greg

I have used 3 different Trenitalia accounts linked to 3 different email addresses using 2 different credit cards, tried on 3 different days -- but NO, no success convincing Trenitalia to accept my cards!

I have used one of the account in past years to buy ES tickets successfuly . But not this time.

Ok, has anyone actually succeeded in buying tickets at Trenitalia.com from the U.S recently?

The train departure is so close to the plane arrival time that even if I make it to the station on time, I would surely miss it if I don't have a ticket already in my hand. I don't mind risk purchasing a ticket if I can get hold of a cheap online ticket.

i_am_kane

greg,

I sympathize with you...the Trenitalia web site was uncooperative for me also this year.

Like you, in the past (for me 6 years), I never experienced the level of frustration that I did in 2008.

I am, however, a patient person and perservered. Day after day of the site rejecting every credit card I entered (including using Citi Cards virtual account no.), magically, one of my cards was accepted...mission accomplished. Let me add that this process took about five weeks trying every day, multiple times per day.

If you have the time, and the patience, the web site may just succumb to one of your credit cards!

ira

Hi G,

>The train departure is so close to the plane arrival time that even if I make it to the station on time, I would surely miss it if I don't have a ticket already in my hand. I don't mind risk purchasing a ticket if I can get hold of a cheap online ticket.<

Very few reports of successfully completing an online purchase.

A: You probably won't make that train anyway.

B: The online ticket, Amica, is 20% discount. How much will you save? What fraction of your overall cost will that be?

C: Buy your ticket at the train station at FCO when you buy your ticket to Rome.

Relax and enjoy your visit.

MichaelT

Here's my thread on how I finally did it... after a lot of frustration and attempts.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35116239

Cymraeg46

I guess the Trenitalia site was designed primarily for domestic users. Here, compared to the U.S. and U.K., credit card usage is in its infancy (no..I'd go further, is still in the womb!). There are not many types of credit card available and Italians tend to use them very rarely on the internet. So the site is probably just not up to it.
In any case, as many others Fodorites have said, there is not really any need to book in advance.It may be rude of me to say so, but if your itinerary is so tight that you need to book train seats from home, then maybe you're coming to the wrong country. This is Italy...take it easy. Go to the station the day before if you have to. There are also imponderables like strikes which strangely enough seem to occur more in the holiday period than at other times! I just looked at Trenitalia and saw that on a normal working day there are 40 trains from Rome to Florence! If you can't get one in the morning, then go in the afternoon, or go tomorrow. If you can't get on the fast ES train, take the slower (and cheaper) Intercity (IC) and enjoy the scenery. There are even slower regional trains from Rome to Florence which take about 3 1/2 hours, but at least you'll never need to book and you'll find acres of luggage space. And while you're waiting for your train, enjoy a nice cappuccino or a glass of cool prosecco. Enjoy Italy...no hassle, OK?