Rome to Paris Train Journey
 

Hi all
We are planning to travel from Rome to Paris on 2nd April (Myself, my wife and 2 kids-5&8).
Can anyone please tell me about the train ticket prices as the internet is showing extremely confusing and expensive options. we are hoping to take any train which passes from Switzerland so that we may enjoy the view on the way.
Cheers

At this late date, any inexpensive tickets will have already been sold. There is one train that will take you to Rome on April 2nd, which departs Gare de Lyon at 10h38. The two others arrive the next day.

Prices will be around 200€ each.

www.capitainetrain.com
www.voyages-sncf.com

consider the Thello overnight train from Milan to Paris - www.thello.com - for lots on European trains in general and overnight trains check these informative sites: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Save on the cost of a hotel and wake up bright and early in central Paris.

Option 1:

Step 1, Rome Termini to Turin Porta Susa from 29 euros in 4h30 booked at www.trenitalia.com

I'd allow at least 40 minutes between trains in Turin.

Step 2, Turin Porta Susa to Paris Gare de Lyon in 5h36 by direct TGV from 29 euros booked at www.capitainetrain.com. Nice scenery, nice train with cafe-bar, designer interior with power sockets at all seats.

You can do the whole trip in a single day if you take the 12:20 from Rome, and get the the 17:35 TGV from Turin arriving Paris 23:32.

Or take any train Rome-Turin, see a bit of Turin and stay overnight, then take the 07:39 (or if you're not an early riser, the 10:15) TGV to Paris next day. The choice is yours...

Option 2:

Take a high-speed train Rome-Milan in 2h55 and take the 22:55 Thello sleeper to Paris Gare de Lyon arriving 09:10. You can book this whole journey as one trip at www.thello.com or www.trenitalia.com

Thello gets reasonable reviews from those with cheap tickets in the basic couchettes who bring a picnic and bottle of wine and have fun. Less good reviews from those who book a pricier sleeper with high expectations who find those not met - see my opinion of Thello at http://www.seat61.com/thello-train-f...s-to-italy.htm

It's Easter week of course, and only weeks away, so you won't get the cheapest rates.

I'm seeing 90 euros Rome-Turin on Trenitalia, but the 09:55 Italo shows 48 euros Rome-Turin, www.italotreno.it

Turin-Paris I'm seeing 130 euros 2nd class, 120 euros 1st class (no typo here!).

For option 2 Rome-Paris I'm seeing 95 euros in 6-berth couchettes or 120 euros in 4-berth couchettes.

If you want qany of those discounted fares book yesterday - it should be pointed out that those fares I believe are train-specific, non-changeable and non-refundable.

Why not just fly or break up your journey but an all-day train marathon - if so go first-class - much more relaxed than a sure-to-be-mobbed 2nd class.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...eper-train.cfm

the good, bad and ugly of the Thello night train! I've taken it several times and always found it about like any night train - mixed cabinets (couchettes) a crap shot but usually freally nice folks but occasionally the loud snorer, etc.

You have received lots of good info/advice -- but at this late date I <i>might</i> consider flying instead. Just like the trains, the cheap fares will likely be gone - but worth checking easyJet etc.

we are hoping to take any train which passes from Switzerland so that we may enjoy the view on the way.>

this is one reason fares are so high - you have to change trains in Switzerland so you have two fares to buy and even at discounted rates, not available now probably as they are sold in limited numbers and can sell out weeks/months early - one fare Paris to Zurich (www.capitainetrain.com for fares and Zurich to Milan (www.sbb.ch or www.trenitalia.com).

You could go via Bern and take a different rail line to Milan but that line (via Brig and Domodossola) is not nearly as scenic as the Zurich -Lugano line to Milan. The Brig/domodossola route now goes largely thru some of the world's longest rail tunnels practically the whole way to Domodossola so you see zilch but tunnel walls with their ubiquitous zigzagging yellow stripes.

But the Zurich-Goschenen-Lugano mainline still has wondrous Alpine scenery all along it except for a much shorter Gotthard Tunnel (a new much monger tunnel is yet to open so for now the views are great.

But this route takes longer than the most direcgt Paris-Modane-Turin-Milan route that has direct high-speed trains - the scenery along it in no way matches the dramatic beauty of Switzerland however.

If going via Switzerland why not break up your journey in say the Interlaken area - where the Jungfrau Region is the epitome of th dreamy images of Alpine Switzerland perhaps etched in your minds' eyes.