7 days 'til I'm in Italy.. last minute questions
 

Thanks in advance for everything.

I leave in a week for 6 week stay in Italy. I have a couple of questions which I can't find answered despite searching this forum.

1. Can you buy Eurostar train tickets from the automatic machines, and if so do they come with the reservation included? If so - when you buy two Eurostar train tickets with the automatic machine are the reserved seats next to each other?

2. Anyone have experience with the drive from Florence to Venice, time, distance, directions and expense? We've (two of us) discovered that it would be cheaper to keep our car rental for the third day and use it to drive to Venice rather than train from Florence. Just wanted to know if its a pretty easily navigable route (it looks like it is... but looks can be deceiving).

3. Buying train tickets at FCO - I know that I have read this before but for the life of me I can't find the post. Where is the office where you can buy train tickets from termini to florence? Same as the da Vinci express? easy to find?

Thanks for everything!

fishingirl;

ES train tickets with reservations cannot be purchased from the automatic machine (if I remember correctly).

Navigating on the Autostrada is pretty easy to do, just watch for fast drivers in the left lane.
BTW, we will be in Italy the same time! Enjoy your trip!

Clea

1. Can you buy Eurostar train tickets from the automatic machines, with reservation? are the seats next to each other?
>>Yes, we bought a number of ES tickets from machines, with reservation, and we even chose our seats. A floorplan of the train car comes up, showing available seats, and you touch the ones you want. This way you can choose facing window seats, or aisle seats as you prefer. Also, you might see if the train is packed and that there are no seats available together.

2. Anyone have experience with the drive from Florence to Venice, time, distance, directions and expense? Always took the train--sorry--though I hear the tolls are suprisingly expensive.

3. Buying train tickets at FCO. Where is the office where you can buy train tickets from termini to florence?
The same ticket counter for the Leonardo Express will sell you tickets to Florence (or wherever else your headed during your stay). You can buy ALL your tickets at once if you know your plans.

Just a couple more....

Where is the ticket counter for trains to Termini? Is there an automatic machine for this as well?

I'm flying AA from JFK - I guess I'll be arriving Terminal C - so hoping that this will be pretty easy!

Haven't taken FCO train since machines went in so I don't know about that, but I assume so. The train station is very well marked after you leave baggage claim--just follow the signs. The ticket counter is right there at the tracks. The ticket sellers speak English.

To find the driving time, distance, and directions from Florence to Venice, go to mappy.com

It is a mapquest-type site for Europe, and it will plot out your route and then you can print out the maps and driving directions.

2. Do not drive. It's not cheaper. With gas and tolls, a train is the way to go. May be faster too. Also, walking out of train station in Venice is wonderful.

Upside to driving: Autogrill, detours.

Coachboy\