We will be in Italy in June and will take the train between Rome and Florence and then Florence and Venice. What is the difference between first and second class...seats, dining, cost???

Cost difference: 26.60 eur vs 39.25 for Venice-Florence; for additional fares, schedules etc see www.trenitalia.com<BR><BR>Moderately more room, and more plush. Some people might say substantially more.<BR><BR>1st class has access to private dining car with white tablecloth meal service at a scheduled hour (two seatings). Food and service good; might even say very good. Price for that is high, bordering on very high.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

We tried both. For such a short distance no need to go 1st class and there is not that much difference

to the top<BR>

We took the train between those cities and rode 1st class all the way. Highly recommend it as it's not that much more. The seats were fabulous.

It's a toss-up. Because I don't see the price difference as dramatic, I occasionally opt for 1st class. Unable to afford 1st class on an airplane, I can indulge on the slightly upgraded comfort of 1st class on the Eurostar. In addition to better seating & dining (mind you, it's NOT a significant difference) it usually is less crowded in 1st class. You'll find more tourists, particularly the American tourists in 1st class. Italians tend toward second class tickets. That can be a good news/bad news thing. If you are seeking opportunity to interact with locals, then sit with Italians in 2nd. HOWEVER, as Italians are more likely to smoke & even in 'non-fumato' sections then that issue may factor into your decision. That being said, whenever I've sat in a non-smoking car and someone has lit up, I politely ask if they could smoke elsewhere and response has always been courteous -- either they put out the cigarette or move to next car where smoking is permitted.<BR><BR>Finally my comments are with assumption that you will be traveling on Eurostar train. Should you be taking an Intercity (IC), then definitely choose first class for your Rome-Florence, Florence-Venice runs.

I took first class from Venice to Milan, and thought that it was not worth it to spend the extra cash, I went second class the rest of the way(two weeks of trains). Some second class trains are just as nice, and sometimes when I would connect, first wasn't even availible, so why pay it?There is really not that much difference that I could tell, and I am pretty picky and would not choose second if it were at all bad.

If the weather is warm, first class is likely to be air conditioned, while second class may not be.

Or second class may be so crowded, that even a modest amount of a/c won't overcome the body heat.

It's one thing to suggest that you want to save some money and not buy first class, but anyone who says there is "really not that much difference" must be blind and insensitive to heat, comfort, and smell. The difference in seating alone is generally pretty major.

2nd class is likely to be more crowded, bodily odors tend to intensify, and a/c may or may not be on. The line between smoking and non tends to get a little more fuzzy on 2nd than on 1st.<BR><BR>Unless it makes a significant difference in your budget, take 1st.

On certain heavily traveled routes on INTERCITY trains (particularly Milan to Venice and Venice to Florence), there is often a big difference between first and second class. This is because, on INTERCITY trains, tickets are sold irrespective of the number of seats or the amount of actual standing room on the train. A ticket on an INTERCITY train entitles the holder to travel on AN Intercity train (NOT necessarily the first Intercity train out of the station)! By contrast, tickets for EUROSTAR trains are supposed to be issued based on the number of seats; hence, these trains are much less likely to be crammed full of standing passengers. So my advice is: on EUROSTAR, second class is acceptable, and first class is less crowded and more comfortable, but on certain INTERCITY trains on certain routes during the summer months and other peak vacation and travel periods, stick to first class (and consider reserving seats as well).

Even in first class, the air conditioning can be a little bit underwhelming on a day that's 85-95 degrees F.<BR><BR>I travel with a little PortaBreeze fan (that's a whole 'nother thread, too!) - - and got uproarious laughs when I got it out for a member of a group I was traveling with. So, SO, very American to need the supplemental comfort level!<BR>

up for Chris -- once you choose between using ES versus IC, then need to decide whether to travel 1st or 2nd class.<BR>

Can someone advise how difficult it is to store luggage on a train. Are Italian trains, like the ones in England with no room for large rollarounds. Does it make a difference in 1st class versus 2nd class. Thanks

Gayle, even on a Eurostar train, you might find yourself having to heft the bag up over your head onto a luggage rack. Occasionally there is a kind of cubicle at the end of the car. This is why two small bags can be much easier on the traveller than one big one.

over your head<BR>