Are Train Reservations Necessary?
Jun 9th, 2005 | 05:12 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2004
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Are Train Reservations Necessary?
We will be travelling as a group of 5 by train from Nice to Florence, Florence to Venice, Venice to Salzburg in July. I have tried to reserve train tickets on Trenitalia.com and am having difficulty. Is it necessary to reserve these trains ahead of time (in order to sit together in non-smoking, if possible)? Or, is it okay to get tickets when we arrive in Nice? I just don't know how booked ahead tickets will be and we want certain trains for the 2 long journeys. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!
Jun 9th, 2005 | 05:32 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
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Hi MK,
>I have tried to reserve train tickets on Trenitalia.com and am having difficulty.<
It is not always possible to buy tickets on international trains at www.trenitalia.com.
You can purchase tickets from Nice to Florence at www.sncf.com
From Florence to Salzburg, you can buy your tickets at http://www.oebb.at
I think that they have a 29E special in 2cl.
>I have tried to reserve train tickets on Trenitalia.com and am having difficulty.<
It is not always possible to buy tickets on international trains at www.trenitalia.com.
You can purchase tickets from Nice to Florence at www.sncf.com
From Florence to Salzburg, you can buy your tickets at http://www.oebb.at
I think that they have a 29E special in 2cl.
Jun 9th, 2005 | 05:40 AM
#3
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,260
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Take this advice for what you think it is worth:
First, I assume that one of those two "long journeys" is the one from Venice to Salzburg.
Assume you are aware of the schedules and that if you take the 0647 departure you'll have to change once (Villach) and spend about 6 hours on the train; the departure at 0652 means a change in Verona as well and adds about 2.5 hours to the journey.
My point: seat reservations cost a couple of Euros each on these trains (InterCity) IF you get them in Europe vs. through an agency such as RailEurope which charges about $11 per reservation in addition to their shipping/handling fees.
During high-traffic periods these trains may be full but if you get all your seat reservations in Nice when you first arrive that shouldn't be a problem.
Remember that on these trains Second Class usually fills up first; not everyone will have bought a seat reservation (the number of tickets isn't necessarily capacity-controlled).
In Venice, for the first leg, if you don't have seat reservations be at the station early and be one of the first to board to claim any unreserved seats..these should be some I would suspect.
For the Florence-Venice portion that you are having trouble getting..perhaps you can elaborate on the troubles
First, I assume that one of those two "long journeys" is the one from Venice to Salzburg.
Assume you are aware of the schedules and that if you take the 0647 departure you'll have to change once (Villach) and spend about 6 hours on the train; the departure at 0652 means a change in Verona as well and adds about 2.5 hours to the journey.
My point: seat reservations cost a couple of Euros each on these trains (InterCity) IF you get them in Europe vs. through an agency such as RailEurope which charges about $11 per reservation in addition to their shipping/handling fees.
During high-traffic periods these trains may be full but if you get all your seat reservations in Nice when you first arrive that shouldn't be a problem.
Remember that on these trains Second Class usually fills up first; not everyone will have bought a seat reservation (the number of tickets isn't necessarily capacity-controlled).
In Venice, for the first leg, if you don't have seat reservations be at the station early and be one of the first to board to claim any unreserved seats..these should be some I would suspect.
For the Florence-Venice portion that you are having trouble getting..perhaps you can elaborate on the troubles
Jun 9th, 2005 | 06:03 AM
#4
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
The trains in Italy are supposed to be non-smoking. I was in Spain last week and the trains there are supposed to be non-smoking also but people would try to go out between the cars to smoke. They were usually caught and made to put their cigarettes out. There were signs in the trains saying the fine for smoking was 39E.
Jun 9th, 2005 | 07:08 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Likes: 0
<<Or, is it okay to get tickets when we arrive in Nice?>>
Yes, it is, in my opinion.
As is mentioned above, you can buy Nice-Florence ion sncf.com - - I found this painless with a seamless print-your-own e-ticket directly from your computer process - - just about two weeks ago.
Best wishes,
Rex
Yes, it is, in my opinion.
As is mentioned above, you can buy Nice-Florence ion sncf.com - - I found this painless with a seamless print-your-own e-ticket directly from your computer process - - just about two weeks ago.
Best wishes,
Rex
