½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Wait for a few years when the cheap flights bubble bursts and we will all be joining you!

Seriously though my partner and oldest daughter hate flying so we went to Provence a few times on the train and loved it..cost wise it was not too much more.

I also went from Santender in Spain to Cadiz by train stopping in Madrid overnight.

If anyone knows how you can buy a cheap ticket as advertised on the Trenitalia site? Do you go to your local station or do it online? I was thinking it would be nice when in Abruzzo to have a few trips on the rail system if I can get cheap advance tickets.

Becky[/SIZE][/FONT]

I was advised some time ago that the [url=http://www.qksrv.net/click-1459898-1484395\]Rail Europe[/url] site offered very good deals.

I have never tried them though.

Train is definitely more fun than flying. many years ago as a teenagerI travelled from Porstmouth to Calabria by train - my first ever trip abroad! (to be an au-pair.) Quite hair-raising and scary (lots of train changes), but felt much more of an adventure than getting on a plane and met lots of people on the way.
Haven't been brave enough to do long train rides with children yet, but looking forward to some adventures, when they are big enough to carry their own luggage!

We used the train to Italy a few times in the seventies, London to Naples, London to Pisa. Still enjoy train travels and would love to do some of The Great Train Journeys of the World. Generally these days no one has the time to travel by train long distance, such a shame!
Manopello you can buy tickets online.

Are there certain routes people recommend?

I've not been on a train through Europe, but assume that there's a stack of different routes that one can take................ or do you just get what's coming?

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]Are there certain routes people recommend?

I've not been on a train through Europe, but assume that there's a stack of different routes that one can take................ or do you just get what's coming?[/QUOTE]

Yet again - strongly recommend the German Railways travel planner to sort out the travel options. Its on;-

[url]http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?[/url]

A quick check, for the 28/12/05 gives several options of route, depending on what time you leave. Once you decide on your option, you can go to other sites [eg Rail Europe] to sort out tickets. If you are in London - you can do it 'face to face'

My preferred option would be the 13.41 Eurostar to Paris [arrive 17.23] - then over to Paris Bercy for the 19.00 sleeper train [has couchettes] to Rome [arrive 09.42]. The route from Paris is

Dijon Ville
Domodossola then down the side of lake Maggiore
Milano Lambrate
Piacenza
Parma
Bologna Centrale
Firenze Campo di Marte
Roma

which looks pretty good.

[QUOTE=alan haynes]Yet again - strongly recommend the German Railways travel planner to sort out the travel options. Its on;-

[url]http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en?[/url]

A quick check, for the 28/12/05 gives several options of route, depending on what time you leave. Once you decide on your option, you can go to other sites [eg Rail Europe] to sort out tickets. If you are in London - you can do it 'face to face'

My preferred option would be the 13.41 Eurostar to Paris [arrive 17.23] - then over to Paris Bercy for the 19.00 sleeper train [has couchettes] to Rome [arrive 09.42]. The route from Paris is

Dijon Ville
Domodossola then down the side of lake Maggiore
Milano Lambrate
Piacenza
Parma
Bologna Centrale
Firenze Campo di Marte
Roma

which looks pretty good.[/QUOTE]

This is the one I am looking to take - crossing Paris on the metro being my only concern as have never been there before and do not speak a word of the language...

[QUOTE=Sano]This is the one I am looking to take - crossing Paris on the metro being my only concern as have never been there before and do not speak a word of the language...[/QUOTE]

Its pretty easy

Get your ticket from the metro ticket office [not the touts]

if there are more than 2 of you - get a carnet of 10 tickets

I think there is a direct Gare du Nord - Gare de Lyon service [otherwise change at Chattelet les Halles [cross platform only]

Bercy is at the S end of Gare de Lyon - 10 minute [max] walk - reasonably well signposted. Bercy is the sleeper train station

Allow about 45 mins to get from Nord - Bercy

Look at the Metro website for services

Or you can Taxi it

[QUOTE=alan haynes]Its pretty easy

Get your ticket from the metro ticket office [not the touts]

if there are more than 2 of you - get a carnet of 10 tickets

I think there is a direct Gare du Nord - Gare de Lyon service [otherwise change at Chattelet les Halles [cross platform only]

Bercy is at the S end of Gare de Lyon - 10 minute [max] walk - reasonably well signposted. Bercy is the sleeper train station

Allow about 45 mins to get from Nord - Bercy

Look at the Metro website for services

Or you can Taxi it[/QUOTE]

Thanks! :D

Alan, thanks for posting this web address again - think you posted it last year, i used it, loved it and then lost it!
This route sounds wonderful - what could be better tha getting on anight train in Paris and getting off in Roma? just like an old movie....