Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Italy Eurostar: reserved seats 1st v 2nd class

No you won't have to wait in line at all - i was in Italy in Jan and played around a lot with the automatic ticketing machines in stations and found that it was idiot-proof to make suich tickets cum reservations.

a real snap - it's all in English and extremely user-friendly - you can do all your tickets at once.

There were so many machines in Rome Termini that literally in a matter of a few minutes you can book and have your ticket printed out. American credit cards seem to be accepted unlike similar machines in other countries which require a chip that American cards don't require.

So no no lines or anything. But if you do go to a ticket window you will often have lengthy lines.

The only reason i can see to attempt to make the extremely fickle trenitalia.com work is if you can get one of the elusive advance non-changeable, non-refundable discount fares which apparently are often sold out just after they come on the system 60 days prior.

I'd forego the very frustrating (to many, many Fodorite postings) and just buy as you go along - you will also then be able to decide when you want to go and not lock yourself into some non-changeable ticket.

And don't worry about getting on trains - often two trains an hour between main cities - always something available. No reason to advance book.

That said since 1st class on Italian trains is not all that much more than 2nd class i'd go for first class - you even get a complimentary drink and snack i think.

In any case Italian trains are dirt cheap compared to the rest of Europe and are a bargain in either class.

In Italy you get a ticket with seat reservation for all one price - on full fare tickets i believe you can change the reservation if done so before the train without penalty but not sure.