I’m planning a rail trip to Tuscany with my wife. We are both seniors. Leaving from Newcastle. We plan to break the journey and stay somewhere like Arles for a night or two then onto Lucca. We plan on staying in Lucca for a week or so. Then onto Como for a short stay. We will be visiting Belgium to make a trip to see the Menin Gate memorial.
Any advice would be welcome.
Thank you.
Best answer by thibcabe
Newcastle - Arles is a fairly reasonable journey. However I’d suggest staying overnight in Avignon thanks to the proximity of Avignon TGV station.
If you wish to avoid the station transfer in Paris (Gare du Nord → Gare de Lyon) consider one of the Lille-Europe - Avignon TGV direct trains. Lille has direct trains from London.
Avignon - Lucca is quite a long journey with multiple changes but as long as you leave nice and early that should be fine.
When’s the trip planned? From September there will be a Milan - Brussels night train run by European Sleeper 3x/week. This could be convenient! Of course a daytime journey through Switzerland and Germany is fine too. I’d avoid going via Paris for the expensive reservation fees.
Newcastle - Arles is a fairly reasonable journey. However I’d suggest staying overnight in Avignon thanks to the proximity of Avignon TGV station.
If you wish to avoid the station transfer in Paris (Gare du Nord → Gare de Lyon) consider one of the Lille-Europe - Avignon TGV direct trains. Lille has direct trains from London.
Avignon - Lucca is quite a long journey with multiple changes but as long as you leave nice and early that should be fine.
When’s the trip planned? From September there will be a Milan - Brussels night train run by European Sleeper 3x/week. This could be convenient! Of course a daytime journey through Switzerland and Germany is fine too. I’d avoid going via Paris for the expensive reservation fees.
+9As
Another option, if you’re not set on Arles, is the sleeper from Paris to Nice. You could get off anywhere between Marseille and Nice, and break your journey there. Then continue along the coast to Italy.
The direct sleeper from Como to Brussels is a great shout for your return, if it’s running on your dates. Of course you could also jump on a train to, say, Milan or Bellinzona in the morning and pick up the sleeper from there. Guide to the journey here: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/european-sleeper-brussels-milan.htm
If you’re looking for a guided tour in Ypres/ Ieper, I can recommend Flanders Battlefield Tours. I also highly recommend a visit to Talbot House in Poperinge, which was where troops came for R&R.
Hello all, thank you very much for the prompt response. We are planning to begin our trip on September 21st and return around the 4th of October. We are planning on getting a 7 day interail pass. Will we be able to use this from our start point in Newcastle? Once again thank you all. Regards.
+9Yes. You can use it in the UK to connect with your Eurostar. I’m in Newcastle too, and it’s great value considering LNER prices!
Just count up how many days you think you’ll be travelling to see whether you need a 5 or 7 day pass - remembering that a sleeper train only uses the day of departure.
If you plan to use the sleeper from Como to Brussels, it runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
It’s well worth making reservations for the Eurostar as soon as you can (probably London to Paris, and Brussels to London) since they do get booked up. You can change the reservation for free (subject to availability) up to 7 days before departure.
Thanks again. I wasn’t expecting so much great info. Trying to decide on 5 day or 7 day pass and whether or not to upgrade to 1st class.
Definitely recommend the 1st class pass. Additional cost well worth it on LNER from Newcastle to Kings Cross on space and free catering in 1st class (plus 1st class lounge at Newcastle and St Pancras) EuroStar from St Pancras also a good deal with a 1st class pass. btw ignore the Interrail planner which suggests that you have to pay for LNER reservations-they are free so just make free seat reservations on the LNER app or website.
+9I agree. First Class is definitely worth it for your route. LNER and Eurostar are great (and you get lounge access with LNER). Your other daytime long distance and Swiss trains also have very nice 1st.
For a 7 day Senior pass, the premium is around €100.
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