Does anyone know if a van can be hired from Munich to Varrena Italy? Otherwise we could rent a van but I would have to leave it in a different country. We are a group of 6 people traveling during Oktoberfest, flights from Munich to Milan are $835 for non stop, otherwise our options are 4-8 hour trips with minimum one stop layovers. Train travel will be 10 hours. It is only 265 miles driving. Any other thoughts would be appreciated
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Have you looked at SkyScanner http://www.skyscanner.com/ to check flights on both budget and "legacy" carriers, and are you looking at Linate and Bergamo airports as well as Malpensa? (I'm not saying you didn't, because you seem pretty savvy about this stuff, but it's worth making sure). You could buy a round trip flight ticket and just throw away the second part (don't throw away the first part, or the airline will cancel the rest of the ticket). While the cost of a van rental with cross-country drop off will be high, it would be split among 6 people, so it may end up better than other options. Otherwise, I think connecting Munich and Varenna is a bit like connecting Telluride, CO and Sedona, AZ; there's no shortcut.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
I've actually taken this route (daytime and - God Help Me my last! - night train); I would definitely take this train, and in the daytime. Unless something has changed in the last 1 1/2 years, and it may have, the only way to get from Munich to Milan/Pisa/Venice/Rome/Florence/etc. was a $700 flight; I could have taken a 'cheap' flight, but they all went to London first! The train was faster. You can do this for about 55€ each, 2nd class, or about 100€ 1st cl. It's a pretty ride, and you can use it as a day for sleeping, catching up on journal writing, chatting, listening to music and NOT chatting (!), reading...Sometimes you just need a 'down' day, staring out the train window. Bring some great food and drink on board (including breakfast) relax. Yes, it's a bummer to feel that you're wasting a day like this. Your only other recourse is to stay somewhere halfway, like Verona; you could do worse. You'd be there in time for lunch... I could Google for shuttle vans as well as you, so I won't ;-) There may be an entire industry set up for just this thing!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17427 posts
Break the train trip into 2 days and turn this into an opportunity to ride the scenic Bernina Express. Day go fro Munich to either Chur or Pontresina. Next day head to Tirano and change there for the train to Varenna.
Posted by
Green Bay
21145 posts
Even viamichelin says it will take 6 1/2 hours driving, so 9 to 10 hours by train doesn't look that bad.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Air Berlin has a flight from Munich to Milan-MXP but you change planes in Dusseldorf first. Takes 4+hours overall. The fare I see is 82Euro. No nonstop flights that I could see on Skyscanner. Once in Milan-MXP, it's another hour to Milan Centrale to catch the train to Varenna-Esino. Varenna is a 1hr train ride from Milan Centrale. This is not an easy trip.