wanderingheart

Hi. A friend and I are planning a backpacking trip across Europe for 18 days next September. We have narrowed it down to mainly 3 countries with a short stop in Paris (technically making it 4 countries). What I need to know is: Does anyone know the time distance on the train from Paris to Milan? I have a site that told me the general travel distances within Italy but I can not find a site that will help to see what travel time is involved in going from one country to another by the Eurail. Also, has anyone ever taken the ferry from Italy to Greece? How long does it take from Ancona or Bari to Patras, Greece? I am finding it difficult to set an itinerary without knowing my travel times. Can anyone help?
Amy

rex

The website SNCF.com (click on the Britisdh flag at the bottom for English) will ahve al;l the details for PAR-MIL.

And see my reply to http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34511619 for every possible kind of ferry question - - specifically http://www.youra.com/intlferries/index.html#GREECE

Best wishes,

Rex

wanderingheart

Thanks, Rex. But I am really looking for someone to tell me the time distances between countries or a site that covers time travel between countries by rail.
For example, a site that will tell you if you want to travel from barcelona to rome and anywhere else, it will take you so many hours & minutes to complete the travel. I need this info to make up my mind about what is possible in my 18 days. The ferry website does not tell me how long it takes and where is the best place to depart from in Italy to go to greece. The other problem I am having is that we are only interested in going to Santorini and Mykonos, so we were looking for which ferry and departing city would get us closest to the those two islands. Without knowing travel time, it makes it too hard to plan anything.

Intrepid1

Go here for the most comprehensive site covering countries in Western and Central Europe for rail travel times:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?

I'm not sure you can get ferry times, however. Sounds aas if you almost need your own copy of the Thomas Cook European Timetable which would answer all these questions.

rex

You just have to look up the city pairs, one at a time. For what it's worth, I wouldn't recommend traveling any of those longer distances by rail (PAR-MIL or BCN-ROM, to use the two examples you mentioned) - - when flights are so much cheaper, and one eighth the time, in many cases. See www.whichbudget.com

Intrepid1

Here are two ferry sites:

www.superfast.com

www.bluestarferries.com

which will answer some of your specific questions

wanderingheart

Thank you for you feedback. I appreciate it. I actually found one of things I was looking for, train travel time/duration. If anyone is interested here is the site:
http://www.railkey.com/tickets/schedules.asp?AFF=BPE
As for the ferry, I will keep looking thanks. Rex, as far it being quicker and cheaper by plane, no doubt that's true, but this being my first trip to Europe and the fact that i am buying a Eurail pass, I would like to have the flexibility of getting on and off when I feel like it, if something should strike my fancy, in a plane I should miss all the beauty a train can provide. Thanks, again!

capxxx

We were able to buy a Rail Map of Europe in the local Barnes and Noble, in the map section (it is a laminated fold-up map).

It shows the train routes for major and minor cities, with little color codes to indicate train frequency and travel times. This is very good for planning and for bringing along if you have a Eurail pass.

nytraveler

Well - you could also miss it on a train. the long distance fast trains typcially make fairly few stops. If you want to be able to get on and off at will - at many small stations - you're going to have to take local trains - and it will take days to get from Paris to Milan.

nytraveler

A quick look at bahn.de shows that Paris to Milan by TVG takes from 7 to 9 hours - the latter with 1 brief stop in Lyons.

If you want to take regular trains - with numerous stops to choose from - I can't imagine how long it woud take.

rex

Visit www.railsaver.com to see how big a mistake you are making by buying a "rail pass". They were a good idea, thirty yers ago. Now, they are overpriced and a bad idea for many travelers.

Simone1

At least you acknowledge that there may be a few of us that truly enjoy a train ride. After driving a zillion miles going to work, to the market, to visit friends, taxi the kids around, I look forward to relaxing and letting someone else take me there. I look forward to a little time to plan my next adventure or listen to music with great scenery to boot. It could be a bit expensive but it beats a car. I give in and drive only where trains are not available. A plane is out of the question for me, I am scared of flying. I build my courage up only to cross the pond. I don’t want or need to add more stress.

wanderingheart

Intrepid-

Do you have a copy of the Thomas Cook timetable?