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Messages - EuroFascination

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1
We're altered our plans and we're probably going to travel from Interlaken to Venice.

I think I messed up.

I thought Swiss train tickets didn't go on sale until 30 days before.  It looks like international Swiss tickets go on sale much earlier.  Do you know when? 

Are there any options for inexpensive tickets on Friday 6-29?

Here is the best I can do right now, CHF 392:
http://gyazo.com/a0692fece0c576289a631431bd71e80d

Is it better to just buy those or to wait until one of their periodic sales?

I, again, really appreciate your help and wish I could buy you a cup of coffee (at least).

Pete

2
>> complicated

What is the most complicated thing?

Boy, I just had the most frustrating experience!!!  I had four 9euro tickets using the new site in my hot little hands... then when to look up something on another web page then they suddenly DOUBLED!  I thought, "That's it... I didn't strike then the iron was hot."

I spent the next 30 minutes frantically trying the old and new site... to new avail... they're loading/testing is crazy... I FINALLY was able to find the 9euros on the old site and purchased like a bullet!  I was sure I had lost the cheap fares... I guess I'm a bargain hunter and got really, really sad when they disappeared.

3
You beat me to it!!! I just discovered that by accident!
Thanks!
Pete

4
By the way, what is your first name?  I'm Peter.

Where are you seeing the 9 Euro MINI fares?  Here is what I'm seeing on the new site... no MINIs anywhere is sight :(

http://gyazo.com/007bc33f65a947c14074e6284dfd9a81

Planning these trains is kinda like being a detective.


5
I discovered this on a website... the OLD and the NEW sites are running simultaneously, and I can only personally find the MINIs on the OLD site:

http://www.trenitalia.com/homepage_en.html

6
1) How far out can you purchase Italian train tickets?  I thought it was 1-3 months out... looks like I was mistaken as tickets for July 3rd can be purchased now.

2) What does 0.00 mean for MINIs?  Please see this link.  Does it mean they've all been sold out?
http://gyazo.com/55258aa320b1904ec5d1be4bb8c2d16e
Or that they haven't been made available yet?

Looks like they've changed their site design.

Pete

7
SNCF replied to my question.. YES!, they acknowledge that one can indeed pick up the tickets at a counter, but there is an 8 euro fee for the group:

Quote
You wish to retrieve your tickets with your chip-less card.
I am pleased to inform, introduce yourself to any sncf counter in order to obtain your tickets,
an extra 8 euro fee would be asked.
I am pleased to inform, the 8 euro fee would apply for each booking reference,
in your case it should be only once.

8
Thank you for the info.

1) It's odd that I tried it with both French and English(Canada) and neither site gave me the "Retrieval in a French Station" option of your screen shot.
2) I don't think they will postal mail tickets to United States.... US is the only site not listed (I think forcing us across the pond in US to use Rail Europe site).

I wrote them... good idea!

Pete

9
Again you are rocking my world and I really appreciate it!

For Paris to Colmar I'm using voyages-sncf.com site in French to bypass the rail europe fees (which are painful):
http://gyazo.com/9df0070b896ef0f9f663692c5449338f

The warning message says I have a chip on my card to use machine to pick up tickets.  Are you sure I can go to a person at a ticket window and give them the confirmation number to pick up the tickets as long as I bring the exact credit card I used online to purchase them?

Here is the scary message, translated:
http://gyazo.com/f950648ab2620260c765af3460ee9a09

Thanks again so very much,
Peter

10
I'm so happy for all the help you're giving me.  I've been able to find some of the discounts you write about.

I've also reverse-engineered the fare lookup tables to figure out how far I can book.

I'm still confused about Mini-Fares in Italy.  I can't seem to find any.  Here is one screen shot:
http://gyazo.com/a66dbe609f15f69f92851fef656cf926

I found the 43E fare, but not the MINI.  Do you know how to hunt from them?  Looking for Venezia to Firenze or Pisa.

Also, have you heard about the new fast train service called Italo?  I wonder when those will go on sale and if they'll have any low prices to start ;)  I notice they go from  Venezia to Firenze.

11
We've decided to re-arrange our trip greatly to do "trains" instead of "car" and it was your advice that made it possible!!!

On our current itinerary (revision 12, *sigh*) we'll be traveling from Zug to Venice.   As much as I want a night trail experience, my research shows that the Switzerland to Italy crossing is not to be missed so we're going to do it in daylight.  We have two options:
1) Zug -> Venice via Milan (nice fare... CHF 52)
2) Zug -> Innsbruck (stay night for quick visit); next day Innsbruck -> Venice.

I've heard that scenery over Alps is bit nicer through Innsbruck than via Milan.  Would you concur?   Or am I splitting hairs and they're both just wonderful?  Is that route (for the beauty) worth three additional hours of train travel?

Pete

12
1) I think the driving cost is around $1,900.  I added up the absolute lowest cost of your figures and it came in also around $1,900 for best case scenario (early and lucky). Worst case I guess could be $500 more.  I'm strongly leaning on the train option because of quality of life issues: A) driving 2,500km, B) relaxation, C) "romantic fixation" on trains D) Hopefully faster overall.
2) Are any of the best deals available now--or do they all start 2-3 months ahead of time?
3) For overnight sleeper to Venice, I was only able to find triples and 6-bunks.
4) Do we have to go north to Munich to catch an overnight sleeper to Venice?

I read your post slowly but I'm now going to pick it apart leg-by-leg and manually price them and try to learn these sites.

I don't know how to thank you for such a lengthy and detailed answer--thanks so much!

Pete

13
I'd like to price this trip.  Is that something you can do?  I'm having a terrible time with the three country train websites.  Many of the sites  say "no solution" or won't give a price when there is obviously a route!

Even if the train costs more I'm feeling drawn to the train.

If we price it for February, is that representative of summer prices?

We also want to use the lifts in the Alps... does that mean we should buy a Swiss pass?  This is all so confusing.

Pete

14
I've planned an aggressive road trip this summer with this route) for two adults and two kids (15, 11) that I'm trying to convert to a train-based trip.

I've taken a stab at the list of eight train legs we would need to take.

To simply our trip I'm considering dropping Bavaria and spending more time in Colmar, FR.

Please don't look up all the schedules yet.... is it possible to do this many legs by train and not go crazy?  Or is it better to drive? 

Pete

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