"Paul Tauger" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > The discussion has been about getting to Siena from Rome. From
what I've
    > gathered, busses are more frequent than trains. However, if
there were a
    > single train from the airport to Siena, that would be more
convenient than
    > anything else.


No, it's not that buses are more frequent than trains. It's that
there's no direct train service from Rome to Siena. You have to
change somewhere, and the second train may be infrequent. The
overall trip is likely to be longer and more of a hassle.

I'm not sure where on the web to check, but you should probably
look into the bus schedule before you arrive.

--
Ken Blake
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In article ,
Paul Tauger wrote:
    >Which would be the better city to fly into? Milan's airport is quite far
    >from the city, though I wouldn't consider Rome's airport nearby either. We
    >don't care about public transportation -- we'll be taking a taxi to the
    >train station. Our sole concern is convenience.

Between Fiumicino Aeroporto (FCO) and Roma Termini train station is a
non-stop train. It leaves every half hour for much of the day and takes
31 minutes (schedule can be found at http://www.trenitalia.it ). I'd
guess that it is the most convenient and predictable way between these
two points (since taxis can get stuck in traffic jams). Cost is about
9 euros per person.

Of course, http://www.trenitalia.it will give you other train schedules
between either Rome or Milan and the points you are going to. You can
then decide which will be more convenient for you.

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Ken Blake wrote:
    > "greg byshenk" wrote in message
    > > Ken Blake wrote:

    > > > The convenience is that you just get into a taxi when you arrive,
    > > > rather than having to first buy a ticket, then wait for a
    > > > scheduled train. It's both easier and faster--depending on the
    > > > train schedule and when you arrive, perhaps substantially faster.
    > > > Especially of you have luggage to deal with, a taxi is also
    > > > usually easier and more comfortable than the train.

    > > I still don't get it. There seems to be a train about every 15
    > > minutes, so we aren't talking about a significant wait. And
    > > buying a ticket takes all of 30 seconds. As for luggage, recall
    > > that the _point_ of traveling to Tiburtina is in order to board
    > > a bus to Siena; if one can't manage one's luggage, then one is
    > > going to have more serious problems ahead.

    > OK, I don't have any more to add. Like you, I would probably take
    > a train. He, on the other hand, seems to be willing to spend a
    > little more on a taxi for the extra convenience, however large it
    > may be.

It's not even that, for me, as I just don't see any meaningful "extra
convenience". Taking a taxi between two train stations that are served
by frequent direct trains, and in a situation in which one will be
transferring at both the origin and the destination, just seems silly
to me. Indeed, I probably would be willing to pay a bit more for the
train in such a situation.

Naturally, as I noted previously, such does not necessarily apply in
other situations, such as when one can get a taxi direct to one's
hotel.

    > There's nothing to argue about here. You don't think it's worth
    > the money. I don't think it's worth the money. The OP *does*
    > think it's worth the money. That's fine. We can all see this
    > differently.

For me, it isn't even a question of the money. I will sometimes pay
extra for additional convenience myself. But only when there is some
real additional convenience, and this is a case where the "extra"
convenience seems negligible, if not possibly negative.


--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?

I'll top post, and change subkect.

Do you get first class upgrades on CO form status, or with points or
vouchers of some kind? Do you have to reserve these well in advance?

Regarding trains and cabs

My wife and I (mid 60's)have just returned from Italy after a couple
weeks with another couple (late 60's).

After 13 hrs of travel and a few windsprints in the MUC airport, a
taxi really looks great at the back home time of 3am. We even take
the Water taxi in Venice to avoid the bridge stairs. They have a new
system from VCE with advance ticket purchase IN the airport. 85€ for
4 people with 8 bags.

We take trains in Italy all the time, but haulling big luggage up into
the train (I have never seen a porter in the Venice station and only
seldomly can find one in Bolonga) has become very difficult. The
Bologna station is even more difficult, as transfer requires down and
back up a flight of stairs.

I know it sounds nice, and cool to travel with a 10kg back pack, but
my business requires closer to 60kg of luggage.

On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:03:10 -0800, "Paul Tauger"
wrote:

    >We're putting together a quick trip for this spring -- Venice, Sienna,
    >Zurich. I want to fly Continental (I get first-class upgrades), which
    >limits me to either Milan or Rome for the Italy end. We've been to both
    >cities many times, and won't be spending any time there -- we'll land and
    >catch a train to, most likely, Sienna, and then a few days later, on to
    >Venice. From Venice, we'll fly to Zurich and return home from there.
    >Which would be the better city to fly into? Milan's airport is quite far
    >from the city, though I wouldn't consider Rome's airport nearby either. We
    >don't care about public transportation -- we'll be taking a taxi to the
    >train station. Our sole concern is convenience.
    >Any recommendations?

"gerald" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'll top post, and change subkect.
    > Do you get first class upgrades on CO form status, or with points or
    > vouchers of some kind? Do you have to reserve these well in advance?

When I travel internationally, I upgrade using miles. This involves buying
a coach fare that is usually several hundred dollars more than the cheapest
restricted coach fare, and redeeming 40-50,000 miles per upgraded ticket.
It's definitely worth it to me. Flying to Europe from the west coast
usually means a morning arrival. When I used to fly coach, I'd be useless
for that first day -- tired and jet-lagged. Flying in business first, I
arrive refreshed and ready to go.

I book these well in advance, i.e. I won't buy the ticket unless the upgrade
is confirmed at the time of the booking. Fortunately, my travel plans are
flexible enough so that I can work around the airline. I won't accept a
wait list I (at least not for the international component), as I can wind up
stuck in coach anyway, and having to pay several hundred dollars extra for
the privilege.

Domestically, I get upgraded based on my elite status. I can't recall the
last time I had to fly coach because I couldn't get an upgrade to F.

    > Regarding trains and cabs
    > My wife and I (mid 60's)have just returned from Italy after a couple
    > weeks with another couple (late 60's).
    > After 13 hrs of travel and a few windsprints in the MUC airport, a
    > taxi really looks great at the back home time of 3am. We even take
    > the Water taxi in Venice to avoid the bridge stairs. They have a new
    > system from VCE with advance ticket purchase IN the airport. 85? for
    > 4 people with 8 bags.

We've taken the water taxi, too, and for the same reason.

    > We take trains in Italy all the time, but haulling big luggage up into
    > the train (I have never seen a porter in the Venice station and only
    > seldomly can find one in Bolonga) has become very difficult. The
    > Bologna station is even more difficult, as transfer requires down and
    > back up a flight of stairs.

I've noticed that a lot of European train stations are starting to install
conveyor belts that run next to the stairs. You can put your bag on the
belt, walk up to the platform, and the conveyor does all the work of getting
your bag up.

    > I know it sounds nice, and cool to travel with a 10kg back pack, but
    > my business requires closer to 60kg of luggage.

It's not quite as bad for me, but close. The electronics alone (computer,
cellphone, camcorder, camera, CD player for the flight, and chargers and
batteries for all make a 10kg backpack impossible, unless I don't want to
carry _any_ clotthes.)

    > On Thu, 20 Feb 2003 19:03:10 -0800, "Paul Tauger"
    > wrote:
    > >We're putting together a quick trip for this spring -- Venice, Sienna,
    > >Zurich. I want to fly Continental (I get first-class upgrades), which
    > >limits me to either Milan or Rome for the Italy end. We've been to both
    > >cities many times, and won't be spending any time there -- we'll land and
    > >catch a train to, most likely, Sienna, and then a few days later, on to
    > >Venice. From Venice, we'll fly to Zurich and return home from there.
    > >
    > >Which would be the better city to fly into? Milan's airport is quite far
    > >from the city, though I wouldn't consider Rome's airport nearby either.
We
    > >don't care about public transportation -- we'll be taking a taxi to the
    > >train station. Our sole concern is convenience.
    > >
    > >Any recommendations?
    > >