We used the MINI fares and it worked out great!! A tip...please contact your credit card company prior to booking. Saves a lot of headaches. I did this and had no problems. Travel buddies did not and had problems booking(purchases not going through or double charges for one segment) Our plans were set so we were able to utilize the tickets that we purchased and worked our schedule around them. Saved quite a bit.

great and very useful post, in time fo my June trip to Italy. thanks GAC!

Considering booking a mini fare on Euro star- Pescara to Brindisi.

At the moment the assigned seats are not shown, until I'm guessing, after purchase.

Have never bought online on Trenitalia before, but it will be a saving of 20 Euros between us- not huge- but still a discount!

We need 2 seats, will the seats automatically be assigned next to each other?

The seats are supposed to be either next to each other, or facing each other. If that's not the case, just ask your neighbor on the railcar to switch seats: it's almost never an issue.

Once you purchase your electronic ticket, your e-mail receipt (with electronic bar code) will reflect the train number, railcar number, seat number, travel date, departure and arrival times, departure and arrival cities, and class of service.

The ES-City trains running between Milan and Bari/Brindisi are very good: not quite as fancy as the AV trains, but a big step above the older traditional Intercity trains.

If you manage to get a good "MINI" discount for first class (or second class) seats, I'd say it's a good deal. Just remember that the "MINI" fares do restrict your travel flexibility, since reservation changes are NOT allowed on the date of travel, and the 50% refund in case your travel plans change require you to notify Trenitalia no later than 23:59 of the day beforehand (and the refund is processed through the Trenitalia call center, through the Trenitalia website, or by e-mail, and not at the manned teller window at the train station).

NOTE: If you have a PAPER "MINI" fare ticket (rather than an electronic one), you can also get a 50% refund, within the established deadlines, at the manned teller windows). In this regard, a PAPER ticket gives greater options than an electronic one.

BTW, the deadline to purchase a "MINI" ticket is now 23:59 (Italy time) of the day which is TWO DAYS prior to date of travel (no longer the day beforehand). Obviously, the sooner you purchase your "MINI" fare ticket, the greater the odds of getting the deepest discount (up to 60% of 70%).

Wow! Thanks so much GAC for such a detailed and thoughtful response. Much appreciated.

Hello! i purchased 1 month ago my train from rome to naples on may 30 using MINI FARE. Now that my friend whom i was supposed to meet up in naples changed schedules. Can i use my ic train ticket from rome to salerno?

I looked at the stop overs of the ic train that I'm suppose to board and the stop list salerno as the one after naples.

You need to buy a ticket Naples to Salerno.