My family of 4 will be traveling from Innsbrook to Rome on the CNL in late May. While I realize it is still too early to purchase tickets, I could use some advice on which is the best site to buy these tickets. The DB site has the 4 tix in a 4 person couchette for 544E while the OEBB site has the same thing for 495E. Are there better prices somewhere else? Thoughts or suggestions are appreciated???
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
As your journey is starting in Austria, I would recommend the ÖBB (Austrian Railways) website http://www.oebb.at/ as the first choice. Do you want to travel on the overnight train (depart Innsbruck 23:05 , arrive Roma 09:34), or on a day train? On the night train, the price will depend on what sort of accommodation you choose.
Try and get your spellings correct ('Innsbruck' and 'Roma'), or you will have troubles finding trains on the website.
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Yes. Night train at 23:05.
Thanks for the info to purchase on OEBB.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello azeeb. I do not recommend trying to sleep in a night train. That would be an unpleasant experience. Travel in trains in the day time.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
Not everyone has trouble sleeping on a night train.
However, if you take a day train over Brenner Pass, the scenery is very nice (although, for someone from the Rockies, it is not that impressive).
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
I've taken this overnight train and it is perfectly fine as night trains go. Which is to say that it is hard for most people to get much rest. If you have just your own family in a cabin then it might help, but it can be hard to sleep through the rocking, noises on and off the train. Station stops are long to stretch the time, which on the one hand are nice because the train isn't moving and you can rest better, but on the other hand can be noisy and disruptive.
The thing I tell people, having taken many night trains, is that don't expect to be rested the next morning. I usually spend the next day very groggy (not unlike the first day spent on your trip fighting jet lag). You don't often get to check into your hotel early, so may not get to clean up that morning.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Since DB is not displaying any Savings Fares, only Standard Fares for travel three months from now, I would not expect you to find any cheaper prices. Discounts are usually sold early or not at all.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8141 posts
I too would suggest you take a day trip. It's just not that easy to sleep on a train for my wife and I.
Northern Italy is really beautiful.
Posted by
San Francisco
14507 posts
Hi,
Keep in mind that late May is the beginning of summer travel, and as such, night trains, eg, those going to Italy, do sell out, more so if you want a certain type of accommodation. The chances of the night train selling out increases if your intended ride is on a Friday or Sat. night. The CNL night train is the best night train available, ie, they don't come better than that, not that I've seen. On my recent trips for various reasons, I factor in one or two night train rides, and only on the CNL.