Milan Travel Forum

Hi all,

I have to go to Amsterdam from Milan and know I've a couple of travel options-- via plane or night train. Is the night train really much cheaper than taking a budget plane? And would you recommend that? I'm on a budget obviously, and I'd like to know what the best way is.

Help, please. Thanks!

Depending on when you are going, Easyjet or Transavia would fly you one way for under 100Euros.

Not sure if a sleeper seat on the train would work out cheaper. I haven't tried one out so I'm unable to comment on their comfort or lack there of, keeping in mind it is a fifteen hour trip. There are different fares and specials sometimes which can be very good value but you might need to be flexible about which day you travel.

Taking the train would be my preferred choice simply because it leaves from Central Milan and arrives in Central Amsterdam with a minimum of fuss. Easyjet is based at Malpensa a forty minute bus trip from Milan and Transavia flies out of Milan Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo. Add to that queues, security checks and waiting for luggage as well as paying extra for bus transfers. The train would be in my opinion, a much more relaxing experience.

The cheapest train fares may well be a lot less than the cheapest air or bus fare, so it is an option worth considering. You must book well in advance though, and the cheapest fares don't give much comfort (but still better than a Eurolines coach).

There is a direct night train Milano - Amsterdam, and the cheapest fare available on that train is 29,-, although I'd opt to pay a bit more for some comfort.

I just checked on trenitalia.com the trip from Milano Centrale (21:12) to Amsterdam Cs (12:27) is about 15h15m long. You might arrive at 11:25 to Amsterdam if you change train in Frankfurt but this ticket could be not possible buying on trenitalia's site.
For the first (direct) train the fare standard is 144,- Eur, child 74,- Eur, Yought/Senior/Disabled 109,- Eur
It's a very long trip, I did it long time ago, very boring and tiring, I'd seggest to take the plane.

Even if the train is more expensive that the discount plane, you have to factor in the fact that you may be saving a hotel room night by sleeping on the train.

So there are several factors, most of which have been mentioned above:
1. How much time do you have?
2. How much do you hate airports and security and discount airlines with their 1,001 ways of nickel and diming you? For example, if you have a lot of luggage, the flight on the discounter gets either more expensive or just impossible...not so on the train.
3. How close does the discount airline get you to where you're going? That is, you need to factor in the cost of getting from where you want to be to the airports, some of which may be rather far away.
4. Are you paying for your accommodation now? That is, would you be saving a hotel room night by sleeping on the train, or does this not matter (like, if you already live in Milan)?
5. Would you like to use the time on the train to relax? Actually, the overnight ride in a sleeping compartment will be fine...the hours may only drag in the morning as you approach Amsterdam...but if you have that novel you've been wanting to read (or write), well, that sure is a lot more difficult by air...

Obviously, I am prejudiced towards trains, but I know that they are not always the right answer for such a long trip as this...

Bill

K_V_B, where did you see the 29 euro fare? That sounds like one of the Bahn deep discount fares - is that somehow valid from Milan to Amsterdam?

As cgf noted, the Italian website reports 144 euro for a seat in second class, with no likely discounts for the OP, but the Dutch website does offer a discounted seat (SparNight) of as low as 89 euro...but I don't see 29 euro anywhere...if you know how to get it, this is very likely to be cheaper than the plane, when taxes, fees, and other transportation is figured in...

Bill

You see the cheap fare if you look up the times for the nighttrain on the DB website. If you do a first search it will show in the fares collum "from 29 euro". You can then click on "check availability" to see if that fare is still available.
This only for the direct Milano - Amsterdam train however.
You can book this train via www.bahn.de, or via www.citynightline.de.

I found it, thanks! Actually, it doesn't show 'from 29 euro' in some cases, probably because the first date I chose was too close.

I checked again for April 22, and I see the 'from 29 euro' phrase. However, when I check availability, the 29 euro fare is sold out and the 39 euro fare is available. Good...

However, I am puzzled...the Bahn website normally doesn't list fares of train solutions that begin and end outside of Germany. In fact, I think this is the only solution for this trip that provides fares? What is different about this train? Are there other occasions in which the Bahn lists fares for trips beginning and ending outside of Germany and will even let you buy tickets (e.g., maybe any direct train that happens to pass through Germany?)?

Bill

Normally the DB site lists fares for trips originating or ending in Germany, that is true.
There are a few exceptions though, and one exception are the night trains run by DB under the "CityNightline" brand. Citynightline used to have it's own booking website, when it was still a separate brand from DB Nachtzug. Since a few months all DB night trains are now operated under the Citynightline brand, and the Citynightline booking site has been merged in the general DB planning and booking site. So you can book these tickets online and even print them out yourselve. An improvement if you ask me.

Other examples of trains where you book online are the Zürich - Amsterdam and the Amsterdam - Prague trains. Go to www.citynightline.de if you want to see the complete network of Citynightline trains.
I've personally travelled on the Zürich - Amsterdam train on quite a few occasions, and once Zürich - Berlin and back. I prefer the "economy" compartments though, and I even once travelled in a "Deluxe", which was an interesting experience...

"An improvement if you ask me" - I quite agree...thanks!

Bill

Thank you all for your tips and suggestions! Really appreciate it, and definitely helpful.