Should I rent a car before I get to Italy? Why?

Okay, I just got my euros (a hundred of 'em, in case you were just dying to know), and I have made all the appropriate copies of things, double-checked the hotels and directions to those hotels, and should be all set.

I packed last night, and like Piffka advised, I will be re-packing tomorrow. One little carry on bag, just like my parents. No check-in worries, which is going to come in handy when we have to go across town from Gatwick airport to Manchester airport in London on the way home with only a three-hour layover. I didn't even realize they were different airports until we looked at the itinterary last week. Hopefully we'll make it, but really, all that flight is going to do is take us back here to the states, so who really cares?

I can't believe I'm really going to Italy tomorrow. Holy ****.

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Have a great time!
Say hi to B16 for me.

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Would you do me a favor, kicky?

Just a little one.

Pinch a 50 year old American woman on the butt and pretend you're an Italian. Tell her she's making you hot. Do it for me. It'll make her trip. And the smile on her face will make yours.

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I know you're going to have a great time in Italy kicky.
It's a beautiful country with friendly poeple and lots of chaos Wink

Just enjoy and have fun!

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Grazie, guys! Eva, if I get the chance, I will definitely do that!

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kickycan wrote:

No check-in worries, which is going to come in handy when we have to go across town from Gatwick airport to Manchester airport in London on the way home with only a three-hour layover. I didn't even realize they were different airports until we looked at the itinterary last week.

KICKY KICKY KICKY..........!!!!

I've just picked up on this thread again, and note that you mention Manchester Airport, as "across town" from Gatwick.

I hope you meant Heathrow and NOT Manchester.

HEATHROW IS ACROSS TOWN......MANCHESTER IS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILES AWAY!!

IF SOMEONE ELSE READS THIS AND KNOWS KICKY'S CONTACT NUMBER....WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST!!

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Oooh, that was a scary moment. I almost filled my shorts when I saw that, but I just checked and thank god, yes, I did make a mistake, it is Gatwick to Heathrow...pheeew!

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Whew...

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Thank GOD for that!!!

I have just changed my pants as well!

Dont do that to me.

Have a great time, mate, and have a large cold beer for me!

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Thanks!

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mmmm

could you find a really nice piece of Grana Padano - some figs and honey - and some wine - sit down someplace with a beautiful view - and take a pic?

Have a fabulous time, kix.

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And whatever you end up renting...
Drive it like you stole it !

Happy trails...

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kickycan wrote:

No check-in worries, which is going to come in handy when we have to go across town from Gatwick airport to Manchester airport in London on the way home with only a three-hour layover.

Eeeeeeek!!!

Manchester airport in London? Is there such a thing? Tell me you mean Stanstead or Heathrow. (And that would be hard enough!) The airport designation for Manchester International is MAN. Will you check your ticket because you're in for some trouble if that's what is on there.

Because I like you so much I've checked for transportation between those two airports. The good news is there are three ways to do it. The bad news is that they take a lot of time.

National Express (bus) service from Manchester airport to Gatwick North
This takes more than six hours.

There is one flight from Manchester to Gatwick on British Midlands -- it takes 3 hours 15 min and cost 222 British pounds each.

The trains from London to Manchester also take over 2 hours if you can find one that doesn't stop, plus you still have to get from Gatwick to Euston Station.

This is the least time-consuming option from London to Manchester:

Quote:

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/Time_Table/Matrix_Journey_Details.asp

LONDON EUSTON 08:35 Train VIRGIN TRAINS
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY 10:48
DURATION: 2:13

Quote:

By Train: Fast, nonstop Gatwick Express (PHONE: 0870/530-1530) leaves for Victoria Station every 15 minutes 5:20 AM-midnight, then hourly 1:35 AM-5:20 AM. The 30-minute trip costs £10.50 one-way, £21 round-trip. A train runs practically all day and all night to King's Cross Thameslink station every 15 minutes and takes one hour for about £9.80 one-way.

By Taxi: From Gatwick, the taxi fare is at least £70 with a journey time of about an hour and a half. Add a tip of 10 to 15% to the basic fare.

Taxi at Gatwick Airport (PHONE: 01293/562291

I don't think you could do it even if the times worked out exactly (here's the website I was looked at) and you knew exactly how to use the British rail system, because you still have to get from Victoria station to Euston station. Sad

Can you contact your travel agent? Otherwise, you'd better start talking to the airlines while you're waiting at the airport tomorrow.

Well, every trip has its glitches.

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Oh... never mind. Good God.

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kickycan wrote:

Oooh, that was a scary moment. I almost filled my shorts when I saw that, but I just checked and thank god, yes, I did make a mistake, it is Gatwick to Heathrow...pheeew!

Pheew is right. Speaking of changing things.... Here is some information on the fastest way between those two airports.

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/heathrow_gatwick_transfer.htm#speedlink

Quote:

The National Express Coach picks up from all terminals at Gatwick and Heathrow Terminal 4 & Heathrow coach station for Terminals 1,2 & 3.

Fare : Adult £17.50* child (3-15) £12
* Indicative fare only, promotions and changes happen, check for current fare and timetables and purchase tickets at National Express
Tickets: At terminals ticket Office or National Express
Journey Time : 60 to 70 minutes, but allow much longer
Departures: Up to 100 services a day (24x7 schedule)

Quote:

The Speedlink Coach picks up from all terminals at both Gatwick and Heathrow.

Fare : Adult £17.50* child (3-15) £12 Euros and $US accepted* Indicative fare only, promotions and changes happen
Tickets: At each terminals ticket Office
Journey Time : 60 to 70 minutes, but allow much longer

Depart Gatwick :
(North + South Terminals) Every 15-20 minutes 06:00 to 16:00
Every 30 minutes 16:00 to 20:30+
Depart Heathrow :
(Stops at each Terminal 1- 4) Every 15-20 minutes 05:40 to 15:35
Every 30 minutes 15:35 to 20:30 then 21:15+

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Yeh, but that was a useful runthrough for some panic somewhere along the line... oh, no, we're going the wrong way!!!!

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<piffka, that signature quote is a charmer...>

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Piffka wrote:

Fare : Adult £17.50* child (3-15) £12
* Indicative fare only, promotions and changes happen, check for current fare and timetables and purchase tickets at National Express
Tickets: At terminals ticket Office or National Express
Journey Time : 60 to 70 minutes, but allow much longer

That's a bit scary for a three hour layover. What's security like at the Brit airports?

I definitely needed the 2.5 hours recommended at Pearson when I went to New York, but I only needed about an hour at La Guardia.

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So, what is the worst that can happen, they miss it.
I just missed a connection a couple of weeks ago after whileing away part of a morning on the tarmac in Albuquerque and they had booked me on another flight when I showed up at the gate in San Francisco. More complicatedly, I got on a flight earlier than the newly booked one on standby.

My ticket had all been via United though - not sure if they do that if you are changing airlines..

Three hours - given no delay in Italy they should be ok...

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Thanks, Osso. It's from Wodehouse.

I meant to say I hope you have a great trip, Kicky, before you put me into a total panic. Better me, here and panicked, than you, there. Anyway, have a wonderful time. You are going to make your parents so happy and you get to have your trip (your first trip) to Italy.

Still, as Beth says, that's not very much time to get from one airport to the other. Don't dilly-dally. Pee on the plane before it lands and then hit the ground running.

Heathrow has some wonderful shops, I think. The Duty Free liquor will allow you to drink yourself silly for free, then wander drunkenly across the aisles to buy cut-price toiletries. There's even a British Museum shop down the way which can be a quick breeze-through.

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Should I rent a car before I get to Italy? Why?

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