I am going from Paris to Rome via train in the next 4 months. I would like to purchase tickets now if possible. I looked up SNFC website and found I could go from Paris to Milan with a train change in Geneva and then from Milan to Rome. I could do all this for E361 which is considerably less than the $898.00 on the rail europe website. I also looked up the TGV website. It was E588. Is changing trains in Geneve and also in Milan a big hassle , or is it feasible? How much time should I allow between train arrival and next train depature? I put in Great Brittan as my country. The book says I can then print out the tickets from my home computer in the USA. What is the best option? It looks like I have to change trains in Milan anyway. What site should I book on, TGV or SNFC? Help! Barbara
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you read French, you can book at www.voyages-sncf.com. Otherwise book at www.tgv-europe.com. To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as your country of residence. It is possible to get much cheaper fares than the ones you quoted. If you book well in advance (up to 90 days allowed), you can get a 2nd class Prem's fare as low as €119 for Paris-Milan plus Milan-Rome. The Paris-Milan train is direct. You do NOT go via Geneva. Leave Paris at 07:41 and arrive in Milan at 14:50. Leave Milan at 15:15 and arrive in Rome at 18:45.
Posted by
OP
willow park, tx, usa
10 posts
Thanks so much for the information. I should have mentioned that price was for 3 people. Thanks for the website and infol It is very helpful. Are you sure that will be enough time between trains? Can you take a little later train from Milan to Rome? Barbara
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Like voyages-sncf.com, tgv-europe.com and tgv.com are both operated by SNCF; but they don't work in the same way. On tgv.com if you choose Great Britain as your country of residence, you will be bumped to the UK Rail Europe site. Choosing Great Britain as your country of residence on tgv-europe.com allows you to book in English and get the same discount fares that are sold on voyages-sncf.com. For some fares you can print your own ticket. For all others you can pick up your ticket at any SNCF station or ticket boutique in France. 25 minutes (14:50 - 15:15) is plenty of time to make your connection. Be at the door when the train pulls into Milano Centrale so you can be among the the first ones off. The only connection that shows on the SNCF sites is the one I've listed. If you want a longer layover in Milan, then book only Paris-Milan. Buy your Milan-Rome ticket when you get to Milan. You can only get a discount fare (as low as €30) for the Paris-Milan leg anyway. You'll pay €89 for Milan-Rome no matter when you buy your ticket. The ticket machines in Italian stations have an English option and they accept US credit cards. After 15:15 the next trains depart at 15:34, 16:00, and 16:15.
Posted by
OP
willow park, tx, usa
10 posts
Thank you for the information again. I am now considering a southern route to Rome for comparison sake, scenery and money wise. I would like to check Paris to Nice or something like that and then continue to Rome via the coast. I can not find a train leaving Nice for Rome, so maybe an Italion city on the coast. I don't know, just considering my options. Does anyone know which route is more scenic? If I took the southern route, would I still see the Alps? Does anyone know if there is still rioting in southern France? Thanks. Barbara
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
If you go via Nice, you cannot get from Paris to Rome in one day. The earliest direct TGV from Paris to Nice arrives in Nice at 13:24. To get from Nice to Rome requires a minimum of three connections and the latest you can leave Nice is 13:23, one minute before your train from Paris arrives. Also, you would bypass the Alps on your leg from Paris to Nice.
Posted by
OP
willow park, tx, usa
10 posts
Thanks for the information.