joelyval

Hey everyone... my wife and i are planning a 2 week trip to Italy... flying into Milan, and visiting Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome...

we have been here before, but new to the train... we are flying into milan @ 11:00 am and leaving straightaway for venice... never rode the trains before, and any advice for train travel would be greatly appreciated...

thank you. Joel

nancy

I would make a reservation for all train travel so that you're guaranteed a seat. I've only traveled twice on a train in Italy and the one without a reservation was awful. We stood in the hallway with our bags between trains and had to constantly check on them. Bad idea.

When we made a seat reservation our bags were stored overhead and we could relax.

joelyval

Great... so I am assuming that I am not trying to do the impossible (4 cities in 2 weeks)... granted I have seen most of the stuff in Rome and Florence... we are also looking at affordable hotels/hostels near train stations... any suggestions there?

ellenem

I posted this on your other thread but here are the two websites you need:

Italian train travel explained:

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm


The official Italian train system for checking shcedules and prices:

http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html

ellenem

For your routes, book ES trains and you will be guaranteed a seat--it's included with your ticket.

I'll bet Nancy was on an IC, which don't include reserved seats unless you pay extra for one.

joelyval

ES? is that Eurostar? because there are 2 of us, i was thinking of booking the italy countrypass... would that be smart?

bellastarr

Hi joelyval,
I've been traveling on IC trains this time in Italy, and 2nd class. I'm doing it to save money.
It has been fine and I've had no problems at all. My train from Naples to Rome had a seat assignment- as did one between Rome and Florence. I found that second class was not all that different from first class.
My tickets so far have been purchased at the stations.
Once I just used the machines, and other times purchased at the window a day before.

I also recently did a night train from Florence to a city in the South and on that one, it was first come first serve basis, a bit risky in the 6-seat cabins at night, but I lucked out in a cabin with just an older married Sicilian couple.

One practical tip: The ladies and mens rooms in the stations: Be sure to have some change "spicioli" ready as you have to pay to enter them. The main entry to the restrooms in Florence is near Binario (track) 5 (the train information office is near it too) and the Men's and Women's have the same general entrance, but they are separate once you get inside. I have seen more than one irate traveler at these entrances because they didn't have change and the onsite change machine was broken.

At Firenza Santa Maria Novella, Roma Termini, Napoli Centrale, and probably Milano and Venezia too there are closed off waiting rooms for travelers who have to wait. I always put these to good use because you can sit and be more relaxed with your bags around you.

Many trains between Venice and Florence have a change at Mestre- a station stop away from Venice. It's an easy transfer.

One more thing- Ascending and Descending involves a steep step up or down for those with knee or ankle problems.

Be sure to stamp your tickets at the machines on the platforms before boarding.

Another tip: Always use the information booth (this can be either some officials in bright vests at a little podium near ticket lines to a separate office window) to confirm what the FINAL destination of your train is.
In italy, trains are defined by the number and FINAL destination. SO if, for example, you are taking a train from Naples to Rome...the train will have the NUMBER printed on your ticket, but the desination on the departure board won't say Rome, it will say something like Trieste or another city. So avoid confusion by double checking this in advance at the station.

Enjoy your trip!

ellenem

I doubt a country pass would save you money. You have to travel a lot more for a pass to be a good value in Italy. Even with a country pass, you would have to pay extra to reserve any ES trains or other trains that require seat reservations.

You can also save a bit of money by trying to get Amica fares for regular point-to-point tickets, a 20 percent discount that is available for some seats on trains, but must be purchased at least the day before.

You can test your itinerary at railsaver.com by typing in all your trips. Be sure to check "only if railpasses save me money." When I just tried it, point-to-point tickets were recommended.

knickerbocker

I'd second the second class comment by bellastarr. Mrs. K and I did Italy May of last year, doing second class between Venice and Florence and First between Florence and Rome and I really don't think First is worth the extra cash. For me with my long legs, the tables between the facing pairs of seats was an annoyance inflicted on both classes.

kybourbon

The IC trains don't have the shared tables. You would have been on an AV or ES train.

A pass is rarely cost effective for Italy. You will probably want to use ES or AV trains and 2nd cl is fine. The ICPlus and IC trains make more stops and take longer which is why they are cheaper.

If you use the faster ES trains 2nd cl on all of your routes, they will cost about 30-35€ per person for each ticket.

altamiro

>i was thinking of booking the italy countrypass... would that be smart?

No. The pricing system consists of a very low basic fare (what you would pay for the slowest train) and a supplement which may (for example for AV trains) be higher than the basic fare. A pass ONLY replaces the basic fare - so you still pay the supplement.
If you use higher train categories (ICPlus, ES, AV etc.) you have to reserve a seat so even from "hassle" standpoint you don't gain anything...