Italy trip question
Feb 6, 2017, 1:10 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: AC Elite, *Alliance Gold, Marriott Elite Silver
Posts: 125
Italy trip question
Hi all,
Typically I book mini-RTW which is relatively easy to do within Star Alliance. I've also traveled to Turkey (Turkish Air is part of Star Alliance), which was fine.
I'd like to travel to Italy and I am having a heck of a time figuring out if I can fly within Italy with aeroplan. It seems like I might have to book my own train / air travel within Italy, but still wanted to confirm if that's the case.
Do you guys have any ideas?
Typically I book mini-RTW which is relatively easy to do within Star Alliance. I've also traveled to Turkey (Turkish Air is part of Star Alliance), which was fine.
I'd like to travel to Italy and I am having a heck of a time figuring out if I can fly within Italy with aeroplan. It seems like I might have to book my own train / air travel within Italy, but still wanted to confirm if that's the case.
Do you guys have any ideas?
Feb 6, 2017, 1:18 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: FRA / YEG
Programs: AC Super Elite, Radisson Platinum, Accor Platinum
Posts: 11,874
There are no intra-Italy flights operated by *A airlines or AE partner airlines.
Driving, taking the train/bus or booking a domestic flight on Alitalia are probably your best bets.
Two other options:
1) Fly into GVA, which *may* be semi-convenient for Northern Italy
2) choose a destination further East and have a stopover in Italy both ways, e.g. NA-MXPx-ATH/ISTx-FCOx-NA
Driving, taking the train/bus or booking a domestic flight on Alitalia are probably your best bets.
Two other options:
1) Fly into GVA, which *may* be semi-convenient for Northern Italy
2) choose a destination further East and have a stopover in Italy both ways, e.g. NA-MXPx-ATH/ISTx-FCOx-NA
Feb 6, 2017, 1:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YUL
Programs: Super Elite 100K
Posts: 830
Drive!
Our family did a five-day stop in Rome, and then we spent 12 days driving to Geneva, stopping in 3 Siena, Parma and then the Como area before crossing into CH. The driving was excellent, and except for Rome, pretty stress and drama-free. Highly recommend for going where you want to go, when you want to go.
Feb 6, 2017, 2:56 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
Now navigating Tangiers in a GPS-less rental car...that's an adventure.
My suggestion is to drive or train within Italy, unless you need to get between Palermo and Torino in a hurry.
Feb 6, 2017, 3:06 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,585
off the beaten track in Italy?
I (too) am planning a trip to Italy this summer.
Intra-Italy fliights are a no go. Rail Europe has great service & good ticket prices.
To/from Italy, I discovered the best transcontinental fares are into MXP. f
FYI, I went to the NYT Travel Show session on Italy last week, and the room was packed i.e. everyone is going to Italy this year (read : avoiding France). Their advice? Go off the beaten track.
Advice and suggestions welcome?
Intra-Italy fliights are a no go. Rail Europe has great service & good ticket prices.
To/from Italy, I discovered the best transcontinental fares are into MXP. f
FYI, I went to the NYT Travel Show session on Italy last week, and the room was packed i.e. everyone is going to Italy this year (read : avoiding France). Their advice? Go off the beaten track.
Advice and suggestions welcome?
Feb 6, 2017, 5:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: yyz
Programs: aeroplan
Posts: 25
August is not a great time to go to Italy. Every Italian is on vacation and lots of places are closed.
I recommend the train. I prefer Italo if they go to the destination of your choice. They have a variety of seating, are quieter than most Trenitalia trains and they have a very easy to use website which is available in English.
http://www.italotreno.it/en
I recommend the train. I prefer Italo if they go to the destination of your choice. They have a variety of seating, are quieter than most Trenitalia trains and they have a very easy to use website which is available in English.
http://www.italotreno.it/en
Feb 6, 2017, 7:06 pm
#10
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
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Posts: 16,759
Even if you could fly within Italy on *A, I wouldn't want to. The distances are short and train stations are central, so the train is a much better option.
Feb 6, 2017, 7:26 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Titanium & LTP, NEXUS
Posts: 613
Flying would have cost more, plus time to/from airport, etc.
Feb 6, 2017, 7:48 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: Aeroplan E50/MM, HH gold, Nat Exec Elite, Kimpton Karma
Posts: 2,350
Not sure where in Italy you would like to go. Abbruzio and Pulia are wonderful and less congested. Sicily is amazing. I'd go back in a flash.
Agree with others that August is not the best time to go. Very hot, congested and expensive. Unless you are staying somewhere more high end, you might not or probably won't get air con.
Beware of traffic, should you be driving, on the first and last weekends of August. If you could delay a couple of weeks it would make a big difference, got a terrific hotel deal, for example, the last week of August when attending a meeting. Carried on elsewhere to vacation and no problem with availability and pricing better.
Agree with others that August is not the best time to go. Very hot, congested and expensive. Unless you are staying somewhere more high end, you might not or probably won't get air con.
Beware of traffic, should you be driving, on the first and last weekends of August. If you could delay a couple of weeks it would make a big difference, got a terrific hotel deal, for example, the last week of August when attending a meeting. Carried on elsewhere to vacation and no problem with availability and pricing better.
Feb 6, 2017, 9:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YVR
Programs: Bottom feeder Star Gold
Posts: 2,652
To be fair to the OP, I don't think he stated he was planning a trip in August. It was me who intimated that "nowhere is off the beaten track", meaning it's not a great time to travel due to the entire country taking holidays and places being unbearably crowded and expensive. Same goes for Spain, France and I'm sure many other Euro countries.
Hey vancouvercanadian: welcome to FT!
Hey vancouvercanadian: welcome to FT!
Feb 6, 2017, 9:21 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: AC Elite, *Alliance Gold, Marriott Elite Silver
Posts: 125
Feb 6, 2017, 9:24 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: AC Elite, *Alliance Gold, Marriott Elite Silver
Posts: 125
To be fair to the OP, I don't think he stated he was planning a trip in August. It was me who intimated that "nowhere is off the beaten track", meaning it's not a great time to travel due to the entire country taking holidays and places being unbearably crowded and expensive. Same goes for Spain, France and I'm sure many other Euro countries.
Hey vancouvercanadian: welcome to FT!
Hey vancouvercanadian: welcome to FT!
I might look into other cities. One other option was to do Prague, Venice and one more Euro city ... and make it a relaxing honeymoon where we're basically mostly staying in the city. Just hang out, eat, chill.
(we're not all-inclusive or 'lets spend 10 days at a beach' people)