Originally Posted by
Thorgils
1) Does buying rail tickets by credit card from either a machine or ticket office in Italy require a PIN? [Using my "no foreign exchange fee" Chase-issued UA MP card treats PIN transactions as cash withdrawals, and applies a significant surcharge.] I found in Barcelona last year that buying transit cards with a credit card could not be done without a PIN.
At the self-service ticket machine, you need to have a card with a PIN. You can use the CC at (most) windows - but the lines can often be lengthy.
Originally Posted by
Thorgils
2) In Firenze, I'd like to rent an automatic transmission car for two or three days,
Automatic transmission will be much more expensive and harder to find.
Originally Posted by
Thorgils
3) What's been the general experience regarding the security of luggage taken on board intercity trains, when too large to fit in the overhead racks? I gather there is some between-seat provision in some rail cars (but I've no idea about capacity); otherwise, it's apparently end-of-car open racks a la Amtrak. I've seen some online references to the absurdity of Americans looking to chain down their bags on these racks; and other admonitions to never let your luggage out of your sight, particularly in and around Rome's Termini station. What's the experience and the prudent middle ground here?
Depends on the route. Bags do indeed get stolen from the compartments. Does it happen every train, no, but it does happen. If you have rollaboard/carry on size bags, they'll fit over your seat, if not, you'll have to leave them at the the end of compartment. If you don't want to use a lock, you could simply walk down there and stand near the bags at stops.
Originally Posted by
Thorgils
4) When we leave on a 06:45 departure from FCO Terminal 3, is there any advice about obtaining VAT rebate certification (should we wish to do so) before checking in our bags at around 05:00? Is the certification office open, and usable without a long line?
The VAT office @ FCO won't be open that early. However, a number of the refund companies now have offices in the city and allow you to process the refund before the airport and then you have to mail it after you leave the country. In the event they don't receive the receipts from out of country w/in a certain period (60 days I think?) then they charge your credit card for the refunded amount. If you purchase VAT refund items, look at the envelope they give you w/the receipt and check for addresses in town.