Italy Train travel - Venice to Florence
Jun 30th, 2008, 06:54 PM
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Italy Train travel - Venice to Florence
Looking to take the train from Venice to Florence and could use some help. We are staying at Hotel Olimpia in Venice and Hotel Duomo in Florence. Which train station in each city would be the closest and most convenient to these hotels? Is it important to make reservations or buy tickets in advance? Traveling to Italy in September.
Jun 30th, 2008, 07:02 PM
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golden
There is a wealth of information on this board about trains from these two cities, and most general Italy guidebooks will include information on taking trains from Venice to Florence.
I don't know Hotel Olimpia in Venice, but if it is in Venice proper, you will be using the Santa Lucia station in Venice, going to Santa Maria Novella in Florence.
In September, it is important to have reservations.
You can research trains at Trenitalia.com, and there is a link for English.
Many of us find buying tickets on that website to be difficult. There is also a ton of advice on this board for buying Italian rail tickets ahead of time, both on the Trenitalia site, elsewhere, and after arrival in Italy. It is a good idea to check out your options.
Myself, I buy my tickets when I get to Italy.
good luck
There is a wealth of information on this board about trains from these two cities, and most general Italy guidebooks will include information on taking trains from Venice to Florence.
I don't know Hotel Olimpia in Venice, but if it is in Venice proper, you will be using the Santa Lucia station in Venice, going to Santa Maria Novella in Florence.
In September, it is important to have reservations.
You can research trains at Trenitalia.com, and there is a link for English.
Many of us find buying tickets on that website to be difficult. There is also a ton of advice on this board for buying Italian rail tickets ahead of time, both on the Trenitalia site, elsewhere, and after arrival in Italy. It is a good idea to check out your options.
Myself, I buy my tickets when I get to Italy.
good luck
Jun 30th, 2008, 07:04 PM
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You can try www.raileurope.com for train tickets.
Jun 30th, 2008, 07:58 PM
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If you are going to use an agency like raileurope.com I suggest Budget European Travel for rail tickets. But call soon, they have to Fedex you the tickets.
You will pay a fee, on both raileurope.com, and BET, but you will get fantastic service from BET, and they will happily, politely give you all your options, and follow through if there are any problems, until the tickets are in your hands.
BET was recommended to me here on Fodors.com, and I can't tell you how much I love them. I use them in my business,too, and they are great.
You will pay a fee, on both raileurope.com, and BET, but you will get fantastic service from BET, and they will happily, politely give you all your options, and follow through if there are any problems, until the tickets are in your hands.
BET was recommended to me here on Fodors.com, and I can't tell you how much I love them. I use them in my business,too, and they are great.
Jul 5th, 2008, 11:46 AM
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Tickets are not difficult to book in Venice as there are many trains - you may have to stand in line and should research the trains so you know which one you want, etc. www.trenitalia.com has some online discounted fares but the site can be virtually impossible to work. Some folk, especially novice travelers, want the tickets in their hands and just have to board their train a few minutes before departure. Then i also endorse Budget Europe Travel (www.budgeteuropetravel.com) for the type of personal service tuscanlifeedit notes - it may well have been I who recommended them as i often do due to their incredible IMO personal and expert service.
