Planning our vacation for next year. Bologna will be our first stop. I know that they have an airport but flights into that airport from US doesn't work for us. We would fly into either Milan or Venice. We have been to both cities so we wouldn't be visiting either one. The only thing is which airport would be easier to fly into and get to the train station? Thank you!
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7345 posts
Either one is easy train connections; pick the cheapest option.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32929 posts
Milano Malpensa is about an hour by train to Milano Centrale station, then fast train.
Venezia Marco Polo is about 35 minutes by bus to Venezia Mestre (or it may go to P. Roma on the islands of Venice and then to Mestre which would take longer. Those who have used it recently will remind me. It would be a shame to be so close and yet so far. Then from either Venezia Santa Lucia, a walk across the canal by a glass bridge from P Roma, or Venezia Mestre it is a simple fast or slow train to Bologna Centrale. The Regionale Veloce isn't that terrifically much slower than the fast train on that corridor.
Most planes from North America have to have a layover somewhere else in Europe because the biggest planes can't land there. Is there a non-stop from where you will be boarding?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15269 posts
Which airport in North America are you flying from?
And are you planning to use a specific airline, for example because of mileage award programs?
If you fly out of PHX the best option for you would be with British Airways, with the non stop from PHX to LHR, then continuing on to BLQ.
BLQ is connected to LHR with 3 daily pairs.
Posted by
OP
Surprise, AZ, USA
98 posts
Nigel, we want to take Delta, and the first connection is only 50 minutes. We did this once and because of a delay almost missed our connecting flight. And, unfortunately, that is the only option with Delta flying into Bologna. So, we have more options with either Milan or Venice.
Posted by
OP
Surprise, AZ, USA
98 posts
We will be flying from Phoenix and yes, we are using points so either one is the same amount of points.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15269 posts
The transfer time from the airport to Bologna are similar whether you use MXP or VCE.
You will need to spend the last night closer to the airport you fly out from.
Both are about 1+ hour from Bologna, city center to city center.
I would choose the airport based on whether you want to visit Milan on your last evening or if you want to see Venice again for a day (in which case you would spend the last night in Mestre).
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15269 posts
There is also the option of flying into BLQ with the Delta partners AirFrance or KLM (via CDG or AMS respectively).
That might require an additional layover since neither has a non stop to PHX.
Posted by
Green Bay
20261 posts
You can get to either Milan or Venice with a single connection from Phoenix on Delta. Every connection is a chance for something to go wrong, so take one of those that has the best timing and fewest points.
Posted by
OP
Surprise, AZ, USA
98 posts
Thank you. I will look into this a bit more. I see on Delta they have more options than when I try to book through my credit card company with the points. Bologna is our first stop and we will be in Varenna the last leg of our trip and will be flying out of Milan to come home.