Susan

We (family of 4) will be travelling from Canada to Amsterdam We plan to spend 1 week in the Netherlands and 1 week in Italy. <BR>We would like to take the train from Amsterdam to Venice and spend 3 days in Venice 3 days in Florence ,Sienna area and 2 days in Rome <BR>What trains are recommended and what route? we plan to buy a eurorail pass we would like to enjoy the scenery on the way so prefer not to fly. Are we been too ambitious ? <BR>any suggestions re trains, accomodations sightseeing etc would be greatly appreciated. Thank you <BR>

elvira

Your itinerary is very ambitious; you'll be on a train for over 16 hours between Amsterdam and Venice. <BR> <BR>You can do it two ways: all day time, or part day/overnight train. <BR> <BR>To do all daylight, you'll probably have to stay overnight in another city, then catch the next day's morning train. <BR> <BR>Example: Amsterdam to Paris on morning one, spend the day in Paris and stay over night, then catch a morning train to Venice. I went via Lausanne, Switzerland, and it was a beautiful trip. If you wanted to do it all in one shot, then afternoon train to Paris, and pick up the night train, arrive Venice the next morning. <BR> <BR>You could also go via Munich, but that would be a night train Munich, then pick up a morning train to Venice.

Bob

Try this web site for train schedules: "http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/detect.exe/bin/query.exe/e" Enter Venice as Venezia. I'm showing a 16 hour minimum for the trip but maybe you can find something shorter. If you take one of the night trains, that may not be as bad. I believe that KLM is the only airline with direct flights between the cities but that may be an expensive option.

Rex

If you want to enjoy the scenery, there are some great scenic places you can go once you are in Italy. <BR> <BR>Instead of spending close to $2000 CAD on Eurailpasses, spend 710 BEF ($24 CAD) per person to fly from Brussels (Charleroi) to Venice (Treviso) on www.ryanair.com - - then once you're in Italy, buy a kilometric ticket and keep at least $1000 CAD in your pocket. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Tony

Susan.. <BR> <BR>If you really wish to make the journey by train in order to see the countryside (and I would too if I were you), then it is virtually essential to break your journey for one night somewhere on the way - probably in Switzerland. <BR>The best way from Amsterdam to Venice is through Holland, Germany and Switzerland to Italy. Here is a suggested itinerary - there are many more options, but I feel this is the most logical. <BR>Day One. Depart Amsterdam 0755, arriving Lucerne 1705, change at Basle, or Depart Amsterdam 0855, arriving Lucerne 1805, changing at Cologne and Basle. The changes are easy by the way. <BR>This trip will give you a good run through Holland, but the most scenic stretch is between Cologne and Mainz in the Rhine Valley, which is fabulous. <BR>Day Two. Depart Lucerne 0918, arrive Venice 1657, change at Arth Goldau, which is only a short distance from Lucerne, and then settle back for a scenic wonderland through Switzerland, on the second train, which carries Observation Cars in lst.Class. <BR>All the trains mentioned have refreshments and dining cars, or you can take your own picnics, which are easily bought at the stations. <BR>Email me if I can help further.