Night Train from Rome to Paris in May 2013
 

Hello!

In May of 2013, my fiance and I will be going on our honeymoon in Europe, so actually hell be my husband then. =) Anyways, we are doing 1 week in Rome and 1 week in Paris. We are both very much first time travelers to Europe, so this whole train/ night train business is new to us. I am hearing different things about the night train from Rome to Paris though, is it still going? Is the night train our best option? I heard we should do it at least once for the experience, but ive heard some pretty scary stories about night trains. So basically here are my questions-

1. If we want to get there fast, is the night train our best option?

2. Should we do a day train so we can actually see the countryside, is it worth it doing a whole day on a train just to see the countryside? Or is it better to do a night time train?

3. What does the first class cabin look like? Also is it safe?

4. How far in advance should we book it?

5. Whats the process, do you check in at a counter before hand or just get on the train and they take your ticket there? How are you suppose to find your seat/cabin?

Any help would be much appreciated! Were newbies so we dont know alot.

Thanks!

go to www.seat61.com; scroll down and pick Italy in the box on the left side of the screen.

If you want to get there fast then a budget flight might suit you better. You can use Ryanair but I would suggest using Easyjet since they fly from the main airport

www.easyjet.com/en

Your best option is to fly, especially if time is of the essence.

If you want to experience a train trip then by all means do this if it's available. Taking a long train trip is fun and safe, especially if you have a private cabin, but it's not fast. I think it's only a sleeper from Milan to Paris; you take a regular train from Rome to Milan and then change, but verify that with people who know more about the trains than I do.

For me, I would absolutely fly. You won't see all that much on a night train, and it is a really long way to get between places. You might have a fun experience if you get a compartment to yourselves, but that will cost you - my one experience on a night train was in a six-person compartment, and was not romantic or comfortable in the slightest.

The one advantage would be that you wouldn't have to pay for a hotel room for the night. If you want the experience of taking a train, you could easily do day trips from Rome and/or Paris.

If you do fly, check out whichbudget.com to see who all flies between Rome and Paris. Be aware that most of the "budget" airlines, like Ryanair and EasyJet, have very strict rules and fees for baggage and other things, so you'll have to pack lightly or pay the fees.

Believe me when i say that paris to rome by train is a very long journey.I used to do it when I was 18 and flying was out of question because back then it was too expensive.

Flying is the fastest way to go..is only a 2 hours and 10 minutes flight with Vueling or another discount airline. .

I spent a week in Rome then the following week in Paris this Fall. We originally planned on taking the night train as well but it would have cost 3x what a flight on Easyjet did at that time. We flew, trains are more romantic sure, but you can't see much scenery at night, it's a very long trip and - it cost 3x as much!

<i>Night Train from Rome to Paris in May 2013
Posted by: mbphillips94 on Nov 16, 12 at 4:29pm
In May of 2013, my fiance and I will be going on our honeymoon in Europe, so actually hell be my husband then. =) Anyways, we are doing 1 week in Rome and 1 week in Paris. We are both very much first time travelers to Europe, so this whole train/ night train business is new to us</i>

Answers:
1) See above replies. Do some shopping to verify. Look for advance purchase specials for trains and planes.

2) A day train will take a whole day. The sun sets late in May so a night train will give you some views of Italy and maybe the Alps plus some of Switzerland and France the next day. See the German Rail site http://www.deutschebahn.com/en/start.html for schedules and a route map. This is a user friendly site, in English.

3) For an illustrated introduction to night trains in Europe see http://tinyurl.com/y57vft. Keep your door locked for safety. Every cabin has 2 or 3 locks.

4) Book ASAP. Check http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/ and call Byron and Linda in Ann Arbor with your questions and to order tickets and bunk reservations. They are experts and extremely helpful.

5) See the link in 3) for details. The conductor will greet you on the platform, take your ticket and maybe passport, and guide you to your cabin. Bring some food and wine to picnic in your cabin. You wake up with breakfast at your door. And/or go to the cafe car and meet other travelers.

Personally I find night trains just a perfect way to cover distance and not spend a day in transit. If you fly you have ground logistics plus security. The train stations are "downtown" so when you arrive in Paris you actually are in Paris, not 40 miles north.

Definitely fly. Night trains - even if there still is one - is very expensive if you want a private compartment - versus sharing with strangers. And who knows how much or little sleep you would have in the evening.

If you think of this as an adventure - and are willing to pay for private accommodations - give it a try.

But I would definitely fly instead.

We agree with the above posters regarding flying between these two great cities. There is so much to explore and enjoy in each one. If you want to experience the trains, maybe try a day trip from one of the cities; e.g. Paris to Versailles.

Happy planning of your honeymoon! We think you'll really have a wonderful time in Paris and Rome. . .two wonderful choices, in our opinion.

>>>I think it's only a sleeper from Milan to Paris; you take a regular train from Rome to Milan and then change, but verify that with people who know more about the trains than I do.<<<

Thello adds overnight service from Rome to Paris Gare de Lyon starting Dec. 9.

https://www.thello.com/index.html

Here's video of the compartments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfjiaO2lyOw

I would fly Easy Jet from Rome to Paris Orly.

Fly, its actaully only 1.5 hours , as I recall. We flew on Vueling, but Easyjet is good too, do not bother with Ryanair they use an airport for Paris that is far far out and has no direct train into city.
By booking well in advance its way cheaper then a private sleeper car on the train, and really for a cheaper train ticket you'd have to take a 4 or 6 couchette, and yes that means strangers in a room the size of a closet with you, yuck.

Vueling or Easyjet, book well in advance, read about luggage restrictions carefully, ( I have flown both and both are fine) pay for checked luggage if there is any doubt in your mind at all about your luggage being carryon size ( for those airlines, not your international airline) they are STRICT and mean what they say, one pound or over can cost you $$$.

As nytraveler mentioned- who knows how much sleep you will get!!
I took the night train in the opposite direction about 4 years ago from Paris to Milan, and was flat out getting half an hours sleep, unless the service has changed ,it's not as quiet as you would think!

Before running off to the airport, remember that flying in Europe is an unpleasant experience, quite apart from the pollution they cause.

A flight will take around 5 hours, and involve 1 plane, 2 trains and 2 airports, with all the security hassle and the nonsense about bag sizes, weights and liquids.

The Thello sleeper train leaves Rome's central Stazione Termini, a mere stroll from many hotels (ours, at any rate) every night from 9 December 2012 onwards at 19:25 and arrives next morning in central Paris at the magnificent Gare de Lyon at 10:18.

It has 1, 2 and 3 bed sleepers with washbasin, 4 and 6 berth couchettes (basic bunks with rug and pillow), and a restaurnt car. Yes, it's perfectly safe - CCTV in the corridor, security locks on your compartment door, no problem.

Fares start at €35 in 6-berth couchettes, 0€55 in 4-berth cocuhettes or from €145 in a 2-bed sleeper.

You can easily book online at www.thello.com, English button at the top.

Booking opens 120 days ahead, fares vary like air fares so book as soon as you can after booking opens.

I used the identical Paris-Venice Thello sleeper in January. It's certainly not the Orient Express, so make sure you have realistic expectations, but I enjoyed dinner and found my sleeper both comfortable, quiet and smooth. I find people who take things as they find them, bring their own picnic and wine on board and have fun together in their compartment find it great fun, fussier people who expected Michelin star dining and a Best Western hotel on rails for €35 are disappointed.

To know exactly what to expect, see the video I took here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfjiaO2lyOw&feature=plcp

It certainly beats flying! What doesn't?

You can also travel by daytime trains, of course changing in Milan, www.seat61.com/Italy.htm

I should add that it's very pleasant scenery when you wake up speeding along the River Yonne in France, past pretty French villages and picturesque churches - you're really travelling wehn you go by train, as opposed to disappearing into the airline 'limbo land' and reappearing on Planet Earth somewhere else!

Thank you so much you guys! You all really helped me! I feel a lot better about it all now! I think were going to take the night train, just to say we've done it at least once in our lives! Plus as Man_in_seat61 reminded me, I cant wait to wake up going through the french villages! Thanks again!

Please come back and let us know how it went for you..