plane or train for quick trip Rome to Venice
 

I have a quick trip to Rome (3 days), Venice (2 days) and later flight Venice to Paris for extended visit to friends in France. 15 days - I will have 2 pieces of luggage. After reading some very bad reviews on lost luggage and cancelled Alitalia flights to luggage thefts and other cons in or around the Termini train station in Rome or on the train itself. I'm curious which method of travel people recommend for a Sunday in mid November: plane or train. And, if other train stations are safer - Triburtina.
Thanks for any advice.

If you are at the Rome airport then consider a flight to Venice since you are at the airport. Give yourself at least a three hour window and I would go for four. We have flown Alitalia a number of times with no problems with regard to luggage. And we have been through Termini a dozen or more times with no problems. I don't think Termini is an less safe than any other major train station.

>>>other cons in or around the Termini train station in Rome or on the train itself<<<

Termini is in the midst of a remodel (pushing the tracks back and enlarging the shops area). There are no cons around the trains as they've closed the area off to people that don't have tickets.

Your problem is going to be managing two pieces of luggage and getting them on/off the train. Are they both on wheels?

If you are already at the airport you can fly, but if you are in the city center, train is the way to go. Once you factor the time spent going to/from airport and the time needed for check-in and security checks, train is faster than airplane.

The two pieces of luggage sound an alarm. Not only you will have to deal with them on your own on the train, but remember that in Venice you either walk to most destinations, or take a crowded ferry, or take a very expensive water taxi. Limit yourself to one piece or skip Venice.

Always best advice for train travel: Consult www.seat61.com
I went to www.trainline.eu, a private seller, to check the time needed for central Rome to central Venice. The fast train appears to be 3:45 hours. An airplane will take much less time in the air. However, getting from central Rome to the terminal, check-in, boarding etc. will consume at least 2:30 hours. Deplaning, retrieval of checked bags, and public transit into Venice is an hour at least and maybe more. Train arrives in the centre, so the train certainly isn't slower, it's less hassle, and more comfortable. Can't help with your luggage burden, though.

Yes take the train and see some of Italy in between Rome and Venice -like when the train goes thru Florence, Bologna (easy to stop off for a few hours)- stations have crooks yes but if you are at all aware of the problem the problem largely goes away.

There is also an overnight train Venice to Paris that saves daytime travel time even over flying- www.thello.com.

For lots on Europe trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

first class tickets are also discounted and at times may not cost much more than the cheapest available 2ndclass ducats and there is always a significant difference in comfy level between the two classes. Do not stow your luggage in luggage racks by entrances unless you keep an eye on them when the train stops and people come and go.

in Venice you either walk to most destinations, or take a crowded ferry, or take a very expensive water taxi. Limit yourself to one piece or skip Venice.>

Or do as I often do put heavy things or things you may not need for the time in Venice and stash one bag in the train station luggage depot until you come to leave.

Trains do Rome to Venice in about 3 hours how - city center to city center - flying would actually take much longer - getting to airports and out of them takes a lot of time- especially in Venice or Rome. Could stop off in Florence for a few hours too if you want just to see the famous Duomo area, a short enough walk or tram ride from the main Florence train station.

"Or do as I often do put heavy things or things you may not need for the time in Venice and stash one bag in the train station luggage depot until you come to leave."

...or book a hotel in the silent Calle Priuli, a few steps (not even stairs) from the railway station as I use to do.

Yes I've done that too - right around the corner- many small hotels in immediate vicinity.

Train will be much easier and also faster unless you are already at the airport in Rome

Thank you to everyone for their advice. Bringing holiday gifts with me - 2 suitcases necessary. 1 medium check-in. 1 very small rollaboard. both on wheels. I have managed two suitcases before on trains throughout France and left them on luggage racks far from my seat without a worry.I'll make sure not to do that on this trip. Agree stairs in stations are never fun yet it's doable. Looks like the direct trains Rome Venice leave out of Triburtina. I'm staying in city center in Rome and somewhere on the lagoon in Venice - can only enter via the water taxi. (been to Tuscany and Umbria. already have flight venice to paris.) Have never been to Rome or Venice and trying to see these cities before friends and family time in Paris. Thanks again for all the Italian expert advice! Train it is!

I stand corrected. Thank you, Southam, for the trainline link, there is a direct train without stops from Termini also.

Roma Termini to Venezia S Lucia:

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

>>> Thank you, Southam, for the trainline link<<<

I never understand using a reseller instead of the actual train company for schedules. The two train companies on this route are Trenitalia and Italo. Both would have trains from either Termini or Tiburtina, but Tiburtina would be more difficult for you to reach. Trenitalia has much more frequency on this route than Italo, but often you can save a few euro on Italo if you are booking last minute. Any fast train (either company) that departs Roma Termini stops at Roma Tiburtina 10 minutes later.

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom

http://www.italotreno.it/en

>>>I have managed two suitcases before on trains throughout France and left them on luggage racks far from my seat without a worry.I'll make sure not to do that on this trip.<<<

Trenitalia's trains are scheduled to be in Termini station for 10-15 minutes for boarding (you can determine this by looking at the schedules and checking Napoli as departure and Venezia S L as arrival, then clicking i by the train type/number). They only stop for 2 minutes in Tiburtina. With your luggage and needing to reach your car, I would select the station with more access time. Trenitalia also lets you select your seat and car if booking online. Italo does not. Italo doesn't show how long they are in each station.

Italo does have some small areas to lock luggage onboard (coins required to operate). I've never used it. Perhaps some of the newer Trenitalia trains have this also (I haven't seen it, but maybe someone else has). Trenitalia has space to slide a good size suitcase (24-25")in behind your seat. This works for most seats except those few at the end of the cars that have flip down trays instead of tables (I prefer to book seats with tables). Trenitalia has far more tables per car than Italo which has very few (maybe only 1-2 per car) and therefore, no room behind your seat for luggage.

ttt