Greetings,
My 11 son and I are traveling from Rome to Graz Austria at the end of June and I am trying to figure out if it is best for me to purchase airfare (Rome to Wein) or to take a train. From Austria we are going to Ireland.
Any ideas would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Marya
Check kayak.com for flight schedules & fares: Air One & Alitalia both have fairly cheap fares to Vienna. Train time would be at least 11 hrs & you'd have to switch a couple times, + the fare is more than the cost to fly.
Use whichbudget.com to search some of the lo-cost inter EU airlines that service the area that you want to fly. Using them you will see that you can use Air Berlin also for a flight between Rome and Vienna. My buddy who lives in Germany really likes flying with them...and their prices are great!
We have flown Air One and really enjoy them also. Personally, I would save Alitalia as a last resort.
But, you can go directly from Rome to Graz on Lufthansa, and they have some pretty good prices. Check out their web site.
Using whichbudget, you will see that Air Lingus has good flights and prices to Dublin from Vienna.
Thanks for you're reply. I looked up the flight from Wein to Dublin and it is one-way $150 each. The flight from Rome to Vienna is 98$ each. We are definately flying from Rome to Vienna :)
Are you asking which is best financially, or as an experience?
Finanically -- I don't know. But as someone who was once an 11 year old boy, I'd say the train would be WAY cooler! Looks like there's a non-stop overnight that leaves Rome at 7:30 pm and arrives in vienna at 9 am. You could share a double sleeper.
I was thinking of the time/cost vs. experience thing as well, but I would rather fly than an overnight train. However, depending on the route, going through the Alps on a train (your route may be a little too far East) was definately worth the extra hours, simply spectacular.
Paul makes a good point. I know my son would enjoy the sleeper car and if there is a direct train that would be fabulous. Figuring out the train system is a bit confusing, where did you find the overnight train from Rome to Vienna. If the cost is approximately the same we might take the train.
Thanks!
To get timetables and fares for the direct night train go to www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html. Enter Roma as your departure point and Wien as your arrival point. On the Trenitalia site you can book up to 90 days in advance for international routes and 60 days in advance for domestic routes. Check your fare choices. If you book far enough in advance you can get standard fares, Smart 2 fares (cheaper). or Smart fares (cheapest). There are six-bunk couchettes, three-bed compartments, double seat compartments (seats convert to beds), and single seat compartments. Do a dummy booking for a date within the next 90 days to see how this all works.
Unless you get a Smart fare for a couchette bunk you'll pay more than flying on a discount airline, but you'll save the cost of a night in a hotel and have more daylight hours for sightseeing.
