Well now that I am a pro with SNCF I need help with Italy trains.

We will probably need a train going from Rome to Florence ...maybe others going from one city in Italy to another.

Also one trip maybe from Rome or Milan to Paris. (in case we don't do air)

So what is the site I would use and is there a "prem" rate?

Appreciate your help.

I use www.bahn.de for timetables all over Europe. Click on the Internat. Guests link at the top for English.

The Italian rail website is www.trenitalia.it

The Rome-Florence route is served every 30min or so for the 90min journey.

There is no need to pre-book tickets for simple point-point route like those - you can just stop into the train station when you are ready to travel and buy a ticket. If you prefer, you can buy a ticket for any route in Italy at any train station, and just simply hop on the next train that runs your way.

Seat reservations on the Rome-Florence are required for the fast ES trains, but there is no need to buy these before arrival in Italy.

Seat reservations are included in the ticket price for ES trains.

Hi Lois,

Look on www.trenitalia.com.

For Rome/Florence you can get the 29E fare in 1cl. 2cl is only 29.44E

For Milan to Paris, there are Smart Price tickets for 70E in a 4-person couchette.

Otherwise, click International for schedules and rates.

Have a nice visit.

Thanks all! Now I will have to figure out what we are doing. For the Milan or Rome to Paris trip can I do it last minute ..?...

The only train connections from Roma or Milano to Paris are by overnight train or involve TGVs. Reservations are needed for both. Whether you need to book far in advance depends on what day of the week you're travelling, but TGVs do fill up, as do sleepers and couchettes.

You know I think it would be more fun to take a train overnite than fly, but I am a bit odd I guess. In any case, thanks..I assume the TGV would be on the Italy train site????? or is that just a French train?

Here's an example of Rome-Milan-Paris - all three legs require mandatory reservation (comes with ticket when you book, you don't get a ticket without also having a seat assigned):

07:30 Roma Termini-Milano Centrale (arr. 12:00) (EuroStar Italia)
12:25 M.C.-Geneve (arr. 16:50) (EuroCity)
17:49 G.-Paris/Gare de Lyon (arr. 21:31) (TGV)

Here's another daytime trip that isn't TGV and also requires reservation for both legs:

10:30 R.T. - M.C. (arr. 15:00) (EuroStar Italia)
16:13 M.C. - P./Lyon (arr. 22:51) (EuroCity)

There are a bunch of night trains that stop in more or less convenient places.

Check them all out at

http://plannerint.b-rail.be/bin/quer...n?L=profi&

WK

I saved that planner website but I am not sure where you got it?...thanks for your help.

Loisco:
We took the train from Milan to Paris in April. It was SNCF and purchased through RailEurope (we bought 2nd class and it was a good value). Because we are seniors, we didn't want to deal with the discomfort of the overnight train. The train # is 9240 and leaves Milan at 6:43am, arrival at Paris (Gare Lyon) at 1:45 pm. A very nice, scenic ride through the French Alps! You could take a local train the day before to Milan and stay overnight at a hotel near the Milano Centrale. We stayed at the Doria Grand and it was very decent and a 5 min cab ride to the station. If you don't have time constraints, it is a pleasant trip

Hi Lois,

You can buy your tickets in advance at either train site and have them sent to your hotel in Italy.

The daytime trains from Milano to Paris are all TGVs.

Well I am familiar with SNCF so if I could buy the trip to Paris on it I would be happier...Rail Europe is the same thing isn't it????...

We will be going from Milan or Rome to Paris..

We like the idea of staying over in Milan...how long is the ride from Rome to Milan?..,,thanks for the help.

RailEurope is NOT the same thing. You will usually pay a lot more than you would at www.trenitalia.it.

Oh thanks for the help..