Night train from Salzburg to Venice -- Couchette for 4?

Joe, do you realize that the night train doesn't depart Salzburg until after 1:00 am? I'm not sure how comfortable that's going to be for your family.

If you book ASAP on the Austrian Rail site, you can get a SparSchiene fare of 59 EUR/person for bunks in a 4-person couchette. Go here and then click on "Book online."

Lola's right about the connection from Salzburg to Venice via Villach.

However, there is another possiblility, although maybe not as inexpensive.

The night train (CNL 363), that leaves Munich at 21:03, stops for 15 min in Rosenheim at 21:28. You can take a regional train from Freilassing (20:24), just across the river from Salzburg (8 min. €2,10) to Rosenheim to meet the CNL train. The total fare from Freilassing to Rosenheim to Venice is €53,- with a Europa-Spezial fare purchased in advance from the German Rail website. That's for a seat; the surcharge for accommodations is extra.

Update: According to the German Rail website, due to high demand, the lowest fares on that train are booked. However, you can get a 4 berth cochette on that train for €356 (for all 4).

Excellent suggestion, Lee.

I believe they are using a global Eurail Pass so the fare is not such a problem---they just need the reservations and whatever supplement they might need to pay for that train.

The schedule for that train is much more reasonable for the family.

Thank you for all of your help! The Rosenheim connection looks like a great idea. Another question for all of you knowledgeable people: Why does availability differ on rail booking sites (e.g. BAHN vs. Rail Europe)? How do we book a couchette for 4 now -- and what is the price if you already have a Eurail Pass? Thanks!!!

The passholder supplement for bunks in a 4-person couchette is 30 EUR/person.

Go to the DB site and choose a travel date and a departure time of 21:00. From the drop-down menu indicate that there are four people in your party. Enter Rosenheim as your departure point and Venezia Santa Lucia as your arrival point. After you do a timetable search, click on "Check availability" in either the Savings fare column or the Standard fare column for the CNL train that departs at 21:43. Scroll down to the botton of the page and click on "Book only extra charge." Click on "Pass offer" and then on "Continue." Under the couchette heading click on "4 persons in 4-berth cabin" and proceed with booking.

Rail Europe only shows routes and timetables for trains for which it sells tickets. The DB site shows all trains and routes. RE also charges more for seat reservations and night train accommodations than the "in Europe" prices you'll find on the DB site.