leftmespeechless

Hey folks. Where can an American buy Italian train tickets online?

I found the exact route that I want at Trenitalia's website, but for some reason it is not accepting my card. I assure you that my card is working perfectly fine, and I tried re-entering my information three times--it just wouldn't take it.

I heard that http://www.raileurope.com/ will book Italian trains with American credit cards--but I searched for the route that I wanted, and it isn't quite compatible with my schedule.

Any other ideas? Should I contact a travel agent?

jamikins

I had the same issue with my card, and i think if you do a search on this forum there is a very large thread about how to get over this and be successful!

I just kept trying and one day it worked!

jamikins

Here's the thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...on-the-web.cfm

GeoffHamer

Which route is this? Many trains do not need to be booked in advance. It is nearly always quicker and simpler to buy the ticket in Italy.
I wasted a lot of time last year trying to book an Italian train. I booked one journey using my (British) debit card, but could not complete the process for a second journey, even though it was the same card. I bought the ticket in Italy from a machine at a station which took a few seconds.

kybourbon

Trenitalia usually doesn't accept US credit cards, but there are ticket machines that are touchscreen in English in all the main train stations and there are ticket windows.

If you want to overpay, you can order tickets from RailEurope. They are currently charging $140 and $109 (Rome/Venice) for tickets that would cost $126 and $98 in Italy plus they will tack on a mailing fee. They also tend to list only the more expensive trains on their searches.

What route are you trying to buy?

leftmespeechless

Trying to buy an overnight round trip ticket from Rome to Venice--the first leg takes off from Rome at 10:30 p.m. and gets to Venice at 5:30 a.m., and the second leg leaves Venice early in the morning and gets to Rome in early afternoon.

kybourbon

Train travel time between Venice and Rome is only 3 1/2 hours. The night train is a little over 6 hours so there really is no advantage in booking it. You won't get sleep as it makes about 12 stops. Even if you book a 2 bed compartment, you won't get much sleep with all the stops and short travel times.

>>>I heard that http://www.raileurope.com/ will book Italian trains with American credit cards--but I searched for the route that I wanted, and it isn't quite compatible with my schedule.<<<

This is an odd statement as RailEurope, a reseller, can't sell anything that Trenitalia doesn't offer. Schedules on RailEurope can't be different than Trenitalia's because Trenitalia is the actual Italian train company.

Is you goal to book cheap IC or ICN tickets?