that before my walk......). The next morning I got up really early and had St. Mark's Square all to myself. I was able to take some beautiful pictures. Timing, especially in cruise ports, is really valuable. After 4 pm and before 10 am, even the busiest sites are usually easy to see.

Thanks to you all, I've been enjoying some great memories!

 

[DaveNV]

Again.....I think Ken is right on!! I spent a night in Venice. After a heated exchange with my travel partner, I went for a walk. It was probably about 8 pm. The streets were mostly deserted. I passed a church and the music I heard was WONDERFUL!!!! It was a concert! I paid my 20 Euros and stayed for the rest of the concert at Chiesa Della Pieta, Vivaldi's home church. They were playing music from The Four Seasons. The violinist was phenomenally talented!! (I didn't know any of that before my walk......). The next morning I got up really early and had St. Mark's Square all to myself. I was able to take some beautiful pictures. Timing, especially in cruise ports, is really valuable. After 4 pm and before 10 am, even the busiest sites are usually easy to see.

Thanks to you all, I've been enjoying some great memories!

Sounds like a wonderful experience. Sometimes the best memories are unplanned.

Dave