bendigo

We travelled Venice-Florence and Florence-Rome on the fast trains in December.

Because we were working to a schedule, I pre-booked the seats at cheaper prices on the Trenitalia website before we left, and then just travelled with the printed e-ticket receipt emailed to me at purchase.

There are a few steps at Venezia Santa Lucia, but fairly easy to find the train and board, since this is a terminus.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella is all flat, but was the only area where we became a bit anxious about boarding. As this was a stop on the service from Milan to Rome, it seemed that the advice of platform did not occur until just before the train arrived, then it was a scramble to get down the platform to our carriage and board (this is where light packing is an advantage - by the time we were leaving Florence we had spent 2.5 weeks accumulating bargains and books in London, Paris, Venice and Florence!)

Roma Termini was also fairly flat (I think) - we had a driver meet us there to simplify getting to our accommodation.

The fast trains are fantastic - we only travelled in second class, but had airline style seats that were very comfortable for the approximately 2 hour trips. (Top speed we observed Florence to Rome was around 270 kmh - pretty fast!)

We caught a regional train from Florence - Pisa return - purchased from the machine at Firenze SMN with credit card - fairly easy transaction - didn't get tix validated on the outward trip and spent most of the trip trying to find someone to report myself to to avoid getting "caught" and fined - couldn't find anyone interested though! I made sure our tix were validated for the return journey!

kybourbon

>>>Here's a video walking you through the process<<<

The linked video is ok, but leaves out quite a few things you encounter during the process such as the machine defaulting to your location, etc. The machine in the video says no cash, but there are machines that accept cash so you need to look for them if that's what you want to use. This link has screen by screen instructions (scroll down). Some of the discount fares no longer exist (mini fares), but it gives really good instructions on using the machines.

http://www.roninrome.com/%20transpor...ickets-updated

PalenQ

check out these sites for lots of great info on Italian trains to make it a little easier - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

At first it might seem flummoxing but years of riding Italian trains tells me it ain't - you should definitely go first class because it seems you have lots of luggage - easier to store and a much more relaxed ride for the trip of a lifetime.

Byrd

We've traveled many miles on Italian trains and I'll bet we're older than you!

One additional suggestion which my husband developed over the years: if you buy your tickets at the counter, have your destination written on a 3 x 5 card and show that to the one selling tickets. That lessens any chance of misunderstanding due to promumciation, etc.

We also have destinations such as hotels written on cards and show them to taxi drivers.

Have a wonderful trip!

Byrd

bilboburgler

I've had to sort out very senior Americans at a number of Italian stations. I don't think the ticket thing is the key issue, but critical is
1) arrive in enough time to understand the layout of the station and where the live time table is
2) once you know which platform you need, make sure you are going in the right way, and if in doubt ask (preferably in Italian) do not do the male thing of walking off until the platform gives out and then ask
3) Smile and thank people
4) Don't get tired, and if you do, sit down and have a rest

Regionale are a bit tatty, but the other types are very clean with second class perhaps a little small for the average American male and 1st class pretty good.

Rostra

I don't know how you are going to get your tickets (online, confirmation #, etc) but this is a typical paper ticket that you would buy from the ticket counter or vending machine.
http://www.cromwell-intl.com/travel/...2-dscf0002.jpg

At the top the type of train 'Eurostar'.

The next line is 'Departure Date'.

Then 'Departure TIME' this is important as you will use that to find your train on the 'Departure sign board' in the station.

Then the Departure and Arrival cities.

Then your Arrival Date and Time.

And finally the 'Class' 1st or 2nd, in this case 2nd Class.
So when walking down the platform you will look at each car for in this case a large [2] on the side of it.��

The next line is 'Treno' your train's number which will likely not be listed on the Departure Board but IIRC it will be listed on your platform's departure sign.

Next is 'Carrozza' which is your train car's number which IIRC should be near that car's entrance door.

And then 'Posti' which is your seat number, "Finestrino' is window.

-------------------------------------��

If you are going to buy your tickets at the train station use one of the many ticket vending machines vs waiting in a line at the ticket counter.

I'm not officially a 'Senior' but I can join AARP.
So many years ago I would tell you that these ticket vending machines are so *easy* to use a 10yr old child could use them but 10yr olds today are way smarter with that stuff than we are.
These vending machines ask very simple questions in English like a 10yr old today would explain them to a 70yr old.

Bill, believe me if I can use them anyone can.

--------------------------------------------��

So now with ticket in hand you arrive at the train station and go over to the 'Departure Board'.

Now here's a bit of a tricky part.

In your case Venice to Florence the Departure Board isn't going to have Florence listed, it will have the train's *Final Destination* which could be 'Roma Termini', Napoli, Salerno, etc so a major city on this Southern train route.
But it will stop in Florence for ~10min.

So match up your ticket's departure time say 0820 with a 0820 departure on the departure board.

Then look for the type of train like in the ticket photo above where Eurostar will be labeled on the board as ES*.
They replaced/replacing the ES trains with a faster version but I don't know how they are listing them (AV? or still ES*?) on the departure boards? Anyone know?

If you are taking a fast train it will not be listed as REG (slow train with multiple spots).

So time and type of train matches up, now look at the Final Destination, say it reads Roma Termini or Napoli which are south of Florence and that's your train.

Now look at the Binario column on the board and it will tell you your platform number.

Here's an example at Rome's Termini train station. http://www.browsingrome.com/wp-conte...8-768x1024.jpg

Say I'm going North to Florence at 0820 and my train's final destination is Venice (Venezia), everything matches but they haven't listed a Binario yet so I wait.

If I was going South to Naples at 0820 you can see Bari is the final destination and my train is at platform 17.

And at the very top of the photo there are 2 departure times for that train 0745 but next to it 0750, the train is late and leaving 5mins later.

Rostra

Bill, I just checked roninrome.com's website and I see the newer ticket vending machines are more complicated.

It figures whenever I can use some new techno gizmo easily they go and improve it on me to make it more complicated.

But still I'm sure you'll have no problem if that is the ticket purchasing option you choose.

drchris

I was pleased to read the helpful information in response to your post as we are also planning a trip through Italy by rail. I can't say much about that issue, but will offer that we decided to buy a 1st class rail pass for travel through Switzerland in part so that we didn't have the hassle of buying tickets as we traveled along (or use up time standing in line, or have to figure out how to use the machines to purchase them, or have money available). You can go online and add up the cost of individual point-to-point tickets, and then compare it to the cost of a rail pass for the number of days you will be traveling. Or you can buy a pass to use for the longer, more expensive trips and buy tickets for the shorter, cheaper ones if you do day trips away from your "hub," such as Florence.

I do want to join others in encouraging you to pack light- something that is very doable if you read up on what and how to pack on this and other travel sites such as frommers, rick steves (www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlight.htm), trip advisor, etc. There are also numerous videos on the subject on youtube. Shop with your trip in mind, making sure that what you buy is lightweight and packable (takes up as little space as possible, doesn't wrinkle much, and can be easily washed and hung up to dry quickly, and that the colors coordinate so that every piece can be worn with every other piece.

My husband and I have traveled to Switzerland and Greece, as well as all around the US, each using a 21 inch rollaboard suitcase and a small, lightweight backpack. One must usually get on and off the trains quickly, and there is little time to bother with multiple pieces of luggage. In Europe, you will often be walking on cobblestone streets or other uneven surfaces, or going up and down lots of stairs, so try not to pack more than you can lift and carry if need be.

I will look forward to hearing your trip report when you return to Italy! Enjoy!

rolofduvall

Bill44,

You have been given lots of good advice by all the previous posters. My contribution for what it is worth is a story.

Sept. 2011, my Wife and I were in Milan at the beginning of a 3 week trip. We had rented an apartment in Rapallo for a week and went to Milano Centrale Station to buy our tickets. I had practiced and practiced in my best Italian (not very good at all) to ask for two tickets, one way for Saturday on such and such train from Milano to Rapallo, 2nd class at such and such time. IT was hot. The ticket queue was fairly long and I had chosen not to use the ticket machines. I was still practicing my lines in Italian while I moved up in the queue. The ticket agent waived me up and laid on him my best Italian. With out batting an eye, in what sounded like a New Your City accent, the agent asked in better English than my Italian, "2 adult?"

You should have no problems. Be flexible, ask for help and be patient.

cathies

If you are going to be travelling at a time when you think you will need lunch, then buy a panini at the train station. It's cheaper and much better quality than on the trains.

It's easy to catch trains in Italy, no more complicated than being at an airport and needing to find the right departure gate etc.

annhig

But still I'm sure you'll have no problem if that is the ticket purchasing option you choose.>>

when i rolled up at florence SMN station to buy my ticket to Pisa airport, there were no queues at all at the ticket window, so i went there, and carried out the transaction entirely in Italian.

Feeling very proud of myself I boarded the train and we set off.

it was only when we got to Pisa and I had to change onto the shuttle train to the airport [steps, no lift] that I realised that I'd managed to buy a ticket to Pisa Centrale, not Aeroporto.

I'm obviously not the only idiot who does this as the ticket inspector was very understanding; at least I'd remembered to validate it in the machine before I started so i didn't ahve that to worry about!


the moral? - mistakes happen, don't worry.

docdan

I believe the OP's quesiton comes from the historical reluctance of male travelers to ask for directions. Bill, in Northern Italy the Trenitalia people are usually always conversant in English, knowledgeable, and tourist friendly. Simply asking for help will usually solve any difficulty you may have. I found trying to find a glass of drinking water on a Norwegian cruise ship much more intimidating than navigating the Italian rail system.

asps

I am sorry to observe that using passes will not make your life simpler on Italian trains, as all the fast trains are to be reserved (this is very different from Switzerland) so passes are as unpractical as buying point-to-point tickets and may even be more expensive.