Train fares expensive in Italy?
Mar 3, 2012, 2:53 am
#1
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Train fares expensive in Italy?
So from my research, it seems that using http://www.trenitalia.com/ is the best way to get the cheapest fares for Italian trains. However, I'm shocked at some of the prices that I've seen and I'm pretty sure it's more expensive than travelling within France. It seems that I'm looking at about 50 Euros on average for Genoa to Bologna or Venice to Rimini or Florence to Rome. Is it really that expensive to travel by train in Italy or this is considered cheap? Unfortunately I don't qualify for any youth pricing, but I'm not sure if they'll accept international university IDs for student fares. Does anyone here know?
Mar 3, 2012, 6:04 am
#3
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this thread belongs in italy, not rail travel.
trains in italy are fast, on time and ca be cheap. the ES is expensive. es second class is fast and less expensive. service is better than acela in usa. the next step down is the the IC(i think) they are quite fast, and not expensive. then there is the milk run train. i forgot what they are called, but they can be really slow. for peace of mind, 3 rules.
for the ES, you must get a reservation
on the IC, punch your ticket
for peace of mind, get a bike lock(your luggage is way down at the end).
if you are trucking a ton of luggage, consider a porter, not too expensive, and some of the stations have a lot of stairs.
you can poke around here:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD
trains in italy are fast, on time and ca be cheap. the ES is expensive. es second class is fast and less expensive. service is better than acela in usa. the next step down is the the IC(i think) they are quite fast, and not expensive. then there is the milk run train. i forgot what they are called, but they can be really slow. for peace of mind, 3 rules.
for the ES, you must get a reservation
on the IC, punch your ticket
for peace of mind, get a bike lock(your luggage is way down at the end).
if you are trucking a ton of luggage, consider a porter, not too expensive, and some of the stations have a lot of stairs.
you can poke around here:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD
Mar 3, 2012, 11:16 am
#4
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Trenitalia offers restricted Mini fares on many trains, with discounts of 10 to 70% on the full fare. Availability is limited, they're not available on Regionale trains (the old-fashioned, nonreserved trains), the amount of the discount is smaller the closer you get to the date of travel, and they're never available less than 2 days in advance. The main restriction--other than availability--is that Mini tickets are not changeable or refundable on or after the day of travel, though they can be can be changed once or refunded before that, with a penalty (50% for cancellation, but less for changing).
The site doesn't show you Mini fares on the first screen you get after searching for trains, which is probably why you're not seeing them. In my experience, you have to select a train and then click on Continue to see what, if any, Mini fare is available on that train. You can then click on Information to see the official word on restrictions.
I hope this helps (and I hope I've got it all correct!).
The site doesn't show you Mini fares on the first screen you get after searching for trains, which is probably why you're not seeing them. In my experience, you have to select a train and then click on Continue to see what, if any, Mini fare is available on that train. You can then click on Information to see the official word on restrictions.
I hope this helps (and I hope I've got it all correct!).
Mar 3, 2012, 12:06 pm
#5
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Back to the OP, yes it can be quite expensive. But if you take a series of regional trains rather than the fast intercity trains, it can be cheaper. Just go to the station and chat with the ticket office.
Mar 4, 2012, 1:08 am
#6
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Trenitalia offers restricted Mini fares on many trains, with discounts of 10 to 70% on the full fare. Availability is limited, they're not available on Regionale trains (the old-fashioned, nonreserved trains), the amount of the discount is smaller the closer you get to the date of travel, and they're never available less than 2 days in advance. The main restriction--other than availability--is that Mini tickets are not changeable or refundable on or after the day of travel, though they can be can be changed once or refunded before that, with a penalty (50% for cancellation, but less for changing).
The site doesn't show you Mini fares on the first screen you get after searching for trains, which is probably why you're not seeing them. In my experience, you have to select a train and then click on Continue to see what, if any, Mini fare is available on that train. You can then click on Information to see the official word on restrictions.
I hope this helps (and I hope I've got it all correct!).
The site doesn't show you Mini fares on the first screen you get after searching for trains, which is probably why you're not seeing them. In my experience, you have to select a train and then click on Continue to see what, if any, Mini fare is available on that train. You can then click on Information to see the official word on restrictions.
I hope this helps (and I hope I've got it all correct!).
Mar 4, 2012, 1:09 am
#7
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this thread belongs in italy, not rail travel.
trains in italy are fast, on time and ca be cheap. the ES is expensive. es second class is fast and less expensive. service is better than acela in usa. the next step down is the the IC(i think) they are quite fast, and not expensive. then there is the milk run train. i forgot what they are called, but they can be really slow. for peace of mind, 3 rules.
for the ES, you must get a reservation
on the IC, punch your ticket
for peace of mind, get a bike lock(your luggage is way down at the end).
if you are trucking a ton of luggage, consider a porter, not too expensive, and some of the stations have a lot of stairs.
you can poke around here:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD
trains in italy are fast, on time and ca be cheap. the ES is expensive. es second class is fast and less expensive. service is better than acela in usa. the next step down is the the IC(i think) they are quite fast, and not expensive. then there is the milk run train. i forgot what they are called, but they can be really slow. for peace of mind, 3 rules.
for the ES, you must get a reservation
on the IC, punch your ticket
for peace of mind, get a bike lock(your luggage is way down at the end).
if you are trucking a ton of luggage, consider a porter, not too expensive, and some of the stations have a lot of stairs.
you can poke around here:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD
I'm still a bit confused in how to get lower fares. I'm hoping I can get my fares to average about 30 Euros/trip.
Mar 4, 2012, 4:02 am
#8
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Look at this page. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
Mar 12, 2012, 3:06 am
#9
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Look at this page. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
I also read that I can save money by taking regional trains. How am I suppose to figure out which regional train to take if I were to say go from Venice to Bologna or Milan to Venice?
Mar 12, 2012, 5:25 am
#10
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Just walk up to the station and ask. However if money is really an issue for you you should probably be taking the bus instead of the train. Buses generally cost a tiny fraction of train fares in Italy. A bus from one end of a region to another might cost only a buck or two. Search around on google.it and use the translator if you can't understand Italian. Or again, just ask at the station.
Mar 12, 2012, 5:35 am
#11
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There is an offer on currently for 9 EUR from Milano to Venezia:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD
In general, trains in Italy are less expensive or the same prices as within Germany for example. Look for promotions- there are usually deals to be had.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD
In general, trains in Italy are less expensive or the same prices as within Germany for example. Look for promotions- there are usually deals to be had.
Mar 13, 2012, 2:05 am
#12
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Just walk up to the station and ask. However if money is really an issue for you you should probably be taking the bus instead of the train. Buses generally cost a tiny fraction of train fares in Italy. A bus from one end of a region to another might cost only a buck or two. Search around on google.it and use the translator if you can't understand Italian. Or again, just ask at the station.
Mar 13, 2012, 1:10 pm
#13
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You can search on trenitalia.com for fares on these trains. For example, Venice-Bologna is €10.75 and Milan-Venice €17.95 (may need a change in Verona - which is well worth a stop in if you're there). These are very good fares, IMHO.
As noted above, though, you can beat them with advance purchase fares on the ES services, if you can find the availability and buy in advance.
Mar 14, 2012, 2:37 am
#14
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Regionale trains only have walk-up fares, so the pricing you get is the same if you buy it at the station.
You can search on trenitalia.com for fares on these trains. For example, Venice-Bologna is €10.75 and Milan-Venice €17.95 (may need a change in Verona - which is well worth a stop in if you're there). These are very good fares, IMHO.
As noted above, though, you can beat them with advance purchase fares on the ES services, if you can find the availability and buy in advance.
You can search on trenitalia.com for fares on these trains. For example, Venice-Bologna is €10.75 and Milan-Venice €17.95 (may need a change in Verona - which is well worth a stop in if you're there). These are very good fares, IMHO.
As noted above, though, you can beat them with advance purchase fares on the ES services, if you can find the availability and buy in advance.
For short hops like Venezia-Bologna- regional train is usually almost as fast (within 30 minutes) and is just fine as it is a short ride.
Last point- be sure to understand which train you want (study the schedule on the website)- as the operators may sell you the more expensive ES fares and also the automatic ticketing machines tend to default to the more expensive options (surprise-surprise). Example- I was heading from Vicenza-Desenzano (1 hour)- and I didn't pay attention to the automatic machine. I ended up paying 17.40 EUR instead of the 6.4 I could have payed for a train that arrived 15 minutes later. The reason? ES (Eurostar) vs. Regionale train- hardly relevant for a trip of ~100 km!
Mar 22, 2012, 4:25 am
#15
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Regionale trains only have walk-up fares, so the pricing you get is the same if you buy it at the station.
You can search on trenitalia.com for fares on these trains. For example, Venice-Bologna is €10.75 and Milan-Venice €17.95 (may need a change in Verona - which is well worth a stop in if you're there). These are very good fares, IMHO.
As noted above, though, you can beat them with advance purchase fares on the ES services, if you can find the availability and buy in advance.
You can search on trenitalia.com for fares on these trains. For example, Venice-Bologna is €10.75 and Milan-Venice €17.95 (may need a change in Verona - which is well worth a stop in if you're there). These are very good fares, IMHO.
As noted above, though, you can beat them with advance purchase fares on the ES services, if you can find the availability and buy in advance.