Is it better to book rail tickets in Italy before we go?

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

We will be in Italy during the summer, and planning to do some city hopping...we would like to use first class rail during some of that travel.

Which is advisable? Should we wait until we are in Italy to book rail or should we buy our tickets stateside?

Oh, I should add, we think it will be only 3 times that we are on the rail: Milan to Venice, Venice to Florence, and Florence to Genoa.

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

Train tickets in Italy are inexpensive, relatively speaking. And the stations are easy to navigate even if you don't speak English. There are generally a series of windows to buy tickets. Make sure you are lined up at one which displays a Union Jack (English Flag), and the person will speak English.

Before you leave the US, look up the train schedules, and figure out/print out the most likely schedules for the trains you want, including the train number. Its easy to figure out. Then, when you get to the train station to buy your ticket (a day or so ahead), have written down the city you want to go to, the train number, and the departure time.

Make sure you pay for a seat reservation in addition to a ticket. If you don't, you will board the train, taking an open seat, only to find that at a later stop you will have to move because somebody else has reserved that seat. Its not that expensive to get seat reservations.

More information for travelling by train in Italy. There are signs on the entry level that show the train numbers, departure times, and platforms. They are easy to read, but if you can't, ask a trackside vendor as you buy something from them, because they know all the schedules. When you get down to the platform, in many stations there are diagrams that show what position the various cars on the train will stop in, so that you will be waiting in the right spot when the train arrives. If you don't understand the diagram (its easy, even I understood), generally others will graciously help you.

Bring along a thin bicycle cable with a lock, and you can lock your suitcase to the luggage compartment post, so that you don't have to worry about it or try to watch it. Just remember to fetch it before the train gets to your stop, cause it doesn't stop for long.

Most all stations have food vendors in them. Purchase your food from them before boarding. Its cheaper and the variety is better.

Get a map of Italy and take it with you so that you can follow your progress on the train. Its interesting.

That's about all I can think of, except that when I was in Genoa the elevator wasn't working (twice, a week apart), and its a long, long set of stairs. Luckily for me, a kind gentleman grabbed my suitcase and hauled it up for me, without my asking for help!

Remember, no matter if your plans work or not, it will always be An Adventure!

Enjoy!

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Thanks, Fern,

The info is really helpful.

Since we are interested in travelling by first class rail, do you think we will be able to get tickets that close to the day of travel?

When I check the train website, it seems many f.c. seats are sold out for some dates...I just wondered if they hold back some seats for sale at the window.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Sorry Katimack, I did not see this thread since I was away. Yes you should wait untill you are in Italy. You can also purchase tickets at some Amex offices in Italy. BTW First Class was not such a Luxary when we took it. Just slightly better than coach.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I found train tickets in Holland very expensive even for very short trips. You may also want to study this option here.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Sorry Katimack, I did not see this thread since I was away. Yes you should wait untill you are in Italy. You can also purchase tickets at some Amex offices in Italy. BTW First Class was not such a Luxary when we took it. Just slightly better than coach.

Can you give me a little more info...in what way is it only slightly better? Did you take express trains or regional? Were you traveling with luggage? Were there services available on f.c. that were not available on s.c.?

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

I found train tickets in Holland very expensive even for very short trips. You may also want to study this option here.

Yes, Emmy, train travel seems to cost more ...in fact , we are finding everything is costing more! I cannot believe we are even planning this trip with the high euro and increasing costs of just about everything!

I appreciate the link, and have been researching on many sites regarding trains, reservations, prices, passes, etc. I don't think a pass will save us anything, as we are only planning to be on a train 3 times...and adding up the costs I have checked, the pass cost more than single tickets, at least right now.

We will be in Venice for the Redentore . The trip was planned before we knew this fact...which of course makes the trip interesting.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Katiemack, you will love Venice. I hope it hasn't changed too much since I was there in 1964. I checked your web site and you will love the Festival.

Europe has the old cities and we have our National Parks. Both are beautiful and well worth seeing.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Definitely buy your tickets at the station in Italy. They are cheaper than buying in the US.

In most of western Europe, I travel 2nd class, as there is not that much difference between 1st and 2nd. Eastern Europe is a different matter entirely. I always use 1st class there.

I find Cooks European Timetable an invaluable reference in planning trips.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

You'll also need to get your tickets "validated" before you board. That means after you purchase, you find a little upright machine near the track into which you insert the ticket to get it stamped. If you forget to do that, they can fine you onboard.

Heading south from Genoa, there's lots of gorgeous coastline and small towns along the way - if you have a chance to get out of the city, it would be well worth it. (Well, same for Florence area, for that matter - but there's more major stuff inside Florence.) Car travel isn't that difficult, except in the cities, or you can take a train down the coast. Also Genoa is close to Cinque Terre, which is most easily reached by train, and then on foot.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Can you give me a little more info...in what way is it only slightly better? Did you take express trains or regional? Were you traveling with luggage? Were there services available on f.c. that were not available on s.c.?

I am not sure what the name of the train was but I was disappointed (star something maybe). There was no service if you wanted a coke you had to pay extra for it. AC was not working which made it uncomfortable. The train We took was train from Assisi to Rome. The only good thing was the seats were better in FC and I believe there was carpeting on FC. The standard looked like it had a linoleum floor.

[Fern Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fern]

Compared to other places in Western Europe, train tickets in Italy are a bargain. You don't need to buy a pass. It wouldn't save much time, anyway, because you still need the seat reservations.

Its much more crowded in tourist class than in First Class. Seats are better in First, and you have a place to stow your luggage. Food and drink, as I mentioned before, are not complimentary, and are best purchased before getting on the train.

And on to a delicate subject...when a train leaves in the morning for its day's run(s), the bathrooms all have a roll of toilet paper in them. Once its gone, its gone. Nobody replenishes it. So here's what I do...The last month before my vacation I save the last 1/4" of several toilet paper rolls for vacation. I place them in zip lock bags, and put one in my purse, just for the train. I've used it on the train, and also at porta potties when on tour. When you need it, you need it. What more can I say?

Fern

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Compared to other places in Western Europe, train tickets in Italy are a bargain. You don't need to buy a pass. It wouldn't save much time, anyway, because you still need the seat reservations.

Its much more crowded in tourist class than in First Class. Seats are better in First, and you have a place to stow your luggage. Food and drink, as I mentioned before, are not complimentary, and are best purchased before getting on the train.

And on to a delicate subject...when a train leaves in the morning for its day's run(s), the bathrooms all have a roll of toilet paper in them. Once its gone, its gone. Nobody replenishes it. So here's what I do...The last month before my vacation I save the last 1/4" of several toilet paper rolls for vacation. I place them in zip lock bags, and put one in my purse, just for the train. I've used it on the train, and also at porta potties when on tour. When you need it, you need it. What more can I say?

Fern

Here's an old Boy Scout trick. With the TP roll, take out the cardboard cylinder and the roll will compress down where you can put almost a full roll into a zip lock bag.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

Wow! Thanks for all the great info!

Fern, thanks for that invaluable lesson!

What would I do without you guys here in TS4ms....I'd hate to think....oh, the humanity!

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

The last month before my vacation I save the last 1/4" of several toilet paper rolls for vacation. I place them in zip lock bags, and put one in my purse, just for the train. I've used it on the train, and also at porta potties when on tour. When you need it, you need it. What more can I say?

I don't pack these before a trip begins, but always take a few from the timeshares!