UK/Italy travel on holiday - best way, rail/bus/railpass etc advice needed.

[FFGrey]

Hi there!

My partner and I are going to the UK and Italy next month, and I am wondering what would be the best way to get around. All our accommodation is already booked.

We arrive in London on the 31st of August, and then our itenary goes like this:

London > Liverpool - 5th Sept
Liverpool > Leeds - 8th Sept
Leeds >York - 9th Sept
York > London - 10th Sept

I am wondering if it is worth it to get a rail pass, or is it better just to use the bus service?

We are going to France, then Itay. In Italy, our itinerary is:

Venice > Florence - 17th September
Florence > Cinque Terre/Monterosso al Mare - 19th September
Monterosso al Mare > Cinque Terre/Vernazza - 20th September
Vernazza > Cinque Terre/Riomagiore - 21st September
Cinque Terre - Riomagiore > Rome - 22nd September

I am wondering if it is worth our while to get an Italian rail pass or skip it and book all the rail trips as we go along?

Any help with both of these questions appreciated!

Thanks,
Graeme.

 

[kelvedon]

Hi there!

My partner and I are going to the UK and Italy next month, and I am wondering what would be the best way to get around. All our accommodation is already booked.

We arrive in London on the 31st of August, and then our itenary goes like this:

London > Liverpool - 5th Sept
Liverpool > Leeds - 8th Sept
Leeds >York - 9th Sept
York > London - 10th Sept

I am wondering if it is worth it to get a rail pass, or is it better just to use the bus service?

We are going to France, then Itay. In Italy, our itinerary is:

Venice > Florence - 17th September
Florence > Cinque Terre/Monterosso al Mare - 19th September
Monterosso al Mare > Cinque Terre/Vernazza - 20th September
Vernazza > Cinque Terre/Riomagiore - 21st September
Cinque Terre - Riomagiore > Rome - 22nd September

I am wondering if it is worth our while to get an Italian rail pass or skip it and book all the rail trips as we go along?

Any help with both of these questions appreciated!

Thanks,
Graeme.

For your Italian sectors I wouldn't be buying any rail passes. You could hire a car from Venice to Florence but you have to pick it up at the outskirts of Venice (for obvious reasons) and returning to Florence, the historic centre of the city is largely vehicle free and parking options are limited. I'd catch the train, about 2 hours on the impressive Ferriorosa high speed trains and no driving hassles.
The villages of the cinque terra are not accessible but car but are linked by the railway line, or more scenically by ferry. The distances between the villages is very short so I don't think a rail pass would be any cheaper than single fares, though come to think of it, there may be a local rail pass which includes the fee for the walk between the villages ( yes you pay for walking, this is a country where they pay to sit on the beach as well).

 

[kelvedon]

Oh and buy your tickets direct from the Italian rail company, usually cheaper the Rail Europe agency here. I seem to remember they email the tickets to you.
Trenitalia - HomePage

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Oh and buy your tickets direct from the Italian rail company, usually cheaper the Rail Europe agency here. I seem to remember they email the tickets to you.
Trenitalia - HomePage

They do.

And if you buy in advance can be dirt cheap. ie 70 Euro tickets for as low as 7 Euro.

 

[willjd]

We did a similar trip last year on the train.

travelling from rome - florence - pisa - cinque terre - lucca - pisa airport. We bought the rome to florence tickets online for 50 euros I think and the rest just buying from ticket machines at the stations. Was very easy and cheap, get to see the countryside and relax.

Happy travels