My wife and I are vacationing together in October '06 (from Paris to Venice to Rome & back to Paris). We want to take a NIGHT train from Paris to Venice, and do the same returning to Paris from Rome. Are train beds comfortable? Suggest a first class train reservation, or other type? How long is a Paris-Venice trip by train?

I don't know what the second class sleepers are like, but you'll be taking the artesia train from Paris to Venice. I personally like the older trains, since there's more room to move in them, but if you get one of the newer models, you might enjoy the "matrimonial" room, since you can actually sleep together rather than on top of each other (by this I mean bunk beds, of course!). The ride takes about 12 hours, some with a change in Milan.

seat61.com is a great European train site. It's based in London, but has lots of information about overnight trains on the Continent, including pictures of sleeping compartments. Go to www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Venice for times and descriptions of Paris-Venice (and the reverse) and go to www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Rome for Paris-Rome (and the reverse). You can book both Paris-Venice and Rome-Paris at sncf.com and pick up your tickets at the station in Paris.

PREM'S (discount) fares, if not sold out, are available for bunks in 2nd class six-person couchettes and in 1st class four-person couchettes.

The extra space and comfort of a 1st class couchette is worth the higher price.

For privacy as well as comfort, choose a two-person (1st class) compartment.

I took a few different night trains, the most recent was from Nice to Paris (first class couchette).

We had a great nights sleep, but we had a small snag, we didnt know that we had to share the cabin with 2 strangers. No worries, we were very comfortable.

My other trips include: Amsterdam to Munich. Very modern train tight quarters in first class 2 sleeper. Munich to Prague, first class very roomy but a very old train.

I highly recommend night trains, even though most people on the boards are leaning towards easyjet and ryanair.

lostmymind, you must have taken the nachtzug from Amsterdam to Munich. I took one of those from Amsterdam to Copenhagen adn tight isn't the word for it! You had to keep your luggage out the door!

macas,

Fodor's forum had a thread on the subject of night trains at
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34840899.
This included a good overview from Ben Haines in London.

Hi M,

>How long is a Paris-Venice trip by train?

See www.voyages-sncf.com and www.trenitalia.com.

I suggest that you go in a sleeper for two.

Definitely book a private cabin (wagon-lit or 2-person private sleeper, not a couchette with 4-6 people sharing)! It's not about first class, it's about the type of supplement you pay to reserve a particular type of bed/room.

Venice to Paris we took an afternoon train to Milan ~3 hrs. then boarded the sleeper train to Paris. I don't remember the exact length of the trip but we got on in the evening and arrived early morning. We bought a great dinner from the grocery store at the Milan train station.

Beds were comfortable, we slept fine. Bring water, wine, food, and snacks.

In April I took the overnight Artesia train from Paris/Bercy station to Venice. Chose 1st class which had 2 bunks. Very nice. I was lost and had wandered into the 2nd class accomodations beforehand, they were not as nice. 4 bunks, a nicely folded stack of linens lying on the bunks/seats. Seats face each other. By contrast, the 1st class bunks are more spacious, the seats are very comfortable and the beds and linens are nice too. Train ride is about 12 hours and the ride through the countryside is beautiful. There was one stop in Milan. The night train from Venice to Rome is a different matter. As I had purchased my Paris/Venice tickets though by my travel agent ($200 USD) I dedided to buy the Rome trip at the Venice station. I asked for 1st class, cost was either 40 or 60 euro, trip time was 7 hrs. This train was the type with numbered individual seats, 6 seats to a compartments. I got the middle seat and the ride was uncomfortable. I didn't know if they had sleeping beds/compartments available, I would have spent the extra money to be less cramped and comfortable.

The reference library of a city near you may have the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, which has times of trains and notes on the sleepers and couchettes. The Stendhal Express leaves Venice Santa Lucia at 1959 and reaches Paris at 0823. It has 1 and 2 berth sleeper compartments with en suite w c and shower, 1, 2 and 3 berth sleepers, with a washbasin, and 4 and 6 berth couchette compartments, with washbasin and w c at the end of the corridor. Any passenger can walk along to the restaurant car for dinner or breakfast. If the Venice cars are full then you can take seats on the train from Venice at 1959 to Milan at 2305, change cars, and take similar sleepers or couchettes from Milan at 2335 to Paris at 0823.
From Venice to Rome is a short night. The Marco Polo Express leaves Venice Mestre at 2333 and reaches Rome at 0656. It waits there till 0715, so you need not rush to leave your compartment. You go from Venice Santa Lucia to Venice Mestre by local train. If you can tolerate a shorter night you can leave Santa Lucia in your sleeper at 0004. This train has 1 and 2 berth sleepers in first class, and 3 berth sleepers and 4 berth couchettes in second class, but I am afraid no catering beyond coffee and bun at breakfast (better missed to get a full night’s sleep).
If you set Google to Man in Seat 61 Italy you will see times, prices, and photographs of the Stendhal Express. Standard sleepers in the Marco Polo Express are similar. I have on disc a note on getting the best from sleepers on the continent: please tell me if you would like a copy by e-mail. It includes notes on agents in the USA and Britain who will book your berths by e mail or on the phone.





Date: 09/23/2006, 08:21 pm
My wife and I are vacationing together in October '06 (from Paris to Venice to Rome & back to Paris). We want to take a NIGHT train from Paris to Venice, and do the same returning to Paris from Rome. Are train beds comfortable? Suggest a first class train reservation, or other type? How long is a Paris-Venice trip by train?

Author: Surfergirl
Date: 09/23/2006, 09:45 pm

I don't know what the second class sleepers are like, but you'll be taking the artesia train from Paris to Venice. I personally like the older trains, since there's more room to move in them, but if you get one of the newer models, you might enjoy the "matrimonial" room, since you can actually sleep together rather than on top of each other (by this I mean bunk beds, of course!). The ride takes about 12 hours, some with a change in Milan.

Author: TimS
Date: 09/23/2006, 09:53 pm

seat61.com is a great European train site. It's based in London, but has lots of information about overnight trains on the Continent, including pictures of sleeping compartments. Go to www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Venice for times and descriptions of Paris-Venice (and the reverse) and go to www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Rome for Paris-Rome (and the reverse). You can book both Paris-Venice and Rome-Paris at sncf.com and pick up your tickets at the station in Paris.

PREM'S (discount) fares, if not sold out, are available for bunks in 2nd class six-person couchettes and in 1st class four-person couchettes.

The extra space and comfort of a 1st class couchette is worth the higher price.

For privacy as well as comfort, choose a two-person (1st class) compartment.

Author: Lostmymind
Date: 09/23/2006, 11:48 pm

I took a few different night trains, the most recent was from Nice to Paris (first class couchette).

We had a great nights sleep, but we had a small snag, we didnt know that we had to share the cabin with 2 strangers. No worries, we were very comfortable.

My other trips include: Amsterdam to Munich. Very modern train tight quarters in first class 2 sleeper. Munich to Prague, first class very roomy but a very old train.

I highly recommend night trains, even though most people on the boards are leaning towards easyjet and ryanair.



Author: Surfergirl
Date: 09/23/2006, 11:54 pm

lostmymind, you must have taken the nachtzug from Amsterdam to Munich. I took one of those from Amsterdam to Copenhagen adn tight isn't the word for it! You had to keep your luggage out the door!

Author: hopscotch
Date: 09/24/2006, 01:22 am


macas,

Fodor's forum had a thread on the subject of night trains at
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34840899.
This included a good overview from Ben Haines in London.

Author: ira
Date: 09/24/2006, 09:09 am

Hi M,

>How long is a Paris-Venice trip by train?

See www.voyages-sncf.com and www.trenitalia.com.

I suggest that you go in a sleeper for two.


Author: suze
Date: 09/24/2006, 11:59 am

Definitely book a private cabin (wagon-lit or 2-person private sleeper, not a couchette with 4-6 people sharing)! It's not about first class, it's about the type of supplement you pay to reserve a particular type of bed/room.

Venice to Paris we took an afternoon train to Milan ~3 hrs. then boarded the sleeper train to Paris. I don't remember the exact length of the trip but we got on in the evening and arrived early morning. We bought a great dinner from the grocery store at the Milan train station.

Beds were comfortable, we slept fine. Bring water, wine, food, and snacks.

Author: cammci
Date: 09/24/2006, 12:05 pm

In April I took the overnight Artesia train from Paris/Bercy station to Venice. Chose 1st class which had 2 bunks. Very nice. I was lost and had wandered into the 2nd class accomodations beforehand, they were not as nice. 4 bunks, a nicely folded stack of linens lying on the bunks/seats. Seats face each other. By contrast, the 1st class bunks are more spacious, the seats are very comfortable and the beds and linens are nice too. Train ride is about 12 hours and the ride through the countryside is beautiful. There was one stop in Milan. The night train from Venice to Rome is a different matter. As I had purchased my Paris/Venice tickets though by my travel agent ($200 USD) I dedided to buy the Rome trip at the Venice station. I asked for 1st class, cost was either 40 or 60 euro, trip time was 7 hrs. This train was the type with numbered individual seats, 6 seats to a compartments. I got the middle seat and the ride was uncomfortable. I didn't know if they had sleeping beds/compartments available, I would have spent the extra money to be less cramped and comfortable.

We took an overnight train from Venice to Rome.

Highly recommend taking the 1st class sleeper train.

Not only does it save a night's stay in the hotel, it also saves some precious time. Drawbacks are obviously you can't really take a good shower in the am, but the train we took had a washbasin which doubles as a table.
Space was quite cramped, but at least no baggage worries!