Hello All,

Sorry to bother everyone again, but due to my planned holiday being shorted (work Commitments!) I want to get some feed back on the following routings for my Europe routings.
In terms of Mileage Run, Comfort, Place of interest etc...


Option 1)

LHR-NCE-LHR-DXB-LHR-(Seperate on Country visit Pass)CDG-EDI

Option 2)

LHR-MXP or LIN-LHR-DXB-LHR - As Above

Option 3)

LHR-FCO-LHR-DXB-LHR- As Above.


I originally wanted to goto MXP but I checked the schedule and basically if I don't take the 7:30am connection then I have to wait 1:45pm

For both the FCO and NCE options there are more flights to choose from.

FCO = more miles but I've being there before, but wouldn't mind going there again

NCE = interesting, haven't being there. However shorter mileage?? Lack of Shopping?? compared to FCO and MXP. Also is it Safe??

Also how far away is it from the Monte Calo Casino etc.....??? Also is it a good place to visit?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

If I understand you correctly, you're anticipating combining a OWE with a Visit Pass. As far as I know, this can't be done.

A lot will depend on your style of travelling. The French Riviera is fantastic, but the BIG difference, when comparing it with the other cities you are thinking of visiting, is that here you are going to need a rental car, IMO, because what really makes the place so outstanding are the long, scenic, and very slow drives* along the coast, between St. Raphael and Montecarlo, with stops in Cannes, Antibes, and Montecarlo. Nice itself is ok, but pales in comparison to the rest, and feels like "just a city" after visiting Cannes. The corniche routes between Nice and Montecarlo are out of this world, but you will need time, and wheels. Public transport exists, of course, but you will feel like murdering the driver for not stopping at the 'right' places. Shopping in Antibes, in particular, will make your VISA card smoke.

*Edited to add: don't even think of taking the freeway; drive along the 'bord de la mer' all the way, and allow at least one full day, just for the drive (stops are extra).

i really enjoyed monaco - i was expecting it to be like St Trop - but its not nearly as pretensious , every body is rich so why would they need to show it off.

just hop on the helicopter it costs about $60 each way (for memory) and why not - i say. ^

I'm actually not a big fan of Nice or the French Riviera, but if you have time, definitely do the drive along the coast. I like Monte Carlo best, and you can take the helicopter from Nice airport as ajinlondon said. It's been a few year, but the price sounds about right. The area is relatively safe... if you feel comfortable in Rome, you'll have no problems here.

As for Rome versus Milan, I'd always go for the former, but then again, I tend to be in Milan a lot for work. If you go there, try if it all possible to fly to LIN instead of MXP. You could try something different too... how about Florence? A beautiful city with lots of sights and fantastic countryside. If you have the time, drive from Florence to Siena and spend some time enjoying the wines (after driving, obviously ).

Or how about some Austro-Hungarian charm? BUD is a great place to spend a day or two, and you get more miles than to FCO.

Yes it can. It just has to be purchased seperately.

Yep, you can add on a visit pass to a OWE trip, I've done this several times.

For shopping and mileage, DXB is a good choice.

If you haven't been to NCE before, go. IMHO, a car is not the best choice for NCE. Driving is tough in Nice, and parking is eaither expensive or nonexistant. The train can get you to most of the small beach towns along the coast, and Cannes. Monaco is a short train ride the other way - both are very easy day trips and fun. To get a better feel for Province, head to (and stay in) Aix or one of the other local communities. I would say the south of France, except Marseille, is significantly safer than FCO. NCE is not good for shopping.

The train from NCE to Paris is fast and, if you buy it in advance, cheap. From there you can fly to EDI as you noted, a beautiful and vibrant city.

If you've been to FCO already and don't have a burning desire to go back, why not try something new? Eastern Europe offers some interesting sights and shopping, and the mileage from LHR isn't bad.

Thanks guys for all your comments!

Greatly Appreciated.

Unfortuantely as i am relatively TIME POOR, I don't think I will have time to hire a car and drive around.

If I goto Nice, i prob just want to goto Monte Carlo and maybe Cannes? For some Casino Fun, Shopping???? and dinning etc...

Originally I want to goto Milan, but unfortunately the Connection just doesn't work (Pretty sad where I am a Mileage slave!!).

So I guess it is either FCO or NCE.....

Eastern Europe is OK, but given limited time I think it is best to save it till later.


Actually the Train journet from NCE to CDG might be a better idea, so that I can save 1 sector and also save some time??

How long does it take for the TGV from Nice to Paris?

Partly it will depend on when. For example, our favorite town on the Cote d'Azur, Menton, is the warmest city in France in midwinter. In the summer, however, it can be uncomfortably hot.

The Nice Airport is well-located for rental car access up and down the coast. Monaco is interesting, IMO a little soulless, there are great museums in Nice, and our fave place along the coast is the Ephrussi de Rothschild museum in Cap St Jean Ferrat - gorgeous gardens, really a glimpse into how the other 1% lived...

Without a car, quick train to Monaco (and Menton) is easy. But as Viajero says, a car really adds to the pleasure of the area.

If you want warm and far, what about Madeira? LGW-FNC is over 1500 mi, vs. 600-something to Nice.

Anything that is Ex LGW is out of the question (due to connection times etc...) Otherwise I would've chose MRS instead!

Unfortunately I had another problem @ work hence the dates are even worse now.

I am thinking of the following:


LHR-EDI
EDI-MXP
LIN-LHR
LHR-DXB
DXB-LHRx-CDG
CDG-LHR


However as I will arrive into MXP really late, so I thought why waste $$ in a nice hotel when I can only sleep for 8 hours.

Are there any airport hotels around MXP?

Therefore the next day I can checkout and goto a nice hotel in the city Centre!

Not legal, max 4 segments in continent of origin (which you state as Europe in the title). Even if originating on another continent, can only purchase 2 extra segments and you have spec'ed 3.

Not sure about the illegality of the Europe sectors as it depends on the origin and the purchase of the visit Europe pass being a separate ticket which removes the issue.

As for that damn 2200 arrival at MXP, I get that a lot. The best hotel around the airport is the Villa Malpensa which is about 800 metres away. But the shuttle bus has stopped running so you need to phone as soon as you land, at your expense, and they may ask you to take a taxi for about 15 euro. Stuff that, I walk down the road. There are plenty of other hotels around the airport but they all cost the same when you add the taxi transport into the equation. My advice is
1. everything will be shut on arrival at MXP, change your money before you go as the always open Forex shop staff tend to disappear to some staff canteen
2. get to bed and get up early and take the train into town.
3. sometimes the train into town has stopped running at that time of night and a replacement bus service operates. Firstly you won't get on the first one as it is full of everybody before you so you have another half hour wasted and secondly the bus takes ages to get to central milan and then you have to get a taxi if you can find one and ..... Midnight at your hotel.

As for my preferences for a day, I would rather go to any of the Scandinavian capitals than the south of France and HEL is the best mileage run. Which FFP and which class of travel to advise further on the best mileage and status from LON.

As for not sampling the delights of LGW, I will take that personally! Your getting the beer at LHR for that one, even if BA are paying.

Happy landings and may the status points be with you.

I am ex SYD so I can take 4 flights.

I am also getting the Country Pass so my routings = Legal!



I will be on D Class (DONE4) and I am a CX Gold MPO (= Sapphire Oneworld)

"As for not sampling the delights of LGW, I will take that personally! Your getting the beer at LHR for that one, even if BA are paying."

???? hahahaha??


So I guess I should not waste like 300Euro and stay at the Westin in Milan for the first night instead stay in an airport hotel.

Please get the destination Options going!!!

What do you mean "is it safe"? What do you think is going to happen to you?

Nice is a dump, nothing to do or see there at all.

I was told by a colleague that Nice can be dangerous so thats why I want to make sure before I go..

I think I made up my mind and will goto LIN