Rome Travel Forum

I hope you can help me with this...My husband and I will be visiting Paris, Florence and Rome (and maybe Venice) for only 10 days. I am trying to find ways to save time and money so I'm wondering if it's better to take the plane from Paris (Beauvais) to Rome (Ciampino) by RyanAir or take an overnight train from Paris to Rome by purchasing a France n' Italy Select Saverpass.

I checked www.ryanair.com and the airfare is unbelievably cheap. It will cost 43euros from Paris to Rome for two one way! We're travelling in November but is this for real??? But will I really save time by flying considering the traveling time between center of Paris to Beauvais and Ciampino to the Termini?

>>But will I really save time by flying considering the traveling time between center of Paris to Beauvais and Ciampino to the Termini?

Not to mention getting to the airport a couple of hours early. I'd take the train...that's just me.

You can also check this URL: www.whichbudget.com
It will tell you what airlines fly from which city anywhere in Europe. It think Volare Airlines has a flight to Fiumicino from Paris-Orly.
If you cannot find anything else, then I agree with my predecessor: I'd take the train. It's a great experience.

In addition to the time factor, when calculating the airfare, you should include the cost of travel from hotel to airport in Paris, and airport to hotel in Rome. They both have train services and I can't remember what they cost, I think Rome was 9 euros per person each way (taxi 40 or 50 euros).

I would take the train. Overnight travel on a train is something I only ever get to do in Europe, so for me its half the fun. Furthermore, walking or riding across an international border is a fascinating experience for this Aussie.

There is a coach that goes from Porte Maillot, Paris to Beauvais that leaves approx 3 hours before each Ryanair flight. I think it costs around 12 euro each way. There is something similar in Rome that will take you to Termini. Ryanair have provided the service to make up for the fact that you fly into airports that are a good distance away from the airports.

Personally, if time is a big factor, I would go with flying. If you decide to do it, book your flights as soon as possible as the price will go up the closer you get to your departure date.

Well, I would do the train, however, add in the supplement for the couchette ro sleeping car. Are you just going one way If so, then you really dont need to buy that pass,, which I believe is about 200$?

The only thing about the plane is that yes, you have to get to Beauvis and then from Ciampino (not Fiumicino) there is the bus to the metro/ taxi. But is you are really pinching pennies that the plane at 43 Euros for two might be your best bet. Nothing wrong with Ruyan air, I have taken at least 30 flights with themn in the last three years!

Rene AKA MarioCibelli
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4707c/

Hi, another air option is low-cost and Italian-based Volare Air (www.volareweb.com). The flights depart from Paris Orly to Rome Fiumicino.

Thank you so much for your opinion. I think we've decided to take the overnight train from Paris to Florence. It might only be a few hours difference but we'll get a chance to experience train travel in Europe for the first time. So...should I purchase the select saverpass before we leave for Paris or just purchase them when we arrive? I would prefer to just buy them there so we have more control over our time. We are travelling in November afterall so I'm hoping it's not that incredibly busy and the sleeper or couchette will be available. Is it true that you won't be able to change reservations once you book?

Thanks again!!!

Since you already decided to take the train, this reply is moot. However, this is the view from the other side of the room, I'm just posting it here in attempt to make the picture more balance and complete.

We've used both the train and air to travel to Paris. We used the overnight train from Florence 18 months ago, and it was a beautiful experience. The positive part about our train experience was because we wouldn't use the time during the night for anything but sleep, we might have well gone to sleep in Florence and woke up in Paris. In addition, it was Dec 30 and we did not want to deal with any airport chaos. The negative part was the cost.

After that trip, we only use air. We use Ryan very frequently, about 6, 7 times a year, and we like it much better than Volare. Ryan is less expensive and more on time than Volare. (Yes, the fare you found was real. There are times when we pay even less than that when Ryan has one pence or 99-centesimi sale).

The negative part about Ryan: they use secondary airports. This, however, can be overcome with a little planning. Depends on the day, you could easily find low fares with decent hours. For instance, in October, we'll go back to Paris with Ryan. We'll fly out of Ciampino at 3 PM, giving us plenty of time to get to the airport by train from our home in Umbria. We'll arrive in Beauvais at 5 PM, with plenty of time and very little cost to get to the city (the shuttle is 10 euro to Port Maillot, then the metro). When we leave Paris, we'll arrive back to Ciampino before noon.

The cost of two RT air tickets, plus transportation to and from both airports, is less than one-way ticket for one person on the train. I've calculated and compared, the total travel time is also less by air than by train.

One thing you do need to consider when you fly low-cost airlines: limited check-in luggage. We travel light so it's not a problem for us, we never use up the maximum weight allowable, but you may find it is too restricted to you.

Did you include the cost of one night's acommodation when comparing a flight with an overnight train?

Perthgerl,

I did consider all costs. These are the 2 scenarios:

1- For the days of the week that we select, both flights allow us plenty of time for connection to the city and to our home without the need to stay in the hotel near the airport for one night. On the way there, we will arrive in Beauvais at 5 PM. On the way back, we will land in Rome at noon. There is no need for extra night in hotel on either end.

2- On the days when the flight back to Rome doesn't land until midnight, the total (two ROUND TRIP tickets, tax, and fee are 88 Euro, plus 80 Euro for a B&B in Ciampino) is 168 Euro, versus 306 Euro for two tickets ONE WAY, on the overnight train (2nd class with couchette in a 6 person compartment).

Thanks for your reply. I've compared both the overnight train and taking the plane and it's cheaper to take the plane. Since it's our first time, we are taking an overnight train from Paris to Milan to experience it and then take Ryanair from Rome back to Paris. We've already booked our tickets for E.99 plus taxes and fees!

I haven't purchase our overnight train yet. Is there a difference between Trenitalia and the French SNCF?

Sorry I wasn't clear. What I was getting at was the following:

Overnight train travel includes one night's accommodation. Therefore to fairly compare the price of flying to the price of taking and overnight train, the maths would be as follows:

AIR TRAVEL SCENARIO:
Travel to and from airports +
plane tickets +
hotel room for one night

=

TRAIN TRAVEL SCENARIO
Train tickets +
overnight couchette cost.

Oh, I get it now, Perthgel. That's a good way to calculate the cost too, but even with that calculation, air is still cheaper.

Let's take my own scenario and compare one-way cost for two people:

Travel from Fiumicino to Ciampino: 8 + Air tickets 44 + Travel from Beauvais to the centre of Paris: 22 + Hotel in Latin Quarter 70 = 144 €.

2nd class train: 266 + Couchette 40 = 306 €. (This is the cost for 6-person compartment. A more comfortable 4-person compartment costs more.)