Hi turtlegirl,
Originally Posted by
turtlegirl
We're due in at 7:30 am and I was looking at either booking the 9:35 or the 10:35 from Roma Termini to Venice.
If it takes us 45 mins to collect our luggage and 15 mins to walk to the train terminal in the airport and then takes 35 mins to take the Leonardo Express to Termini I'm thinking even if we land an hour late we can make the 9:35 (is this .realistic, or to be safe should we book the 10:35?)
We recently took car service from Fiumicino to central Rome and later the Trenitalia Frecciarossa (high speed) / Leonardo Express from Florence to Fiumicino Airport (Rome). From gate to exiting FCO with luggage took us less than 30 minutes and it’s maybe a 5 minute walk to the train terminal for the Leonardo Express. You allowing 2 hours for this seems quite comfortable, but I can’t speak to how much different it will be in July, or whether you get caught in a flight delay.
We booked the Me&You rate, and the savings were nice. You can book online in advance from the US, but once you arrive in Italy it’s probably easier to buy at a station. (Online in Italy they seem to require you enter an Italy tax code (codice fiscale). I generated what would be mine, but it appears the site requires a real one now.)
You likely be traveling:
- Fiumicino Aeroporto -> Roma Termini (on Leonardo Express)(change of trains, but same platform area) -> Venezia Santa Lucia (on Frecciarossa),
- then later Venezia Santa Lucia -> Firenze Santa Maria Novella (on Frecciarossa),
- and then returning Firenze Santa Maria Novella —> Roma Termini (Frecciarossa) -> Fiumicino Aeroporto (Leonardo Express)
You really shouldn’t need more than 15 minutes to transfer in Roma Termini when booking.
Originally Posted by
turtlegirl
Also, please, the Express is $14 euros-does anyone have an opinion on whether it would be a good idea to pay more for a driver?
Given your itinerary, just book direct trains from Fiumicino to Roma Termini to Venezia, and the same in reverse. There’s no value in a car service here.
Originally Posted by
turtlegirl
Can anyone tell me if I am missing something between standard, premium and business selections (Easy & Comfort?) If we go with booking separate fares rather than the rail pass.
We travelled Standard on the Frecciarossa, and it was more than fine. A few more hours to Venezia and it might have been nice to upgrade to Business for the wider seats and extra legroom, but not required. Premium is the same width seat as Standard, but some extra legroom.
Have a great trip!