JulieVikmanis

Although we've traveled a lot in Europe, we've generally rented cars and I'm only now getting increasingly into train travel at my husband's insistence. With some wonderful help from StuDudley, St. Cirq and others on a post about getting from CDG to Avignon, I was able to book my first PREMS tickets for an upcoming trip to Paris and Provence. Actually got very excited when I clicked the button to print the tickets since it had all seemed pretty overwhelming to me until that post led the OP through it pretty much step by step. Saved a bundle. Thanks.

Emboldened by my PREMS experience, I'm hoping to find something similar for a trip we have to Italy in September. We'll be taking the train from Venice to Florence and then from Florence to Naples. Does the Italian rail system have anything similar to the French PREMS tickets that you can purchase early for cheaper rates? Even if the rates aren't cheaper, can I charge tickets on that system by credit card and print them out by computer in advance of getting to the country to assure myself of seats on the routes/dates/times we want?

Thanks for any info/advice you can give me.

ellenem

Yes, purchasing online from Trenitalia can offer reduced rates. Unfortuantely, many U.S. credit card users are unable to purchase online through Trenitalia. You can get some reduced offers while in italy if you can purchase far enough ahead.

You can see all the discounts here:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD

sarge56

Yes, I'm booking my tickets early for Rome-Venice-Florence-Rome and saving 30% by booking online early. That's a heap o' savings!

JulieVikmanis

Thanks for the info. I assume it's the meno 15 and meno 30 offer that gives you the kind of deal that you get with PREMS, right? When I try to work through that it gives me the same prices as I get when I just input the info in the standard search. Do they automatically show you everything and you just pick the lowest priced fare or do I do something special to get that?

ellenem

After you actually select a train from the list and clic continue, a new window will open and have a list of the types of tickets/discounts available. These discounts are based on availability, like frequent flyer seats, so just because you are meeting the "purchase ahead" requirement, does not mean a fare of this kind will be available.

I just did an example and tried Rome to Venice for March 1, chose a particular train (click dot at end of line), and then clicked "continue." I did not get the "meno 15" or "meno 30" as available. I DID get the "48 euro" special for second class, which is a great improvement over the 2nd class base fare of 73 euro.

Then I tried for MArch 27, a month from today. The "meno 15" came up (62 euros) as well as the "meno 30" (51 euros). Though the "48 euro" was also there and is still the best deal.

kybourbon

sarge - Did you actually purchase your tickets? If so, what credit card did you use?

Ellen - You wouldn't have been offered the meno 15 for March 2 because you were inside the 7 day pre-purchase requirement.

The 48 euro special is only through the end of March.

Meno 15 - 7 day advance purchase
Meno 30 - 15 day advance purchase

Julie - Most people can't get Trenitalia's website to accept US credit cards. From their website:

For technical reasons, American Express is temporarily limiting online payments to Italian cards only.
CartaSi informs that credit cards are checked with the IP number of the PC where the purchase has been made. Therefore, and for online purchase only, the transaction could be denied by the credit card circuit.

JulieVikmanis

I was afraid there might be a bit of a cloud surrounding this silver lining. Thanks all for all the info.