Arriving in Pisa at 16:05--Paccini concert in Lucca at 19:00

I am getting hives just thing about this. I have no ideas how reliable Easy Jet is. Maybe consider an earlier flight? Maybe a taxi from the airport directly to your accomodations in Lucca? Obviously more expensive but better than missing the concert??

Low-cost companies like Easyjet try to keep their schedules as much as possible as their flight plans are packed and if a leg is delayed all subsequent legs are delayed as well. So let us assume the flight lands on time. You'll never make to the station for the 4.20pm train. If you take a taxi to the station to save time, maybe you can make the 4.50pm train, that should leave you with plenty of time for getting to the concert. If you miss that train, there is the 5.43pm train with a change in Viareggio that would leave you half an hour to check at the hotel and run for your concert.

So, this is the situation: in the best possible world you can make it. You can absorb up to a one hour or so delay in your flight, but it becomes a rush. - I would consider a taxi to the station that should be cheap enough and spares you some time. But it is an hit-and-miss situation, so it is your choice.

No need to get Euro in Italy when your time is the shortest.

You should be able to get the same or a similar rate in London from Rafael Bank atms of which there are many around the city and they vend both Pound Sterling and Euro.

Or you can even get some at home (for a worse rate but you'll have the most time) and take them with you.

Remember that your crowd getting off the Easyjet plane will have to go through passport control at Pisa because you are entering the Schengen area from outside it. That could add a little time, but since you will not have to collect any luggage from the baggage band you won't hopefully be too slow...

good luck

With 50 or 60 euro you can take a taxi all the way to your hotel in Lucca and be there in 25-30 min depending on traffic. There is also a bus (Lazzi) that covers the distance from PSA to Lucca in 50 min. They depart at 1630 or 1700 hours after your arrival.

mal,

As previously mentioned, the budget airlines stay profitable by having short turnaround times and on-time flights. I've always found easyJet very reliable and barring any unforeseen problems (mechanical malfunction in the aircraft, labour disruption, etc.), you should easily be able to get to Lucca in time for the Puccini concert.

If you want to travel by train, take the Shuttle from the airport to Pisa Centrale, and then connect with the train. You should be able to buy Shuttle tickets from the driver (but of course you'll need Euro for that).

There are train departures at 16:20, 16:50, 17:20 (among others). Travel time is about 25 minutes. You can buy tickets either at the staffed ticket window or from automated Kiosks (they have English-language options and are very easy to use). The trains on that route are Regionale trains so DON'T forget to validate your tickets (time & date stamp) prior to boarding the train, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! The validation issue is also applicable to Buses, Metro, Trams, etc. This doesn't apply to the fast trains such as the high speed Freccia, as those have compulsory reservations which are specific to train, date and departure time, and the tickets can ONLY be used for the one train listed on the ticket. Of course, if your budget will allow for a Taxi ride to Lucca, that would be an easier and quicker option.

You'll see Hotel Rex as soon as you exit the train station. It's straight ahead across the piazza as I recall. It's not a difficult walk into the city (you'll see the walls when you exit the station), but it will take about 15 minutes to get to your concert on foot.

To obtain Euro, you could either use ATM's at the airport or get them in London as Nigel suggested.

They can save quite a bit of time by buying the train tix in advance, assuming they stick with the train plan. Since these are regional trains, not reserved, isn't the ticket good for several hours after the original time? In other words, they could buy tickets for the 16:50 train but if the miss it, could take the next one without any penalty.

As usual, I'm with Roberto on this one. When traveling, you often need to balance time, hassle and cost. This is one where I think the cost of a taxi directly from Pisa airport to your hotel in Lucca would be worth it. Fastest, more comfortable, less stressful, not hugely expensive, and that would allow you to check into your hotel and then walk leisurely into and around the old town of Lucca before your concert. By the way, the hometown hero of Lucca is "Puccini", not Paccini. Fortunately on this one, you can wait until you have deplaned in Pisa to make a final decision, depending on how the time and your energy level feel at that time.

On their website, it says there's a Puccini concert every night at 7:00 from 31 March through 31 October. So, if you're staying in Lucca or vicinity long enough, you could comfortably catch a concert on a different night, no panic.