I really need help. First trip to Italy on honeymoon this August. Originally I was going to buy the 8 day/month Italy pass which costs $357 Canadian. But we are only travelling 4 times between cities (no return trips in one day) and 2 trips to and from the airport and the centre of Rome. So maybe this isn't the best option. <BR> <BR>Can someone tell me which of these options is best?: <BR> <BR>1) Buying Point-to-point tickets. I think the 4 major trips will cost a total of $225 max CAD and then extra for the trips to and from the airport. But is buying them this way more of a hassle? I'd pay more just to avoid lines, etc. on the day we travel. Can we purchase these tickets & reserve seats before we leave for Italy to avoid the hassle at the train station? Or should we just buy them when we first arrive in Rome? I'm clueless! <BR> <BR>2) Buying the 4 day/month pass for about $255 and then pay extra for our airport to Rome trips. Can we reserve our seats before we leave for Italy if we have the pass or should we do that when we first get to Rome? <BR> <BR>3) Buy the 8 day/month pass so that the trips to the airport are also included? Does the pass even cover the trip from the airport to the main station in Rome? This pass costs $357 CAD <BR> <BR>What would be the best taking amount of hassle and price into consideration? <BR> <BR>Thank you! <BR> <BR>Danielle <BR> <BR>p.s. do you find that if you put your real e-mail address on here you get lots of junk mail? I was worried about that - I get enough as it is!

Yes to the junk email!

I must not be an interesting person - cause I've never received any junk mail ... and I use a different address for this site than I normally do.

Hi Danielle, <BR> <BR>Based upon my experience I think you're best off just getting point to point tickets once you get to Italy. The easiest way to do this is at a travel agency. I know that they are very numerous in Rome and Florence so I would assume they would be in other cities. The agent will get your ticket and make a seat reservation for you if you're planning on taking the eurostar trains. You can buy your tickets and make reservations on line. I preferred to wait until a day or two before getting our tickets so we wouldn't be locked into a certain time frame. This worked out great in Rome. We had originally planned to leave for Florence early in the morning, but we ended up getting reservations for the Domus Aurea that morning and not leaving until the afternoon. <BR> <BR>Mary <BR> <BR>Yes, this is my real email and no, I haven't gotten spammed.

Danielle, <BR> <BR>You don't say what your exact itinerary will be. You also don't say if you're travelling 1st or 2nd class. This info is necessary to calculate EXACTLY how much you're going to spend buying point to point tickets IN ITALY. <BR> <BR>I've been using the above email address for more than a year, exclusively at Fodors. I haven't received a SINGLE junk mail yet! You may jump to your own conclusions <BR> <BR>Paulo

Danielle is right regarding some missing information on your part. Contact Rail Europe to receive info.& automated sheduling. www.raileurope.com trust me this is a great site and will definitly be of use to you. You can purchase tickets over the internet & avoid those lines. If you have time run to the book store & grab "Europe for Dummies" 1st edition pg. 74 & 75 will answer all your questions, as well as give you some great tips! <BR>On a personal note my husband & I took Eurostar from Rome to Florence,although it was 2 hours late, I really enjoyed the ride. We rode "1st class" & although we were offered magazines/newspapers, you really can't tell the difference between 1st & 2nd <BR>I hope this info. helps you out. Congrats on your engagement! I know you will both have a wonderful time!! <BR>Jennifer

Hi all! Thanks for the replies so far. I didn't think about buying the tickets at a travel agency in Italy. About the info I left out - we'll be travelling 2nd class. From Rome to Naples, Naples to Florence, Florence to Venice, Venice to Rome and to & from the airport & the Rome terminal. I found out about how much the 4 major trips would cost on raileurope.com and it is just less than the 4 day pass. But maybe there are advantages to having the pass that make it worth the extra $25 or so? And if we go with the point-to-point, I didn't know if it would be best (or possible?) to buy the tickets here or wait until we're in Italy? Ahead of time or on the day we travel? <BR> <BR>Are the passes really only worthwhile if you are travelling more than once in a day? Ours are all one way trips. <BR> <BR> <BR>Any more advice? <BR>

I just returned from Italy and I've been there in August. I was very happy to have my rail pass both times. Point to point tics are a hassle, spending any more time at a rail station or looking for a travel agent than necessary, is a waste. Eurostar trains do require reservations, which do cost extra, many hotels will make these <BR>reservations for you. On other trains you can just hop on and find a non reserved seat. Summer trains can be crowded, with a 1st cl.pass you can sit in 1st or 2nd. For this past trip we bought a select pass for 2 people travelling together. I came home early and my friend continued using the pass alone. Do check RAILEUROPE as suggested, to see about the cost difference to decide but if your main interest is convenience...get a pass. I also believe there is a difference between 1st and 2nd cl. for one thing 2nd cl. fills up faster than 1st and there seemed to be way more smokers in 2nd. cl. You are on your honeymoon, go 1st classe! We stayed at the Intercontiental this trip and took the train and subway to the Spanish Steps (we each had a backpack and small carryon) Safe and convenient for us. Hope you have a great trip.

Ricke Steves has really good information about European rail travel. You can check it out on his site, at: http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/ There's a map with approximate costs for point-to-point tickets, explanations of the different types of passes, etc. (If you decide to order your pass through him, you get free videos, maps, and guidebooks!)

A word of caution about Rail Europe: They're a lot more expensive than buying the tickets directly from the Italian railway (25-50% more). You can check the actual prices at www.trenitalia.com.

The ticket prices per pax should read: <BR> <BR>Airport - Rome Termini (only 1st class seats): Lit 17,000 <BR>Termini - Airport: Lit 17,000 <BR>TOTAL: Lit 34,000 or about $24 Canadian <BR> <BR>2nd/1st class seating on Eurostar, including seat reservation fee <BR>Rome-Naples: 214 km, Lit 42,000/62,800 <BR>Naples-Florence: 530 km, Lit 79,300/121,400 <BR>Florence-Venice: 257 km, Lit 49,700/73,700 <BR>Venice-Rome: 573 km, Lit 84,000/128,600 <BR>TOTAL: 1574 km, Lit 255,000/386,500 for buying in Italy <BR> <BR>That should translate to about $182/276 Canadian. <BR> <BR>If you know which trains you want to take, you may buy all ticketsat one time (e.g. at Amex office in Piazza di Spagna). The amounts above would lower if you decided to take another train type (IC or IR) on any of the legs. When buying the Eurostar tickets reservations are automatic. I can't see how a pass could be more convenient <BR>than that. On Eurostars reservation is compulsory (and pay for it) each time out. If you want to assure yourself a seat on an IC train in summer, reservation is also called for. Each reservation costs Lit 5,800 plus the trouble ... Also (if I'm not wrong), the <BR>pass is good for travelling on IC and lower cathegory trains. To take an Eurostar one has to pay the supplement difference between the IC and the ES. Once again, a pain ... <BR> <BR>Finally, it would come out cheaper if you bought one kilometric ticket + the Rome to Naples ticket just for one of you. But I don't advise doing it because it's also too much of a pain (you'll have to make all reservations and pay supplements) for little savings. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

The ticket prices per pax should read: <BR> <BR>Airport - Rome Termini (only 1st class seats): Lit 17,000 <BR>Termini - Airport: Lit 17,000 <BR>TOTAL: Lit 34,000 or about $24 Canadian <BR> <BR>2nd/1st class seating on Eurostar, including seat reservation fee <BR>Rome-Naples: 214 km, Lit 42,000/62,800 <BR>Naples-Florence: 530 km, Lit 79,300/121,400 <BR>Florence-Venice: 257 km, Lit 49,700/73,700 <BR>Venice-Rome: 573 km, Lit 84,000/128,600 <BR>TOTAL: 1574 km, Lit 255,000/386,500 for buying in Italy <BR> <BR>That should translate to about $182/276 Canadian. <BR> <BR>If you know which trains you want to take, you may buy all tickets at one time (e.g. at Amex office in Piazza di Spagna). The amounts above would lower if you decided to take another train type (IC or IR) on any of the legs. When buying the Eurostar tickets reservations are automatic. I can't see how a pass could be more convenient than that. On Eurostars reservation is compulsory (and pay for it) each time out. If you want to assure yourself a seat on an IC <BR>train in summer, reservation is also called for. Each reservation costs Lit 5,800 plus the trouble ... Also (if I'm not wrong), the pass is good for travelling on IC and lower cathegory trains. To take an Eurostar one has to pay the supplement difference between <BR>the IC and the ES. Once again, a pain ... <BR> <BR>Finally, it would come out cheaper if you bought one kilometric ticket + the Rome to Naples ticket just for one of you. But I don't advise doing it because it's also too much of a pain (you'll have to make all reservations and pay supplements) for little savings. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Thanks so much for the information everyone. Paulo, your breakdown of pricing and other info was really helpful! Thanks so much! I think I'll go with the point to point tickets on the Eurostar.

We will be leaving Paris to Switzerland and then to Italy. Would it be best to buy eurostar pass in Paris for the trip or buy it in the states. Do you need reservations for each trip from Paris to Switzerland, Switzerland to Venice, Venice to Florence And then to ROme. How much would the tickets for 2 adults be In June? With reservations? <BR>

topper

I agree with Paulo, the kilometrico pass is just the ticket. You should be able to purchase it from a travel agent in your homeland (any that specialise in travel to Italy will know about it). It is heaps cheaper than the other passes you mention and gives flexibility in case you change your plans (or are forced to due to strikes).

Just re-read Paulo's message and I see he didn't actually recommend the kilometrico because of paying for supplements, etc. My friend and I didn't pay any supplements, even on the Rome-Naples leg with the kilometrico ticket. Also, no long queues anywhere to get the pass stamped, even Rome and Florence.