Train Tickets Rome to Venice

Old May 13th, 2006, 04:54 PM
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Train Tickets Rome to Venice

We will be traveling to Italy and will be needing Eurostar train tickets from Rome to Venice. How important is it for me to purchase in advance? The trenitalia website is a big confusing mess and will not allow me to purchase on-line and I can't reach them by phone. When I go to raileurope.com it appears that the tickets are price inflated. Do I need to play it safe and buy from them or can I wait till we arrive in Rome and purchase the tickets to Venice that I will need 3 days later? Please advise...
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Old May 13th, 2006, 05:00 PM
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All I know is you can only purchase tickets from Trenitalia within 60 days of the date of travel.
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Old May 13th, 2006, 05:10 PM
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Unless it's a holiday or start/end of weekend I would think 3 daysis enough lead time to get tickets.

Are you within the 60 day limit - perhaps you're trying too soon.
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Old May 13th, 2006, 05:18 PM
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We are leaving for Venice on a Friday and we are leaving in just over a month. Since we are leaving on a Friday would you buy ahead at the higher price on raileurope.com?
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Old May 13th, 2006, 05:57 PM
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however you get your tickets, remember to VALIDATE them before you board the train!!!
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Old May 13th, 2006, 06:22 PM
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Last year we went in June and had no trouble buying rail tickets as we went. It was Rome-Naples and Rome-Florence. We need Venice-Rome tickets this June and I was going to do the same.
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Old May 13th, 2006, 06:27 PM
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Unless on the weekend, we purchase as we go, often the morning of. There are many trains. Would suggest that you buy your rail ticket from a travel agent in Rome (Amex at Spanish Steps in Rome for example). It costs slightly more but much less bother. You can also try the self serv machines in the station concourse. I have never had much luck with these.
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Old May 13th, 2006, 10:06 PM
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It dependes on when you are travelling. Ticket line can be very long and vacancy rate are low during holidays.

I try NOT to buy tickets at large stations. I made all train arrangements at FCO airport. Using a local travel agent is also a good idea.



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Old May 14th, 2006, 04:36 AM
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Hi L,

As noted, you can't purchase earlier than 60 days in advance.

You have to register with www.trenitalia.com before you can buy tickets.

You can buy your tickes to Venice when you buy your ticket to Rome TE at the FCO train station.

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Old May 14th, 2006, 05:19 AM
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As others have mentioned, unless you're travelling at an exceedingly busy time, don't worry about getting the tickets way in advance, a couple days is fine (you would PROBABLY be fine just walking up, but why risk it, since you'll have a few days in Italy before anyway). As for validating, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you have to validate the Eurostar ones, because they're all reserved for specific dates & trains (that is, if you miss your train, it's worthless, whereas with a normal, non-reservation ticket, you can take whatever train, which is why they make you validate it, so you don't keep reusing it).
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Old May 14th, 2006, 07:42 AM
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Thanks--you all have been extremely helpful. Sounds like I can buy the train tickets from Rome to Venice the day I arrive in Rome (3 days in advance)with no problem. One last question--anybody have any idea how much the train ticket typically costs on Eurostar? I can't seem to get the trenitalia site to quote me a price. Thanks. Luli
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Old May 14th, 2006, 07:51 AM
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Just use a closer date for getting the fare. They don't change often.

From Rome to Venice, it's 44.93 euro 2nd class, 67.14 euro 1st class.
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Old May 14th, 2006, 07:59 AM
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I hate to bring this up, but one of the advantages of booking ahead is that you should be able to get a 29 euro fare on Eurostar from Rome to Venice in FIRST CLASS or once those seats are sold, you should be able to get one for 39 euro. Those are nice savings which are usually not available a day or two ahead of schedule.
 
Old May 14th, 2006, 10:40 AM
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How exactly do I book those seats. As I mentioned earlier I can not get the trenitalia site to let me buy on-line. I have read similar threads in the past also reporting similar difficulties. I have tried many times and it indicates "no" in the buying options column. I think of myself as being moderately computer savy, however I can't figure the trenitalia site out! Any suggestions or ideas about what I might be doing wrong? By the way I can't get through on the number that they quote on the site either!
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Old May 14th, 2006, 10:44 AM
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Hi Lu,

For what date are you trying to buy tickets?

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Old May 14th, 2006, 10:46 AM
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June 16.
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Old May 14th, 2006, 11:16 AM
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Hi Lu,

This is what I did:

Go to www.trenitalia.com
Click "English"
Enter "Rome" and "Venice", "16", "06", and "09"
Click "send"
This brings up a list of trains.

The far right column is a shopping cart.
Click the cart on the train you want. I chose the 10:55 ES*.

On the fare menu, look for the 39E fare.
Click that.

Enter the number of tickets you want.

Change the fare class to 1

Click on the seats you want

Skip "seats near to"

Click "ticketless"

Click "buy"

This brings up a screen in which you enter your User ID and password.

You will have 15 min to enter your CC information.

Hope this helps.

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Old May 14th, 2006, 12:17 PM
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Hey I think it is working! Your instructions finally took me to a screen that shows a shopping cart!! Thanks for the info. Do you know if the 29 Euro option also works for 1st class? That would be quite a bargain!
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Old May 14th, 2006, 12:22 PM
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Hi L,

The 29 and 39E offers come and go. All you can do is click on them and see if it works.



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Old May 14th, 2006, 12:38 PM
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We always buy as we go. We usually buy our tickets for the next leg when we arrive in a city. Never had a problem. The vending machines are a great alternative to standing in line. The payment part is the very last thing you do, so you can go through and select your date, time, destination, train, seats, etc., and you can then walk away if you don't feel comfortable. The machines review all your selections and when you've got it right, slide in your credit card and then your tickets will print. I wish they had more machines at more train stations.
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