Overnight Train from Paris to Rome
 

I'm doing some advance planning for a possible trip for spring/2014 to Paris (4-5 nights), then a stop off in Tuscany to see some friends in Monticchiello (2 nights or so), and on to Rome by car (we'll rent a car in Florence and drop it off in Rome) for 3-4 nights. This will be our first time in Paris, but my wife and I are fairly familiar with Tuscany and Rome. It appears as though Thello offers a reasonable fair on the overnight train from Paris to Rome (generally well under 100 euro).

I'm looking for thoughts from persons who have actually taken this, or a similar, train. Specifically, how dependable is it time wise? How's the 6 couchette/4 couchette setup as far as comfort? Any thoughts are appreciated.

P.S. I know some will recommend flying via RyanAir, etc., but I really don't want to go through the trouble of flying, and most of the discount airlines only fly into Rome, not Florence.

Enter Thello in the search box.

Vueling has a flight from Orly to Firenze, 9:15 to 10:40 PM, arrival roughly corresponding to bedtime on the Thello.

Flying Orly to Rome I recommend Iberia.

Haven't taken that train, and only private compartments on overnights. I wouldn't sleep in a room with strangers myself, I have enough trouble sleeping as it is, although the private compartment was okay (no transfers).

But you do know that train takes 12 hours, don't you? If you change your mind, you can get fares at that same rate on Vueling often (Paris Orly to Florence), and even Air France who flies direct has one-way fares that can be about 80-100 euro on that route on many days (their Cityjet subsidiary).

>>>I'm looking for thoughts from persons who have actually taken this, or a similar, train.<<<

There was a recent poor review (dirty, etc.) of this overnight train on Fodor's. I'll see if I can locate it.

>>>How's the 6 couchette/4 couchette setup as far as comfort<<<

No different than other overnight trains. You would be sharing the couchette with others. Bunks on both walls and when they are down, really no seating, no bathroom in the couchettes, water isn't potable.

Hmmm. You guys are making me think twice about the train. But that's ok, as that's why I posted on here!

I just read this and it answered all my questions:

http://www.seat61.com/thello-train-f...s-to-italy.htm

Here's the review:


seafox on May 26, 13 at 4:59pm

Apparently Thello service from Venice is different than from Paris. Our train last week was a a clunker, that rattled badly through the night When we arrived the beds were made up prior to departure, making the first hour awkward. (and the bunk was broken and could not be put up for the time being) The food was amongst the worst I have had anywhere any place. No linens, no stainless, no glasses, no bottles of wine (as in the video). Instead a dirty table, Pate heated in the can, (yes heated), over microwaved salmon on a paper plate (it was hard and stuck to the plate), and a less the intelligent waiter (he served some things others you had to look for yourself). Best part of the trip was not the midnight banging on the cabin door for your passport (they forgot to collect them earlier)... but it was the 11PM Americans who arrived when we stopped in Milan and occupied the cabin next to us.... they were certain the connecting door was the private bathroom that the "Jersey Shore" style wife was certain existed...after 10 minutes trying to get the door open they gave up! Breakfast was equally bad..... I was so happy to arrive in Paris and get off the tired old nightmare train from Venice.

It's towards the end of this thread which was started a year earlier.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...m#last-comment

Another recent less than stellar review:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-thello.cfm

YMMV