travel from rome to florence
Feb 29th, 2008, 09:13 AM
#1
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travel from rome to florence
I am traveling to Rome and Florence in April with two others including my 80 yr old (VERY FIT) mother. We need to travel from Rome to Florence and going back to the airport and flying seems like hassle, getting a driver seems like a fortune, which has led me to the train. All reports seem good but but my concern is luggage..we'll have three large bags and three small and heard this is a big problem on train. I understand there is a new luggage service for this route ...anyone have experience with this or a suggestion
Feb 29th, 2008, 09:30 AM
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Using a porter, you'll have no problem getting your bags on. Go first class and there will be room. Generally, I have found that most of the trvellers to Rome (depending on the day of the week) don't have bags on this route.
I've had as many as 10 good size bags (4 of us) and we were fine. Now, the cost of the porter was another story.
I've had as many as 10 good size bags (4 of us) and we were fine. Now, the cost of the porter was another story.
Feb 29th, 2008, 09:48 AM
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If one of you is fit enough to lift the bags to shoulder height, you should be fine. Have one person stand inside the train car at the top of the steps. Have the most-fit person pass each bag up the steps to the other person. The luggage storage area for large bags is just inside the door of the train car.
Feb 29th, 2008, 10:02 AM
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I spent hours literally recently in both Florence and Rome stations and did not see any porters
how do you reserve a porter?
or did i miss them?
I know in previous years i occasionally did see them, a rarity in European train stations
how do you reserve a porter?
or did i miss them?
I know in previous years i occasionally did see them, a rarity in European train stations
Feb 29th, 2008, 12:37 PM
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Hi P,
>we'll have three large bags and three small
You have too much luggage. Each of you needs no more than one 22" roll on and a tote bag.
There are no official porters in Italian train stations.
Anyone who approaches you offering to help with your bags is suspect, especially if they are wearing what appears to be a uniform.
>we'll have three large bags and three small
You have too much luggage. Each of you needs no more than one 22" roll on and a tote bag.
There are no official porters in Italian train stations.
Anyone who approaches you offering to help with your bags is suspect, especially if they are wearing what appears to be a uniform.
Feb 29th, 2008, 01:17 PM
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Hello pl1, I have never seen an official porter. I would be more than concerned with three large bags (how large are they?) plus three small ones (how small are they?)plus an 80 year old no matter how fit she is. Experience, no, and never intend to. A suggestion, yes. I would have a 21 inch suitcase per person plus a very small tote bag per person. If you have a good strong person with you as your 3rd person I guess 24 inch suitcases would work but they wouldn't be my first choice.
Feb 29th, 2008, 01:52 PM
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pl1,
We (DH & I) are also travelling from Rome to Florence by train in April. We each have a 21" and a small cabin bag and I don't anticipate any problems.
When are you going? If it happens to be the same day, I would be happy to lend a hand. We're going April 6 and plan to take the 12:30 ES train. It's only about an hour & a half vs. the 3+ hour reginal trains.
We (DH & I) are also travelling from Rome to Florence by train in April. We each have a 21" and a small cabin bag and I don't anticipate any problems.
When are you going? If it happens to be the same day, I would be happy to lend a hand. We're going April 6 and plan to take the 12:30 ES train. It's only about an hour & a half vs. the 3+ hour reginal trains.
Mar 1st, 2008, 05:42 AM
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Ira
I used an "official" porter as recently as Oct. in Rome. Uniform, big cart,etc. While the one's I have used may have just been "self-employed", I tend to doubt it. While there may be scarce, I am fairly certain that the bigger stations have them.
In some cities,including Rome and Florence, you can now even reserve a porter for a specific time.This does not include baggage fees.A fee of 5 Euros is charged.I believe I usually get charged about 3 EU for each bag . A couple years ago we paid about 30 Eu. for 10 bags.
The porter never gets on the train. He goes with you to the train, if it is there,hell pass the bags up to you. If not, he'll drop them off on the platform.This incldes small and big ones.
See this http://www.trenitalia.com/en/servizi...o_bagagli.html
for information on reserving a porter. This may be exactly what the poster needs.
I used an "official" porter as recently as Oct. in Rome. Uniform, big cart,etc. While the one's I have used may have just been "self-employed", I tend to doubt it. While there may be scarce, I am fairly certain that the bigger stations have them.
In some cities,including Rome and Florence, you can now even reserve a porter for a specific time.This does not include baggage fees.A fee of 5 Euros is charged.I believe I usually get charged about 3 EU for each bag . A couple years ago we paid about 30 Eu. for 10 bags.
The porter never gets on the train. He goes with you to the train, if it is there,hell pass the bags up to you. If not, he'll drop them off on the platform.This incldes small and big ones.
See this http://www.trenitalia.com/en/servizi...o_bagagli.html
for information on reserving a porter. This may be exactly what the poster needs.
Mar 1st, 2008, 06:36 AM
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Caveat emptor - be sure the porter is Hoyle
plenty of stories of fake porters yes helping you with your bags... all the way out the door
again i spent hours in the Florence and Rome stations recently and never saw a porter so reserve one as mentioned above
plenty of stories of fake porters yes helping you with your bags... all the way out the door
again i spent hours in the Florence and Rome stations recently and never saw a porter so reserve one as mentioned above
Mar 1st, 2008, 06:40 AM
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We went from Florence to Rome and I never saw a porter either. We had 4 people and way too many bags and it was indeed a bit stressful at different points. I would say that you need to pack a little lighter - do you HAVE to have those bags?
Mar 1st, 2008, 01:06 PM
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Well the website states experimental stations, so no guarantee how long this service will last knowing Italy. With pl1's situation since the porter does not put the luggage on the train or take it off of the train I would still pack as light as possible. Just my thinking.
Mar 2nd, 2008, 06:25 AM
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Well there were not any porters in evidence in Florence SMN station for three days in February - at least the many times i walked around it - but i guess there must be some. Hope you can find them in the hoardes of folks that get off most trains there
Mar 2nd, 2008, 08:14 AM
#18
pl1~ Please, listen to the advice above.
Trust us! You REALLY don't want to have that much luggage traveling by train around Italy! SIX suitcasees, three large, three small!! I don't know what's in those suitcases, but unless you're moving to Europe permanently... you don't need that much stuff.
Trust us! You REALLY don't want to have that much luggage traveling by train around Italy! SIX suitcasees, three large, three small!! I don't know what's in those suitcases, but unless you're moving to Europe permanently... you don't need that much stuff.
Mar 2nd, 2008, 12:12 PM
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Having just gotten back from Rome on Friday and utilizing the trains to get from Venice to Florence and then from Florence to Rome, I can attest to not seeing any porters.
When we took the Leonardo Express from the airport in Rome, I fell up the stairs with my suitcase. That was even with my husband helping. For 16 days, we each had a 21 inch bag and a small backpack. I would have liked to make it one bag total.
There's space for one large bag in between the seats on the train. It's first come first serve for that space.
There's space above your seats for luggage as well but I don't recommend trying to lift bags that high up.
Then there's space at both ends of the car. Probably enough for 8 bags total. Be sure to take an express train without any stops. This will ensure the security of your luggage stored in this area.
The thing that worked best for us was one person on the platform and one on the train - my husband was the one who took the brunt of the work.
The biggest problem we had was getting room enough to maneuver our luggage. The other passengers like to crowd you - whether you are trying to get on and they are behind you or if you are trying to get off and they are trying to get on. They don't give you any personal space and or assistance.
When we took the Leonardo Express from the airport in Rome, I fell up the stairs with my suitcase. That was even with my husband helping. For 16 days, we each had a 21 inch bag and a small backpack. I would have liked to make it one bag total.
There's space for one large bag in between the seats on the train. It's first come first serve for that space.
There's space above your seats for luggage as well but I don't recommend trying to lift bags that high up.
Then there's space at both ends of the car. Probably enough for 8 bags total. Be sure to take an express train without any stops. This will ensure the security of your luggage stored in this area.
The thing that worked best for us was one person on the platform and one on the train - my husband was the one who took the brunt of the work.
The biggest problem we had was getting room enough to maneuver our luggage. The other passengers like to crowd you - whether you are trying to get on and they are behind you or if you are trying to get off and they are trying to get on. They don't give you any personal space and or assistance.
