Use an online travel site to book the right tickets for the train route of your choice.
Choose a rail pass or an individual roundtrip ticket for your travel plans. If you plan to visit multiple cites or countries, a rail pass might be a better option for you to save money and time.
Figure out whether first and second class seats are both available as you book your tickets online. Most sites will give you this information upfront in the booking process.
Decide whether you have to take 1 or 2 trains to get to Venice. Often, you will have to change trains in Lyon to finish your trip both ways. Keep in mind that this means doing so in the wee hours of the morning if traveling on an overnight service.
Book seat or sleeper accommodations reservations to guarantee your place on a train from Paris to Milan. This will cost you $10 to $30 extra on average, depending on the type of reservation and class type.
Limit the number of carry-on bags you have to only those that can fit in the rack above you or under your seat.
Learn some French and Italian social phrases to help you get along with locals. These include how to greet people, how to ask for directions to common destinations and how to say "thank you."
Keep your train ticket and passport handy so as not to hold up any ticket-checking processes once on the train.
