What would you do?
2 beds in a 4 bed women's compartment (110€) or 2 bed sleeper (304€)?
Travelling with intrepid child and not much luggage.
Man in Seat 61 isn't keen on Thello and I infer he doesn't think the sleepers are worth the price differential.
I'd fly.
If you 've never experienced a night train (I have, and I have taken my last one, and certainly would have no interest whatsoever in a Thello night train) it may not be the best time to try one with an "intrepid child".
Ditto to Nigel's response.
We took our last overnight train from Paris to
Venice in November 2010, and never again.
I'm sure JustTravel's 2010 trip was before the brand change to Thello, and the Paris-Venice night train was getting bad reviews at that time. Now, under Thello management, it's probably getting middling reviews; it's not a new or fancy train. Flying + hotel room for one more night is not likely to be any more expensive than €304 (e.g., €50 per plane ticket and up to €200 for the room). If you don't want to fly, I'd choose the cheaper 4-bed compartment, which you may share with one or two other women, depending on bookings. This train always requires separate tickets, not covered by rail passes.
Laura is right. But the 2010 trip was our third overnight trip and the worst of the three. But even if the service is better now, we are getting too old for one of us to scramble up the top bunk - private double compartment.
If we decide to travel between Paris and Venice again, we would take day trains and enjoy the scenery.
Thanks all and, especially, Laura! I will be booking the smart fare in a 4 bed women's compartment.
I should have been more clear: "neither of the above" was not an option. : )
I took an overnight train in India from Jaipur to Udaipur with Intrepid and my 74 year old mother 1 1/2 years ago. It was fine even in 2nd class non-a/c. The multitudes of rats in the train station as we waited for the train just added to the experience! I expect Thello will be a step up; I will report if it's not!
Update: I booked the two berths in a 4 couchette compartment. English language website is totally buggy (hopefully, they know trains and train travel better):
1. The reservation page did not work as expected on my iPad. I was not able to book the 110€ fare. In between attempts, the 2 berth sleeper compartment Smart fare became unavailable. Panic set in.
2. It worked on my laptop and I got the fare, then my credit card didn't work. I tried it again as I dialed Visa customer service and the transaction then went through.
3. I was asked if I wanted a female only compartment. The options were "no" or "yes, with no additional fe". Say, what? I went with "yes . . ." We shall see.
4. The Terms and Conditions which one agrees to be bound by come up en français. While I could possibly get through them given enough time and a Petit Larousse, I didn't bother. My lawyer will kill me!
Thanks for your input.
