Italy train travel
 

Two adult travelers - Flying into Venice for 3 days, then to Florence for 3 nights - is it necessary to pre-purchase train travel between these two major cities?? We prefer to not be bound by times and to purchase train tickets the day before or the day of travel - is this reasonable??
After Florence, we are travelling to Portovenere (LaSpezia closest station) for 3 nights - same question, is it necessary to pre-purchase train travel between these two cities?
After Portovenere (CT region) we will be travelling to Rome for 3 nights - same question on purchasing train tickets?
Also, any restaurant suggestions in these cities? We are foodies, like a good view and music and like sampling the locale fare.

We purchased tickets from Venice to Florence in advance, although I don't know if it is necessary to do so.

One word of advice. Spend the extra money to take a water taxi from the airport to the hotel, especially if your hotel has a dock. We took the vaporetto (sort of a Super Shuttle) and regretted it. It let us off "near" our hotel after many other stops and then we had to drag our luggage to the hotel. We did use the taxi to get to the train station at the end of our stay in Venice.

No it is not necessarily to prfe-book before leaving -there are so so many trains- if 2nd class is full rarely then first class will not be - so you can be sure of being able to buy tickets once there.

especially for trains Florence-La Spezia -those are regional trains that don't even take reservations and are flat-fare dirt cheap -just buy on day of travel.

A reason most folks now buy in advance on high-speed faster trains is to get nify discounted fares but yes non-changeable non-refundable I believe and to get must be booked in stone weeks/months early at times- not available day of train.

www.trenitalia.com is the official site of Italian Railways to book advance discounted tickets- other train info sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Also consider the private train company Italo for Florence-Venice-Rome
http://www.italotreno.it/en

>>>is it necessary to pre-purchase train travel between these two major cities?<<<

It can depend on when you are traveling. Trains can fill up on holidays or at the beginning/ending of long weekends. You will get a train, but if you just show up at the station, the next departing train or two might be full. You might find last minute prices on Italo a few euro cheaper than Trenitalia.

For Florence/La Spezia, plan to take a train that doesn't require a change somewhere. These are Trenitalia trains as Italo only operates to major cities. There are a few fast trains (Frecce) from Florence Campo di Marte station.

You will get a train, but if you just show up at the station, the next departing train or two might be full>

Yes so buy your tickets for leaving Venice when you get to Venice if possible - full-fare tickets can be freely changed if you want to stay longer-discounted ticket cannot be.

and there are always Regional trains that anyone with a valid ticket can board -no seat reservations even possible -they take about twice as long and may require a change of trains like in Bologna and are dirt-cheap - as a back up in case every fast train is sold out-of course Regional trains would be jammed too.

But if a slow traveler who doesn't mind taking twice as long or one who wants a low price without booking in advance they are always available.

The only reason to buy tickets in advance on the web site is to take advantage of any discount tickets that might be available. There are two levels - Super economy and economy - SE can be very cheap but those tickets are limited in quantity and the number vary by train time and date. Obviously a 6am departure has more discount tickets than a 9am. Once the discount tickets are gone they are gone. Nearly the same for the Economy tickets. Those tickets will be available roughly 90 to 120 days prior to departure and tend to sell quickly.

After that it is the base fare (walk up), near changes, it is a refundable ticket with some limits, and changeable. Regionale train tickets are never discount and should not be bought on line since those tickets come with more restrictions. Regionale train tickets never sell out so there is absolutely no reason to purchase in advance.

Regionale train tickets never sell out so there is absolutely no reason to purchase in advance.>

Yes - and since they can be used on any train during their validity time you must cancel them yourselves before boarding the train by sticking them in a cancelling machine in stations and on platforms. Forget to do that and you may be considered to be riding without a valid ticket and perhaps subsequently fined.

Many regional trains also have first class (and many do not) and if so for a few extra euros you will find more empty seats and a bit more relaxed ride.