I'm currently in Orleans, France for work - until Wednesday. I've got a couple friends in Venice and am planning on meeting up with them on Thursday. My initial plan was to take a train from Orleans, through Paris and down to Venice overnight wed night. All looked fine and dandy, but it's looking to cost a lot more than I thought. RailEurope.com listed the fare at 236$, but when you add it, some sort of surcharge is added on too - Ends up going to ~415$. That's quite the increase... Anyone with experience on raileurope? Anyone know what this charge is? The odd part is that if I add a return trip, the return does not add the extra money.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33847 posts
If you are already in Orleans, why not pop into the station tomorrow and get your ticket over the counter? Or the SNCF Boutique at 11, rue Jeanne d'Arc ORLEANS, 45000?
Why pay the overpriced RailEurope when the horse's mouth is on your doorstep? Or you could fly and get there way faster and more comfortably. It is a bit late to get decent fares 3 days out though.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, USA
3 posts
Sure, I could go to the station - Truthfully I have no idea what I'm doing right now :) The flights I looked up on Orbitz aren't so great. If I leave wednesday evening they're all overnight flights and cost as much as the train. If I leave thursday early, then there are a couple options but would cost as much as the train as well. I think I probably waited a bit too long; but didn't know where my friends were going to be at and when until yesterday... so not much choice. I think I'll head to the train station tomorrow and see about the rates - thanks
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33847 posts
Using Skyscanner.com I see a RyanAir flight for 107€. The flight is from Beauvais at 1850 which will mean leaving work early. It gets into Treviso at 2020, and you then have to get into Venezia (you lucky guy!). If 'twere me I probably hunker down on Wednesday night near Orly Airport so I could get the Easyjet at 7:20 which goes right to Marco Polo Airport for Venice at 9am, and meet your friends for a late morning coffee. 127€ from Skyscanner, 135€ from Easyjet. Both of the above come with the usual discount airline caveats, shown many places on this Helpline. I bet that at this late date you won't find anything on the Thello train even close to that price.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, USA
3 posts
Very helpful Nigel - Thank you! I think I will probably take your suggestion and go through ORY and EasyJet. Thanks!