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Hi, Does anyone know how to buy high speed train tickets in advance via the internet for Italy (from U.S.)? I keep reading that they cannot be purchased in advance, but I'm really concerned that my itinerary for our family of six (husband, me, kids ages 14, 12, and 10, and mother-in-law) will have problems if I can't get them in advance. Any direction/advice would be appreciated! We are leaving March 17 and will be there for two weeks. Tickets are for Rome-Florence, Florence-Naples, and Naples-Rome. Thank you!
Buying high speed train tickets in advance for Italy trip
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You can purchase on Trenitalia. Use the Le Frecce link which is for the faster trains only. You can either look for Mini Fare discounts or the family discount. You may have to split your order as I believe you can only purchase 5 tickets at a time. Only your 10 year old qualifies you for the family discount prices.
You must enter the Italian spellings of cities when using the Le Frecce link.
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=1d85c6b9455c2210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Info about Mini Fares:
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4420c9c3aa3fc210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Info about family fares:
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=91fb335a9a605210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Here are screen-by-screen instructios using the regular Trenitalia link. The Le Frecce link will be similar, but it shows more discounts at a glance and lets you select your seats like when you book airline tickets.
http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/booking-on-the-trenitalia-website
Is Trenitalia accepting US credit cards again?
AFAIK Trenitalia has been processing Visa and Mastercard for the last year and a half.
marking
And in return, SNCF has gotten picky in accepting US credit cards. Can't win them all...
In Nov 2010 Trenitalia sorted its payment system and now works most of the time - indeed, the failures are usually down to the card-holders bank fraud paranoia rather than Trenitalia.
(But you're absolutely right Greg, I've had a string of SNCF payment problems where previously it never generated any issues in the last 10 years)
and if for some reason you cannot get tickets in advance you should not be concerned. There are trains between these cities at least hourly, sometimes more. You would be able to get tickets upon arrival in Italy without an issue. You wouldn't get the discounts, but you would get seats.