While booking overnight train accomodations in Italy, I keep getting this pop-up:

Uomo
Donna
Compartimento intero

I understand that it means Male and Female, but is the other one "mixed"? The only translation I have for that is "whole district".

I am trying to book a two bed compartment for my husband and myself.

Thanks again for any help you can offer.

"Compartimento intero" means "whole compartment" and is therefore what you want. If you share a sleeping compartment with strangers, they will be the same sex, which means you might be sharing a compartment with a strange woman and your husband would be in a different compartment sharing with a strange man. The only way to have a mixed compartment is to book the whole compartment.

Geoff is correct.

Thank you so much, Geoff, for the info. I was pretty sure that was what I wanted but just wanted to be sure.

By the way, I went to school with someone with your exact name. Did you by chance grow up on Long Island in the 70's?

I'm trying to purchase a ticket for my wife and I for the overnight train from Venice to Naples on the Trenitalia website. I have a couple questions:

What is the difference between the "couchettes for comfort" and the 2/3 bed compartments?

We are traveling in June, when is a good time to purchase the tickets? The site doesn't seem to allow purchases for June yet.

Thanks

ANOTHER QUESTION....

What is the difference between a two bed compartment and a two seat compartment. I thought we wanted the two bed comaprtment but the seat one costs more. Why?

JGHENSON....I have found that you can book your tickets on line 60 days previous to the reservation.

>What is the difference between the "couchettes for comfort" and the 2/3 bed compartments?

The couchettes are 4 or 6 strangers stuffed into a small cell.

The T2 and T3's are private small cells for families.

>What is the difference between a two bed compartment and a two seat compartment.<

The 2 seat compartments are 2 seats facing each other for people who insist on privacy.

"Comfort Couchettes" (or C4) have 4 bunks per compartment.

"Standard Couchettes" (or C6) have 6 bunks per compartment.

The size of the compartment is equivalent. But having 6 bunks means facing stacks of three, rather than facing stacks of two.

The C4 compartment is the evolving standard in Italy.

Accordingly, C4 costs more than C6, and this is true even with the promotional rate "Liberta' di Viaggiare".

A party of two should try to book a twin sleeping compartment at the promotional rate, which can be no more expensive than a couchette bunk in a C4 compartment.

Hey GAC and ira,

Thanks...I'm assuming that the 2 bed compartment makes more sense for a couple and offers more privacy than the couchettes

You are cindeed orrect about the privacy issue. A C4 compartment works very well for a family of four. A twin sleeper works very well for a couple. A C6 compartment works well for a travelling party of 6.

Sorry to disagree, but even if I knew the other 5 people, there's no way I could make a 6 bunk couchette work for me! I'm a light sleeper, and a tad claustrophobic.

If I can't afford a 2 person private cabin, I'd rather take a day train instead.

suze: you have a valid point. Imagine being in the enlisted men's sleeping quarters on a submarine!

good example! -LOL

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