iltte

Hi,

It has been a while since I traveled via train in Italy, so I wanted to know if there much of a difference comfort wise? E.g is the luggage safer, less chance of smelling cigarette smoke.

Any additional comments would be welcome.

Thank you

almesq

There are many threads on this, do a search and you'll find info. We were there a few weeks ago, and took train from Rome to Venice (Eurostar). We were in first class, and were very comfortable. We looked at second during the trip, and there's not a tremendous amount of difference (on Eurostar trains) between the 2. Seats are a bit better in first, and a little bigger (3 across instead of 4). For short trips, I'd have no problem in 2nd. There is no smoking on Eurostar trains at all. We did not take any, but my understanding is that there is more of a difference on the regional and InterCity trains.

ira

Hi iltte,

Luggage is equally safe. 1 cl is more comfortable - recommended for long trips, especially if you are over 40.

No Smoking on ES*, phasing out smoking on IC and R.

kfusto

We do 2nd on Eurostar for short hauls and 1st for longer ones.

Ferrovia Italia doe snot allow smoking on trains since July 7th, 2004. They still smoke in the toilets though as I found out last month. Some people are just really inconsiderate.

dln

We do the same--1st for long train trips, 2nd for shorter. First class is more comfortable but the difference between the two isn't as marked as between first and economy on airlines, for example. Nor is the price difference!

TC

We just did First Class Eurostar between Venice and Florence. One word of advice, seat numbers are quite strange and seat maps on web site have no similarity to actual seats on train. Many times the seat map indicated we four were sitting in a quad configuration facing each other when we would actually be in staggered seats across the aisles. Also seats facing each other have a most uncomfortable "table" contraption in-between which makes leg room impossible. Seats that do not face each other have a more "normal" table that flips down from the back of the previous seat, much like an airline seat. However, I do not know how one would ever know which type seat you are getting. Any suggestions?

nicegirl512

I took second class Eurostar between Florence and Rome and found it completely adequate. As for the seat issue, don't ask me. I cannot ride backward and yet both directions I ended up in a backward facing seat. I thought I'd at least break even on the odds of a 1 in 2 chance of picking a forward facing seat!

GAC

See my posting of 5/16/2003, at 12:51 p.m.:

Eurostar Italia: Differences between First and Second Class

Peperosso

The only difference I've seen is that 2nd class gets you on the train, 1st class gets you a seat on the train.

kfusto

2nd class Eurostar comes with seat reservations.

Huitres

2nd class is great and has been fine each time. No sense paying more $$ for a 1st class seat. There is no drastic difference comfort wise. Luggage can still be stored overhead on the racks or at the beg/end of each car (i.e. on trains from Rome to Naples). There is no change of smelling cigarette smoke if you are in a non-smoking car!

PalQ

Yes 2nd class is adequate on ES trains but first class is much more adequate and trains in Italy are so dirt-cheap why try to save a few bucks and instead go in style. Fodorites seem to love to spend a few hundreds bucks on hotels and fancy restaurants yet want to save a few bucks by going 2nd class. Put the same criteria to train travel as you would a hotel - do you get the cheapest hotel in town? Granted the difference on EuroStar Italia trains is somewhat less than other trains but first class is still much nicer!

repete

kfusto,

I usually don't kid people about typos because I certainly make my share, but when I saw that bad break in ``does not,'' I thought of Bambi with a runny nose.

kfusto

It was a good one, wasn't it? Must be the conversation I was having early about hunting season...