On Jan 3, 11:20=A0pm, Stu wrote:
> I'm looking for suggestions. My wife and I will be at Heathrow early
> in the morning of April 2 and we need to get to Rome by the morning of
> the third. I assume flying is the best way - get there the evening of
> the 2nd.
>
> On the 10th we will be in Milan with an open itenerary until the 15th
> when we will depart from Heathrow. My wife has never been to Paris so
> I thought of taking the train there then train or plane to London.
>
> I'd appreciate any ideas on transportation, places to see and places
> to stay from Milan to London. We're somewhat adventuresome and budget
> minded. Thanks in advance.
Stu,
Some suggestions. I would say fly directly to Rome and get a night
there, especially if you're supposed to be there in the morning. You
don't say what you're doing in Italy, but since you have specific
dates and times, I might guess a tour that ends in Milan, though
doesn't matter.
Milan to Paris
For Milan to Paris to London with about five days. You could fly from
Milan to Paris or take a Night Train direct to Paris. But if you
wanted to stop and see some in-between country a couple of options
come to mnd. Take a night train from Milano Centrale to Dijon Ville.
It leaves at 11:30 (so you can enjoy Milan into the evening) and
arrives at around 6 am - $450 for two (Trentalia) in a sleeper (sounds
expensive but you're saving on a hotel night).
Night Trains
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/Eurail_Night_Train.htm
In Dijon rent a car for a day or two and tour locally around the
Burgundy Wine country along the Route Grand Crus, see some chateaus,
then return at Dijon and take the train. Or without the car, see Dijon
and take a train or bus tour side trip to Beaune or Tournus. Then TGV
from Dijon to Paris $112 for two reserved first class (RailEurope). Or
instead of the night train to Dijon, you could take the same route
with a day train from Milan via Lausanne, Switzerland, maybe stop for
a few hours in Lake Como before crossing the border or in Lausanne and
get to Dijon in the evening (its about 6 hours straight through).
Dijon Rail Convenient Hotels
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/07/France_Dijon_Bargain_Hotels_Rail_TGV.h=
tm
Route Gran Crus
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/France_Chateau_Marsannay_Wine_Tour_Burgun=
dy.htm
If you rented a car you could also drive to Paris instead of the
train. Driving straight from Dijon to Paris is about 4 hours. You can
easily make it in a full day including with side stops, see some
chateaus. Or the Abbey at Fontenay. Or make it a two day trip and stay
a night at Leslie Caron's "Owls Nest Auberge" in Villenueve-sur-Yonne
between Auxerre and Sens. Then could cut over to Fontainebleau for the
palace, before heading into Paris.
Auberge La Lucarne aux Chouettes Villenueve-sur-Yonne
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/07/France_Leslie_Caron_Owl_Nest_Chouettes=
_Burgundy.htm
Fontainebleau
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/07/France_Fontainebleau_Chateau_Napoleon.=
htm
Abbey Fontenay and following the Seine
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/France_Fontenay_Seine_Burgundy.htm
If you did feel courageous enough to drive to Paris, take country
roads a much as possible to save the tolls on the autoroutes. Get a
Hertz at Dijon Gare and drop off at the Louvre Carousel, (parking
garage undeneath the Louvre), easiest to find, just drive straight
into the city center from the A4, takes you along the south bank of
the Seine, cross-over at the Pont de la Concorde, double back on Quai
Tulleries and look for the garage entrance. It's very difficult to
find a gas station in Paris so if you don't buy the full tank option,
get gas (or better diesel, but don't get them confused) as close
outside the city on the autoroute as you can or you'll get charged for
less than a full tank, even then the desk guy will say you're only
"7/8ths" full (he knows how hard it is to find gas in the city), argue
if its on the mark.
Opera-Louvre Hotels
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/07/France_Opera_Louvre_Hotels_Paris.htm
Louvre
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/France_Paris_The_Louvre.htm
Paris to London
You could take the Eurostar from Paris to London, but you kill most of
a day and trying to get from St. Pancras through London to Heathrow is
a bit of a hassle and not cheap, unless you're actually planning to
see the city. Tube from Kings Cross to Paddington and Paddington
Express to Heathrow. Or tube all the way (with bags).
Eurostar
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/07/Eurostar_London_Paris.htm
Fly, Drive or Train
http://www.bargaintraveleurope.com/Fly_Drive_Rail.htm
I'd suggest flying straight to Heathrow to catch a same-day connection
to your flight home, about 70 Euro apiece on British Airways. If you
stay in the Opera-Louvre area in Paris, you can take the Roissy Bus
from next to the Opera Garnier direct to Charles DeGaulle (easiest/
cheapest at about 8 Euro, no advance ticket needed, just get on and
pay the driver) for a flight to Heathrow. The bus runs early in case
to have to transfer to an early connection
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