Trains in Italy: 1st class vs. 2nd
Mar 26th, 2005, 02:56 PM
#1
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Trains in Italy: 1st class vs. 2nd
Does anyone think there's an advantage to pay extra for 1st class on the Eurostar Italia? On the TGV in France, there didn't seem to be much difference between 1st and 2nd.
Also, do you recommend paying the reservation fee online?
Jeff
Also, do you recommend paying the reservation fee online?
Jeff
Mar 26th, 2005, 03:52 PM
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Hi SF,
For trips under 2 hrs I go 2cl.
For longer trips, my rule of thumb is under 30 2cl, over 50 1cl.
>..do you recommend paying the reservation fee online?<
Not sure what you mean. ES* is reserved seating only. The price includes the reservation. I believe the same is true of the TGV.
For trips under 2 hrs I go 2cl.
For longer trips, my rule of thumb is under 30 2cl, over 50 1cl.
>..do you recommend paying the reservation fee online?<
Not sure what you mean. ES* is reserved seating only. The price includes the reservation. I believe the same is true of the TGV.
Mar 26th, 2005, 04:36 PM
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Depends on the person. I went to Italy a few years ago with my parents and brother. Because we were curious, we bought 2 1st class and 2 2nd class tickets for the trip from Rome to Florence.
After each spending some time in both classes, on the same trip, we concluded that there was no big difference between 1st and 2nd.
In France last year, my husband and I traveled from Paris to a town east of the city (about a 2 hour ride). We traveled 2nd class there, and 1st class back. My husband much preferred 1st class to 2nd, and while I didn't notice an appreciable difference, he did.
Moral of this story: whether there's an advantage or not depends on the person.
After each spending some time in both classes, on the same trip, we concluded that there was no big difference between 1st and 2nd.
In France last year, my husband and I traveled from Paris to a town east of the city (about a 2 hour ride). We traveled 2nd class there, and 1st class back. My husband much preferred 1st class to 2nd, and while I didn't notice an appreciable difference, he did.
Moral of this story: whether there's an advantage or not depends on the person.
Mar 26th, 2005, 04:39 PM
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ira -- please correct me if i'm wrong because i'm just in planning stages. i understand that if you buy a france'n'italy pass and want to make reservations (required by ES) then you still have to stand in line and pay a "reservation fee" rather than just jump on with your pass.
Mar 27th, 2005, 06:37 AM
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Hi hip,
Don't buy any passes until you have entered your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and clicked "only if it saves me money".
Surfergirl is correct. Yo pay about 10E for the mandatory reservation.
Don't buy any passes until you have entered your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and clicked "only if it saves me money".
Surfergirl is correct. Yo pay about 10E for the mandatory reservation.
Mar 27th, 2005, 08:54 AM
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thanks surfer and ira -- i wasn't aware of the railsaver site. i compared the costs on trenitalia and found separate tix were better for us, but since been fiddling with itinerary a bit so i'll check out railsaver.
sftravler -- sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread. hope you found info useful
sftravler -- sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread. hope you found info useful
Mar 27th, 2005, 08:55 AM
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Hipvirgochick, it is necessary to buy a seat reservation on ES trains, but it is not necessary to stand in line. You can buy them ahead of time at travel agents, and, probably nowadays from a machine.
