Italian Trains & Budget Transatlantic Flights

Travelers Christopher and Ashleigh introduce a new series of episodes detailing their recent 2.5 week trip to Italy. They start in Sicily and make their way north to Venice.

Getting Around Italy

The hosts took the train for transportation between cities in Italy. They found it convenient, inexpensive, and easy to book directly through the Italian train company, Trenitalia. Tips for booking:

• Search city names in Italian
• Understand the class of fare and refundability are separate options
• Aim for Premium or Business class if traveling with luggage

They also discuss options for overnight trains and compare the sleeper cabins.

Flying to Italy on Budget Airlines

To get to Italy from the US on a budget, the hosts flew Spirit Airlines to New York, then connected to Paris on Norse Atlantic and then to Sicily on EasyJet. On the way back they flew EasyJet, French Bee, and United. Key discussion points:

• Comparing premium economy on Norwegian vs French Bee
• The convenience of a long Paris layover to see the city
• Thoughts on Spirit, EasyJet, and bus gates

Overall they found budget airlines can offer more comfort with significant savings if you're flexible.

Brief Stopover in Paris

During their layover in Paris, the hosts walked 25,000 steps to see sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Much of the city was blocked off for Olympics preparation. They recommend getting a Metro ticket on your phone and having the latest OS version.

"Until next time, keep exploring, keep dreaming, and keep traveling by any means necessary."