Rebecca McAlister

I would love to buy Tim Jepson's book "Italy by Train" if anyone would part with it; it is out of print. My specific question is about the overnight train from Naples to Venice. Did you arrive rested or was the ordeal exhausting. Would you do it again? What did you like or dislike? Would you recommend just taking an early morning fast train to Venice instead. Thanks in advance.

scigirl

I just got back from Italy, and took some night trains while there (but not from Naples to Venice). The brief train scheudle I have does not show any night trains from Naples to Venice. (It is about a 7 1/2 hour ride on a fast train- so there may be some night trains). <BR> <BR>To answer your questions about getting rest on night trains. I find coucettes to be clausterphobically small in second class (6 people per "room"). First class is not too bad (4 per "room"). A compartment which is for two people and includes a shower and larger beds is very nice. Of course, the price increases as you get more space. I do not sleep well on 2nd class couchettes, particularly on the highest bunk which is about 6 feet in the air. However, many trips do not offer anything but 2nd class couchettes. The couchettes don't have much to prevent you from falling off - which is what keeps me from sleeping soundly. They are tightly spaced so that it is not possible to sit up on the couchettes. Finally, with 6 people crammed into a small compartment there is noise and people getting up to use the bathroom, and trains often stop and pick people up several times, - that make it hard for me to sleep. (And for some reason most of the 2nd class night trains we took had no running water for tooth brushing and toilet flushing and things got pretty gross by the end of the ride.) <BR> <BR>Secondly, if a night train leaves at midnight and gets in at 7:30 it just doesn't seem enough time to rest. <BR> <BR>Could you break the trip into several pieces, leaving early in the morning, stopping some place midday for site seeing, and getting into Venice late? You would need to book your Venice hotel in advance. This would keep you from losing an entire day on the train. <BR> <BR>My husband and I took several night trains to "save" travel time but ended up having to nap during the day anyhow to recover from the night train - so it turned out not to save much time. Also, a day train lets you see the landscape and towns between your destinations.

Paulo

I haven't taken a night train in Italy for ages ... but my mother makes a couple of night trips every year. She has long given up travelling with unknown people in couchettes (with other people in the cabin she isn't able to sleep well). So, she now always gets a cabin, either all by herself or with travelling companion(s) she might have. She complains that more often than not, the main problem is with the sleeping wagon conductor (who knocks at the door too often to hear if she/they care for anything to drink or eat). Not to be bothered during the night, she gets all she thinks she'll need during the night at the onset and tips the conductor NOT TO BE BOTHERED till she gets to her destination. <BR> <BR>As you may know, the direct (no change) night train from Naples to Venice departs at 7:30pm, arriving at 5:55am. This is kind of awkward ... In your shoes I would strongly consider Ben Haines' suggestion of "overshooting" Venice and then taking a train back. As he suggests, one could travel as far as Trieste (arriving at 7:31am) and taking the 7:50am train back to Venice (arriving at 10:15am), or leave the night train in Monfalcone at 7:05am and taking the 7:34am train back to Venice (arriving at 9:18am). One could also travel as far as Pordenone (arriving at 7:23am) and take the 7:37am (or 8:10am) train back, arriving at 9:02am (or 9:26am). This way one would get more sleep and arrive in Venice at a more "reasonable" hour. For the first two options, one would have to take a sleeping car heading to Trieste (the train branches up in Mestre). <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

john b

Rebecca, <BR> If you're in Italy for pleasure, and have 2,3 or 4 weeks please leave the American hustle-bustle behind. Instead of an overnight train, go day by day, and stop at Roma, Siena, Firenze, Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ferrara, Verona, Padova for a night or two, then continue on to Venezia relaxed and with the memories of those <BR>other terrific towns. That would eliminate words like ordeal, exhausting, and phrases like "would you do it again?" Get a Railpass and go where you want SLOWLY. Do it! <BR> <BR> John B.

debra

I just returned from Italy--and the only thing I regret is taking the horrible, horrible night train from Naples to Venice. We didn't book in enough time to get a first class or 4-person bunk, so we had the 2nd class couchette with six bunks. Even with only two other passengers in our cabin, it was awful. We arrived totally disoriented at 5:55 a.m. in Venice due to the frequent stops, heat, smoke (even in a non-smoking cabin) and noise. I would recommend taking the early morning fast train, buying your tickets early enough to get the first class cabin or planning a few hours layover in either Florence or Rome so you don't feel like you're wasting a day travelling. <BR> <BR>Consider it a hotel room and spend $ accordingly. Really--we were so tired that we ended up in a fog most of our first day. Plus, thankfully, we were able to get into our room for a quick nap when we got to the hotel--I don't know if you will be that lucky. Anyways, my advice would be to avoid that overnight train like the plague.

Liz

If you want to save time - spend a little more money and fly. It isn't that expensive and gets you there in a snap. More time in venice and a good nights sleep.

johnhedge

<BR>I like the flying idea and wish I had thougt of it. The cost is comparable if you figure the cost of a couchette. I would definitely do that next time. <BR> <BR>Took the night train last week and loved it. of course I love trains. My daughter does not sleep well on trains so we went first class seating and paid for an extra night at te Venice hotel telling them we would be in around 0700. This worked fairly well and we got to sit and talk most of the night without other distractions. Something which is rare in our busy schedules. <BR> <BR>Sure wish I hadthought of flying Napoli to Venice <BR> <BR>John