Going to Europe on my honeymoon

[777php]

I know there are quite a few of you that frequently travel to Europe and those who actually live there so hopefully someone can answer my question.

I am going on my honeymoon soon and am planning to take the train to some of my destinations. My itenerary has me going from London to Paris to Venice to Rome.

My question is regarding the Paris to Venice overnight artesian train. If I purchase a first class France-Italy pass will that allow my wife and I to have a 2 person cabin to ourselves?

I know that overnight cabins range from those with 6 beds all the way up to single sleepers and that there are two types of first class tickets. One which is more expensive allows you to have a 2 person cabin and another cheaper one has you sharing a 3 person cabin.

I'd rather have a cabin to oursleves for safety and comfort, will my first class France-Italy pass work for what I want to do?

Thanks.

PS: I also looked at the local airlines such as RyanAir but, I figured it would be nice to take a train, and enjoy the scenery. Plus I like the fact that I can get up and walk around.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Not usually. Even if you have a first class pass, you will have to pay an additional charge for a real sleeper car. But that can also depend on rail networks. Deutsche Bahn may have one policy towards first class rail passes while SNCF might have another and TrenItalia yet another.

 

[777php]

So that means if we wanted a sleeper car to ourselves we'd be better off buying the direct tickets? We are only going to Rome afterwards so its not like we'll be using the pass a lot.

Its quite expensive at around $550 for two people going one way, is there a cheaper alternative that doesn't involve flying?

 

[poncherelli2]

I took two sleeper trains last summer because the train was cheaper than a flight plus one night of hotel. If I could do it over, I'd fly. Both my trains were crappy Trenitalia trains, and it got kinda boring after awhile.

 

[Farang]

You pay a supplemental charge to get the cabin to yourselves. As for whether or not that will be cost effective for you, you need to look into purchasing individual tickets and decide that for yourself. In general the rail pass is good for someone who wants to roam around to one place or another without a plan, and isn't a great deal for someone with a set itinerary and not many trips.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I know that train prices in Germany keep creeping up, making the RyanAir/EuroWings/GermanWings/EasyJet alternatives seem like a real bargain. But I know what you mean by the romance of train travel. You just experience so much more culture that way, both inside and outside the train.

I remember having a pass and wanting to take the night train from Munich to Berlin and ended up just paying an extra 15 EUR or so. Wasn't that bad.

 

[simms]

Couchettes cost extra even with a railpass. I went last year... starts at $25.

 

[rasczak]

will you be traveling through germany (even though you don't visit.) if you do pass through germany, you'll need to purchase a pass for that as well so keep that in mind.