Train travel in Italy
Mar 12th, 1998, 03:10 PM
#1
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Train travel in Italy
Leaving next week for two weeks in Italy. Question: can you use credit cards to purchase train tickets in the train stations? Also, has anyone been on the Naples to Palermo overnight ferry? What's it like? Restaurants on it? Any info would be appreciated.
Mar 23rd, 1998, 11:15 AM
#3
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When in Italy,
I suggest avoiding trains on Sunday afternoons, particularly Easter Sunday. They tend to be very crowded, unless you travel first class.
Also, secure your money and passport. A good friend of ours had her passport stolen when she dozed off on a long trip. (She was travelling alone and a vulnerable target.)
Fortunately her money was mostly in American Express form and she could obtain a quick reimbursement.
The skill of some of those pickpockets is nothing short of amazing. I have often wondered if they could steal your appendix!!
I suggest avoiding trains on Sunday afternoons, particularly Easter Sunday. They tend to be very crowded, unless you travel first class.
Also, secure your money and passport. A good friend of ours had her passport stolen when she dozed off on a long trip. (She was travelling alone and a vulnerable target.)
Fortunately her money was mostly in American Express form and she could obtain a quick reimbursement.
The skill of some of those pickpockets is nothing short of amazing. I have often wondered if they could steal your appendix!!
Mar 23rd, 1998, 01:50 PM
#4
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All this reminds us of the time we boarded a train in Venice bound for Vienna. There was a woman already in the compartment, and she was relieved to see two Americans. It turned out she was Polish, had boarded at Rome, was bound for Warsaw, and shared the compartment with two Italian men the preceding night. In broken English she told us why she was so glad to see us:
"I tried to sleep...but those Italian men...they pinch."
"I tried to sleep...but those Italian men...they pinch."
Mar 23rd, 1998, 04:28 PM
#5
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My family took the ferry from Naples to Palermo about 15 years ago.
It was a pleasant experience, except we didn't reserve tickets in advance,
and therefore were unable to secure a private room for sleeping overnight.
So we made the best of it,tried sleeping on the benches, then gave it up and
watched the sun rise!
It was a pleasant experience, except we didn't reserve tickets in advance,
and therefore were unable to secure a private room for sleeping overnight.
So we made the best of it,tried sleeping on the benches, then gave it up and
watched the sun rise!
Mar 24th, 1998, 05:16 PM
#6
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Trains from Naples to Palermo can be very crowded.. Our connection was delayed, due to a strike (which occurrs often). Even though we had lst class tickets we had to take what was available. We stood all the way. People sleeping in the aisle and sitting on the luggage. Depending on your age and health, it can be a fun experience. Our children, (at that time were 9 and 12) remember it fondly. Sicily is worth it.
