frustration setting in regarding trenitalia
May 6th, 2005, 10:00 PM
#41
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Hi ucsun, forget ricksteves.com. Just out of curiosity I went onto his website. They sell the railpasses, which are good for several days.
You want the point to point ticket, right? Vienna to Florence. Only other thing I can think of is Thomas Cook. I don't have their website though but if you google it you can no doubt get it. But don't know if you can get point to point tickets through them. Bummer!! Again, best wishes.
You want the point to point ticket, right? Vienna to Florence. Only other thing I can think of is Thomas Cook. I don't have their website though but if you google it you can no doubt get it. But don't know if you can get point to point tickets through them. Bummer!! Again, best wishes.
May 7th, 2005, 02:15 AM
#42
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On 2/18/05 PalQ posted a reply regarding train question and suggested the poster call BETS (800-441-9413), who books thru RailEurope. PalQ said BETS is extremely helpful and knowledgeable - they are the experts in European rail. Hope this helps.
May 7th, 2005, 10:12 AM
#44
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thanks for the help. i actually have received quite a valuable lesson during this whole thing: flexability.
i think i am going to wait till i get to vienna to book the tickets. and if they are full for some reason for travel on may 20, then i'll make some calls and leave the 21st. an extra day in vienna would allow me to day trip to budapest. otherwise i will use the extra day in florence to day trip to bologna. win win, i guess.
i think i am going to wait till i get to vienna to book the tickets. and if they are full for some reason for travel on may 20, then i'll make some calls and leave the 21st. an extra day in vienna would allow me to day trip to budapest. otherwise i will use the extra day in florence to day trip to bologna. win win, i guess.
May 7th, 2005, 02:34 PM
#45
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I've been having the same problem with this site for awhile. I've tried everything and it's impossible. I'm trying to buy tickets within Italy and from Milan to Nice. I'd like to do it online and take advantage of the cheap fares but there doesn't seem to be any way. such a pain...
May 9th, 2005, 12:07 PM
#48
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Try to book tickets when it is daytime in Italy. It seems to me they close the reservation at night. EuropRail is a US monopoly. They charge 50% more for the tickets as they are the only agency in states who can sell tickets for Europe
May 10th, 2005, 08:38 AM
#49
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I posted yesterday about booking on Trnitalia for an overnight from Ventimiglia to Venice, also on May 20. I think I could buy seats but not couchettes. Get message "selected service not saleable" Emails have also gone unanswered. This trip is for my daughter and friend (students), who want to travel from Nice to Venice that day. Ventimiglia is near Nice and in Italy. After reading this post, will tell them to be flexible with their travel plans. Anyone know what Ventimiglia is like in case they are stranded there? <smile>
May 10th, 2005, 09:19 AM
#50
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Ventimiglia is right on the Italy/France border. It's quite a ride to Nice from there. The first French town over the border is Menton.
Ventimiglia is a shore town and appeared to me to be a town of working-class people. Nothing fancy. We found the people to be warm and friendly. A few nice clothing shops, gelato, restaurants - and a large beach front area.
The train station is situation almost smack-dab in the center of town, up a slight hill, and has a lot of police patrolling the area. I think the police station is situated close to the train station. The station is moderate size. \
I'm on my lunch hour, and I have to go back to work. If you want more info, let me know.
Ventimiglia is a shore town and appeared to me to be a town of working-class people. Nothing fancy. We found the people to be warm and friendly. A few nice clothing shops, gelato, restaurants - and a large beach front area.
The train station is situation almost smack-dab in the center of town, up a slight hill, and has a lot of police patrolling the area. I think the police station is situated close to the train station. The station is moderate size. \
I'm on my lunch hour, and I have to go back to work. If you want more info, let me know.
May 10th, 2005, 11:09 AM
#51
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the bells are tolling the music is playing: Tickets are purchased.
now the how, i did call through to my hotel. it took a bit of back and forthing but it's done now. apparently the train is nearly booked. and i didn't want to risk a 4 or 6 person couchettes at best. so i went ahead with the 2 person double for 150E per person. they didn't have the sparnight fares. but the cost of staying an extra night, flying to rome, training to florence was more than 150E per person...what can i say i am a persistent bugger!
and it keeps the rest of the planning it tact so that itself is worth far more than can be imagined. btw, thanks to everyone for all the help...it was a team effort.
now the how, i did call through to my hotel. it took a bit of back and forthing but it's done now. apparently the train is nearly booked. and i didn't want to risk a 4 or 6 person couchettes at best. so i went ahead with the 2 person double for 150E per person. they didn't have the sparnight fares. but the cost of staying an extra night, flying to rome, training to florence was more than 150E per person...what can i say i am a persistent bugger!
and it keeps the rest of the planning it tact so that itself is worth far more than can be imagined. btw, thanks to everyone for all the help...it was a team effort.
May 10th, 2005, 11:26 AM
#52
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ok, i was off by a little. it actually ran 170E per person for the deluxe double...that makes it breakeven on the cost of flying vs training. with the advantage of daylight time saved by training...which in this case would have meant a 7:15am flight from vienna to rome (9:00 am) and then take the 10:30-11:00 am train... a 90 minute train ride. that would have put me into florence around around 1pm...exhausted.
May 10th, 2005, 05:08 PM
#53
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ucsun:
I don't mean to intrude. But I -- like others, I am sure -- am quite enthusiastic about your trip.
You have done so much of the planning on this board and have been so open to advice.
As the date grows close, I wish you and your friend all the best and hope you will post upon your return.
I don't mean to intrude. But I -- like others, I am sure -- am quite enthusiastic about your trip.
You have done so much of the planning on this board and have been so open to advice.
As the date grows close, I wish you and your friend all the best and hope you will post upon your return.
May 10th, 2005, 05:44 PM
#54
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Hello ucsun, congratulations!!! Good for you. I felt so frustrated for you, because it seemed like what you were attempting to do should have been so simple. Now you can relax and enjoy thinking about your trip. I too wish you a beautiful time.
May 10th, 2005, 06:42 PM
#55
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tedgale, thanks very much. and this board has been fantastic. there is so much positive help. btw, even before i was booking the train tix i was trying to find a way to sneak a budapest daytrip in...alas 1 day would only tease me. but in the future for sure...i just have to go to the baths. after researching budapest more, i really think it could be a stellar place to visit.
my friend is also excited...and we know that one of us is bound to run into miss right before too long and that will end the run of "boys only" trips.
loveitaly, thanks for your support. you've been very helpful. and yes, the relief is that there is no more planning. i would have done a last minute type thing, but i'd much rather have the bird in hand.
my friend is also excited...and we know that one of us is bound to run into miss right before too long and that will end the run of "boys only" trips.
loveitaly, thanks for your support. you've been very helpful. and yes, the relief is that there is no more planning. i would have done a last minute type thing, but i'd much rather have the bird in hand.
May 11th, 2005, 07:30 AM
#56
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The hotel gave you a very fair deal, they are not tacking a cent on the published fare (see my earlier post). Would recommend tipping the concierge when you get there ;-)
Have a great time!
Andre
Have a great time!
Andre
May 11th, 2005, 09:55 AM
#57
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Andre, you've been a ton of help. i guess if my german was good (or even existent) then i probably could have avoided much trouble by booking on the oebb site. but oddly, when you tanslate the pages the page's scripting doesn't work properly.
but yes, tipping the concierge is a definite.
but yes, tipping the concierge is a definite.
