GAC, great post...but, the last EuroStar Italia I was on had only 2 seat across in first class and two seats opposite facing you. This was Rome to Venice and then Venice to Florence and then Florence to Rome. All three first class trains were the same on this trip.

I am not the informed consumer type...What I would like to know is just what is the purpose of having to punch a ticket in that confounded yellow machine before boarding the train?

There are slight seating variations amongst rail cars, considering also the age of the units. Also, it is common for one seat to be removed in proximity of the swinging doors (to avoid being hit when the doors open, or to leave more room for large luggage), so you may find yourself in a section of the first class rail car which has only two across rather than the standard three across. In second class, there are a few areas which are three across rather than four across, for the same reasons mentioned above.

DConnor: the purpose of stamping the rail ticket before boarding the train is to void it so that it cannot be used again by the same or different passenger on a different day. As trains are very crowded, it is not uncommon for the ticket agent on board not to have enough time to inspect all tickets and void them manually. An unscrupulous traveller could board with an unpunched ticket, dodge the ticket agent on board, get off, and then use the ticket again on another day.. Stamping the ticket is not required on Eurostar tickets because they are issued for a specific train on a specific date and time, and therefore can't be used again.

Yet, my Italian friends always tell me to stamp my Eurostar tkt. They're probably just so used to stamping the damn thing they continue when it may not be necessary.

GAC, it's been a pleasure reading this. You write with such clear detail and I admire that. Thanks to ira or bob. I can't remember who did the ttt.

We knew also, from GAC's advice, that we didn't need to stamp our Eurostar tickets. However, EVERYONE else in the line for our train was stamping away, so we figured we'd better, as well.

It is certaintly true: most Italians do stamp Eurostar tickets (as do I), even though it is techically not necessary. So, my advice is to stamp them anyway. That way you won't need to remember the distinction between Eurostar tickets and other tickets. However, if you board a Eurostar forgetting to stamp the ticket, and the train departs, don't panic, since you've not violated any rules.

This is a wonderful thread!

Here's our situation: DH and I will be training it from Rome-Florence, Florence-Venice and Venice-Milan in Feb/March.

I am looking at the Eurostar because they seem a bit quicker than ICs and DH is not a patient traveller.

However, DH gets nervous if our luggage is out of sight and we will probably not be able to lift our bags into overhead racks.

Is there any class or any train-style where we would have a compartment where our luggage could be stored in the compartment with us? or do we HAVE to store it in an area apart from us if we can't store overhead?

Thanks a lot!

Koshka, I really wouldn't worry about your luggage being at the end of the car in a first class Eurostar train. However, if you are, I suggest you buy a bicycle cable lock. You can put your luggage in the rack, then wind the cable through the handles and fasten securely to a post or the rack itself. Trust me, no one is going to get some cable cutters and work at cutting through the cable to steal your luggage!

DH likes the idea! Thank you Patrick!

Three of us took the Eurostar from Termini to Venice a couple of weeks ago. We had reserved seats in First Class that I bought the day before. There is a luggage compartment near the entrance of each car and if your first on the train, your luggage will be underneath everyone else's who follow. I took my camera bag with me and put it overhead. The overhead bins are quite large. We observed many paranoid foreigners struggling to put their large bags overhead. Some succeeded.

The cable lock provides good security but chances are pretty slim that someone will steal your luggage, especially if it's underneath someone else's.

Maybe I've become too trusting, but the last couple of trips I've hauled those cable locks around and never used them. Even the bicycles I've rented have all had built in locks so I didn't need my locks for those. I just don't worry about someone walking off with the luggage. But if they add a level of confidence and comfort then go for it.

One note. Put the cable lock in your checked luggage when you fly. Those coiled cables really trigger something in the scanner for the carry-on, and they'll make you open up your carry-on to show what they are.

Back in October, the fodorite named "bluefan" recommended the Zeico LumiLock Cable XL and, when I discovered its terrific, lightweight design, I bought a few. They're really GREAT and just a tad bigger than a hockey puck.

Now, a determined thief can easily cut through the thin cable but, when you travel alone, this added security helps prevent walking back and forth to check on your luggage. Even so, I neglected to use it on my recent Eurostar trip because our bags were at the bottom of the heap and we were getting off at the last stop, Venice.