Must make decisions soon ... latest "flow" on bottom of thread. Trying to show thought process so others might benefit! Getting more and more complicated, though.
Please keep the advice and experiences coming!
What has changed:
1. BOS-LGW - waay better than to LHR, but limited flights and carriers.
- JetBlue (nonstop 767) - 1822 departure so plenty of time to get to BOS from southern Maine. $520 per person (includes checked bag) or $432 (Blue Basic - includes “Each customer with a Blue Basic fare is allowed one personal item (purse, small backpack, briefcase, laptop, etc.) that fits under the seat in front of you. A carry-on bag is not allowed and cannot be brought on board. The only exceptions are the following: …. Customers traveling to/from U.K./Europe …” So, lower price of $432 should meet our needs,
- NorseAtlantic (nonstop 787) - 2100 departure, $187 (small underseat bag only)/$277 (Economy Classic) with checked bag and carry on), $296 (Premium Light) carryon, small underseat, 2 meal service, $386 (Premium Classic) with checked bag and carry on and underseat, with two meal services). This is interesting in that at least it is clear what you get, and is cheaper - with same service (I think), in a newer airplane. And, you help keep competition going! Anyone flown with Norse?
2. Good advice offered to fly from LGW to AMS - we’re beginning to think is absolutely right. Put the train time off (see 2., below). Flight options:
- EasyJet has multiple flights (0805, 1310, 1499, 1455, 1510, 1555, 1730, 1840, 2005). Base rate is £33 but a roll on overhead bag is it £17 so cheaper on BA?
- BA has a 0710 departure and a 1805 departure - both £42 (this “appears” to offer one roll on and one carry on - any can confirm from experience?)
3. Take the good advice offered and train to Italy (Milano?) following cruise-included tours in Lucerne area - instead of flying to Brindisi from Basel or Zurich. There is a direct from Luzern to Milano … one night is not much, but we do want to join up with our friends in Monopoly - and we have agriturismo reservation already. However, the next train leg is still a long train day due to getting off the high speed lines, but it does offer a chance to see a lot of Italy we would not normally see? There apparently are "scenic trains” but these take longer and have multiple transfers? Advice on which train and where to stay in Milano (especially given we are there one night only)?
4. Or, given the 8-10 hours to Monopoli via train from Milano, perhaps EasyJet from Milano (MXP) to Brindisi (BDS) for €34 plus €22 for a roll on cabin bag. The train to Monopoli or rent car in Brindisi?
Flow
- Fly Florida to Boston - American looks best for us from PNS
- Drive to Maine and stay four nights
- Drive back to Boston and with either JetBlue or NorseAtlantic to LGW
- Stay in UK with friends for five nights who live about 30 min from LGW (they said would pick us up and drop off!)
- Fly from LGW to AMS (our friends confirmed this is exactly what they would do)
- Two nights in Amsterdam (I used points to make resv at the Hilton Doubletree near Centraal train terminal and cruise departure). This looks to be walkable from Centraal to hotel, and hotel to cruise departure - can anyone confirm, please?
- Cruise departure from Amsterdam
- Cruise arrival Basel
- Bus to Lucerne for two nights (paid for and part of "cruise”)
- Train to Milano? Someone has done this? Looks like lots of train options. Direct is easy, and might be panoramic enough?
- Train to Monopoli? Long time, but more fun? Fly MXP to BDS, instead?
- Couple more stops including three nights in Naples
- Train to Rome for better connections to US than from Naples? (friends returning from Naples, but they have better connections to Denver)
