trumps

Hi All,
Purchasing a France/Italy rail pass for travel in November & notice that the "high speed " Trains require you to book ahead. Is that better to do prior to you leaving home ?
Booking fee is $20 Australian from home per booking.
Thanks.

rex

More often it is NOT better to buy the rail pass at all - - but it depends on your overal travel itinerary/plans.

Flying can be a far cheaper/faster/better way to connect France and Italy. See www.volareweb.com

Best wishes,

Rex

trumps

Thanks Rex. Had a look at the website & unfortunately the flights don't match our travel plans. We are going from Paris to Tours then to Avignon. From Avignon to Venice. From Venice to Florence. From Florence down to Positano & then Rome from which we fly out. So a 6 day Rail passs seemed the way to go. Will keep the website for when I am planning another trip. Thanks.

Surfergirl

It's not necessary in November, trumps. Btw, I prefer taking the train to flying from place to place. You have such a more relaxing and scenic journey. Sounds like a great trip!

ben_haines_london

I agree with surfergirl. Until 15 December trains, planes, hotels and hostels are all under-used. To feel comfortable you could go in November to any big station in your countries and book the seats or sleepers you want, but in fact you can buy them on the platform from the train conductor.

I agree too about relaxing and seeing the country. The day trip from Avingnon at 0658 to Venice at 2209 is long, and you change trains too often, so you could leave Avignon in the afternoon, enjoy after Toulon the great scenery along the coast and over the millionaire yatch harbours, and take a sleeper from Nice at 2025: you can board the train and leave your bags in your sleeper at Nice at 2015, then walk along the platform to a seat in a saloon car facing forward, to see the lights glitter along the coast, and eat a packed supper, until you feel like bed. You can transfer to your sleeper along the platform at Ventimiglia from 2105 to 2148 or at San Remo (briskly) from 2205 to 2207. The sleeper conductor will keep your tickets, so if you see another conductor in the saloon car you should tell him or her that you are in the sleeper.

[email protected]

trumps

Thanks Surfergirl & Ben,
I think we will just sit back & enjoy the scenery & get our tickets as we go.
The advantage of that is I guess if you want to stay a couple of more hours in a place you can. Sounds as if we are travelling at a fairly quite time.

ira

Hi trumps,

Have you considered doing Venice, Florence, Rome, Positano and flying home from Naples?

rex

I was remiss in not also mentioning www.railsaver.com which is generally the definitive site for checking the cost pros/cons of rail pass purchase versus point-to-point tickets.

I would be the first to vote in favor of the area around Avignon; yet, curiously, it's the one destination that is determining your transportation plans. It's quite a lengthy train ride from there to Venice - - and returning to Paris (or Geneva) to fly to Italy is just barely any improvement, regardless of subjective factors.

trumps

Hi Ira,
Have already paid for our tickets & we would have to fly from Rome to get connection for Australia.
Thanks

trumps

Hi Rex,
Thanks for the website it's very good. I put in the infor & it came back that we should buy the France /Italy Railpass so at least we are doing the right thing. What a great site.
Thanks