Airfare - seasons?

Airline fees are non-predictable even in a good economy but the current state makes it even worse. You will get all kinds of advice about waiting, when the "sales" will start. etc. And remember anyone who tells you to wait because it will be cheaper has no financial risk in that advice. And if they are wrong, they can claim they were right last year.

You need to decided what is a reasonable price and buy at that price point. I personally think $1000 for that route is not that unreasonable. It may be higher than last year but remember the dollar is much weaker by about 25%, the airlines have reduced capacity will the hope of keeping prices higher, but a weaker economy has reduced travel. So who knows.

Florence is an expensive little leg. You might try pricing to Rome with a train to Florence. Mostly likely you will connect through Rome anyway.

I personally would wait till the first two weeks in January, if no break in price, I would buy. If you are lucky it might back down to 1000 range but you will not see 600 or 800 dollar tickets.

Good luck

Agreed Frank. Think I will still wait till the first of the year to see if they drop...if not, I'll book it. I priced airfare Sea-Rome-Florence and it wasn't that much better. I would pay for the difference in train fare and time. Thanks for your tips.

I searched too. I found over $1000 even to rome. So, I would definiyely wait until January, especially if air travel is down for the holidays, See what happens

I would drop the air segment to Florence and go to Roma. From Roma take the train to that destination.

Buying tickets is a crap shoot. No one has a crystal ball or esp when it comes to this subject. I remember seeing a fare several years ago for $650 roundtrip in April for summer travel. In October I bought tickets after I waited and the price went up.

Buon viaggio,

RB

Steve: yea, I saw the Lufthansa sale but the dates of travel didn't work. my trip 4/17-5/4. I use farecast, farecompare and kayak search engines but have not signed up for email alerts. I will do so.

RB & Steve: I will continue to compare flights going into Roma instead.

Thanks for your ideas

Check flights into Pisa. A much larger airport than Florence but only 1 1/2 hours by train from the airport to central Florence.

I checked directly with finn air website

To Rome on the 14 th $ 941, on 16th $961, on 18th $926 and 13th $906

Seattle to milan $901 leaving on 16 of april round trip including taxes

Keep an eye on those alerts for something re: Air France. About two weeks ago, Kayak alerted me to an Orbitz sale on Air France for Montreal-Madrid in late April for $745 US...I grabbed it then, but it disappeared 36 hours later. The same deal popped up again last Sunday (of all days) but it's gone once again. I'm not sure what's going on, but it looks like they're releasing inventory a little at a time to see how it goes. KLM had a similar deal (but worse schedules) for about 2 weeks, but it's now gone as well...the cheapest is now Delta at $800.
Another option might be to consider Vancouver. BC, as your departure airport, and possibly Portland as well....file alerts for those, too.

I'll check Pisa airport and get on those email alerts. I did find British Airlines flying through London to Rome at $1088. thanks everyone.

Trains run between Florence and Rome every 10 to 30 minutes during the day. There is the regional train (only a very few) which takes 4 hours and costs around 18E. Then there is a faster train (IC) which costs 26.50E and takes around 3 hours, runs more frequently.

The fast train ESAV) takes about 1.5 hours, costs 44E and runs about every 1/2 hour.

For more train info, check the trenitalia website.

I'm not sure that it will take much less time to get to Florence from Pisa.

Are you also stopping in Paris?

Chani: I'll only stop in Paris as a "stopover" if the price is right on AirFrance (or any other airline). Some of the flights that go thru London to Rome arrive later in the evening - 8pm or so. The trains run in the evening/late evening, correct?

Chani--it takes about 90 minutes to get train at Pisa Airport to Florence SMN. Dont' forget, she also has to get from FCO to Termini.

She'll save about an hour going to Pisa.

Thanks everyone. I'm still thinking that flying to Florence (or Pisa) is my best option. I'll be jetlagged coming from Seattle and then to go from Rome airport to Termini and then a fast train to Florence sounds too much for me. I'll keep searching flights - the Pisa option sounds better.

Good point, Frank. I was also thinking that Linda needs to consider the additional cost of the round trip train fare.