I am planning to travel Europe on a budget and having bought some budget flights, I am left with some sectors which don't have connecting cheap flights and day trains are too time wasting. I wish to take the night train and and since I am on a budget and also cannot sleep in anything moving, can I just pay for the seat without paying extra for any sleeper ?
I am thinking of:
Somewhere in Switzerland(to be decided later) to La Spezia or Venice and Venice to Naples or Rome.
Thanks alot.
I'm not 100% certain, but I think that night trains between Switzerland and Italy only have sleeping compartments, either couchettes or sleepers.
According to the Trenitalia site, you can book a reclining seat rather than a couchette for either Venice-Rome or Venice-Naples. However, I don't recommend it. Your luggage will be much more secure if you at least book a bunk in a 6-person couchette. Couchette doors lock from the inside.
flp,
The Venice - Rome trip is only about 4 to 4.5 hours via EuroStar Italia so I wouldn't bother with a night train on that route. Some of the scenery along the way is incredible, so that's another reason to use a day train.
Thanks all(sorry I cannot see your names as I type this reply).
I am travelling light, just a backpack on my lap will do and I can never fall asleep in a moving vehicle, so anything that cost more than a seat is a waste to me.
My timing is very tight, so hope not to take a day train in order to save daylight hours.
Will the ticket-booking websites show ?(seat, berth ot sleeper).
Thanks again.
I know this doesn't answer your question, but I can't help thinking that if your timing is that tight, maybe you are trying to do too much. What happens if one of your tight connections is late or cancelled? What are the consequences for the rest of your trip? And as long as you can't sleep anyway, and you have to travel, day time travel isn't "time wasting" if you can see some great views along the way.
