GAC

For those readers who may harbor doubts about the ongoing availability of Trenitalia's 9-Euro SUPER ECONOMY fare between Rome and Venice, rest assured that it is indeed alive and well!

TIPS for finding the 9-Euro fare (or the 19 or 29 Euro fare):

1. Book LONG in advance (up to 120 days, provided that schedules have been uploaded);

2. Look at the fares for ALL trains on any one day: there are 17 Frecciargento trains between Rome and Venice, plus 1 much slower and cheaper Intercity train;

3. Pay close attention to trains departing mid-morning and mid-afternoon;

4. Also check trains bound for (or departing from) VE. MESTRE Station (sometimes lower fares are available compared to Venezia S. Lucia Station);

5. Don't discard the Intercity train outright, as it usually has lower discount fares (and a much lower "BASE" fare) than the Frecciargento;

6. Remember that all discount fares are capacity controlled, and they increase in 10-Euro increments: 9-19-29-39-49 Euros, etc.

7. DISTINGUISH between the SUPER ECONOMY fare (nonrefundable and nonchangeable) and the ECONOMY fare (nonrefundable and changeable by paying the increment to the "BASE" fare);

8. Use the "BASE" fare of 80 Euros (second class, Frecciargento train) as your reference;

9. Bear in mind that second class on the Frecciargento train is fine for most travellers;

10. BEWARE that if you MISS your reserved train holding a discount ticket, you FORFEIT the ticket entirely. In the case of a "BASE" fare ticket, you have ONLY a ONE HOUR GRACE PERIOD to re-book (free of charge) to a later-departing train in case you MISS your reserved train. (There are separate rules for trains missed due to late connections between Trenitalia trains)

11. Be aware that competitor ITALO TRENO will commence service to Venice from Roma TIBURTINA Station on October 27, with 3 high-speed trains per day, at fares which will compete with those of Trenitalia. However, these trains are not yet open for bookings.

PLAN AHEAD AND SAVE MONEY!!! Don't pay the "BASE" fare unless you need to.

GAC

An afterthought:

12. When the second class discounted fares are sold out, ALSO check FIRST CLASS SUPER ECONOMY and ECONOMY fares, which can be lower than the SECOND class "BASE" fare (but with the same restrictions as the second class discounted fares);

caroline_edinburgh

GAC, you are such a fount of useful info, thanks!

This may well come in handy in the cooler months when we may venture out of Venice more. We recently came back from our first such trip, to see friends in Le Marche, and I can confirm that 2nd class in the Frecciargento is perfectly comfortable - as indeed it was in the Intercity, regional & Frecciabianca trains our journey also involved! (IC to Bologna then FA to Civitanova going, REG to Ancona then FB coming back) All comfy seats, not overcrowded and with aircon.

GAC

Searching for those 9-Euro fares between Rome and Venice (or otherwise for the lowest possible fare on any date)?

When on the "Trenitalia" HOME PAGE, check the box "find the best price", and you'll bring up the lowest promotional fares for three days before and three days after the departure date selected. You can then advance or roll back the dates by using the arrows. You'll be shown the trains with the lowest promotional fares (9, 19, 29, 39 Euros, etc.).

Remember to check lowest fares in FIRST class as well (which can be lower than the "BASE" fare in second class).

Click on "details" and you see whether the fare for the train selected is a "SUPER ECONOMY" or an "ECONOMY" fare. Don't fail to read and understand the tariff conditions for these fares, lest you later regret your purchase.

Note that the lowest fare may not necessarily be for a train departing at a convenient time.

Finally, the farther out you look, the greater the odds of finding the really low fares of 9 and 19 Euros. You can look out up to 120 days, as long as schedules have been uploaded (not the case at the moment).

The 9-Euro fare is "alive and well", as is borne out by the website.

willowjane

WOW! Thanks for the information. We will be traveling by train for the first time from Rome to Venice and then to Lake Como. I will use your information.