Big Birthday Holiday - Flights Dilemma

bex88

Hello all, I'm taking my mum away for her 60th to Lake Garda, Italy, near end of October. We haven't been abroad in like 25 years (I was only about 12) so I think it'll be quite the surprise.

Bare with me - it's a bit confusing - but I'm not sure what the best option is going to be and it's driving me lulu 😵‍💫

The flights are awkward.

I've been told Ideally we want to arrive at Verona Airport, because it's a quicker and an simpler trip to the north of the lake from there, using the train from Verona to Rovereto, then bus to Riva.

The options;

1. For us in Cambridgeshire, It would be easier to go from Stansted. (Flights with Ryanair)

5 nights from 23rd-28th - the only options are to arrive at Milan, which is further away, a lot more travel time. (Private transfer are ridiculously expensive).

2. Or there is the option to go for just 4 nights, from the Saturday, a shame though to miss out the extra day.

3. Easyjet flights go from Gatwick to Verona from the 23rd-28th. However, it's 6:45am flight time, and Gatwick is like 2.5hours drive (with dartford tolls & M25). This means we'd have to leave at like 2am, or stay over Thurs evening, but It's not really ideal because mum would be working all day on that Thurs till 6pm, so I think I'd be a lot to travel after that.

4. There are some flights that you can go from Stansted and arrive back at Gatwick, but then is it gonna be annoying getting from gatwick back to stansted to get the car?

So I'm not sure what to do for the best - what do you think?

silvercar

pack Wednesday night. Go after the rush hour on Thursday to Gatwick. So you eat dinner at home and then go late. Stay in an airport hotel ready for your flight on Friday.

alternatively, can you get a direct (Thameslink) train to Gatwick?

the other option would be to fly from Stansted and arrive back at Gatwick, then take the train to Stansted to retrieve the car,

Woodstok2000

BA do an evening flight from Gatwick to Verona - you could take that on the way out and fly back with easyjet.. .

Or What about flying from stansted to Venice? Its a 2 hour drive, or just under 4 hours on the train/bus.

Either the early morning flight and head straight over, or a later flight and spend a night in Venice first.

Worried_fool

Bergamo is an important Ryanair base, and a couple of hours from Verona.

The old town of Bergamo is lovely, a bonus destination. See if that would work for you.

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938951#Comment_81938951

I think thats the 'milan' referred to in option 1 above, but it's still a great shout. We did a day trip to Bergamo recently and would have loved to stay a bit longer, it is stunning!

bex88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938924#Comment_81938924

Heya, according to google "

No, there are no direct Thameslink trains or any direct train services from Gatwick Airport to Stansted Airport

. You will need to make at least one change, typically in central London (e.g., London Bridge or St Pancras) or via the Gatwick Express to Victoria and taking the tube/train."

So it's possibly going to be 'faffy' and for two very inexperienced public transport users, especially around London, I am a bit worried that might be stressful.

However, a few people have said to me it might be worth staying at Gatwick and getting the early flight (as you have suggested) so we'd have more of the daylight once there for the travelling up to Riva. I had initially not been a big fan of the idea, as like I say, mum works in a school and does the cleaning there after, so she's there all day up to 6pm (her birthday is also on that day, 22nd), it might be alot. However, I would be driving us, so that wouldn't be too bad for her. And I could tell her that we are going away (Plan to give her a cabin bag size case as a present) at the family gathering surprise party that is being held for her the weekend before, but I just won't tell her where exactly we're going until we're at the airport. Maybe… that could work?

Question though, is the Gatwick hotel expensive? I shall look it up now.

bex88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81938965#Comment_81938965

Yes that's correct, the Stansted flights fly to Milan Bergamo, there is a coach that does a direct run to Verona, but looking up times, at that time of year it seems to only run twice a day, once in the morning, once in the evening, not at the arrival time options we have, so would probably have to get a normal bus / busses, it would add on quite a bit more travel time too. Someone said when they went from there it "was a nightmare", so if possible I think we should really go from Verona, as the train is apparently only a short shuttle bus away.

Emmia

Why do you specifically want to go to Lake Garda?

I wonder if there is a different location that works better with easier transport arrangements - for a very short break like this, you really don't want to be spending loads of time travelling and swapping between planes, trains and buses to get somewhere you only see briefly.

Woodstok2000

Try Holidayextras for hotels where you can leave your car too:

https://www.holidayextras.com/static/?selectProduct=hcp&#/hotel_with_parking?agent=WT288&ppts=0&customer_ref=&lang=en&adcode=QIUK-G-HX-HOTELPARKING-LGW-AUD-35-44&depart=LGW&terminal=N&arrive=&flight=U28301&in=2026-10-28&out=2026-10-24&stay=2026-10-23&room_1=T20&room_2=&sortCriterion=&sortOrder=

bex88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81939003#Comment_81939003

Oh right thank you! Except.. I can't seem to find what would be our flight on there? 06:45 to verona villafranca. They seem to all be from midday onwards?

EDIT: Ah, I went back and tapped it in the search myself and I've found it.

"Why do you specifically want to go to Lake Garda?"

Honestly, I've spent the last 3 weeks, every night, trying to decide; doing loads of looking up about all different places etc..

I started with Lake Garda, then from some peoples comments went off it due to the time of year, then was almost about to book Madeira, then watched some videos from Youtuber Joey P (Who lived there) then got put off, and then looked at Tuscany, Sardinia, Sicily (I've always wanted to visit Italy and I know mum would too) But couldn't really find anything that was just right.

Long story short basically we don't like the heat, we like walking / hikes (nothing too difficult), seeing sites, geographical/historical places, mountains and beautiful breath-taking scenery. I just ended up in a full circle back at Lake Garda again, looking at the Du Lac Grand Resort to stay as it's also set within some lovely grounds (and we are also very much into gardens/gardening/plants/nature). Plus the flight time isn't too bad for out first flight in like 25 years. Plus, the train journey from Verona to Rovereto looks like it might be very scenic too (and mum loves Michael Portillo's greatest train Journeys program hehe)

bex88

Premier Inn North Terminal
Standard room with Maple Meet & Greet

Would that one be good/easy?

(I think EasyJet to Verona goes from North?)

Even at £222, I think that will still work out cheaper, possibly, and easier than paying separately for parking + an Uber or something at the other end if trying the option of gettng from Gatwick to Stansted.