Should I pre-book my train ticket to Florence if arriving by plane?
Sep 2nd, 2012, 08:30 AM
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Should I pre-book my train ticket to Florence if arriving by plane?
So you want to pre-purchase Trenitalia (or ITALO TRENO) rail tickets to Florence for travel on the date of arrival by plane at FCO or MXP airports? Please read on...
This is a very good question, and unfortunately many people are not aware of the various options available, and the advantages/drawbacks of each option:
OPTION 1: Buy ticket only when you arrive at the FCO or MXP airport train station (or at the Italian rail station where you board your first train)
Advantages: maintains full flexibility (and no forfeiture of a prepaid ticket) in case of late arrival.
Disadvantages: during heavy travel periods, you may not get your train of FIRST choice. However, high-speed (“Alta Velocita’” or “AV”) Frecciarossa/Frecciargento trains between Rome and Florence run on average every 5-30 minutes, so this is usually not a big issue. Frecciarossa trains between Milan and Florence run HOURLY. At worst, you may need to take your second or even third choice of train, if earlier trains are sold out (in both first and second class), something which should occur only infrequently.
NOTE: there might be a problem around Christmas and New Year's, and a couple of other days throughout the year, but this is infrequent.
OPTION 1a: If second class seats are sold out, buy a first class ticket rather than waiting for the next train
Advantages: Leave sooner, and save time
Disadvantages: Pay considerably more, for only marginal betterment of service. In a nutshell, first class seats on the AV trains have 8.5 centimeters more seat/shoulder room (since they are 3-across instead of 4-across), potentially up to 5 centimeters more leg room (but not always), and there is a complimentary beverage/snack/morning newspaper offered at the start of the trip. There is sometimes more room for luggage, primarily because there are fewer seats in first class, therefore fewer bags to stow. Also, first class railcars can be quieter (although not always so; some new Frecciarossa trains have a “silence” area in one first class railcar where cell phones are not allowed to be used). Solo travelers enjoy the fact that the first class railcars have an entire row of single seats on one side (whereas second class railcars have twin seats on both sides of the railcar).
OPTION 2: Buy a nonrefundable “ECONOMY” or “SUPER ECONOMY” fare ticket in advance
Advantages: you can save between 10% and 82% of the regular (“BASE”) fare (which is presently 43 Euros between Rome/Florence and 50 Euros between Milan/Florence).
Disadvantages: if you MISS your reserved train (holding an “ECONOMY” or a “SUPER ECONOMY” ticket), even by one second, you have a WORTHLESS ticket, and you must purchase a brand new, regular fare ticket. Furthermore, because (with the “SUPER ECONOMY” ticket) you can never bring forward your reservation to an EARLIER-departing train (nor make ANY changes whatsoever), you can't "hedge your bets" by intentionally reserving a very late-departing train, then plan on changing to an earlier-departing train if your plane arrives on time.
NOTE: You could “hedge your bets” with the “BASE” fare ticket, or the “ECONOMY” ticket, both of which are changeable: in the case of the “BASE” ticket, the change is FREE (if timely); in the case of the “ECONOMY” ticket, the change (if timely) results in an increased fare to the “BASE” fare rate (thereby entirely taking away the discount). Nevertheless, you still risk a FORFEITURE if your plane arrives VERY late, and you MISS your reserved train by more than one hour (with the “BASE” fare ticket) or even by one second (with the “ECONOMY fare ticket).
OPINION: HERE, YOU’VE GOT TO BE VERY VERY CAREFUL: I recommend NOT buying the ticket (at any fare) for travel on the day of arrival by plane, since you simply can’t know if your plane will arrive late, or by how much!!!
EXCEPTION: If you’re able to find a “SUPER ECONOMY” ticket for the LOWEST fare of 9 Euros, many people would be willing to risk a forfeiture for such an attractive low fare. Buy would you risk a forfeiture for a discounted fare of 19 or 29 Euros?
OPTION 3: Buy a regular, "BASE" fare ticket
Advantages: ensures you'll have a seat on the train you select
Disadvantages: ticket becomes WORTHLESS if you MISS your reserved train by MORE THAN ONE HOUR.
DILEMMA: these days, how can you be so sure that your plane won't arrive much later than scheduled? You could also “hedge your bets”, as described above, by intentionally booking a very late-departing train, then changing to an earlier-departing train if your plane arrives on time, but you still run the risk of a FORFEITURE if your plans go awry.
OPTION 4: if schedules are convenient, take one of the cheap, unreserved “regionale veloce” trains from Roma Termini to Firenze SMN, which run every two hours (this option is not available between Milan and Florence).
Advantages: Costs only 19.25 Euros at the moment. If you promptly board this train at Roma Termini, you usually won’t have a problem finding a seat.
Disadvantages The "regionale veloce" train takes MUCH longer than the AV train (3.5 hours versus 95 minutes), makes MANY more stops, has no food/beverage service, occasionally has non-functioning air conditioning, and is not as modern, quiet and “nice” as the AV train. The "regionale veloce" has non-reclining seats in second class. Also, the AV train (but not the "regionale veloce") has a “pulitore viaggiante” on board, who is supposed to keep the washrooms relatively clean. Nevertheless, I find that the "regionale veloce" train (which uses refurbished Intercity railcars), to be quite acceptable as a cheap alternative to the AV train.
EASIEST SOLUTION: follow option 1 above!!! This works most of the time.
NOTE: The Trenitalia “FLESSIBILE” fare has been discontinued.
This posting does not discuss the new ITALO TRENO services. Consult their website to learn about the fare structure and forfeiture rules (which are similar, but not identical, to those of Trenitalia).
Remember that ITALO TRENO operates out of Roma TIBURTINA station (NOT Roma Termini), which means that you need to take the Trenitalia unreserved airport train from FCO which goes to TIBURTINA, not to Termini.
ITALO TRENO operates out of Milano Porta Garibaldi station, not Milano Centrale. Take the Trenitalia unreserved airport train from MXP to Milano Porta Garibaldi!
IMPORTANT: Always consult the Trenitalia and ITALO TRENO websites to consult the latest schedules, fares, and promotional schemes. The information above is correct as of the present date, but is naturally subject to change.
www.trenitalia.it
www.italotreno.it
This is a very good question, and unfortunately many people are not aware of the various options available, and the advantages/drawbacks of each option:
OPTION 1: Buy ticket only when you arrive at the FCO or MXP airport train station (or at the Italian rail station where you board your first train)
Advantages: maintains full flexibility (and no forfeiture of a prepaid ticket) in case of late arrival.
Disadvantages: during heavy travel periods, you may not get your train of FIRST choice. However, high-speed (“Alta Velocita’” or “AV”) Frecciarossa/Frecciargento trains between Rome and Florence run on average every 5-30 minutes, so this is usually not a big issue. Frecciarossa trains between Milan and Florence run HOURLY. At worst, you may need to take your second or even third choice of train, if earlier trains are sold out (in both first and second class), something which should occur only infrequently.
NOTE: there might be a problem around Christmas and New Year's, and a couple of other days throughout the year, but this is infrequent.
OPTION 1a: If second class seats are sold out, buy a first class ticket rather than waiting for the next train
Advantages: Leave sooner, and save time
Disadvantages: Pay considerably more, for only marginal betterment of service. In a nutshell, first class seats on the AV trains have 8.5 centimeters more seat/shoulder room (since they are 3-across instead of 4-across), potentially up to 5 centimeters more leg room (but not always), and there is a complimentary beverage/snack/morning newspaper offered at the start of the trip. There is sometimes more room for luggage, primarily because there are fewer seats in first class, therefore fewer bags to stow. Also, first class railcars can be quieter (although not always so; some new Frecciarossa trains have a “silence” area in one first class railcar where cell phones are not allowed to be used). Solo travelers enjoy the fact that the first class railcars have an entire row of single seats on one side (whereas second class railcars have twin seats on both sides of the railcar).
OPTION 2: Buy a nonrefundable “ECONOMY” or “SUPER ECONOMY” fare ticket in advance
Advantages: you can save between 10% and 82% of the regular (“BASE”) fare (which is presently 43 Euros between Rome/Florence and 50 Euros between Milan/Florence).
Disadvantages: if you MISS your reserved train (holding an “ECONOMY” or a “SUPER ECONOMY” ticket), even by one second, you have a WORTHLESS ticket, and you must purchase a brand new, regular fare ticket. Furthermore, because (with the “SUPER ECONOMY” ticket) you can never bring forward your reservation to an EARLIER-departing train (nor make ANY changes whatsoever), you can't "hedge your bets" by intentionally reserving a very late-departing train, then plan on changing to an earlier-departing train if your plane arrives on time.
NOTE: You could “hedge your bets” with the “BASE” fare ticket, or the “ECONOMY” ticket, both of which are changeable: in the case of the “BASE” ticket, the change is FREE (if timely); in the case of the “ECONOMY” ticket, the change (if timely) results in an increased fare to the “BASE” fare rate (thereby entirely taking away the discount). Nevertheless, you still risk a FORFEITURE if your plane arrives VERY late, and you MISS your reserved train by more than one hour (with the “BASE” fare ticket) or even by one second (with the “ECONOMY fare ticket).
OPINION: HERE, YOU’VE GOT TO BE VERY VERY CAREFUL: I recommend NOT buying the ticket (at any fare) for travel on the day of arrival by plane, since you simply can’t know if your plane will arrive late, or by how much!!!
EXCEPTION: If you’re able to find a “SUPER ECONOMY” ticket for the LOWEST fare of 9 Euros, many people would be willing to risk a forfeiture for such an attractive low fare. Buy would you risk a forfeiture for a discounted fare of 19 or 29 Euros?
OPTION 3: Buy a regular, "BASE" fare ticket
Advantages: ensures you'll have a seat on the train you select
Disadvantages: ticket becomes WORTHLESS if you MISS your reserved train by MORE THAN ONE HOUR.
DILEMMA: these days, how can you be so sure that your plane won't arrive much later than scheduled? You could also “hedge your bets”, as described above, by intentionally booking a very late-departing train, then changing to an earlier-departing train if your plane arrives on time, but you still run the risk of a FORFEITURE if your plans go awry.
OPTION 4: if schedules are convenient, take one of the cheap, unreserved “regionale veloce” trains from Roma Termini to Firenze SMN, which run every two hours (this option is not available between Milan and Florence).
Advantages: Costs only 19.25 Euros at the moment. If you promptly board this train at Roma Termini, you usually won’t have a problem finding a seat.
Disadvantages The "regionale veloce" train takes MUCH longer than the AV train (3.5 hours versus 95 minutes), makes MANY more stops, has no food/beverage service, occasionally has non-functioning air conditioning, and is not as modern, quiet and “nice” as the AV train. The "regionale veloce" has non-reclining seats in second class. Also, the AV train (but not the "regionale veloce") has a “pulitore viaggiante” on board, who is supposed to keep the washrooms relatively clean. Nevertheless, I find that the "regionale veloce" train (which uses refurbished Intercity railcars), to be quite acceptable as a cheap alternative to the AV train.
EASIEST SOLUTION: follow option 1 above!!! This works most of the time.
NOTE: The Trenitalia “FLESSIBILE” fare has been discontinued.
This posting does not discuss the new ITALO TRENO services. Consult their website to learn about the fare structure and forfeiture rules (which are similar, but not identical, to those of Trenitalia).
Remember that ITALO TRENO operates out of Roma TIBURTINA station (NOT Roma Termini), which means that you need to take the Trenitalia unreserved airport train from FCO which goes to TIBURTINA, not to Termini.
ITALO TRENO operates out of Milano Porta Garibaldi station, not Milano Centrale. Take the Trenitalia unreserved airport train from MXP to Milano Porta Garibaldi!
IMPORTANT: Always consult the Trenitalia and ITALO TRENO websites to consult the latest schedules, fares, and promotional schemes. The information above is correct as of the present date, but is naturally subject to change.
www.trenitalia.it
www.italotreno.it
Sep 2nd, 2012, 09:08 AM
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marking and again much thanks for comprehensive and objective - pointing out negatives as well as positive for the online discount tickets in Italy that all too often IMO are presented as a panacea - the only thing to do without talking about their drawbacks.
thank you.
thank you.
Sep 2nd, 2012, 12:53 PM
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GAC, thanks very much. Because we are 77 and 80 we want to make the transition from FCO to Firenze SMN as easy as possible. We are willing to pay more for the convenience.
We are scheduled to arrive on Alitalia in FCO at 3:10 pm. To be honest, we know we will be very tired, (in transit about 20 hours at that point) and at our age that means not functioning as well as usual. We want to avoid crowds, gypsy "porters" and other boarding hassles. We are thinking of going to tiburtina and taking the Italotreno. Is it possible to buy their tickets at FCO or do we wait until we get to Tiburtina? We have also considered hiring Rome shuttle Limousine to take us the the train station. Does this strategy make sense for us?
We are scheduled to arrive on Alitalia in FCO at 3:10 pm. To be honest, we know we will be very tired, (in transit about 20 hours at that point) and at our age that means not functioning as well as usual. We want to avoid crowds, gypsy "porters" and other boarding hassles. We are thinking of going to tiburtina and taking the Italotreno. Is it possible to buy their tickets at FCO or do we wait until we get to Tiburtina? We have also considered hiring Rome shuttle Limousine to take us the the train station. Does this strategy make sense for us?
Sep 2nd, 2012, 01:46 PM
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Unfortuntely, I'm pretty certain that you can't buy ITALO TRENO tickets at Fiumicino Airport (unless their website says so, which I don't believe it does). Be careful that if you MISS the 17:10 train out of Tiburtina, you've got a wait of 150 minutes for their next train!!!
Remember that Trenitalia also has Freccia trains out of Roma Tiburtina Station going to Florence (make sure they go into Firenze SMN). That's good to know if you MISS the ITALO train at 17:10. Trenitalia also has the unreserved "regionale veloce" trains out of BOTH Termini and Tiburtina, but I assume you really want the faster train in your circumstances!!!
The limo service to the train station could indeed make sense in your situation, if you don't mind paying extra (which you probably won't). Especially because of the 17:10 departure time.
Remember that Trenitalia also has Freccia trains out of Roma Tiburtina Station going to Florence (make sure they go into Firenze SMN). That's good to know if you MISS the ITALO train at 17:10. Trenitalia also has the unreserved "regionale veloce" trains out of BOTH Termini and Tiburtina, but I assume you really want the faster train in your circumstances!!!
The limo service to the train station could indeed make sense in your situation, if you don't mind paying extra (which you probably won't). Especially because of the 17:10 departure time.
Sep 2nd, 2012, 02:08 PM
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An afterthought: the travel agency inside the FCO airport train station may indeed sell ITALO TRENO tickets. They could assess a service charge. Be careful not to waste time in the process!
ITALO "BASE" fare tickets have the same "ONE HOUR GRACE PERIOD" as do Trenitalia "BASE" fare tickets, in case you MISS your reserved train, to re-book to a later-departing train (at no additional cost).
The ITALO website describes the various discount tickets offered (similar to those sold by Trenitalia, but with small differences).
ITALO "BASE" fare tickets have the same "ONE HOUR GRACE PERIOD" as do Trenitalia "BASE" fare tickets, in case you MISS your reserved train, to re-book to a later-departing train (at no additional cost).
The ITALO website describes the various discount tickets offered (similar to those sold by Trenitalia, but with small differences).
Sep 2nd, 2012, 06:45 PM
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I see there is a Freccia trenitalia train leaving Rome Tib. at 17:55 arriving Firenze SMN one and a half hours later. I think what we should do is not buy tickets at FCO, but take the limo to Tib. and then book whichever train leaves first. This relieves my mind about this considerably.
Sep 3rd, 2012, 08:11 AM
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Tiburtina station is also much much more relaxed than hectic Termini - lots easier to navigate with many fewer tracks and platforms on which to find your train. There are frequent commuter trains from the airport to Tiburtina station that may be quicker and certainly a whole lot cheaper than the limo that could get snarled in road traffic.
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