Rail or Bus Travel in Italy

Old Jul 26th, 2014, 07:06 AM
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Rail or Bus Travel in Italy

We are arriving in Rome- Fiumicino on the 25th of September and staying at the NH Giustiniano Hotel. Address: Via Virgilio 1 E/f/g, Rome. What would be the best way to reach our hotel?

We are then leaving Rome on the 28th to Siena. Bus or train?

We are then leaving Siena on the 3rd to Lucca Best way to travel?

Finally we are leaving Lucca on the 9th and traveling to Venice for our final destination. Best way to travel?

Would love to take a train, but most important is the convenience. Will have multiple suitcases for shopping and clothes. This is our trip of a lifetime and would love to take it all in.

Thank you for any comments, it is greatly appreciated. First time in Europe.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 07:48 AM
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How many are in your group? It can sometimes be as economical to book a limo service from the airport if there are 3-5 of you. Since the taxi fee from FCO to central Rome is a set fee (48€), limo rates sometimes undercut that a bit or at least in the general range. The train from FCO is 14€. The shuttle bus is 5€. Since your hotel is behind Castel Sant'Angelo, I would look at a limo.

http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/...t-transfer.php

I believe SitBusShuttle still has a stop behind Castel Sant'Angelo. YOu would have to check their routes/stops.

http://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/

From Rome to Siena, the best option is the Sena bus which departs from Rome's Tiburtina station (it's on the metro). Cost is about 20€ and travel time is the same as if you took a train (the train involves changes). There are about 10 Sena departures daily and it drops at the historic center at Piazza Gramsci (the train station is out a bit and you would have to take other transport to the center if you take the train).

http://www.sena.it/Home/78-1-en.html

Siena/Lucca will not be easy. You would take multiple trains/connections. Bus isn't much easier either. There is a once daily bus from Siena to Pisa airport (early) and Lucca is only about 30 minutes by train or bus from there.

http://www.tiemmespa.it/var/ezdemo_s...a151234c39.pdf

From Lucca, you would need to take a bus or train to Florence and switch to a train to Venice.

You should rethink the multiple suitcases as it will be up to you to get them up the steps on the trains (you may encounter flights of stairs in the stations too), load them under the bus, etc. If you take a trains Rome/Siena, Siena/Lucca, Lucca/Florence, they are old regional trains (no amenities) and often stops are only 1 minute. The train will not wait on you to get you and your luggage to the door, etc. Florence/Venice is served by fast trains and those trains stop 10-15 minutes.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 07:48 AM
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Rome to Siena - not sure about direct bus links but by train you take a regional train to Chiusi-Chianciano T station and change to the sideline train that dumps you off at the bottom of the big pile that Siena regally crowns - there is a people mover that takes you from the station up to the town proper high above but a taxi with luggage would be much easier of course.

Buses take you right to near the top of the hill the town is draped over but still probably a taxi with that much luggage to your hotel.

The change of trains at Chiusi-C-T is simple - a small station from one platform to another.

Siena-Lucca again don't know details for buses but if there is a direct one it may be quicker than the train which takes a round about routing via Empoli and Pisa, changing at one or both - always changing at Pisa Centrale to a sideline to Lucca - the station there is just outside the walls of the awesomely medieval town - taxis will be waiting out front. This is all by regional trains.

Lucca to Venice is definitely by train - Italian buses mainly serve local or regional destinations for the most part. So go back to Florence by regional train then (from Florence SMN or Santa Maria Novella station - the main in-town one) hook up with fast express trains to Venice (Santa Lucia station, right on a mian canal with water taxis waiting to whisk you to your hotel

Trains Rome to Siena and Siena to Lucca are mainly regional trains that makes no sense to buy in advance - reservations are not possible and you can always board - they are also dirt cheap - no reason to buy in advance - just buy ticket the day of travel.

For the Florence to Venice high-speed trains there can be nice discounts if you book in advance (but then there are severe conditions as to changes or refunds so be sure of your date and times!) - walk-up fares may be much higher but you can always IME get on those trains as there are so so many - the worst case scenario would be that if 2nd class was full you would be able nearly always to buy on the spot a first-class ticket.

And for someone with way too much luggage first-class will be IME much more relaxed than 2nd class - especially for luggage - I usually find an empty seat near me in 1st class that I can put my bags on - not so in 2nd class which is often quite full or full - there are fewer seats also in the same-size train car in 1st class so more room in overhead luggage racks - seat are bigger and you get gratis snack and beverage and Italian newspaper if you can read it.

The difference on regional trains between 1st and 2nd class is not that great and indeed regional trains may not even have 1st class but on high-speed there is a significant difference IME of taking zillions of Italian trains - and not that 2nd class is a cattle car just that first-class is more relaxed and again for folks carrying way too much luggage (try to pare down as in stations you inevitably must go up and down stairs and walk some distances - there are usually no porters though there are luggage carts (have some euro coins on hand to use them - you get the coin back if you return it to a luggage cart rack.

And finally with regional trains be sure to validate your ticket yourself by sticking it in cancelling machines trackside or you will be considered to be riding sans a valid ticket and face a penalty for doing so as some regional trains may be on the honor system with no ticket checks.

For lots of great info on Italian trains check out: www.seat61.com - good info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

For advance Florence to Venice discounted tickets check www.trenitalia.com or RailEurope or its agents in the U.S. as now RE often has the same discounted fares - at times even cheaper IME - than trenitalia.com - trenitalia.com has been extremely flummoxing for many Fodorites to get to work as told by numerous posts here asking for "HELP".
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 08:46 AM
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>>. Will have multiple suitcases for shopping and clothes
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 08:54 AM
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If you must bring so much luggage, consider driving instead. There are a few hotels in Siena and Lucca with parking. Though not necessarily adjacent parking. Drop the car when you enter Venice.

Multiple and/or big bags are just too much for train travel. I remember using the Rome Tiburtina train station because it had an elevator. However, the elevator was out of order, so we had to lug the bags up some steep stairs. (My son was studying in Rome over the winter and had more stuff than usual. Plus we were helping another student, a young girl.)

As others have said, changing trains, you may need to carry your bags up some stairs and down another flight to the new track. Traveling by train with changes, I would max out at one 24" bag and a daybag.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 08:57 AM
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>> I would max out at one 24" bag and a day bag.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 08:59 AM
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The fastest rail links Rome to Siena would probably be via Florence - taking a high-speed train there then taking a bus from the bus station adjacent to Forence's SMN (main) train station to Siena - and probably the most comfortable way to go - so check that angle out - would cost more normally than the all regional train route but you can get tickets Rome to Florence for as little as 9 euros if you book way in advance.

Check that route out!
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 09:31 AM
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The high-speed services to Florence and then a change to either another train or the bus in Florence to Siena would be the route many take.

There are through rails services Florence-Siena as well as those which require an easy change in Empoli. People around here usually recommend taking the bus between Florence and Siena because the bus drops you closer to the center of things in Siena; the rail station requires a taxi into the center or use of the public bus system.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 10:11 AM
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Sorry - but trying to travel by train with more than one suitcase is going to be a giant PIA. You are responsible for all of your luggage - getting it from the door of the station to the right platform (possibly up stairs), hauling it onto the train (often up 3 or 4 steep narrow steps) and then stowing it in the overhead rack or in the larger space at the end of the car.

When the train pulls in you need to be at the door with your luggage, get down the steps walk briskly to the next platform and climb onto the train.

You should not have more luggage than you can easily pick up and carry at one time - since you can;t leave extra bags behind while you shuttle a large one around.

Agree if you MUST have multiple large bags you should rent a car - a large one to hold all that luggage - and allow hotel staff to deal with it.

Separately, not sure what you plan on buying - but Italy ran out of real bargains a long time age - esp since the $ is so low against the euro. There are still things yuo can't fin other places in terms of style and workmanship - but the prices will be sky high. So - what are you planning on packing in extra suitcases?

I have bought jewelry I couldn't find other places (all fit in my purse) and some small leather goods - but that is it. It sounds like you are planning on buying a whole new wardrobe. If so - definitely ship it home instead of hauling it around with you.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 10:32 AM
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Palenq says:

[[there are usually no porters though there are luggage carts (have some euro coins on hand to use them - you get the coin back if you return it to a luggage cart rack. ]]

This is proof he hasn't taken trains in Italy zillions of times. He must be thinking of the supermarkets. There may be some station in Italy that has luggage cart racks, but I know all the stations mentioned in this thread, and none of them has them. Most of them have no luggage carts at all.

Also, some larger stations in Italy do have porter service, but you have to reserve it in advance:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD

They don't have the page in English, but you can paste the URL into translate.google.com .

The major stations are terminal stations, where you can change tracks without going up and down stairs. Your real problem with be in the smaller stations, most of which have no escalators or elevators, and where you have to go down to an underpass to get to a different track. I wouldn't travel with an amount of luggage that you can't carry up a flight of stairs easily.
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Old Jul 26th, 2014, 10:44 AM
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Maybe I'm picking nits, but the walls of Lucca are not medieval. They were built in the early modern period, and were built so thick to defend against early modern artillery. The medieval town was smaller, and you can see some traces of the medieval walls inside the town, including at least one of the medieval gates. There are very few medieval buildings left in the town. There are also a few traces of the ancient Roman city of Luca, but mostly in the alignment of the streets.
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