amitj

Hi all

I am working for a italian company (Based in Modena) in India. I am going there for 1 month training in september this year, During this training i am planning to visit Milan, Venice, Florence and Pisa during weekends.
As the travel to these places will be funded by me only, so i am on a tight budget and want fellow people to help me find out hotels in these cities which are easily accessible, are safe for foreign tourists, cheap and hygenic. This would be my first trip to Europe.
I am 30 years old guy and would be travelling solo. Please also help me in advising from where should i purchase the train tickets (Should they be purchased from stations with point to point or eurorail pass). Also as i am not much finicky about 1st class or 2nd class travel and i like travelling with more italians than tourists so i will always be much happier in 2nd class. Also is travelling in 2nd class safe for foreign tourists, any advice from fellow travellers?
Also one last help i require is if anybody can advise me referring to my above questions how much money will be spent in these cities taking only hotel stay, train travel and food expenses in consideration excluding any personal expenses.
Please help me out, i would be really thankful to you all
Amit

valtor

The train tickets can be bought at each train station, you can buy return tickets. Second class is OK, clean and safe. If you use regional trains , the tickets are very cheap. No need for europass.

TDudette

As valtor says above, buy your tickets at the station. Unless it's a major holiday, you can do it the same time as you travel. If you feel better buying your tickets a day or 2 in advance, that's ok also. Remember to validate your ticket in the yellow machine-that tells the time you started your trip. You can get a hefty fine if you don't validate your ticket. Sometimes the seats on the train are reserved. Ask about that or look on the ticket.

Please look at the trenitalia site online and put in your dates of travel. I experimented with the towns you mentioned using travel times from a Friday in August at 6pm (1800 hours) returning Sunday at 6. Since you are a young person, you can probably travel later on Sunday without falling asleep!

To Milan, there was a train for 18,50€
To Venice, 37,50€ (with a change in Bologna) - don't get off at Mestre
To Florence, 14,00€ for the fastest; 8,70 for slower
To Pisa, 19,80€ (with a change in Florence)-oops, I put the wrong stop at Pisa-there is one closer to the Leaning Tower. Be sure to ask when you buy the ticket.

You might combine Pisa with Florence if there is time. I don't know the hours of your training schedule. Please also do a search on those cities' hotels on this forum and also look at the Trip Advisor site.

I have never travelled alone but train travel in Italy is very safe. Some people beg on the trains by leaving a trinket with you and returning for a donation. Or by playing music and passing the hat. "Sorry, no" worked for husband and me.

Much luck with your training. Hope you'll write about how it all went.

TDudette

Hi again, Amit,

You validate your ticket just before you get on the train.

TD

remote

I don't think a Eurorail pass would work for you. You are too old for a youth pass which is substantially cheaper than an adult pass, and if you are going to be visiting one city per weekend it would be cheapest to buy a roundtrip ticket to each city. You can buy your tickets at the station from a machine. You can research schedules and prices online at the Trenitalia engish language website. Safety is a non issue except you need to watch your luggage, particularly at intermediate stops when people are getting on and off and moving luggage. I don't know what your price range is for hotels but i would bet the Italians you are working with in Modena could give some recommendations for the cities you are visiting, and assist you in making a reservation.