Hey Guys!
My sister and I are traveling around Europe in August. We've already purchased our flights there and back. We are trying to plan how to go from Barcelona to Italy (we're stopping in Milan and Rome). What would be the best way to get from Barcelona to Italy? I've done some research and it seems flights are the best. For flights: would it be better to book them in advanced or to book them when we get to Europe? This is my first time traveling, so any advice helps!
Thank you,
Sydney
Book in advance, definitely. We've flown two budget airlines in those regions, Volotea and Vueling. Volotea was more comfortable, although both were adequate. The main thing is, prices on these and similar airlines often start out very cheap, and rise dramatically as the departure date nears. We had a ticket price double on Volotea in the 2 or 3 days we were trying to clear up a problem entering our info on their website. Try www.skyscanner.com for bargain flights within Europe, but don't delay too long. What you lose in spontaneity, you gain in cash!
Mrs EB is right. In fact, when we booked on Volotea, we paid for checked bags in advance, even though we planned to not check out bags, just in case we changed our minds. Watch for extra expenses on budget airlines; if you're not careful, they can add up quickly.
Advance booking is no less important on high-speed trains, like the French TGV, the German IC or ICE, and the Italian Frecce. Those tickets are only valid for a specific train on a specific day at a specific hour, but the discounts are enormous when booked two, sometimes three months in advance.
To find flight options, use Skyscanner: http://www.skyscanner.com/.
To find train options, use the use the Bahn (German Rail) website http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en, following Rick's tutorial: http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/online-schedules
Once you see how long the train takes, you'll probably want to fly. When searching, be aware that each city has multiple airports (as the airlines see it):
Barcelona has its own airport (code BCN) and is also served by Girona's airport (GRO)
Milan is served by Milan Linate (LIN, by far the closest), Milan Malpensa (MXP), and Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGO)
Rome has Roma Fiumicino (FCO) and Roma CIampino (CIA)
Look at all options, but when figuring out the best deal, add in the cost and time it will take to reach each airport. Also realize that "legacy" carriers like Iberia and Alitalia are more likely to include one checked bag in the fare and to have a more generous carry-on allowance. So, they need not be more expensive than a "budget" carrier once you figure in all the extras. Do a dummy booking (up to the point where you put in your credit card) to see ALL the charges.
Read all the fine print, and realize that budget airlines make their money from people who don't do that. In other words, if they say the maximum carry-on size is 35 cm and you bag is 36 cm, they will make you check it - and charge you the higher in-airport fee for doing this, rather than the lower online in-advance fee. Some airlines require you to have printed your boarding pass before you get to the airport, or, again, they have a huge surcharge for doing this at the airport. And if they say one carry-on, they mean one total - not one plus a personal item. If you can stuff your purse into your suitcase, and still meet their size and weight restrictions, that's fine; if not, be sure to pay in advance for checking bags.
Last time we traveled on one of the small,inexpensive airlines, there was a charge for bags, to pick out a seat, even to get a confirmation email. It adds up fast.
