Flying into italy

Warning:  The airline messed up our reservations.  3 separate times with no email notifications.  I would not have known unless I checked.   Please check yours frequently.


There are several cities with airports that are an hour drive to the Leahy’s rental house. The following cites have airports and car rental. I have included the airport 3 letter designations. Prices have changed with the advent of COVID. Debbie and I are now flying into Florence. I have signed up for Dollar Flight Club to get the latest cheap airfare deals. If you don’t live next to a major airport it is worth considering booking from a major airport and just driving there with a possible overnight stay at an airport hotel before departing. The cost saving can be considerable.


Considering flying into either Rome or Milan and taking the train to Florence and picking up the rental car there. There are train stations at both Milan and Rome. The other cities are within an hour drive time to the Leahy’s rental.

The cost of the train for one person one way is approximately $20 and if the bullet train is used the time is about 1 1/2 hours There are car rental companies next to the Florence train station. Careful of the NO Driving Zones (ZTL’s). Driving from Milan or Rome to the Leahy’s rental has about the same driving time of 4 hours according to Google Maps.


The travel guides say purchase tickets for Italy at least 5 months prior to traveling. That being said due to COVID the airfare to Italy is really cheap right now. According to Google Flights, the cost right now is way below normal. Debbie and I will purchase soon but if COVID interferes that is what CFAR is good for.   These prices were from December of 2020.  Things are in flux right now.   Check frequently on things.

Something to consider when booking tickets is your Airline and how they handle delays and/or missed connections.  Booking straight thru on the same airline with one ticket for USA to Italy means the airline will get you to your destination if/when things go wrong.  If you book separate airlines for different legs or even use the same airline  with two different tickets then things get complicated when problems occur.  US airlines will compensate for things but it will most likely be in the form of vouchers for future travel.   European Airlines will compensate with cash.   Something to consider when choosing which Airline to fly

From Chicago ORD round trip to:

Milan MXP                              $632 one stop

Florence FLR                         $1158 one stop

Bologna BLQ                          $753 one stop

Pisa PSA                                    $1153 one stop

Rome FCO                               $669 one-stop