I need help

I am trying to book on SNCF's French web site for travel from Paris Bercy to Venice San Lucia Station. My limited French makes this a tough go - even using Google's language translator.

Anyway, I want to book the Artesia - leaving Paris in the evening for myself and brother (we are not kids) I want to book a first class compartment for two.

I'm trying to figure out the SNCF web site. My question - it looks like I want a "double 1e classe" versus "single 1e classe"

I am assuming "double 1e" is for two people with two separate bunks - am I correct?
(don't laugh - I know those compartments are small but you never know)

Originally I was trying to get a stopover in Venice for about five or six hours and then reboard a second train to Rome later that afternoon. I can't seem to navigate the SNCF site to accomplish that goal - anyone have any success doing that?

Thanks in advance.

You can't book a train from Venice to Rome on the French rail site. That would be a separate trip and you would have to book it on the Italian train web site: trenitalia. (Train trips don;t have "stopovers". You got off the train and have finished the trip. The next trip is a separate train/trip.)

You could book a trip from Paris to Rome if you wanted - but then it wouldn't stop in Venice.

Also - do check on the toilet situation - I'm not sure the 1st class cabins have one since they're only 2 people - you may have to share one with others.

nytraveler, the OP is taking the direct Paris-Venice night train. Rome isn't part of this equation.

If you don't want to mess with the French on the SNCF site, book on www.tgv-europe.com. It's run by SNCF and will offer you the same discount fares, if available, for advance booking (up to three months allowed). To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as both your country of residence and the country in which you will retrieve your tickets. You will be able to pick up the tickets at any SNCF station or boutique (ticket shop) in France, even though you originally chose Great Britain.

Yes, you want a "double 1e classe." The sleepers are all the same size. The only difference is in how many beds (1, 2, or 3) are pulled down.

For information about the Paris-Venice night train, with photos of the sleeping accommodations, go to http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Venice.

my sister and I (both in our 50's)
took the overnight train from Paris to Venice.
We were in a coed 4 berth car.
I think it was fun. Others say it is only for the youth.

This train has couchettes (4- or 6-berth compartments) and sleeping compartments which have one, two or three berths, depending on what fare you pay. The sleepers have wash basins, but toilets are along the corridor, shared. The "double" sleeping compartment has two bunks, one above the other.
Book the Paris-Venezia train with SNCF; book Venezia-Roma with Trenitalia, or just buy the ticket in Venezia.

My apologies to nytraveler. After re-reading the original post, I now see the reference to traveling from Venice to Rome.

Booking on the Trenitalia site can be a major headache for people who don't live in Italy--and often doesn't work at all. Just buy your Venice-Rome tickets when you get to Rome.

The Artesias are high speed trains from Paris to a city in Italy. You can get one to Venice. OR you can get one to rome. the train does;t go from Venice on to Rome- it goes back to Paris.

Once you're off the Artesia in Venice you are now dealing with Italian trains in Italy. Agree that buying a ticket on the spot is the bet choice.

But can;t imagine going to Venice to spend just a few hours and then on to rome.

If you want to see anything in Venice stay several days. If not - take the train direct from paris to rome.

Thanks for all the help. Every comment was worthwhile. I'll try the Great Britain routine - because as you said Tim I kept getting bumped to the Rail Europe site.

In my last post I wrote, "Buy your Venice-Rome tickets when you get to Rome." Now there's a major faux pas!