DreamOfItalia

My husband 'S' and I will be leaving for Italy in June. Our itinerary is:

June 22 - depart USA
June 23 - arrive Venice
June 24 - Venice
June 25 - Venice to Florence via train/pick up rental car
June 26 - Tuscany
June 27 - Tuscany
June 28 - Tuscany
June 29 - Florence to CT (dropping off rental car and taking train)
June 30 - CT
July 1 - CT
July 2 - CT to Lucerne (via train)
July 3 - Lucerne
July 4 - Lucerne to Zurich
July 5 - Zurich

Issue: I have searched the forum, google, and the train websites. My first search for the train portion of the trip was@ a cost of over $650 for train fares for both S and I. I found that on Saturdays there is a 2 for 1 fare with Trenitalia for the IC, however, it is not available for June 29th.

1st question: Once marked as "not available" on the website (Sat travel on June 25 Venice to Florence), is it a done deal OR would checking the website regulary pay off as the seats could become available?

We are taking the train from Monterosso, CT to Lucerne on 7/2. I have booked the La Spezia to Milan portion of the train via Trenitalia with the 2 for 1 (Saturday rate @ 27 euro total/2 people). It leaves La Spezia @ 7:50 am for Milan. In earlier research on the train webs there were trains getting into La Spezia from Monterosso that would accommodate this time. However, now the first train out is showing as after 7am, getting into La Spezia @ 7:51am which is the time my (booked) train to Milan departs La Spezia.

Question #2: Are there glitches in the system where all train times do not appear on the web? Does anyone know the time of the earliest Saturday train out of Montessoro?

Question #3: Assuming I get the Monterosso to La Spezia portion "fixed," what is the least expensive way of traveling from Milan to Lucerne?

Information: This is our 5th trip to Italy. We are flying into Venice and out of Zurich for two reasons. 1: Frequent flyer miles & ability to get business class. 2: S wanted to visit another country during this trip if only for a day or two so we decided on Switerland. (I know....but that is what he wanted so we are going with it.) These flights are a done deal.

I have been reading this forum for years and have always appreciated the information I received on this forum - it is invaluable. I would appreciate any help you can give me so that I can get this settled. Thank you.

gh21

I have read elsewhere on the forum that Trentitalia has not yet posted all schedules for the summer. June 12 was mentioned as the date when all summer schedules can be expected to be published. Keep trying. Also regionale trains which would be cheaper than high speed Eurostar trains only post schedules one week in advance.

ellenem

To get an idea of the schedule after June 12, use dates for this coming week. The new schedule and prices won't change by that much.

J62

Schedules for regional trains ARE posted more than a week in advance - it's the same problem that nothing after 6/12 is posted at all.

There departures from Monterosso at 6:20 and 7:10 that will let you connect to Milan.

kybourbon

I'm not clear on your Florence/Tuscany portion. Are you staying in Florence?

If you are staying in Florence for 5 days with car day trips, you need to be aware you are not allowed to drive in the center of Florence and you will have to pay about 30€ parking per night. I would change my schedule and stay in Florence two days, pick up car as leaving to tour around Tuscany and return car in La Spezia.

>>>My first search for the train portion of the trip was@ a cost of over $650 for train fares for both S and I<<<

No way your few train trips could cost that. The fare from Venice to Florence is only 43€ for the AV fast train and I'm seeing Carta Frecia specials for your date for 21.50€ (same train).

I imagine the two earlier departures Monterosso/La Spezia will be added when all schedules are complete. No point in buying these in advance as there are no seat reservations on this type of train.

>>>what is the least expensive way of traveling from Milan to Lucerne?<<<

You need to book this in sections for the discount. On Trenitalia, search Milan to Arth-Goldau (give yourself time in Milan to change trains, grab some food, etc.). In the fare drop down box, scroll down to the first Smart fare and select. You should get a fare of 19€. If the first Smart fare is sold out, select Smart 2.

For the Arth-Goldau/Lucerne, you need to go to the Swiss website or just book after arrival taking the next train as I don't think there will be much price differences.
www.sbb.ch

DreamOfItalia

Kybourbon: "I'm not clear on your Florence/Tuscany portion. Are you staying in Florence?"

We are picking up a rental car near SMN in Florence and then headed to our "hotel" - Fattoria La Loggia in Montefirdolfi,San Casciano Valley. This will be our base for 4 nights, visiting towns in Tuscany. We are planning on dropping off the car at SMN prior to taking the train to CT.

When I ran a check on the Carta Frecia fare, it was not available for the time I wanted to leave. What time did you check?

I will take your advice and book the train from Monterosso to La Spezia when we get there and will check out your other recommendations.

J62 - Thanks for the information. That is what I had seen previously.

I appreciate the advice.

kybourbon

>>>I will take your advice and book the train from Monterosso to La Spezia when we get there <<<

You can buy this ticket ahead of time in CT since you are traveling so early in the morning. You have to validate this type of ticket in the yellow machines before boarding.

DreamOfItalia

KY: I have attempted several times to book the Arth-Goldau portion of the train from Milan and the system will now allow it. Upon further investigation, there is an incon 'R' that says the reservation can only be made in Italy. I used your suggestions for the fare drop down and that worked but it will not allow me to pay for the tickets - kicks me out - says "refused." Have you or anyone else experienced this? Is there any way around it?

kybourbon

It appears Trenitalia is requiring registration to purchase these tickets (you don't have to register to purchase all tickets).
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

Are you selecting self service for ticket delivery? You can't choose home delivery outside of Europe.

Have you checked with your credit card company to make sure they are not rejecting the purchase? I would check this first. It sounds like your card is being rejected. Are you using the same credit card you used for your other purchase? Trenitalia says it doesn't allow that.

If none of the above help, you might need to wait until all summer schedules are loaded and try again. Perhaps it's a glitch they haven't fixed yet.

Here is the list from Trenitalia about possible rejection problems.

>>>>>STATUS PENDING - TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF BUYING PROCEDURE
If two consecutive buying procedures are unsuccessful, the system will suspend service for 15 minutes.
For further information, contact Trenitalia's Help Desk.

>>>>>REASONS FOR USER DISABLING OR TRANSACTION DENYING
Your user status can be disabled in the following cases:
• If, on registering (or when you access the members area), you input an incorrect user ID and password 5 times;
• If, when paying, you input an incorrect credit card number more than twice.

PLEASE NOTE –You can make a request for reinstatement ONLY from the website by going to the reserved Members Area under the Customers' area (entering with your User ID and password) and filling in the dedicated form.

When making payment, the transaction can be blocked if:
• you use more than two credit cards with the same User ID;
• your credit card is used by more than two distinct users;
• malfunctions occur in the bankpass system more than twice when payment is being made;
• you use a credit card associated to a user that has been already disabled;
• you exceed your credit card’s monthly spending limit;
• the overall expense with the credit card you are using exceeds the allowed monthly limit (1,000 euro).

Please note also that, in agreement with the payment circuits, automated anti-fraud control systems have been implemented on online transactions for which reason transactions may in some cases be blocked independently of Trenitalia's will or power.

In cases where a transaction is blocked, the system automatically sends an e-mail to the e-mail address associated to the User ID used to make the purchase. This mail will give the reasons by the transaction has been blocked and instructions on how to go ahead with the purchase.

DreamOfItalia

KY: I had registered and was thinking, as you said, that it could have been my credit card. After 4 emails stating that my request was refused, I tried another credit card and it worked. Taking your advice, I booked the following:

LaSpezia 7:50 am to Milan 10:50 am - 27 Euro for 2 (Sat disc)
Milan 13:50 am to Arth-Goldau 16:12 - 58 Euro for 2 (Smart 2)

There is a two-hour "lay over." We will take this time to grab some food and make our reservation from Arth-Goldau to Lucerne. With all train rides, we will probably spend about $250 total.

Thank you for the help and advice.

Another questions: Traveling from Italy into Switzerland via train, what type of customs will we need to go through? I have never done that before.

DreamOfItalia

Sorry -- that should have been approximately 300 Euro.

kybourbon

There won't be customs. There could be a change of a few train personnel at one of the border towns.