Italy Rail
 

I'm taking the wifey for her first trip to Italy next winter (late winter) - taking advantage of a 55,000 mile business class offering.

We're planning on arriving into Rome and taking the train immediately to Venice, then backtracking through Florence, Pisa or Bologna, and then Rome. We want to be in Rome for the last couple of days to ensure easiest connection to FCO.

We're gravitating towards buying the EU Rail Pass for Italy.

Does the rail pass include all Italy trains - including the FCO to Termini Station (Leonardo Express)?

What are the thoughts on First Class versus Second class cabin travel. First sounds more upscale, but is it worth the extra $100 total that we'll have to expend on the pass?

The Leonardo Express is 1st class only, so if you have a 1st class pass it's covered.

With any class of pass, you have to pay a €10 supplement to travel on each long-distance train. You can do this on-line - choose "Global Pass" in the "More fares" drop-down menu, after you have chosen the train you want to travel on.

Depending on the number of days you want to travel on, point-to-point fares may be cheaper - check the Trenitalia website first.

1st class is not much better than 2nd class, except that there is 1-2 instead of 2-2 seating. You get a welcome drink (hardly worth it) and a very small packaged snack. Legroom is about the same as 2nd class. All and sundry get free or discounted travel in Italy, so 1st class might well be as full as 2nd class.

I have travelled on Italian trains in First Class. Airline-type seats and music earphones depending on route. To me, definitely worth the extra charge.

I have travelled in first-class carriages that matched the above description... but I've also been on trains where first class seating was in crammed old-style compartments with worse seating than in second class. (I actually downgraded myself to second class once, when my reserved first-class seat turned out to be a middle seat in a packed compartment of six whereas second class had very comfortable seating and was nearly empty).

Having said all that it's probably worth going for first class... you can always downgrade yourself if second class looks more comfortable.

Definitely check the cost of the point to point ticket - you will more than likely pay less if you go that route. Here's a general pricing map: http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/italy.cfm

I've been on both 1st and 2nd class - the difference is negligible - not like Y and F on airlines. 1st is a little more quiet - filled mostly with tourists and business people. Locals usually ride 2nd class.

No need to buy in advance either - just use the self service kiosks at the station and get the Amica fare if available (20% off I think).

Are there seat reservations that can be purchased in advance on a rail pass?

I am in Italy next week and have a 2nd class rail pass good for unlimited travel for 3 days.I have determined what days and what trains I would like to travel on.i.e. Grosseto/Rome Termini/Perugia would be one such typical day.

Yes, on the Trenitalia website booking engine, when you have chosen the train you want to travel on, you select "global pass" in the "more fares" drop-down menu. This is good for any type of Inter-Rail or Eurail pass. You will need to input the number of your pass.

Appreciate the information:)

FYI High-speed trains in Italy use airline-style pricing. They also require advance reservations. The 3:48 trains between Roma and Venezia are high-speed EuroStar Italia. If the pass covers them then it's probably worth it, as you'll have good flexibility in train travel, provided space is available.

I am looking for Florence to Rome via train on Dec 13th. I am only finding one train at 630am on italiarail.com. Any other choices. I dont want to leave Florence that early.


Thanks

I looked on the official site, trenitalia.com in English and Italian and saw the same thing. The fares are also weird (28 euros first or second class). As a test I tried Milan-Rome for both the 12th and 13th and both are coming back with nothing. My guess is that the site is messed up and you need to wait or that there is a strike planned. The best thing to do would be to buy the ticket at the station in Florence when you're there - no need for advance reservations nor can they be made easily on the internet anyway. There are really many trains per day. Change the date to November and you'll see many trains per hour from Florence to Rome and a variety of fares, none of which are near 28 euros. If there is a strike planned, then you should find out when it won't be in effect.

No strike planned on that day. It is a website problem.

There is no need to buy a Dec. 13 Flo-Rome ticket 6 weeks in advance. It is not a train/date that will sell out. Try again next week and if the site isn't fixed, then just wait until you get to Italy to purchase it.

Dec. 12 is the main annual schedule change. The full schedules traditionally aren't posted until around two weeks before. They're posted in bits and pieces before then, with cross-border trains listed first, so it looks like there are only a handful of trains at odd hours and no indication that the schedule isn't complete.

Exactly. You have to wait the winter schedule.

Thanks all. Ill be posting some Italy trip suggestions in a few weeks, I gotta read thru this section. Taking my parents for the first time to Milan for 1 night, Venice 1 night, 2 nights Florence and 3 nights in Rome.


Thanks
Chan