Rail Europe

To quote Rail Europe’s Communications Specialist, Chris Tutolo, Rail Europe is like the Sephora of train transportation— Rail Europe is not the trains/ products but rather a site or seller of these train tickets, working with more than 50 European rail carriers. While you’ll never see a Rail Europe train in Europe, RailEurope.com will help you book a high-speed Trenitalia or overnight Thello train.

 © Digital Media – FS Italiane

With a ride so smooth you could give yourself a mani pedi, it’s no wonder that the train is the most used form of transportation when traveling from city to city in Europe. Better yet, you can build your own itinerary and book your rail plans in advance from Rail Europe, with experts in European rail travel.

The LEFAIR Magazine team knew we were going to travel quite frequently during our trip– so we were happy to board this train as it can take you from your origin destination to your desired destination in an efficient matter of time. With differently accented chatter abound, Australians, Americans, Francophones, and travelers from all walks of life rely on booking travel through Rail Europe.

Using our Eurail Pass from Rail Europe, we traveled from Venice to Florence via Trenitalia and then from Florence to Milan. Fast, spacious, air-conditioned and equipped with power out-lets, our overall experience was positive. The seats were comfortable and the staff onboard was attentive and kind.

While booking your seat reservation on your computer or mobile device, play close attention to the train station you’re booking your travel to and from. For instance, while leaving or arriving to Venice – there are two different stations. The first station is Venezia Mestre which is off of the island, so if you are staying on the island of Venice, be sure you have your train booked from the other station: Venezia S. Lucia station.

Depending on where you are traveling of course, the views from the train can be exquisite. On our trip from Venice to Florence, we passed through farmlands, sunflowers, chateaus, and grape vines of the Tuscany countryside under blue skies in a wave of pleasing vivid colors.

On the train, you will find a charming dining car that we were impressed with. This mini restaurant – was a delight and added to the overall train experience. The menu offered a variety of Italian salads, pastas, a wine list, desserts and a Chef’s special – a sea bream fillet with chard and cherry tomatoes. We did have to purchase this food, so be prepared to make a purchase on your journey if you get hungry, or bring along food. When traveling through Italy, we recommend relaxing with an Aperol Spritz, of course.

We recommend traveling by train in Europe because of the convenience of planning and booking train transportation. Since Rail Europe is the number one source for planning and booking train transportation in Europe, this may cause you to experience some waiting time when contacting the customer service while making seat reservations. The trains leave from station to station every day and every few hours, so when you are planning your trip, there are plenty of options to coordinate your arrival and departure times. Rail Europe also offers a variety of promotions and discounts, so there is a strong chance your train ride will be affordable.

The Thello trains offer pleasant 1st or 2nd class seating. You can also enjoy overnight accommodations, which include a variety of sleeping sections and couchette cars. A sleeper is a comfortable and efficient way to travel. Sleeping cars are like hotels on rails, with compact bedrooms with proper bunk beds freshly-made up, sheets and pillows. These sleeping compartments can hold up to three people depending on the size of car you choose, a complimentary breakfast and a washbasin.

Our team recommends the Three Country Rail Pass, which allows its customers unlimited travel through three bordering countries, the most popular being France, Italy, and Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland, or Benelux, France, and Germany.

© Digital Media – FS Italiane

If you register to subscribe to Rail Europe’s email list, they will update you weekly with what promotions they are currently offering, which would be great for anyone spending an extended amount of time in Europe, or if you are anticipating to plan a trip there soon.