hi messi,

I agree with PalenQ about taking the train.

the day-time trip would be fun too -some lovely scenery on the way, and you arrive in central Venice of course which is a bonus -and with so many of you a water taxi to your hotel/apartment then becomes a bargain so you shouldn't need to worry about the vaporetti when you arrive.

if you decide to take the night train, for peace of mind I think i would split the parents and children up - then if you were in different sleeper cars, it wouldn't matter so much. and make sure that you have mobiles that function in italy so you can communicate with each other.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

ps - if you search this forum for "annhig venice" you should come up with my trip report called " we went to venice and we saw" from our trip to Venice at easter this year with our kids aged 20 & 17. I know they are a bit older than oyurs, but some of what we did and saw might still appeal. good luck.

One word of warning about couchette: <b>bedbugs</b>.

Our friends in Paris had to go down to the Lourdes area for family illness on a regular basis. Because they needed to be at work first thing in the morning, they took first-class couchette in both directions (leaving Friday evening and coming back Sunday night). At one point they discovered that they were being bitten, but could not figure out from what until another lady came into the compartment exclaiming: &quot;I hope that there are no bedbugs this time!&quot;

Our friends contacted the SNCF, which admitted the problem, but claimed that it was very difficult to solve because homeless people were sneaking into the rail yards to spend the night in the couchettes.

Our friends had to have their apartment fumigated.

I do not know what the statistical chances are of getting bedbugs, but it might be safer to take the day train.

Wow...a big thank you to all of you. Many great suggestions and tips especially the flights..you've made my research so much simpler. Haven't decided which way to go yet...but will soon!
Thanks again!

I've ridden dozens and dozens of night trains in France and have never been bitten by a bed bug

not to say it did not and could not happen - like it did last year in several posh London hotels

but a rare exception i'd think - esp in first class digs

And the Artesia Hotel Trains a bit more upscale than the average French night train.