EUROPE TRAVELOGUE PART 3. :LONDON-MILAN-AMS-PARIS-LONDON :GETTING TO THE HOTELS AND VICE-VERSA.

Gawddddddd...... i can't believe how much planning i gotta do for this trip... being with the airline for years, i seemed to have totally taken airport-transfers for granted..

JOURNEY PART 1: LONDON(Heathrow to Bayswater):

**DO NOTE WHICH AIRPORT YOU ARE LANDING INTO**

Options 1 : Heathrow Express https://www.heathrowexpress.com/Booking/TicketSelection
Pros: Super Fast (15mins) straight to Paddington station
Cons: -Too much of a hassle walking up and down the stations with all the bags.
-Cost a whopping 18GBP pp and we still gotta walk bout 10min to hotel
-If decided not to walk, have to change to Metro 2 stops to Bayswater 4GBP


Option 2: Airport Pickups
Pros: -Hassle-Free Door to door drop off
- Cheap Bout 36GBP PER car
Cons: -Time consuming journey takes approx. 60-75mins depending on traffic cond.
-Have to time timing cautiously as pickup companies gives u XXmins free
waiting time and after which waiting time is charged at 0.35p PER min.

I choose www.TotallyDriven.co.uk as they accept Credit card payment which i feel more securely about, I'm such a cautious person as i am worried that the driver may try to extort more money out of me if i were to pay cash upon arrival, the "helpdesk" is relatively prompt in answering all my queries. For the strong hearted, they may opt for CASH on arrival as i heard that some drivers actually charge lesser than quoted on website after sending customers to destination, Here is 2 pickup companies that quoted me 32GBP(COD) www.airport-pickups-london.com and www.aplcars.com

Have attached an awesome london tube maps for reference:

and if you are still not sure about where the stations are, this link is pretty useful as well.http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/im/SI-T.html

For those with SMART phones, these apps are superly awesome when it comes to route planning: journey pro and metrO


LONDON(Bayswater to Gatwick SOUTH Airport)
Our flight to milan is at 1225pm so i presume we gotta reach the airport latest by 1030am.ZZZZzzzz
as you can see, Gatwick is so FARrrrrrrrRRRRr AWAY!

**DO NOTE YOUR DEPARTURE TERMINAL**

Option 1: Gatwick Express + Circle Line http://referral.gatwickexpress.com/
Pros: FAST?? as train takes only 30min
Cons: -Gotta transfer at Hammersmith(Circle line) and wait for approx 34 mins for train
- time consuming as total journey + walking at Gatwick station to terminal is
1hr21min
-Train tix: 16.85GBP

Option 2: EasyBus + District Line http://www.easybus.co.uk/

Pros: - Cheapest option (6.49GBP but accordingly to rsearch if you book 6weeks in
advance it may cost just 2GBP)
- time taken(1hr 13min) is slightly faster than Gatwick express combi
- drops you right in front of South terminal so NO walking! awesome!
Cons: -Gotta take a train to WEST BROMPTON station to board EasyBus shuttle.
- Est. travel time is 1hr 5min, traffic condition may place this option under risky
category

Option 3: Door to Door Pick ups
Pros: Convenience direct pick up from hotel
Cons: -Travel time approx 75min, depending on traffic conditons
-Expensive, cheapest quote i have gotten is 53GBP

JOURNEY PART 2: MILAN Linate Airport- Porta Garlibadi

Linate airport, just 15 minutes from the centre, is the city airport. It is used by smaller aircraft, flying domestic and European routes.

*According to Google http://maps.google.com.sg, my journey should take a approx. 18min*

Being the nearest Airport to Milan city, cabbing would be the best option as Max(my landlord) have informed that taxi fares would cost approx. € 20/25 if you do not get extorted by the cabbies. He was kind enough to give us the option of booking a limousine for us at a cost of €35but i guess we should be taking a sling shot and try to save that extra €10-15:p


JOURNEY PART 3: Milan Porta Garlibadi - Malpensa Airport

We were a little sadden that we have to get to Malpensa airport for this leg of the trip but there is no way that i am gonna take a 16-20hr train ride to Ams. when the flight takes only 1hr20min.

Malpensa airport lies in the north-west, about 40 minutes from the city centre. All the international and most domestic flights take off and land here. (Extracted from http://www.milan2013.org/pages/genInfo.php)

Travelling Option: Express service train every 30 minutes calling at Milan Porta Garibaldi station; journey time will be 41 minutes.

at this point i am SUPER lost as i have never been to Milan and i cant seem to get PORTA GARIBALDI as a station on Malpensa Express http://www.malpensaexpress.it/en/index.phpas the english version of the web does not show routes from Centrale station to Malpensa. i manage to google anhttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5979869421451557190#editor/target=post;postID=4280307666093992166d found anther webby Trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD but after a grueling ONE hour, i cant seem to book the train tickets as the mode of delivery is unavailable. i so wanna shoot myself in the head now. just emailed Max. hope to get an answer soon:o

To make the whole situation more complicated, i am apparantly departing from Malpensa Terminal 2 which is a distance away from the railway station.

How worse can it gets right...*_* Dun recall all these to be such a pain in the A**.
Anyway to solve all these B***shit, the airport services are "NICE" enough to provide

Free Airport Shuttle Bus
The shuttle bus links Terminal 1 with Terminal 2. It is free of charge and runs every 10 minutes (from 5:30-0:30 h) and once an hour (from 0:30-5:30 h). The bus stops are located at Arrivals Gate 6 at Terminal 2 alternatively at the railway station at Terminal 1. (extracted from http://www.airberlin.com/en/airport-milan-malpensa)

or alternatvely you can take a direct shuttle service provided by Easyjet whih i am still trying to find information about.

EasyJet Airport Shuttle Bus
It is also possible to get to Malpensa Airport from Milan Central train station (departures from 07.30 until 21.30), and Milan Garibaldi station via Gallarate State Rail. A shuttle bus service connects Gallarate station with Malpensa Airport (departures between 06.05 until 20.15). A ticket to Terminal one costs EUR 1.50, a ticket to Terminal 2 costs EUR 1.25. For more information please contact SA.CO at +39 0331 258411. (extracted from http://www.easyjet.com/en/airport/Milan-Malpensa)

JOURNEY PART 4 : Schiphol AMS to Jonge Roelensteeg 16 (10mins from Dam Square)

OPTION 1: Thalys train
I can't believe how amazingly simple this will be, pulling off a HUGE grin on my face now:>
Some info on train ticket purchasing, train tickets cost € 3.60 for a single journey.:

Step 1: Enter the four-digit number on the upper key pad corresponding to your destination listed on the left side of the machine. The code for central station is 1000. The code going to Schiphol is 1117.
Step 2: Press the lighted button marked “2e Klas” for second class or “1e Klas” for first. (Note: there is almost no difference between first and second class travel in Holland)
Step 3: Press the “Vol Tarief” button for a full tariff or “Korting” if you happen to have a discount train card.
Step 4: Press “Alleen Vandaag Geldig” if traveling today or “Zonder Datum” if you want your ticket to be valid for some other date.
Step 5: Press “Enkele Reis” for a one-way ticket or one of the “Retour” buttons for a return ticket valid for a return trip on the same day (or "Weekendretour" valid from Friday 19.00 to Monday 4 o'clock).
Step 6: Insert the amount indicated.
Step 7: Collect your ticket and any change in the basket near the bottom of the machine and hop aboard your train.

Only setback of taking the train is that we gotta walk for approx 13min. i hope S would not kill me.

Option 2: TAXI

Saskia our host said that a Taxi would cost approx. 45Eur.hmmmm...

JOURNEY PART 5 : Paris Gare Du Nord - Apartment at 7th Arrondisement

OPTION 1: Trains Trains Trains

To get to the flat of the Gare du Nord, you must take the "RER D" to "CHATELET" then take metro line 1 to "CONCORDE" then take metro line 8 and get off at "MAUBOURG TOUR".

OMG!!! sounds like a darn long way:< FML http://www.ratp.fr/plan-interactif/carteidf.php?lang=uk

Paris Métro single tickets and carnets

The basic Métro ticket is a small piece of cardboard (formerly mauve, now white) with a magnetic strip that costs €1,70. It's issued by RATP, the transportation authority for the Paris region.

You can save money by purchasing a carnet of 10 tickets for €12,50 at the ticket window of any Métro station or from vending machines near the turnstiles. Ask for "un billet, s'il vous plait" or "un carnet, s'il vous plait." (credits:http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-metro-tickets.htm)

OPTION 2: TAXI

Another recommended website for those who is worried about getting extorted when grabbing a foreign cab. www.worldtaximeter.com/

it states that my trip might cost approx. 15EUR and takes 22 mins. sounds like a jolly good idea since we gonna be having two huge backpacks!

JOURNEY PART 6: LONDON ST PANCRAS TO BAYSWATER:

Last leg of the journey! As shown the nearest tube station is King's cross station, walking takes approximately 7mins.

And to reach bayswater Tube station (6 stops away) takes about 14 mins.

Train journey from King’s Cross St. Pancras to Bayswater

1) At Kings Cross St. Pancras take the Circle Line
2) Leave the train at Bayswater Journey: Kings Cross St. Pancras → Euston Square → Great Portland Street → Baker Street → Edgware Road → Paddington → Bayswater
Estimated time: 14 mins
Fare zones: 1

London underground route planner http://www.londondrum.com/transport/train-journey.php?from=kings-cross-st-pancras&to=bayswater

I cant believe i have not confirm ALL my airport transfers but in any case the worse scenarios would be just to cab. :> lolz... why am i secretly hoping for the worse scenario.

goshhhhhh its 0550am alr. gotta go catch some sleep... nighty night hugz.