Booking Artesia night train with Eurail discount
Jun 7th, 2011, 05:37 PM
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Booking Artesia night train with Eurail discount
Hello all,
Myself and a friend are taking a trip to Rome, Florence, Paris and London next month. My question is regarding our portion of the trip from Florence to Paris. We would like to take an overnight train on the night on Monday, July 11. We have also purchased Eurail passes that cover Italy and France, and I should be receiving mine in the mail next week.
My question is this: is there any way to reserve a seat on the Artesia overnight train a) without purchasing the ticket now, just making a reservation, or b) by using my Eurail discount to purchase it online? The only website I've been able to find that allows me to book a reservation is RailEurope, and I've seen some pretty negative reviews of it. Other websites, such as TrenItalia, don't have an option for the Eurail pass discount. And I obviously don't want to wait until I get over to Europe to book the train if it's already full.
Has anyone else been in this situation/have any advice? I've spent most of today trying to find anything online and can't seem to, besides RailEurope. I'm also hesitant to use the site because I'm unsure if the $40 American they are charging me is JUST for a reservation, or if it also covers the supplement for a couchette on the train in addition to the reservation fee.
Any advice will help. Thank you so much!
Myself and a friend are taking a trip to Rome, Florence, Paris and London next month. My question is regarding our portion of the trip from Florence to Paris. We would like to take an overnight train on the night on Monday, July 11. We have also purchased Eurail passes that cover Italy and France, and I should be receiving mine in the mail next week.
My question is this: is there any way to reserve a seat on the Artesia overnight train a) without purchasing the ticket now, just making a reservation, or b) by using my Eurail discount to purchase it online? The only website I've been able to find that allows me to book a reservation is RailEurope, and I've seen some pretty negative reviews of it. Other websites, such as TrenItalia, don't have an option for the Eurail pass discount. And I obviously don't want to wait until I get over to Europe to book the train if it's already full.
Has anyone else been in this situation/have any advice? I've spent most of today trying to find anything online and can't seem to, besides RailEurope. I'm also hesitant to use the site because I'm unsure if the $40 American they are charging me is JUST for a reservation, or if it also covers the supplement for a couchette on the train in addition to the reservation fee.
Any advice will help. Thank you so much!
Jun 7th, 2011, 05:55 PM
#2
Check out the Ricksteves.com website and read the section on railpasses. Good information. Also -- there are some rail experts on their helpline who would have definitive informtion for you, I'm sure.
Jun 7th, 2011, 06:53 PM
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Call Byron at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - I have bought passes from his agency for years and he will patiently answer these types of questions - unfortunately I think you cannot just reserve a seat without booking at least a berth in a 6-person compartment - the cheapest option with a pass - though with a first class pass you can book a 4-person compartment that IME is much more preferable - there are no regular seats so that is the cheapest option.
Jun 7th, 2011, 07:20 PM
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You seem to have some problems.
First, there are no seats on the overnight trains from Florence to Paris. You must take a sleeper or a couchette. The bunk supplement will probably cost $30 to $50 pp. That is probably less than a hotel double in Paris or Florence and won't waste a day of your time.
Second, the overnight direct trains from Florence to Paris go through Switzerland. One makes a change in Milan. You'll need to go roundabout to Lyon and then to Paris because your pass is not valid in Switzerland.
RailEurope is the North American wholesaler/retailer of passes, tickets, and reservations for virtually all European railroads. You can buy your passes through other retailers. I prefer B.E.T.S., http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/. You probably didn't buy your pass from them but they are very experienced and helpful. Call Byron or Linda there and see what they can do for your bunk reservation.
For an illustrated introduction to night trains in Europe see http://tinyurl.com/y57vft. For complete schedules, route maps, station plans, etc (no tickets) see http://tinyurl.com/c9jp54.
First, there are no seats on the overnight trains from Florence to Paris. You must take a sleeper or a couchette. The bunk supplement will probably cost $30 to $50 pp. That is probably less than a hotel double in Paris or Florence and won't waste a day of your time.
Second, the overnight direct trains from Florence to Paris go through Switzerland. One makes a change in Milan. You'll need to go roundabout to Lyon and then to Paris because your pass is not valid in Switzerland.
RailEurope is the North American wholesaler/retailer of passes, tickets, and reservations for virtually all European railroads. You can buy your passes through other retailers. I prefer B.E.T.S., http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/. You probably didn't buy your pass from them but they are very experienced and helpful. Call Byron or Linda there and see what they can do for your bunk reservation.
For an illustrated introduction to night trains in Europe see http://tinyurl.com/y57vft. For complete schedules, route maps, station plans, etc (no tickets) see http://tinyurl.com/c9jp54.
Jun 7th, 2011, 07:32 PM
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Looks like I was still typing while PalenQ posted. I agree with his 1st class suggestion. But your photo makes you look rather young so you have probably purchased a 2nd class pass. The 2nd class T-6 is going to be cramped with backpacks if it is full. Pack light.
If you have to book in Europe do it at your first opportunity. If the night train is full there are always other possibilities. If you are traveling with the gent in your photo you may have to travel in separate compartments. Most compartments in Europe are sex segregated.
If you have to book in Europe do it at your first opportunity. If the night train is full there are always other possibilities. If you are traveling with the gent in your photo you may have to travel in separate compartments. Most compartments in Europe are sex segregated.
Jun 7th, 2011, 07:33 PM
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Spaarne -- the websites I've looked at have led me to believe that even though the overnight train goes through Switzerland, we will still be OK just as long as we have our passports. Is that not right? I could very well be led to believe wrong.
If that is correct, and we would have to change trains in Lyon, would it instead be smarter to just stay an extra night in Florence, get up early the next day and spend a whole day traveling by train? Just curious if any of you have ever been in a similar situation.
If that is correct, and we would have to change trains in Lyon, would it instead be smarter to just stay an extra night in Florence, get up early the next day and spend a whole day traveling by train? Just curious if any of you have ever been in a similar situation.
Jun 7th, 2011, 07:35 PM
#8
You should be able to book it on Trenitalia. The overnight train without connections departs Florence at 22:12 (other trains require connections). You need to select Paris Bercy as your arrival station. Select the 22:12 train and in the fare drop down box, select global pass. It's showing a price of 45€ with the pass for a C4 couchette. You might want to register with Trenitalia before attempting booking and notify your credit card company you will be making an online transaction with an Italian company so they don't block the purchase.
You have to select self service as the delivery option which means you must retrieve this ticket in Italy at a station with self service with the number/code they send you.
You have to select self service as the delivery option which means you must retrieve this ticket in Italy at a station with self service with the number/code they send you.
Jun 7th, 2011, 08:57 PM
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beyerlam,
If you purchased a Global Pass it will not be country restricted. If the pass is only for Italy and France it is not valid in Switzerland. Read the small print in the documents that come with your pass. Follow the instructions to the letter.
Passports and train tickets/passes are entirely different.
For alternate routes, e.g. through Lyon, see the German Rail site http://tinyurl.com/c9jp54
Interail Pass is, I believe, a special pass offered to youth under 26 who have had legal residence in Europe for a minimum of six months. It has nothing to do with a EurailPass which is only offered to non-Europeans and is sold primarily outside Europe.
If you purchased a Global Pass it will not be country restricted. If the pass is only for Italy and France it is not valid in Switzerland. Read the small print in the documents that come with your pass. Follow the instructions to the letter.
Passports and train tickets/passes are entirely different.
For alternate routes, e.g. through Lyon, see the German Rail site http://tinyurl.com/c9jp54
Interail Pass is, I believe, a special pass offered to youth under 26 who have had legal residence in Europe for a minimum of six months. It has nothing to do with a EurailPass which is only offered to non-Europeans and is sold primarily outside Europe.
Jun 7th, 2011, 11:08 PM
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1. There are passholder fares for each type of couchette and sleeper on this train, available to anyone with a pass which covers both Italy and France. There is no need for it to cover Switzerland.
2. The passholder fare for a bed in a 6-berth couchette is about 25 euros, in a 4-berth couchette is about 45 euros, a bed in a 2-bed sleeper is about 70 euros. There are no seats, just sleeping berths.
3. Any class of pass can buy any passholder fare, so you can travel in a 2-bed sleeper on a 2nd class pass if you want.
4. You can book these passholder fares at raileurope.com and other rail Europe sites, but NOT direct online with the train operator, at least not southbound, as they (SNCF) only sell complete tickets, their site won't allow 'reservation only' bookings which is effectively what you want.
5. These trains do get full, and passhodler places sell out even before actual places sell out, so I would, in this case, book online at www.raileurope.com
2. The passholder fare for a bed in a 6-berth couchette is about 25 euros, in a 4-berth couchette is about 45 euros, a bed in a 2-bed sleeper is about 70 euros. There are no seats, just sleeping berths.
3. Any class of pass can buy any passholder fare, so you can travel in a 2-bed sleeper on a 2nd class pass if you want.
4. You can book these passholder fares at raileurope.com and other rail Europe sites, but NOT direct online with the train operator, at least not southbound, as they (SNCF) only sell complete tickets, their site won't allow 'reservation only' bookings which is effectively what you want.
5. These trains do get full, and passhodler places sell out even before actual places sell out, so I would, in this case, book online at www.raileurope.com
Jun 7th, 2011, 11:14 PM
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Oops, you're going northbound, starting in Italy, not southbound starting in Paris. So my number 4 point above changes as follows:
You can go to www.trenitalia.com, English button top right, do a booking using the journey planner as if you were buying a ticket. Find and select the direct Artesia night train.
On the fares selection page, look for the drop down box marked 'more fares' and change it to 'Global Pass'. make sure you change the accommodation drop down box to the type of couchette or sleeper you want. That will give you your passholder fare.
Just to reiterate, although this particular train does go through Switzerland, your pass does NOT need to cover Switzerland in this case, the operator (Artesia, a French/Italian rail consortium) has paid the Swiss for the train to transit Switzerland, and passholder fares are available for anyone whose pass covers France and Italy, no need for Switzerland.
You can go to www.trenitalia.com, English button top right, do a booking using the journey planner as if you were buying a ticket. Find and select the direct Artesia night train.
On the fares selection page, look for the drop down box marked 'more fares' and change it to 'Global Pass'. make sure you change the accommodation drop down box to the type of couchette or sleeper you want. That will give you your passholder fare.
Just to reiterate, although this particular train does go through Switzerland, your pass does NOT need to cover Switzerland in this case, the operator (Artesia, a French/Italian rail consortium) has paid the Swiss for the train to transit Switzerland, and passholder fares are available for anyone whose pass covers France and Italy, no need for Switzerland.
Jun 8th, 2011, 03:02 AM
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<i>
Man_in_seat_61 on Jun 8, 11 at 2:14am
Just to reiterate, although this particular train does go through Switzerland, your pass does NOT need to cover Switzerland in this case, the operator (Artesia, a French/Italian rail consortium) has paid the Swiss for the train to transit Switzerland, and passholder fares are available for anyone whose pass covers France and Italy, no need for Switzerland.</i>
Man 61, You are unquestionably the expert here on European rail travel and your site is a masterwork, but it just seems counter intuitive that the Swiss would let someone pass who didn't have a pass valid in CH. Is this written somewhere at RailEurope?
Last summer my daughter had a France-Italy EurailPass. We routed her around CH to get to Milano from Paris. There is a TGV/IC service available. She went by day. Would the night train have made a difference?
Man_in_seat_61 on Jun 8, 11 at 2:14am
Just to reiterate, although this particular train does go through Switzerland, your pass does NOT need to cover Switzerland in this case, the operator (Artesia, a French/Italian rail consortium) has paid the Swiss for the train to transit Switzerland, and passholder fares are available for anyone whose pass covers France and Italy, no need for Switzerland.</i>
Man 61, You are unquestionably the expert here on European rail travel and your site is a masterwork, but it just seems counter intuitive that the Swiss would let someone pass who didn't have a pass valid in CH. Is this written somewhere at RailEurope?
Last summer my daughter had a France-Italy EurailPass. We routed her around CH to get to Milano from Paris. There is a TGV/IC service available. She went by day. Would the night train have made a difference?
Jun 8th, 2011, 05:20 AM
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It's written in the small print on the Artesia fare sheets available to travel agents at the Uk Rail Europe trade website, for those who have a login (I do!)
The thing here is that you're actually not travelling with Swiss railways, you're travelling with Artesia, who manage the whole journey and simply pay the Swiss to haul their sleeper train through Switzerland. Artesia set their own fares totally independently of the Swiss, and they allow anyone with a France/Italy pass to pay the passholder fare, the passage through Switzerland on these particular trains is irrelevant.
The thing here is that you're actually not travelling with Swiss railways, you're travelling with Artesia, who manage the whole journey and simply pay the Swiss to haul their sleeper train through Switzerland. Artesia set their own fares totally independently of the Swiss, and they allow anyone with a France/Italy pass to pay the passholder fare, the passage through Switzerland on these particular trains is irrelevant.
Jun 8th, 2011, 07:44 AM
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Man 61 & spaarne - Thank you SO much for your help! It's making me feel much less stressed about booking this.
Just to clarify - if I use the Trenitalia website to book a couchette, use the drop down to click "Global Pass" and put in my Eurail pass number, I should be good to go? Does the 40 euro charge include both the C4 couchette and the reservation, or do you think there be additional fees?
Sorry for the all the questions - it's my first time visiting more than one country in Europe and I have a great fear of being stranded in Florence because I booked the wrong thing! Thanks again for your wonderful advice.
Just to clarify - if I use the Trenitalia website to book a couchette, use the drop down to click "Global Pass" and put in my Eurail pass number, I should be good to go? Does the 40 euro charge include both the C4 couchette and the reservation, or do you think there be additional fees?
Sorry for the all the questions - it's my first time visiting more than one country in Europe and I have a great fear of being stranded in Florence because I booked the wrong thing! Thanks again for your wonderful advice.
Jun 8th, 2011, 11:21 AM
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Thank you Man 61.
I don't know the answer to your question beyerlam. I never use the Internet for booking. I always do it at the station. However, I would guess that for €40 you do get the couchette reservation. That is way too much money for anything less.
I don't know the answer to your question beyerlam. I never use the Internet for booking. I always do it at the station. However, I would guess that for €40 you do get the couchette reservation. That is way too much money for anything less.
Jun 17th, 2011, 12:58 PM
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they have a global pass - a railpass good in just about all Western European countries but if one would have only say a France-Italy pass or a Eurail Select Pass good in Italy and France and other countries but not Switzerland - anyway even though some Artesia night trains like Venice to Paris go via Switzerland you do not need to have Switzerland as one of your countries - the train simply does not stop to allow folks on or off I believe and thus not considered going via Switzerland for these purposes.
