Marko

A silly question I know...any thoughts on a good time to travel from milan to venice on the ES...I was thinking over lunchtime, any thoughts ??

Paulo

The Pendolino from Milan to Venice departs at 1:05pm, arriving at 3:57pm. This is a bit too late for my personal taste. I would consider the 11:05am IC train which arrives in Venice at 1:57pm. This train has a restaurant wagon. The next IC train, at 12:05pm, only offers bar/snacks service. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

Rex

Paulo, <BR> <BR>Thr group I am taking later this month thinks that they want to turn in the cars and not drive NCE-MIL, and likewise, MIL-VCE. There are 17 adults. I realize that Friday travel to Venice is always busy (as evidenced by the traffic jams that occur between Padova and Venice) on a Friday afternoon. <BR> <BR>This 11:05 Pendolino sounds like what we will want. Do you think we will be okay getting that many seats just one day in advance when we arrive in Milan (on Thursday, June 29)? We will be in Europe for the 12 days before that, though not in Italy until then.

Paulo

The 11:05 train out from Milan is an IC train and not the Pendolino (this is at 1:05pm). Strangely enough, the Pendolino prices are the same as for the IC trains, that is, Lit 35,700/57,700 for 2nd/1st class + Lit 5,800 for each seat reservation. The only difference is that on the Pendolino reservations are required and on the ICs it's optional. <BR> <BR>June 30th ... Verona Opera Festival Season opener ... I'm afraid, Rex, I won't exercise my "educated" guessing in this case (I may burn myself quite easily). <BR> <BR>Anyway, once there are an array of options, I would try to avoid paying the surplus back home just to assure reservations. Of course, I would discuss the subject with my group and let them decide. Some info for group discussion: <BR> <BR>a) Travel times for the 9:05am, 11:05am, 12:05pm ICs and the 1:05pm Pendolino are the same (2:52 hours). The trip to Verona takes 1:25 hours; after Verona you shouldn't have problems with seat reservations. 1:25 hours standing is not a big deal specially if there is a restaurant car on the train; <BR> <BR>b) the 11:05am and 1:05pm trains have restaurant cars ... if you don't get enough seats, you may use the restaurant in turns; <BR> <BR>c) the group may decide it's ok to split up in 2nd and 1st class should it be necessary; <BR> <BR>d) as a last option, one may take either the 9:10am or 11:15am Inter Regional train. This is quite slower (about 3:25 hours) and cheaper (Lit 22,700/37,100). No seat reservation service. <BR> <BR>With this array of options I would try to talk my group into risking it. On arrival in Milan I would go to the train station, see what the situation is and make the best decision before checking in (I assume you'll get to Milano Centrale by bus transfer). <BR> <BR>If your group decides to play it safe, what the heck, just go ahead and pay the extra money (what is it? $10/15 person?) <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

Rex

Thanks, Paulo. <BR> <BR>The cost is trivial, you're right - - the reason not to buy ahead in the US is that they may change their minds and decide to keep the cars we will have rented in Nice on Saturday the 24th (although the drop charge to take into Italy is not trivial). <BR> <BR>They won't tolerate standing up most likely. But splitting up and starting earlier in the day will be an option that may be appealing to some. The info about the start of the Opera Festival is VERY valuable and I thank you for that a lot. <BR> <BR>We will be arriving directly to Milano Centrale Thursday afternoon (coming from Nice/Ventimiglia) and I am assuming that I will be able to find the best advice from the station ticket offices themselves. I was more worried about the final destination - - i suppose that the main flow of traffic may be "going the other way" once we pass Verona headed for the last portion headed to Venice. <BR> <BR>And by the way, do you have a recommendation for a restaurant for Milan? I realize that it's a big city, and I will be doing my homework, but I will still be interested in your opinion. A lot will depend on the "mood" onthat particular day, of course. Still flexibility has to be sacrificed somewhat to make sure that the more "DEpendent" members of the group have a place that I can take them. <BR> <BR>Many thanks, <BR> <BR>Rex

Paulo

Well, Rex, I'm afraid I can't help you much with restaurants in Milan. Not that I haven't experimented quite a few ... the problem is that I was taken out by relatives every single time out and I have no recollection of restaurant names and locations (for a change, it's nice being able to completely forget about things and just "concentrate" on chatting <BR> <BR>The only restaurant I can remember is the Savini in the Galleria. Quite expensive (my uncle paid and one needs to dress up. Very good food and service. From the winter garden one's able to watch what's going on in the Galleria. I hardly think that's what you're looking for. <BR> <BR>Still on the splurge side, if you guys are still driving, my aunt swears that one of the best restaurants in Italy may be found in Cassinetta di Lugagnano, some 20km southwest of Milan: the Antica Osteria del Ponte ... <BR> <BR>If I were in your shoes, I would probably go to the Navigli district and have an early evening stroll with the group ... This should be very lively on a Thursday and there are dozens of restaurants/bars to suit all tastes ... just pick the one that looks more appealing at the spur of the moment. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>PS. If your group decides to keep their cars, I don't think it'll be a big deal to drive to Venice. If you start early in Milan (around 11am) traffic shouldn't be that bad at all. I would be more worried finding parking space in Venice, even though Tronchetto can hold an awfull lot of cars. Whenever possible, I like driving into Venice not later than around noon (in summer). But, once again, it'll be a question of $. I doubt that Garage San Marco in Piazzale Roma won't have vacancies (when I can't find vacancies in the Autorimessa Comunale I just continue to Garage San Marco because I'm too lazy to go back to Tronchetto At San Marco I always managed to find vacancies. <BR>