Hodie

Can anyone tell me (roughly) how much it is to travel from Chiusi to Rome (one-way) and round trip on the fast train from Rome to Naples if you buy day of at the station?

My BF and I are traveling from Chiuso to Rome, and Rome to Naples and back (fast train) in October, and although I’m sure of the date we will be traveling, I’m not sure of the actual time. For that reason, buying a non-changeable ticket in advance seems risky, but I see if you buy a rail pass you still make a reservation but it’s able to be changed (for a fee). Is this really more economical though than just showing up and buying a ticket that day? I’m so confused, I want to be sure we do the most affordable option, but also keep it flexible.

Jean

First of all, keep those vowel endings straight, or you could possibly run into some confusion. I'm quite sure you mean Chiusi, but there is a Chiuso.

The base, 2nd class fare from Chiusi-Chianciano Terme (full name of the train station) to Rome Termini is 19 euros per person.

The base fare from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale is 43 euros per person each way.

There are a few Fodorites who know all the ins/outs of train fares (kybourbon, in particular). Hopefully, kybourbon will see this thread. We just show up and buy tickets unless there is a reason we need to take a particular train and we know this far enough in advance to snag discount tickets. Yes, it costs more, and we factor that into our overall budget, but otherwise we prefer the flexibility. To each his/her own...

PalenQ

Chiusi-Rome are regional trains mainly so you cannot even reserve if you wanted to - there may be some IC trains on that route where a reservation, mandated, is included with the ticket and there is no real savings by advance purchase.

Just purchase those tickets the day of travel at the station. And no you are in no way even close to realizing the benefit of any railpass for those limited as Jean says cheap trips.

You can save money by buying the fastest trains Rome to Naples and back in advance but if you want to take slightly slower IC trains on that route again the savings I think will not be great.

So see what times are involved and whether it is worth it to you to arrive an hour earlier or so - if so book in advance at www.trenitalia.com or thru RailEurope in the U.S. as they now pretty much offer the lowest discounted fares similar to trenitalia.com - Also check www.italotren.it - a competitor to Trenitalia that runs that route - easier site to work (trenitalia.com can be really flummoxing to novice encouterers) and may have cheaper trains.

But except very slow regional trains on Rome - Naples v.v you do need a reservation and it comes with the ticket - regional trains may take considerably longer than IC trains but are rock-bottom cheap.

For lots of good info on Italian trains I always recommend: www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

I also always recommend for the trip of a lifetime going first class as the ride is significantly IME of zillions of Italian train rides, more relaxed, especially for folks carrying a lot of luggage - seats bigger, fewer seats per same size train car as 2nd class and free drink and snacks. There are also discounted tickets in first class and at times they are not much more than 2nd class ones so check each and if not a whole lot different go first class - you will find it much more relaxing IME.

kybourbon

How are you getting to Chiusi to begin with? Chiusi aka Chiusi-Chianciano Terme on Trenitalia is served by regional and IC trains (mostly regional). On this route, regional tickets are about 9€. There is no reason to buy in advance as there is no reserved seating on regional trains and no discounts.

The IC trains for Chiusi/Rome are about double the cost for full base price over regional trains (unless you snag an advance purchase discount which can be as cheap as 9€) and travel time is only about 10 minutes faster than the regional train. You can buy IC tickets on Trenitalia as much as 120 days in advance, but there are about 4 regional trains to every IC train on this route. FYI - I sometimes see 1st class IC discount tickets for the same 9€ as 2nd class IC discount tickets. At times, the 9€ 2nd will be sold out and the 9€ 1st still available so check both. Most of the IC trains in Italy are old and compartment style. I don't like them and would just as soon be on a regional train if travel times are similar. YMMV. There are no amenities on either IC or regional.

For Rome/Naples, you want the fast Frecce trains as the IC trains will take double the time and regional trains much longer. Unless you are on a tight budget, I would not book IC or regional for Rome/Naples. You can book Frecce 120 days in advance, but yes, you are locked into that specific train. Advance discount would be 19€ (full price 2nd is 43€). 2nd is more than fine and this is only an hour ride, but check the 1st discounts too (cheapest 1st discount is 29€). There are 2 2nd class choices on this train - standard and premium. Some people mistakenly think premium is 1st class, but it is not. It's the same seats and seating configuration as standard 2nd class, but the seats have a better fabric and they give you a drink (full price premium is 50€). You would be paying 7€ to get a drink which you could buy onboard at the snack bar cheaper. Business class is 1st class on this train and there are multiple business levels. If you buy in advance, check for the discounts across the board (can often get both standard and premium for 19€).

2nd class on a fast train.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ssainterno.jpg

If you are talking about Rome/Naples/Rome in one day, look for a return discount available on some routes for same day return.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD

If a weekend, Trenitalia offers this discount.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD

Sometimes on Saturday, the run a 2 for 1.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD

Those three discounts require a 24 hour advance purchase. Like any of Trenitalia's discount tickets, they can sell out and then you pay full price.

If you are talking about traveling Chiusi to Naples in one day, you can get off the regional train at Rome Tiburtina station and switch to Italo (another train company). Trains are newer and discounts/prices are about the same.

http://www.italotreno.it/en/Pages/default.aspx

PalenQ

2nd class on a fast train.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Frecciarossainterno.jpg>

This photo in NO way resembles any 2nd class train car you will be taking - it is a staged PR photo showing unrealistic conditions - you will NEVER see a 2nd class train car sparsely full and with no luggage around - expect seats to be all full and lots of stuff lying around and luggage all over the overhead luggage racks, etc.

Don't expect 2nd class to look like this IME very unrealistic photo.

Hodie

Thank you!! This is exactly what I was looking for. We will wait to book the Chiusi to Rome until the day of (making sure we take a Regional Train) and use the return discount ticket option for Rome/Naples, as you can book for the day but can still change the time without a fee. Again, thank you, I know I would not have found that on my own!

PalenQ

Again, thank you, I know I would not have found that on my own!>

Yes indeed - kybourbon has helped tons of folks find such savings - an invaluable resource for Fodorites.

PalenQ

That special day return kybourbon thoughtfully gave you costs only 20 euros more in first class - or 10 euros each way and that is well worth the minimal extra charge - you even get free snack and beverage and Italian newspaper in 1st class plus the seats are much bigger - usually empty seats IME to put my luggage on a nearby and always in view place - for 10 euros each way to me it is a no-brainer to go first class at those rates.

Again do not judge second class on that optimal best scenario photo kybourbon always trots out - it in NO way resembles any 2nd class train car I've been in and I've done zillions of trips in them - well physically it does but that's all (though your car will not looking spanking new out of the factory as that train car does)

A major difference in 1st class is there are only three seats in a row - two on one side of the aisle and only one, a so-called isolated seat on the other - a window and aisle seat both! Two of these can face each other with a large table in between them. These do not exist in 2nd class TMK and to me at least they are priceless for the privacy they provide - no asking anyone 'excusey mia I need to get out,' etc.

kybourbon

>>>This photo in NO way resembles any 2nd class train car you will be taking <<<

That is not true PQ. It's an actual photo of the Italian fast train. I've ridden these trains with less people on them than shown in the picture (Naples/Rome I only had 3 people in my car one Sept.). If you book in advance to get a discount, you are more likely to be on a full train car because the booking system fills up one car before making the next car available for booking.

bvlenci

I almost always ride second class in Italy, where I live, and I also have often been on high-speed trains that weren't at all crowded. The high-speed trains have lots of luggage storage space in second class, and I've never seen luggage all over the place.

Palenq keeps trotting out that old story about Rail Europe being cost effective. In fact, Trenitalia is not very difficult to use and has the best prices, but if you really can't cope with it, Italiarail.com is a Trenitalia partner; it's cheaper than Rail Europe (often much cheaper), has a lower reservation fee, and is clearer about which stations the train is leaving from or arriving at.

RailEurope has prices all over the place for essentially the same trains. For some trains the markup is only about 10%, but sometimes their prices are more than double the prices charged by Trenitalia.

PalenQ

RailEurope has prices all over the place for essentially the same trains. For some trains the markup is only about 10%, but sometimes their prices are more than double the prices charged by Trenitalia.>

Yes about the mark-up on some trains but in several inspections of randoms dates I have actually found cheaper fares on RailEurope than trenitalia.com and have pointed this out to bvience who can never seem to find the same fares.

Trenitalia is terrible to work with - scores of frustrated posts attest to that so even if the mark-up is only 10% that may be well worth the time and effort involved but you will find fares that are actually cheaper at times on RE than trenitalia.com. Italotren.it seems to have the most consistent lower fares of all and by reports is easier to use - they do use secondary stations in places like Rome and Florence somteimes but that is really not much a problem as some of those stations are just as easy to get to your hotel as the much more hectic main stations.

There is a significant difference between classes and that is why trains always have a sizable contingent of first-class cars (or else many Italians are just too stupid and pay more for nothing as bvienci says - locals do not typically carry around a ton of luggage either and that makes a difference.

On the trip of a lifetime where folks typically pay $200-300 a night for a hotel don't skimp on train fares IME and first class also has discounted tickets so at times they are nearly as cheap as the available 2nd class tickets.