kapeed_0077

Sorry if this has already been posted before. I couldn't find an answer.

We are traveling to Italy the first week of October and are visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice. We thought about getting an Italian Flexi Rail Card for travel to and from the above cities (3 total train rides) -- thinking it will be cheaper and easier than individual tickets. Also, with a Flexi Rail Card, reservations are still required, correct? And if so, how/where do we make the reservations using the Flexi Card? thanks.

kybourbon

If you are traveling one way then I can't imagine a pass being worth the cost. The ES train with 2nd class seat is 29.44E from Rome to Florence and takes 90 minutes. The Florence/Venice ES is 26.6E and takes 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Your seat reservations for the ES trains are included in the price when you book with www.trenitalia.com but you can't purchase online more than 60 days in advance.

ira

Hi K,

Enter your itinerary at www.railsaver.com and click "only if it saves money".

Also note that if you are taking the ES* trains, required reservations, that you have to go buy your reservation.

You can buy your tickets online at www.trenitalia.com. Use the ticketless option.

You will get a confirmation email.

The confirmation code and your passport is all you will need for the ES*, since the ticket is good only on that one train.

Patrick

I can tell you that a railpass will NOT save you money. These are not expensive routes and there are also a ton of "special fares" available for them. I suggest you buy your tickets with reservations in advance (via Trentalia) and forget about this pass idea.

JSLee

When I went 3 years ago, I studied the rates and found that the Pass was way overpriced for the rides I would be taking. Even with the Pass, the EusoStar requires a supplement. The passes are only good for a certain number of days.

I took three round trips. Rome/Pompeii, Rome/Florence, and Florence/Pisa. These were done in for days. I took the Euro whenever possible. I only spent $105 +/-.

A pass speeds things up, but not worth the cost.

suze

I'm pretty sure you need to travel alot more than those two trips to make a train pass of any kind worthwhile. Just buy them at the train station when you need to go.

Barbara_in_CT

In 2004, we bought our train tickets for the same trip at Rome Termini. I don't remember the total cost but it was considerably cheaper than the railpass. This is a highly traveled route and cars are added as needed.

PalQ

Even thru RailEurope you could buy a point-point first class ticket Rome-Florence-Venice for $82 and be able to stop off anywhere en route, like in Florence, without formality and get on any other train within a two-month time period. Of course to ride EurostarItalia trains requires reservations and a $15 surcharge if done thru RailEurope - you can ride any IC trains on that ticket without additional fee - reservations not required on those trains but may be advisable but at least you can board. Not so with Eurostar - reservations mandated before boarding (though i've boarded without on one occasion and paid about twice the normal Eurostar supplement onboard (this was with a railpass - Eurail, Italy railpasses must pay an about $15-18 fee above the pass to ride EurostarItalia high-speed trains. railpasses don't guarantee a seat and have nothing to do with reservations, which more and more trains in Europe are requiring, negating the flexibility passes traditionally have provided - and with a pass have to wait in line at ticket windows, often mobbed in Italy in my experience, to make the reservation with a pass - have never seen any automatic machines that reserve for passholders - may be but i don't know about them. So a hassle. For seamless travel at a higher rate reserve and buy tickets thru RailEurope - in which case you need only to board your train - for cheaper go to www.trenitalia.com - with Eurostar and some IC on some lines you only need the code you'll get and give conductor - other cases may have to retrieve from ticket window or machines. Can save money over RailEurope usually. But trains in Italy are ridiculously cheap - you'd pay 2 or 3 times as much for similar travel in most other countries - train fares are politically sensitive issue in Italy - with FS (old name of Trenitalia) tried to raise them a few years ago it set off quite a ruckus it was rescinded i believe - fares on regional trains can be incredibly cheap!