We have planned our vication but need help with the form of transportation to take. WHat would be cheaper...taking an economy flight from venice to paris or taking a 1st class compartment in a train?

Dear zzzz,<BR> Take a tramp steamer from venice to lehavre.

Definitely cheaper to fly with www.airlibexpress.com - - keep your fingers crossed they don't cease operations due to financial difficulties.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

i wanna know the answer to this question too. And if zzzzzz doesn't mind, could future posters also add in a comparison with 2nd class by train!

I travelled by train from Paris - Venice and back last February, and would thoroughly recommend it! There were two of us so we booked a 2-person sleeper compartment (cost about 3500 FF return for the 2 of us). It was great! We had comfy (if narrow) beds to sleep on, which were raised up on either side of the cabin. In the middle was a little sofa, washbasin and fold out table. Croissants and coffee were brought to us by the steward in the morning. The whole journey lasted 12 hours, leaving 8pm from Paris and arriving 8am in Venice (which means you effectively save on accommodation). Waking up at 3am just as the train emerged from the tunnel through the Alps was a fantastic experience! It was a totally stress-free way of travelling. Even if the air fare had been cheaper, I'd still have opted for the train. I'm not sure what the first-class compartments are like, but you have total privacy and comfort in the 2-person 2nd class compartments.

ttt<BR>

Sleeping cars don't have first and second class compartments. On the trains between Paris and Italy, there are various fares with different degrees of comfort. The two-berth sleeping compartments, as described above are very comfortable, but you can pay more for compartments with a bathroom (shower and toilet). <BR>The train takes you from the old city of Venezia to Paris, and saves a night in a hotel. The train has a restaurant car which serves dinner and breakfast.

The SNCF website shows a fare of 180E pp for a 2nd class double berth.

&lt;&lt;180E pp for a 2nd class double berth&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>...&quot;saves a night in a hotel&quot;<BR><BR>I should hope so.<BR><BR>versus an airfare of 28.68 euro.<BR>

topping

zzzzz,<BR><BR>Air Lib is in dire financial straits, with their operating licence due to expire at the end of Jan. if they can't put together a restructuring plan. I would avoid booking them at this point.<BR><BR>That really leaves you with the night train as your cheapest option, or Air France/Alitalia, which I would personally prefer. <BR><BR>Another option would be to take the train, but break up the trip in Switzerland. This would definitely be my favorite, provided you have enough time.<BR><BR>Hope this helps,<BR>Andre

Flew Airlib in November Venice to Paris.<BR>As above posters have noted E30 vs E180 per ticket. This really adds up if you have more than one ticket to buy. I would also much rather spend a night in a decent hotel than on any train. Will have to watch Airlib's financial status as they might go under. Pay with a credit card and you should be protected from any financial loss. Keep an alternative plan ready. Good luck.