Best way to get from Florence to Paris? train or air?

I need advice on the best and cheapest way to get from florence to paris. I need a oneway trip. I have found a direct flight for $230.. and the overnight train fares are around $200.. This seems expensive..

Anyone have any ideas?

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Where did you get that train quote?

on www.sncf.fr (French national train service) I can get a oneway 12-hour sleeper for $105

I guess it depends on dates?

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I looked on Raileurope.com... i cant get the sncf site to give me a fare? i keep getting %26quot;techical Problem%26quot; message.

And yes the date we%26#39;re traveling is a peak day.

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I get the %26quot;tech problem%26quot; also when I try to view the site in English.

www.tgv.com works in English even though it ends up searching sncf.fr anyhow!

But via tgv.com it%26#39;s $150 and not direct ?

Give me your dates and I can search on the French sncf.fr site :)

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It would appear that none of the European budget air carriers service Paris(PAR) from Florence(FLR). Air France and Alitalia seem to have the direct routes sewn up. So the train would appear to be your best bet.

You problem with train fares is that it is a one-way trip and as such probably will not qualify for any fare discounts. It is worth bearing in mind that with the direct overnight/sleeper train, part of your fare includes the cost of one night%26#39;s accommodations (hotel chqarge) and since the train departs from central Firenze-Santa Maria Novella station in central Florence and arrives in central Paris-Gare de Bercy, you will not have to pay any airport transfer fares at either end. Perhaps more important is that because the night train doesn%26#39;t leave Florence until 20:28 (8:28 PM) you will have time for a full day in Florence and an pleasant early dinner in a trattoria there. The train arrives at Paris-Gare de Bercy at 09:10 the follwing morning, so you will also have the better part of a full day in Paris on arrivel. You won%26#39;t see much of the countryside between Florence and Paris along the way...but no plan is perphekt.

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Thanks, Petgan! Im looking for 1st class, double berth (2 travelers) on June 18th.

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Hey Ptegan,

Have you been able to get SNCF to work?

I%26#39;ve been trying for two days now and keep getting the tech. difficulty errors from the voyages-sncf french site.

Cna%26#39;t get on the Eurostar site either...can you?

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The %26quot;technical problem%26quot; message occurs when you try to find dates that are more than 60 days in advance.

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Hmm, I%26#39;m getting the

%26quot;A technical error has occurred, please try again later. %26quot;

that I wasn%26#39;t getting earlier !

(maybe they%26#39;re on strike too :) )

But your quote of ���200 from earlier seems correct for a first-class ticket if it%26#39;s ���115 for second.

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Well done cherylc !

So the quote for the 18 March 2005 is ���60 for a one-way, overnight, 1st class ticket as long as you book a good while in advance. The ticket isn%26#39;t refundable though.

The %26#39;normal%26#39; ticket price is ���120 for the same trip.

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Those prices are in EURO.