Is it a good idea to buy a Eurail pass to travel within Italy?
We're going to take a couple of daytrips from Rome and looking into the train fares RT to Pompeii and Pisa, it looks like buying a Eurail pass is cheaper.
I checked the fares on raileurope.com
Anyone have sugguestions oh this? We don't want to rent a car because our experience has been that parking in Rome, Pisa and Pompeii is a nightmare so we thought we'd give the train a try.
Thanks,
Julie

Hi J,

You buy railpasses before you leave.

However, there is no way that a railpass could be less than a couple of daytrips from Rome.

Train schedules, prices, etc are at www.trenitalia.com.

What's your itinerary?

Our itinerary is Rome!
But since we are taking our 14 yr old daughter for her first trip to Italy, we thought we'd take a daytrip to Pompeii and if we have an extra day to do something outside of the city, visit Pisa because she wants to see the tower. Our experience is there's no place to park in those places so renting a car is not an option.
We've never done the train so advice is appreciated.
We'll be there 3/30 till 4/5 (we leave for home the morning of the 6th).
Thanks, Julie

For that, you do not want any sort of Eurail pass. Just show up at the station and buy your train tix.

Hi Julie - A railpass won't save you any money on those 2 trips.

Standard 2cl ES adult fares are:

€ 76.40 Rome-Pisa return (Eurostar + Reg.)

€ 50.00 Rome-Naples return (Eurostar)

Intercity fares are cheaper but journey time may be longer.

€ 3.60 Naples-Pompeii return.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi J,

I would buy tickets in advance for Pompeii.

There are 2-for-one specials for the AV train from Rome to Naples - 33E.

One regular fare for your daughter is 27E.

You can buy 4 tickets for 3E more.

Rome/Pisa for 3 on the IC is 82E.

Thus, your total fare is 296E = $390

2 Italy saver passes + 1 youth pass is $471.

If you want to add Orvieto (15E pp each way), which I think would be much better than Pisa, You come out even with the passes.

If you go to Orvieto instead of Pisa, you definitely want point-to-point tickets.

See www.trenitalia.com

Enjoy your visit.

The ticket prices will be higher on the websites that sell passes as they usually mark them up and then charge $18 to mail them to you. On www.trenitalia.com you can book the AV train from Rome to Naples and print the ticket code yourself. They are running a 2-for-1 special so 2 of you can travel on the fastest (1 1/2hours) train for 33E 2nd cl one way. A pass won't cover the local commuter train from Naples to Pompeii, but it will only cost about 2E.

Also, a pass won't give you seats on the ES or AV trains which is included with the price on Trenitalia (you must buy seats on these trains to travel on them).

Another option for Rome/Naples it the ES train for 25E 2nd cl one way.

With only 6 days in Rome, I wouldn't day trip to Pisa, but it would cost about 40E each way for the trains.

Thanks for all the info.
It's a bit confusing and I guess that's why we always just rent a car.
But I think we can figure this out now with all this good advice.
Julie

You are welcome, J.

If you can't figure it out, just ask.

You have to register with Trenitalia to buy tickets online.

I suggest that you do that now.