Would any with some experience advise if it is necessary to prebook Rome to Florence on a Saturday morning in July or could I book 2 days prior when we get to Rome. I do not like being bound by times but neither do I want to not get the train I would prefer. Also how would I book online, family rate as we are 2 adults , 1 youth and 1 under 12.Thanks.

www.trenitalia.com for online bookings, but I think you can only book 60 days out, so you may be a bit early. You'll need to register there to book online.

Type GAC into the search box above - GAC is our (un)Official Italian trains guru who provides very helpful information.

Booking two days in advance should be OK, even for early July. The worst that will happen is that you may have to leave 15-60 minutes earlier or later. ES trains run every 15-60 minutes throughout the day.

If you take the 6:40 train from Rome Tiburtina (NOT Rome Termini), you'll pay 9 Euros per ticket instead of 29 Euros for adult second class. This is the "LOW COST" Eurostar train described by me in previous postings. BUT, you'll need to pre-book this particular train, for sure.

Hi dock,

> I do not like being bound by times but neither do I want to not get the train I would prefer. <

If you know when you want to go, why not make sure that you get on the train you want?

>how would I book online, family rate as we are 2 adults , 1 youth and 1 under 12.<

After you click the shopping cart for the train you want, enter 4 at "number of seats".

Click "discounts or promotions".

You want 1 ea, "Young person railcard" and a "Family Railcard" for 3.

Thanks for the info. I was not sure if the family/youth railcard was a card you purchased in order to then get discounts off train tickets or if it truly was what I needed. So, thanks. GAC, I have read other posts about this route , but how far is Tiburtina from P. Navona area and also how far would the station in Florence be from the Accademia area, where I believe our hotel is located?

Hi Dock,

Go to www.mappy.com or www.viamichelin.com and enter the address of your hotel.

Tiburtina station is on the metro and is just a couple of stops from the Termini station.

The station in Florence is a few blocks from the main tourist area.