Venice to Germany via train
Apr 16th, 2010, 10:11 PM
#1
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Venice to Germany via train
3 of us (2 seniors) will arrive in Venice via cruise ship on a June Saturday. We will tour Venice before the cruise. Flight prices from Venice to US Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are about a third higher than later in the week.
We would like to take a train from Venice on Sat. & fly home from Munich. We have been to Germany before, and we enjoy train travel. Cost for the train + flight would still be less than flying from Venice. We've looked at DB Bahn website and see there is a night train. We haven't been able to find info on what the difference in day couch, couchette, and sleeper are. Are the day couches for 3 in a compartment for 4 people? Are there doors in all 3 types? Is there room for luggage? Our experience w/German trains has been limited to normal seating, so all this is new to us.
Also, I can't find what Europa-Spezial Italien means as opposed to the more expensive Normalpreis.
Fodorites have always been helpful. We would appreciate any suggestions!
We would like to take a train from Venice on Sat. & fly home from Munich. We have been to Germany before, and we enjoy train travel. Cost for the train + flight would still be less than flying from Venice. We've looked at DB Bahn website and see there is a night train. We haven't been able to find info on what the difference in day couch, couchette, and sleeper are. Are the day couches for 3 in a compartment for 4 people? Are there doors in all 3 types? Is there room for luggage? Our experience w/German trains has been limited to normal seating, so all this is new to us.
Also, I can't find what Europa-Spezial Italien means as opposed to the more expensive Normalpreis.
Fodorites have always been helpful. We would appreciate any suggestions!
Apr 17th, 2010, 12:55 AM
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If you take a train running during the day you may find a variety of the usual equipment being used. More often than not you'll find carriages having compartments seating anywhere from six to eight people depening on whether or not you are in First or second class; you may also see carriages configured in an "open" plan, that is, with one central aisle and seats on each side (no compartments).
There is a direct (with no changes) Citynightline service which does the overnight route Venice-Munich and it will have the usual CityNightLine type equipment. I'll see if I can find you a link so you can view that equipment directly BUT you can see some of it if you go to www.seat61.com
There is a direct (with no changes) Citynightline service which does the overnight route Venice-Munich and it will have the usual CityNightLine type equipment. I'll see if I can find you a link so you can view that equipment directly BUT you can see some of it if you go to www.seat61.com
Apr 17th, 2010, 02:21 AM
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Europa-Spezial Italien is a special discount fare.
The ticket will only be valid on the specific date and train you booked.
If you miss the train, you will need to pay the difference between the discount and regular fare plus a fee.
The ticket will only be valid on the specific date and train you booked.
If you miss the train, you will need to pay the difference between the discount and regular fare plus a fee.
Apr 17th, 2010, 04:41 AM
#4
The options for the night train listed on Trenitalia (the Italian trains website)for 2nd cl are couchettes (you have to share with other people) of either 4 (345€ for 3)or 6 people (315€ for 3), 3 bed compartment (375€), deluxe 3 bed (504€). The discount tickets (called Smart fares on Trenitalia) save about you money, but you have to purchase in advance and Trenitalia won't accept US credit cards.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...3f16f90aRCRD#5
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...3f16f90aRCRD#5
Apr 17th, 2010, 08:22 AM
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You are visiting two of my favorite cities! The CityNightLine journey is only about 7 1/2 hours, so if you booked it you really wouldn't get much sleep. It arrives in Munich at 6:30 a.m. The is a complete section on this train on the DB Bahn website.
I couldn't tell if you specifically wanted a night train.
You should also take a look at the Rail Europe website. It is very easy to understand and will show the schedules. It is a little easier to read than the DB Bahn site. Rail Europe tickets can cost more, but you can at least look at it for information. If the price difference is not substantial than I usually book with them and have had no problems.
If it fits into your schedule then you could take a day trip and have lunch on the train.
If you take the night train, depending on your preferences you can also book one single and one double compartment.
I couldn't tell if you specifically wanted a night train.
You should also take a look at the Rail Europe website. It is very easy to understand and will show the schedules. It is a little easier to read than the DB Bahn site. Rail Europe tickets can cost more, but you can at least look at it for information. If the price difference is not substantial than I usually book with them and have had no problems.
If it fits into your schedule then you could take a day trip and have lunch on the train.
If you take the night train, depending on your preferences you can also book one single and one double compartment.
Apr 17th, 2010, 11:58 AM
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To get to Munich from Venice, we can either leave Venice late morning and get to Munich at night (if I read the DB website correctly, there is a bus to Villach, OIC to Salzburg, RE to Munich, SBahn to airport). We could catch an early morning flight. Or we could leave Venice about 2300, sleep on the train, and arrive at the airport around 7 a.m.
I think we are more interested in getting back to the US on Sunday than being able to sleep on the train & getting to Munich too late to catch the first flight out.
If we take a day train, are there seats 2 & 2 facing each other w/a table? Are we able to reserve seats on the Trenitalia web site? Or should we wait until we get to Italy before the cruise to make reservations?
Any advice on securing luggage? We will each have a large bag & a carry-on size one.
Thank you for helping me think this through. Your help is very much appreciated!
I think we are more interested in getting back to the US on Sunday than being able to sleep on the train & getting to Munich too late to catch the first flight out.
If we take a day train, are there seats 2 & 2 facing each other w/a table? Are we able to reserve seats on the Trenitalia web site? Or should we wait until we get to Italy before the cruise to make reservations?
Any advice on securing luggage? We will each have a large bag & a carry-on size one.
Thank you for helping me think this through. Your help is very much appreciated!
Apr 17th, 2010, 01:37 PM
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If you book well in advance (up to 92 days allowed) on the German Rail site, you can get a Savings fare of €267 total for 3 persons in an economy 3-bed sleeper on the direct Venice-Munich night train.
A day couch is a reclining seat. A couchette is a compartment with either 4 or 6 bunks. A sleeper is a compartment with either 1, 2, or 3 beds. Couchettes and sleepers have doors that lock from the inside.
A day couch is a reclining seat. A couchette is a compartment with either 4 or 6 bunks. A sleeper is a compartment with either 1, 2, or 3 beds. Couchettes and sleepers have doors that lock from the inside.
Apr 17th, 2010, 04:51 PM
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You probably already know but, just in case, note that there are two train stations for Venice. Venice Santa Lucia is the main station. Venice Mestre is located in an industrial suburb. Make sure you get the correct one when booking.
Apr 17th, 2010, 06:43 PM
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There is a faster daytime route than the bus to Villach, etc.
Take a regional train from Venezia Santa Lucia to Verona Porto Nuova, departing at 11:03 and arriving at 12:42. Then take an EC train to Munich, departing at 13:05 and arriving at 18:25. You can book the Verona-Munich train now on the German Rail site, www.bahn.de, and you can get a Europa-Spezial Italien Savings fare as low as €39. The fare for the regional train from Venice to Verona is €6.15.
Take a regional train from Venezia Santa Lucia to Verona Porto Nuova, departing at 11:03 and arriving at 12:42. Then take an EC train to Munich, departing at 13:05 and arriving at 18:25. You can book the Verona-Munich train now on the German Rail site, www.bahn.de, and you can get a Europa-Spezial Italien Savings fare as low as €39. The fare for the regional train from Venice to Verona is €6.15.
