goingtobeijing

I am thinking of taking the train from Venice to Rome. I will have a large 30" suitcase and a carry on bag (the wheeling type). Will I have problems taking this much luggage on the trains? Is there an area where I can securly store the luggage?

Do you have assigned seats on Italian intercity trains?

Is first class worth the extra money?

Also, I am trying to get prices on the trenitalia.it website. When I visit the website I am redirected to a different website - Ferrovie dello Stato and this website won't let me buy tickets from Venice to Rome in OCtober 2008. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.

ellenem

Personally, I would never travel with a 30-inch suitcase. It's too tricky to drag up and down stairs, especially up and down the narrow train steps. Any reason you need so much luggage?

For train schedules and advance tickets:

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Many people have difficulty using this site to reserve tickets. I'd just get a ticket the day you arrive in Venice--at the train station or a local travel agency.

You can't buy a ticket more than 60 days in advance. To check schedules and prices input a fake date for next week--be sure to use the same day of the week you plan to travel since weekday and weekend schedules vary.

For your trip your could take and IC (InterCity) train or a ES (EuroStar) train. The ES is fastest and comes with a reserved seat as part of the ticket. Some IC tickets don not come with a seat--you just have to search for one unless you pay extra to reserve one. ICplus comes with a seat reservation at no additional cost.

On ES I find 2nd class fine. On IC I prefer first class.

Here's a good site for all you need to know about Italian trains:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm

Therese

The train from Venice to Rome is a Eurostar, so yes, all seats will be reserved. I wouldn't bother with first class.

There is room for luggage, overhead (where your large bag probably will not fit, and even if it did it's going to be pretty difficult to lift that large a bag that high) and at the end of the cars (where it will, but this space is at a premium). There's also typically some space between some seats, but I don't know if your large bag will fit there.

There aren't many stops on the Eurostar between Venice and Rome, and it's at the stops that you need to watch your luggage if you've left it at the end of the car (as something could leave with it, either on purpose or by accident). You can make a point of watching your luggage at those times. Keep your valuables with you.

You will have to get your bags on and off the train by yourself, and you are going to regret having that much luggage. You don't need it, believe me.

StCirq

Oh yes, you're going to have problems with that much luggage! Hope you're in training or have a servant with you.

goingtobeijing

Thanks for the feedback.

Now I'm begining to wonder if I'll be okay travelling with the two bags on the train. YIKES.

I have done this in Japan on the bullet train and I had no problems. Done the same on a train in Russia from St Petersberg to Moscow - no problems. Also done this on the Eurostar and some British trains with no problems. Obviously, trains are different in different countries.

I have travelled extensively, usaually with one suitcase (big or small) and one carry on. I am able to move my luggage by myself without problems. What should I be careful about on the Italian trains? Stairs at the station? Narrow doorways? Steep stairs getting on/off the train? etc.

Obviously, I like to plan ahead and I do not want any nasty surprises when I'm in Italy.

One more question - what about booking with Rail Europe? That way I'll have my train tickets before I arrive in Italy, but I'm sure Rail Europe charges a premium.

LJ

You should be concerned about ALL the things you have mentioned-- getting on/off Italian trains with a 30" suitcase PLUS a carry on, "the wheeling type"--stairs on and off, escalators, heaving those suckers up onto the (narrow) overheads. And all this is BEFORE you try to manhandle those things along cobblestone streets in both Rome and Venice...

Mostly,in your shoes, I would be concerned about the hostility you are going to encounter trying to do what it is you need to do to lug those two bags around...is there truly no alternative for you? You are going to become totally pre-occupied with luggage issues and miss Italy!

Therese

You've traveled by train with suitcases this large without difficulty? I can only imagine that this is possible if you are male (I'd formed the opinion that you were female somewhere along the way), and a pretty tall, pretty strong male at that. Men's upper body strength puts them at a huge advantage over females in this setting, so if that's the case then take as much luggage as you'd like.

You don't need to buy this ticket in advance.

PalenQ

If traveling with large luggage then first class will be often much more conducive to easier storage of it

25% less seats and people jockeying for space in overhead luggage racks vs 2nd class. This is one of many reasons IME first class is far superior to 2nd class. Trains in Italy are so cheap i'd suggest first class

But apply to trains the same standards you would to a hotel - you could stay in a cheap pension and be comfortable enough and that is true of 2nd class on Eurostar trains but first class is much roomier and leisurely IME

goingtobeijing

Therese, I am female, you were right.

One of the reasons I have no problem with my large bag is because it has four wheels, so most of the time I wheel it, instead of carrying it. I seldom need to carry it. In this case, I may have to carry up and down stairs and on/off the train, thats it.

After travelling with a four wheel bag, I refuse to travel with a two wheel bag.

Given the situation with the luggage I'm back to debating between the trian and flying. I'm leaning towards taking the train.

My primary concern about the luggage is not my ability to move it, but how secure the luggage will be during the journey and at the train stations.

I don't want to encounter any problems when I travel, ie missing baggage/stolen baggage, etc. (Having made this comment, I will add that yes, it is possible that the airline can lose my luggage).

I know some trains companies have a service where you can place luggage in a baggage car, or send it off ahead of time. I have used these services when availble. Is there anything similar in the Italian train system?

Thanks.

ira

Hi G,

The site you want is www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

If you have already traveled with your 30" suitcase and a carryon, it won't be any different in Italy.

The IC trains don't have required reservations. Some of the IC+ and all of the ES* do.

Enjoy your visit.

mcnyc

If I remember correctly, there was no compartment for checking in your luggage on Italian trains. <i>&quot;You brought it with you, you deal with it&quot;</i> was the attitude for the most part, although charming guys would, at times, offer to carry my luggage up the stairs.

I have not had problems with my luggage on trains, as I've always had the good fortune to sit near my luggage. I also make sure that I'm seated where I can keep my eyes on said luggage. That said, a 30&quot; luggage would fit at the front and back ends of your particular train car. Some bring their own cables locks to secure their luggage. Mine have always been small enough to fit in the space between the backs of the seats.

mariebut

mcnyc, Im interested to find out which seats on a train to ask for if I want to be close to my luggage. Are you able to suggest them particularly on the Italian trains - Eurostar ones? Thanks

Mimar

We took a lightweight bike cable to tie our luggage to the luggage rack at the end of the car. But I don't think it was threatened.

Venice and Rome are terminus stations so it's not necessary to drag your luggage up and down stairs to get to the tracks. Other non-terminus stations have underground passageways with stairs up to the tracks. So if you're planning other train travel in Italy, all that luggage might present a problem.

Local trains have steep narrow stairs up into the train. IC's and ES's are easier to board.

And you are right. RailEurope charges a premium.

ssc2229

aren't 30&quot; suitcase standard suitcase size? The type you might use to pack a weeks worth of clothing?

What is everyone else suggesting? or better yet what is preferred? A duffle bag or backpack is easier?

i would love some suggestions since my husband and I were goign to take either 1 large suitecase and 1 duffle bag or 2 suitcases medium size.

Maybe I am unfamiliar with 30&quot; suitcase. Is this the height, width or diameter?

Grazie

Mimar

No, a 30-inch suitcase is a very large one. Many people travel for a week with a 22-inch rollaboard or even smaller. I take a wheeled 24- or 25-inch. (It's all those books.) But I travel for 3 weeks or a month, washing some clothes out in the room at night, doing a bigger wash maybe 3 times during that stretch.

ira

Hi Marie,

&gt; Im interested to find out which seats on a train to ask for if I want to be close to my luggage. Are you able to suggest them particularly on the Italian trains - Eurostar ones? &lt;

NO.

You don;t have to watch your luggage all the time.

The only time anyone can steal your luggage is when the train is in a station.

You can always stand up and take a look.

Also, the probability of your luggage being stolen is very small.

Relax and enjoy your visit.

suze

30&quot; is a LARGE suitcase.

For goingtobeijing, if you've done this before other places using trains, Italy should not be that different imo.

For ssc~ for train travel I use a 22-24&quot; (max) rolling suitcase, with a tote bag as my carry-on/purse.

nytraveler

Lifting a 30&quot; bag up the narrow steep stairs onto the train is going to be a real bear. I hope you're strong enough to do it - esp since being that big will make it hard to maneuver. There's no way this would fit on the overhead rack - you'll have to leave it at the end of the car or try to jam it between set backs or something.

We traveled with one 24&quot; and one 26&quot; and those were hard enough to deal with - but we did first class with separate compartments and managed to get them under the seats (other people's seats - but that were empty).

Agree 30&quot; is just too big. I had a 26&quot; only because it was a combo business and vacation trip and I needed to have several business suits, shirts and pumps as well as vacation clothes.

ssc2229

ok silly question but how are you measuring 22&quot; - height, length or width?

I think of a standard size suitcase is one that is too large to fit in the overhead compartment of a plane.

Are the references to the 22&quot; ones the same times suitcase that can be considered a carry on for a plane (as in fit in the overhead bin?)

thanks

SusanP

The 30&quot; or 22&quot; is referring to the height, so yes, the 22&quot; fits in the overhead bin on the plane.