Mittens 2010 Italy -- Sat 31st July - Sat 7th Aug. Last few spots remaining!

[Chrille]

Yeah. At the time it seemed much cheaper to fly to Milan. But after adding the train costs it would've just cost me 30 euro or so extra to go directly to Florence.

Also, it seems necessary to switch trains somewhere along the way but I have no idea where because the station names are abbreviated on their website. Bicilotti, perhaps you know where?

[Creed Malay]

Is there an Italian version of Megabus, maybe?

[m0ds]

Haha yes Chrille, change at F. SBN or what not. It was a hyperlink though, at least it looked like it, but I didn't click it to find out. Wait, F. SBN is Firenze. All I could make out is from Milan, you change at Firenze "SBN" and then move onto Arezzo. But if biccilotti could help us source some decent travel info and any lower prices (ala mega bus as you say Creed) that would be really useful.

[m0ds]

I looked into bus services, and all I could tell is: They're shit.

We really really need bicci to help us here.

[Matt Frith]

I think there are some trains from Milan to Arezzo that are around 30 Euros for a single.  They take about 4 hours but it is probably worth the saving if you arn't in any rush.I'm guessing it is a service that has a lot more stops along the way.

[m0ds]

Cheers. Those are the trains at like 6.30am in the morning, so anyone planning to fly into Milan on the 31st won't benefit. I have no idea why the Italians charge you two singles and not a return price, but like I said, my overall view of the Italian travel system so far is: cens0red But yes, that is a cheaper option, I may try and fly in the night of the 30th to make the most of it, but you get this scenario:

Cheap flight = expensive rail fare
Expensive flight = cheap rail fare

Both end up being about £200 in total.  

EDIT: Cheers Matt, below, that's useful!

[Matt Frith]

I looked on Trenitalia and there appears to be at least 2 of those cheaper journeys during normal hours.  There is one at 10:50 (highlighted in the pic below) and one at 14:50.  That latter journey is definitely quite good for anyone getting a morning flight to Milan.

[m0ds]

Busses busses busses.... a possible site to investigate:
http://www.sena.it/index_e.htm

Currently I see Milan to Firenze 5 euros!! Misleading...

Edit, wait, Milan to Siena would be much closer, and that's 31 euros each way. 4hr 30 ride, same as the cheaper train.

Still, getting cheaper.

[Snarky]

We can be there by then if necessary. As for the deposit, I'm not sure. That may depend on my carmates' finances.

That's you, CJ, Jen and Jake, right? It would be great if we could have a definite yes on this. I'm in contact with the villa owner, and she's willing to be flexible (on both the times and the sums) if we can give her a straight answer. If it doesn't work out for you, could anyone else do it?

Meanwhile, are the other cars still happening? The one with Jess, Eric and Andail is out, I take it, and I see Chrille is looking into trains. What about the other ones? Quintaros, you still picking me up at Milano Bergamo (BGY)? (My plane lands at 17:45, so conservatively it might be until 19:00 before I'm done there. Then it's a four-to-five-hour drive to the villa... for a lovely worst-case midnight arrival. Assuming we don't get lost.)

[Miez]

It might also be smart to exchange mobile phone numbers for those last minute panicky moments (or for when one of us gets lost : ). Any ideas on how to share these without the interwebs harvesting our numbers?

[m0ds]

Indeed, this is where the annular hidden Mittens board would come in handy!

[Creed Malay]

All us early arrivers from the UK are now travelling in one big van-bus-truck thing, which holds nine bodies.

[Dualnames]

Indeed, this is where the annular hidden Mittens board would come in handy!

there's been a hidden board why didn't I notice?

(Cause it was hidddeennn Dualnamessss)

[Matt Frith]

Why don't we all pm one person who can create a document to send to everyone? 

[m0ds]

It doesn't exist!  :o

I would set up an ez-board if any of today's free ones were any good.

Otherwise, miez, my number is bastardised in the sands of internet time already, and it hasn't changed since 2002 - so if you or anyone else wants to text me their number, please put your name too cos I don't think I have anyone's number these days. I will text you back a list of all the responses Mon 26th evening. +447900331134

Do you know if mobiles gain a different international code when you go abroad?

Please save my number! I am guaranteed to get lost and stuck

edit: Or as Tier says, PM

[Quintaros]

Meanwhile, are the other cars still happening? The one with Jess, Eric and Andail is out, I take it, and I see Chrille is looking into trains. What about the other ones? Quintaros, you still picking me up at Milano Bergamo (BGY)? (My plane lands at 17:45, so conservatively it might be until 19:00 before I'm done there. Then it's a four-to-five-hour drive to the villa... for a lovely worst-case midnight arrival. Assuming we don't get lost.)

Yeah, I'm still up for picking you up.  I was hoping some others would want in on the ride.

[AGA]

I probably have a fairly complete list of people's mobiles. I'll try to assemble it.

As for the stuff you PMed me about, Snarky, I'll try to see if that's something we can do. I will contact the relevant people, and see if we can gather the money between us. And find out an arrival time.

And no, Mods, mobile numbers stay the same no matter where you go.

[Snarky]

And no, Mods, mobile numbers stay the same no matter where you go.

Yes, they stay the same, but if you're calling e.g. a UK mobile phone from anywhere outside the UK, you do have to type in the international calling code for the UK (+44). And it's +44 no matter where in the world the phone is.

What does change sometimes is that if you're calling FROM the phone, you might have to add on a calling code depending on which country you're in. So if you're trying to call a US number from a US cell phone while you are in Italy, you might actually have to enter the code for the US (+1). I'm not sure if this is consistent or not.

[AGA]

If you're using the country code with your numbers (which I do by default, even if they're UK numbers), the number will never change. You do still need the code to dial a 'native' number from abroad, as well as to call native numbers if you're both in the same foreign country. If any of that makes sense. Basically use the country code all the time to be safe!

[m0ds]

Cheers, thanks for that. Then the number I posted above is accurate, yaya!

Quintaros let me know your fee and I might well stick around for your car. I don't know your schedule, you'll obviously be in Milan on the 31st, what about the 7th? What are your leaving plans?

Edit - okay, I see you arrive at 9.30pm on 31st (?) July, what about your return journey, and Snarky, where are you flying out from and when?