I’ve just been notified our overnight train from Milan to Paris tomorrow night has been canceled due to a “social movement”, and Thello is offering to send us to Paris via bus at the scheduled departure time. Has this happened to anyone else and do you know if these buses will have sleeping compartments? The whole idea was to go to bed on the train and wake up at Gare du Nord in Paris. Wondering if we should just get a refund and alter our plans.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23319 posts
Hate to suggest this - Talk to the bus company about beds. Or Thello since they are responsible.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2625 posts
A very quick scan of air prices shows EasyJet at about $112 per person. Perhaps your refund for a sleeper car will cover most of this? I know it's not ideal but I think I would fly in this circumstance. That's a long time on a bus.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7042 posts
Frank is right, you need to contact the companies involved because it's hard to predict what they can or will offer you when the cancellation is due to the rolling strikes by French rail workers. I read a comment on Trip Advisor about the same issue that happened to someone in April (also due to strike) and it didn't sound like the bus had anything other than the slightly reclining seats - no beds.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thello appears to be giving us two choices: show up at the scheduled time to get on the bus or take a refund. Not a lot of info. No idea who runs the buses.
Posted by
Chicago
7903 posts
Cut your losses while you can and take the refund and fly before the airfare goes up
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
The overnight bus is not likely to be any more comfortable than trying to sleep in an airplane seat but it will get you to Paris without having to book and pay for another hotel night in either city.
Other trains: On Wed, 6/13, the direct afternoon TGV to Paris departing Milan at 14:40 still has tickets for sale from 69 euros per person in 2nd class or 79 in 1st. June 14 and 15 are not scheduled strike days, so the regular daytime and overnight options should all run.