BPN

I'm taking @PalenQ's suggestion and trying to get tickets on the Thello from Paris to Venice on Oct 11, 2014 (arriving Oct 12).

I have been to thello.com site many times in the past week but it looked like tickets for Oct 11, 12 "are temporarily closed for sale".

Does this usually mean the train will not run on those dates? From the message, it seems like they will start selling tickets for Oct 11 in the near future but I just wonder if we need to look at flights

Thank you,
BPN

bvlenci

According to their website, the sale is suspended because of "important works", but it says they should be open for sale soon. I can't imagine what sort of work would affect only the sale of tickets for two days. Could it be that they're renovating the cars (much needed) and aren't sure whether they'll be ready for those dates?

I suppose Palenq didn't mention that many people have had serious problems with these trains. You should search for "Thello" on Tripadvisor before booking. I myself have used the service, under its previous name, Artesia, and was not terribly dissatisfied. There was no food, nor beverages (not even water) available on the train I took to Paris for some reason, and the breakfast we were supposed to get didn't materialize in either direction. The bathrooms were filthy by the morning. However, my expectations hadn't been high, and I wasn't terribly put out. On the return trip, I brought my own food and beverages aboard, so I didn't even ask if there was any meal service available.

There is another possibility, which is to take the train to Munich in the afternoon and the overnight train from there to Venice. This is one of the possibilities offered on sncf.com when you look for trains from Paris to Venice. It's a different company, and supposedly much better, although I can't speak from personal experience. You can get the tickets from sncf.com or Capitaine Train. You would have several hours in Munich, but that would be an occasion to have dinner there.

Flying is, of course, the other alternative. I use www.skyscanner.net to look for budget flights within Europe. Some budget airlines have very rigid baggage limitations.

kybourbon

In the past, Thello has dropped some dates because of construction. Thello has gotten bad reviews as bvlenci pointed out (dirty trains, etc.).

You might look at Easy Jet from Paris Orly to Venice. They have an early flight (about 7am) and 2 afternoon flights (1pm & 6pm) and prices are running about 60€ for your date. The flight is 2 hours.

jamikins

I would definitely fly - short flight and a going nights sleeping a hotel would be my preference having done this once (and never again)

bvlenci

I wouldn't go so far as to say I'd never do it again. Because it got me to Paris early in the morning, on a trip to Cherbourg, it saved me an extra day's stay in France at a time I had to be back in Italy in a very short time.

Let's just say it ain't the Orient Express.

PalenQ

Going via Munich would mean a whole lot more travel time on trains and a whole lot more money - forget that IMO daft idea. All day and night on a train? Even I would not do that.

I've taken the Thello trains and found them adequate but they do get a lot of complaints - one reason that the service to Florence and Rome were suspended - low load factors - the Venice train is in peril as well but should run until winter schedules come into effect around mid-December though obviously they are not sure about running those two nights.

PalenQ

Some friends of mine once took the Artesia night train from Venice to Paris on a really hot night and the AC broke down - they called it a night from Hell.

But supposedly the old Thello train cars were completely replaced with other stock (the Artesia train cars supposedly now in service to and from Sicily on night trains I think) - so hopefully these are a bit better but obviously the service and cleaning of say WCs is lousy.

RonZ

Thello trains get bad reviews. Paris-Venice fly easyjet.

bvlenci

It doesn't take all day to get to Munich, although it is about a 6-hour trip. The overnight train to Venice leaves sometime after 11 PM, so you could leave Paris in the afternoon. However, it is really a bit much, although I've done similar trips more than once.

I thought the Thello trains had just spruced up the Artesia carriages a bit. In any case, the carriages are old, at least 30 years old.

PalenQ

I thought the Thello trains had just spruced up the Artesia carriages a bit.>

Well could be but I read in some trade journal that they got rid of the former cars because of their terrible condition and sold to trenitalia - but not positive.

But I do know that Artesia trains were once called Hotel Trains and they quit using that moniker because folks expected too much of them and found them dumpy and more like a youth hostel than a hotel.

In any case to me I can always get a good sleep on trains - many cannot - so if the train itself is trashy so what - but it should not be and many folks are more consumer-oriented than laissez-faire Pal.

BPN

After looking at all the posts related to the Thello, we'll play it safe and fly Easyjet from Paris to Venice. I still would like to try the train but probably not on this first trip.

Thank you for your advices.
BPN