3699 Rail Travel to Italy

Hello, this is my first time out of the sports forum so I hope somebody here can help!! A colleague fancies a holiday in Italy this year and train travel from central Scotland is her preferred option. At this stage she hasn't specified any particular area within the country. Can anybody recommend any decent websites or suggestions/recommendations/advice. Any help would be much appreciated

Category
Travel & Holiday Advice

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/21/2006 - 09:09

[QUOTE=GlenB][url]http://www.seat61.com/[/url]

lots of info there[/QUOTE]

many thanks

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/21/2006 - 13:48

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]If you look at the [url]www.trenitalia.it[/url] site you will see some special offers like a 15 euro ticket and a 25 euro ticket between Paris and Milano.

It may be better to by a railpass allowing a certain amout of time for your travel.You will then pay your eurostar fares on top.

[url]http://www.trenitalia.it/it/733ac748b76e4010VgnVCM10000045a2e90aRCRD-620bd2f5741c6010VgnVCM10000045a2e90aRCRD.shtml[/url]

The link above shows the 15 euro deals on Trenitalia.

Good luck!

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/21/2006 - 13:54

Manopello has given you the Italian railways site, and the trains in Italy are really reasonably priced, and pretty good on timekeeping (in my experience).

One tip I would offer is to have a look at the map, decide where the scenery is going to be wonderful (Lake Maggiore comes to mind) and plan the choice of trains based on when you are going to be travelling at night, when it is dark. Try and do the boring bits at night, and the spectacular bits when you can see them!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 05/21/2006 - 14:22

R[B]ules
Happy Train Europe Conditions
HAPPY TRAIN EUROPE is an offer available from 1 March to 28 June, every Wednesday from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 18.00 to 20.00, exclusively on trenitalia.com for journeys on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the week following that of purchase. Tickets must be collected from Trenitalia booking offices equipped with the Railbest international railway ticket system, giving the booking number issued at the time of purchase.
The offer is valid for all 2nd class seats, couchettes in six- and four-berth compartments and beds in triple and double wagon-lits compartments, only for the trains listed on trenitalia.com every Wednesday.
Tickets issued at the Happy Train Europe rate are only valid for the day and train booked, as shown on the ticket.
Happy Train Europe fares:
• 10 euro for journeys in 2nd class seats
• 30 euro for journeys in six-berth couchette compartments
• 40 euro for journeys in four-berth couchette compartments
• 50 euro for journeys in triple wagon-lits compartments
• 80 euro for journeys in double wagon-lits compartments[/B]

This seems like fantastic value and you may want to check it out

Becky

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/22/2006 - 07:11

[QUOTE=Relaxed]One tip I would offer is to have a look at the map, decide where the scenery is going to be wonderful (Lake Maggiore comes to mind) and plan the choice of trains based on when you are going to be travelling at night, when it is dark. Try and do the boring bits at night, and the spectacular bits when you can see them![/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more. I think I posted somewhere else recently on the subject of the fabulous run (either drive or rail) between Lausanne/Milano, which will take you along Maggiore for the final half an hour or so? This route forms part of the Paris/Rome mainline and, of course, with Eurostar from Waterloo/Paris connects brilliantly with the UK. There's a station change so good excuse to stop in Paris en route too.

But very important to study the timetable to ensure that you do Lausanne/Milano during the day for it's a dream of a ride, one if not the best in Europe, and a sector that even the Orient Express used to cover during the night, what a crying shame. Wheras Paris/Lausanne is a journey you could easily sleep through.

Another option could be Paris/Zurich (overnight) or Ostend/Zurich even if you like a longer Channel crossing. Next morning train Zurich/Innsbruck (another contender for best train ride in Europe), overnight and down the Brenner into Italy. I was in a compartment that once got dis-coupled and shunted into a siding at Brennero, but that's another story...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/22/2006 - 14:46

thanks again everybody. I've passed the link on and the info is much appreciated.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/26/2006 - 13:40

If you know where you want to go I would recommend getting in touch with Station Travel in Newtown, Powys. A long way from Scotland but Peter Compton is extremely helpful and will help and book all your train itineraries and get you the best deals available. Tel: 01686 621966; email: [email]info@newtownstation.co.uk[/email]
Also travelling first class is no more expensive than second class in the UK and good for long journeys.
Happy travelling.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/29/2006 - 02:42

I would recommend catching the Eurostar to Paris and then the overnight train to Florence( this takes about 12 hours) You can book a couchette to make it more comfortable.If you book a two bedroom berth it is like a cheap orient express experience! The journey from Paris to Florence takes 12 hours- but goes by very quickly. From Florence the rest of Italy is your oyster! Rail Europe should be able to provide all the help you need.

Janet