my friend and I are travelling to Italy in Oct. 2013. We are ending our trip in the Cinque Terra. All flights home connect through Amsterdam. Is it more convenient to leave Italy out of Pisa, Rome, or Milan?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23724 posts
It is not uncommon for returning US flights to connect in London, Amsterdam or Frankfurt. There are direct flights from Rome and Milan. Of course, you have the inconvenience and expense to getting to Milan or Rome if you are in CT.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16362 posts
There are no direct non stop flights from Italy to MSP. Therefore you have to stop somewhere first and frankly, between having to stop in AMS or some other airport, like JFK or ATL or anything else, I'll take AMS any day. It's one of the best hubs in the world for an international connection.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Of the three airports you list, Pisa is the closest to the Cinque Terre. It's also smaller than Rome's or Milan's airports, so it should be easier to navigate. Since you have to change planes anyway, fly home from Pisa. Be sure to book an open jaw ticket, into one city and out of another (for instance, into Venice and out of Pisa). To find these flights, use the "multi city" option on Kayak, Delta, etc. Don't look at two one-ways, as that's much more expensive.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16362 posts
Pisa may not be a viable option. Most flights are low cost (Ryanair and others). The Transavia (KLM codeshare) to AMS arrives at AMS late afternoon, therefore not timely for a connection to MSP. If you fly out of Pisa (PSA) or Genoa (GOA), both are close to the Cinque Terre, you may have to fly via Paris CDG (Delta Code Share). Delta also has a seasonal non stop from PSA to JFK, but does not operates in October.
Posted by
OP
St. Paul, MN, USA
18 posts
thank you, that information is helpful
Posted by
Mpls, MN
1005 posts
On an Italy trip in the summer of 2009 with my sisters we flew into Venice and back to Minneapolis from Milan/Linate via Amsterdam. After our stay in the C.T. we took a train from Vernazza to Levanto and got on an InterCity train that went straight to Milano Centrale. In Milan we stayed at Hotel Berna which is a few minutes walk from the Milan train station. Had part of the day to see some of the sights in Milan before flying out the next day. Linate is not that far out of Milano either if you have an early flight. I just checked the trenitalia website for connections from Vernazza to Milano and used tomorrow's date. You can get on the regionale train in Vernazza (or any other village)at 10:26, arrive in Levanto at 10:34, leave Levanto at 11:01 on Intercity train and arrive in Milano at 13:50. Total travel time including train changes 3 hrs. 24 min. There are earlier times too.