We often receive requests for advice on how to economize in family travel to Italy in terms of both time and money to minimize stress and accommodate the budget needs of families traveling with kids to Europe. Here are our top tips for how to plan your travel from London to Rome most efficiently.
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Whether you’re going on a family vacation with the kids, a romantic trip with your special someone, or just a plain solo backpacking adventure across the continent, Europe offers the best place to truly enjoy the benefits of traveling. The trouble, however, boils down to cost, time, and knowledge constraints. London airports are a central hub for flights to Europe, and a convenient stopover for travelers and planning to transit southeast to Rome. Below are the most practical options for families to consider when booking travel from London to Rome:
By Plane
JustTheFlight.co.uk points out the lowest direct flight fare from London Gatwick to Rome is £66 via EasyJet. But before you cover the close to 1,500 kilometers and more than two hours of flight time, you have to take consider a couple of important things. Gatwick, according to Panethos, is the busiest single-use runway for commercial airlines in the world. That means, congestion isn’t only limited to airplanes and passengers, but also to cars. Finding airport parking is a different challenge altogether. Other than the test to look for the cheapest and safest, you have to consider which one suits you best. Parking4Less categorizes Gatwick’s car bays as North Terminal’s long stay and summer special, as well as South Terminal’s long stay and long stay plus. There’s even an award-winning short stay car park situated between the two. In addition to considering how to save money and maximize convenience with parking, when choosing budget airlines, don’t forget to review the luggage fees and restrictions on your ticket carefully to avoid costly extra fees at the airport. In general, paying for checked baggage when you purchase your ticket is the least expensive option.
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By Train
According to travel website, Loco2, the easiest alternative to flying is to travel from London to Rome – and back – by train. It’s advisable, however, to book tickets three months in advance, as that’s when you’ll find the cheapest fares. From St. Pancras Station in London, you have to ride a Eurostar service train to Paris, before transferring stations to connect on a high-speed French TGV to Turin. Know that you should factor in at least an hour for the airline-style luggage check prior to boarding. This should be a smooth process once you’re at the Gare de Lyon in Paris, as these direct, fast TGV trains will just have a few routine stops. Once you’ve reached Turin, you’ll have to again transfer to a connecting train to at Porta Susa station to your last destination: Rome. The final leg of this continental journey is a 710-kilometer high-speed train ride via Trenitalia’s Frecciarosa or the new private Italo Train lines. Since both offer state-of-the-art technologies and efficient schedules, the estimated travel duration is – on average – only four hours.
Conclusion
We hope this overview helps to maximize value in your travel budget, especially with regard to unanticipated expenses such as parking or luggage fees, while making the most of your European journey. Both methods have its pros and cons, with one offering the fastest and the other providing a long yet scenic route with the ability to stop along the way.
More Information of Interest
How to Take the Train from Florence to Venice
Italy Train Travel Tips: Milan Central Station
Tips for Purchasing Airfare to Europe
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