First or Second Class?
 

Going by train from Rome to Florence to Venice and possibly Milan. Should we go first or second class? Is there a difference in trains?

No one can answer this for you. Of course, the first class cars are roomier, slightly larger and nicer seats, and they tend to be less crowded. Whether that it worth a few extra dollars is totally up to you. It is worth it to me, but many feel it isn't.

The Eurostar trains Rome-Florence-Venice are a little nicer than the other trains.

We recently went first class from Florence to Venice on Eurostar and felt it was very worth the small extra expense, for the extra leg room, if nothing else.

The seats were very comfortable, plush and large. We also had some service in transit....danish, coffee, juices, newspapers, etc. The car was not crowded and the luggage accomodations and A/C were perfect.

We mainly remember commenting very often during the trip as to how comfortable we were, as well as the fact that we were glad we'd splurged the extra money for it.

However, I will add that most people say there isn't that much difference, so it's really a personal call. If I had it to do over again, I would choose first class again.

When I was in Italy this summer with my family,we travelled first class for major trips, it was worth the extra price..More leg room, space, nice AC, and most of the times we had the compartment all for ourselves.
Now the ES trains are different and I would not mind travel in second class, because they are quite clean and comfortable, also everyone has a seat.

Thanks for your help. We'll take 1st.

Hi Judy,

I take it that you are over 35. :)

As I understand there are 1st & 2nd classes on both the Eurostar and Intercity trains but the better train to reserve your seats on is the Eurostar, correct?

We traveled from Milan to Venice first class, and then second class from Venice to Rome and later Rome to Milan. Our experience traveling second class was much nicer than first. Weird.

On the Milan to Venice first-class trip the two of us were cooped up in a glass-enclosed compartment with four taciturn natives - probably business travelers for whom the "thrill" of talking to tourists had long since faded. However, we counted ourselves fortunate to have seats at all, as the aisles outside our compartment were full of people who'd paid for first class only to find first class had been oversold. (If I were to pay for first class in the future, I'd find out if that guaranteed me a seat or if I needed to reserve a seat.)

On our second-class legs, on the other hand, we were actually more comfortable and met some lovely people - a handsome and charming young Paduan lawyer and a delightful japanese girl we later hooked up with for some touring in Florence.

Until I have a bad experience in second class, that's the way I'll travel in Europe.

No experience with trains in Italy, as we've always traveled by car there. But I travel by train 1st class in Germany and Switzerland. One time I did 2nd class and had to sit on my suitcase for a couple of hours as all seats were taken! I'll take 1st class anytime as I've always had a good seat and it was not crowded.

I'd be curious, Mary Fran, if you checked out the second class cars on that "oversold" train. My experience has been that if first class is oversold, second class is waaaaayyyyy oversold and even worse.
But I do agree about those compartments. I really dislike traveling in the first class compartments. I prefer trains or cars that are regular seating. Many trains have both in first class.

Patrick, am I correct that buying a first class ticket doesn't guarantee you a "seat," that you need to pay more for a "reserved" seat to guarantee you won't end up standing in the aisle as the travelers on our Milan to Venice trip? In other words, in advance, you'll know to go to car# such and such and proceed to seat # so and so, and if someone's in your seat, you can show them your ticket and give them the boot?

I just really would have been steamed if I'd been sold a first class ticket and had to stand in the aisle the whole trip. What's the difference if you're standing in first rather than standing in second?

Hi Francophile,

Usually 2 cl ES* is equal to 1 cl IC. Sometimes, 1 cl IC can be better than 2 cl ES*.

Hi Mary Fran,

A ticket, except on ES* which is all reserved seating, doesn't guarantee a seat. You need to pay extra (about 4E)for a reservation (prenotazione).