I know I've been around this topic before, but our departure time is getting closer and my concentration is evaporating. It seems to me that my only realistic choices are MyAir from Bologna or the train, which seems very expensive. MyAir has fairly restrictive baggage regs, which, in turn, affect choices on airline from USA to Italy. I want to arrive in Paris some time between morning and mid afternoon. Would someone care to humor me with some basic advice for my basic brain?
Thanks,
Dupher

For what it's worth, I took the overnight train from Florence to Paris & liked it. I didn't think it was particularly expensive, and I'm a budget traveler.

Thank you Shanti...do you mind my asking when and how much it cost. There will be my wife, my daughter-in-law and me.
Thenks, Dupher

I seem to remember it was in the neighborhood of 80 to 90 euros - but we didn't have a private compartment (because I didn't buy the tickets until the day before and none were available).

I tried to check for rates at the Trenitalia web site but there's a wide range of prices. The most expensive rate was about 147 euros. It arrives at 8:23.

My daughter brought a ridiculous amount of luggage so you definitely don't have to worry about luggage restrictions if you take the train.

Just thinking about it makes me want to go back! Have a wonderful time.

Thanks again for your time,
Dupher

T-3 sleeper: Flexi, €160; Go WL, €125.
T-4 couchette: From €135 to €60 (Smart Price).
T-6 couchette: From €130 to €35 (Smart Price 2).

You can book at www.trenitalia.com/en/index2.html. Be aware, however, that you have to register first and that process can be problematic.

You can also book at www.voyages-sncf.com, but you'll have to have your tickets mailed to an address in Italy (like your hotel in Florence).

Tim,
Thanks...having trouble figuring out "smart price" and "smart price 2"...and, is traveling overnight on a couchette a reasonable option, in your opinion? and, for travel at the very end of October, is buying the tickets a week before, in Florence, a risky approach in terms of availability?
Thanks to all for their time,
Dupher

Train travelers........any help would be greatly appreciated..
Thanks,
Dupher

I couldn't figure out what the various categories mean either, sorry. I had a lot of trouble trying to use the Trenitalia site before I went to Florence last spring - it wouldn't even give prices, so I didn't book ahead of time and just bought a ticket at the station the day before departure - which I do not recommend, since a lot of the compartments were booked. How bad is it a week before departure - I don't know.

Hi D,

See if this helps:

Guide to European Trains and Railpasses for the Clueless! http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35055458

Thank you...Ira, we are staying at the Peterson B&B in Florence for several days, per your recommendation...
Dupher

Hi D,

trenitalia says
"On the night trains leaving from Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice and Milan: 35 euros for a couchette in 6-place compartment; 60 euros for a couchette in 4-place compartment".
This is the description for the Artesia train.

The 20:53, which might be the same train, offers T3 service.

Of course, the website is acting up and I can't help you with prices.

Re smart vs smart 2, go through the booking, and then cancel to find if there are different prices.

You can also buy your tickets the moment you arrive in Italy.



Enjoy your visit.