arriving Milan; need train to Nice same day: buy tix ahead?
 

In 2005, I successfully bought train tickets online (trenitalia site)for our Italy trip. Now I'm reading that people are having problems with trenitalia site. (I've read the recent posts with all the suggestions.)
I understand that many just wait and buy train tix in Italy. But....we arrive MXP 8:35 AM Wed. Oct. 15 and need to go directly to Nice that day, so buying a few days ahead isn't an option. We probably won't make the 11:00 direct train; the 15:10 train looks more realistic; I thought there were some other trains but now I don't see them.

So....should I try the dreaded trenitalia site? I actually see that I can buy them now, more than the 60 days, which is weird. I have my 2005 trenitalia ID and password, will call Citibank and alert them to the charge.

Or should we wait and buy them at Milano Centrale when we arrive? Seems a bit risky...

What would you do?
Many thanks.

I would get them ahead. I was in Italy in June of this year and several times had to change my plans due to trains being sold out. I won't even mention the train strikes ...

I traveled from Milan to Nice and was lucky to get seats on the train. Enjoyable route - very scenic.

Try the trenitalia.com site - there are some experts here that can try to walk you thru it if you ask

and if that fails pay a bit more in the U.S. thru RailEurope for a ticket with reserved seats, mandatory on these Rivieria Trains. And even RE has some astounding discounted prices on this line at times - i've seen Milan to Nice for $25 (plus mailing fee and $18 transaction fee i think) - for any RE product i always recommend calling BETS 800-441-2387 and have them do a manual search - many folks here seem to report RailEurope.com does not work in real time and not unusual you get an e-mail back saying a higher price - plus RE.com simply does not list some trains or may say SOLD OUT when they are not - so have someone do a manual search of the RE site like BETS do - plus they have uncannily personalized service IME. I think you would be OK upon arrival and the worst may be to have to go first class - there is a train desk at malpensa airport that would sell tickets with reservations. But i guess you never know and having a ticket is comforting. Yes there are just a few direct Milan-Nice trains a day and all other links are much longer - using stopping trains Genoa-Ventimiglia where you often have to change.

Italian train usage in June is quite different from what it is in October, especially when you are talking about a destination like Nice.

What would I do?

First, if I could afford to fly, I would.

Second, if I couldn't afford to fly, I'd look to see if taking a bus to Torino from MXP was any kind of advantage in terms of catching a train to Lyon, then Nice, as opposed to waiting for the 15:10. Likewise, there is a 12:30 bus to Genova, and I'd look to see if I could catch a train there for Nice.

Third, I''d probably take my chances on getting a ticket for at least the 15:10 if no other trains were better.

Fourth, if I couldn't sleep at night worrying, I'd go to the Slow Travel website and read their train instructions, and post here and there for advice about purchsing a ticket in advance.

Hope that helps.

There are direct trains from Turin to Nice via Cuneo and Sospel although you may have to change at the border typically - but would be quicker i think than going via Lyon and a whole lot cheaper and once in France it's a really cute scenic line slicing thru the Maritime Alps

You can see all connections on www.bahn.de.
The usual route is via Genova then along the coast, leaving Italy at Ventimiglia. You would certainly not go via Lyon which would a daft detour.
I doubt whether the direct trains would be fully booked on a Wednesday in October, but there are other connections.
There is a train at 1215, with connections at Torino, Cuneo and Tende, which is entirely on regional trains, so seat reservations are not possible.

Thanks to all you "regulars" on Fodors!

I realize now that the slower trains are listed on bahn.de but not on trenitalia, probably because one can't purchase them online?

And I'm thinking that if I am successful in purchasing/printing tickets via trenitalia for the 15:00 train, we can't then get on the earlier one if we happen to be able to, right? I apologize if some of this stuff is spelled out on trenitalia website; it's confusing.

Oh, and one more thing: I seem to recall a website that lists the strike days in Italy. Can someone tell me where it is? Is there one for France?

Thanks very much.
(hmmm. maybe this is a new topic...)

If you booked on-line for the direct Eurocity train, that ticket wouldn't be valid for other trains. You'd have to go to the ticket office where, I assume, you could change the booking.
I really cannot believe that the trains would be fully booked on a Wednesday in October. I've travelled all over Italy by train, and just bought tickets at the stations.

I too always just buy a ticket for the next train when I get to the station. I think that would be best for you in case your flight is late.

Claire, I don't have the site handy and you can probably get it from the Slow Travel website, but transit strikes in Italy seldom affect the international routes. Most of the time they just last a few hours.

I am also of the belief that you aren't going to encounter any problems getting tickets or train to Nice when you arrive in Italy.

Thanks again, everyone. I appreciate, as always, the experience and suggestions found here.

Hi C,

If you will feel more comfortable with tickets in your hand, go for it.

There are SmartPrice fares of 15E for Milan to Nice at
www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

The major problem with Trenitalia seems to be their billing system.

Don;t take "no" for an answer. Keep at it.

Also, try this number for the call center from outside Italy: 39-06-68475475

((I))

RailEurope has $26 fares Milan-Nice for 15:10 train Oct 15 - just a few bucks more than the 15 euros thru trenitalia and a whole lot less hassle as many folks spend hours trying to get trenitalia.com to work and then it seems at times frustrated for days wondering if the transaction went thru, etc. RE would i think charge a $18 handling fee however and mailing fee i believe - BETS, which i mention above, i think has a much lower mailing fee. So for two tickets you may pay $25 total more than thru trenitalia.com and can have your seats booked today and tickets in hand in a few days. RE is not always so competitive but on these Rivieria trains they have been in recent years so the normal much greater savings thru trenitalia is not the case here.