Need Help on Train Pass or Not?
 

My Husband and I are going to Italy for 2 weeks. We are looking for some advice on whether we should get a train pass or city-to-city tickets ? Also, can anyone tell me what are the differences between the EuroPass and the Trenitalia Pass? Can the Trenitalia pass be used on a EuroStar train?

Many thanks!

City to city would likely be best.

A pass is rarely cost effective for Italy. With a pass, you must add the additional cost of seat reservations (required on Italian AV/ES/ICPlus trains) which cost 15€ (about $22) each.

To price your train tickets, enter a date within the next week (enter the same day of week you intend to travel):
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Many people have problems trying to purchase through Trenitalia online, but you can buy all your train tickets on arrival in Italy. Select the Amica fares for a 20% discount on the faster trains.

Italian train fares are based on the distance travelled, and basic fares are cheap. If you're going to Trieste, then by train to Palermo, Napoli, Venezia and Genova, then a pass might be a good idea.
If you're not spending your holiday going to and fro by train, then it will be cheaper and easier to buy tickets as you go.
Passes can be used on Eurostar trains, but you have to reserve a seat, so a rail pass is not more convenient than buying a ticket.

Be careful, the Trenitalia Pass is no more available.

As already posted you can get a 20% discount on medium / long distance tickets using the "Amica" fare.

I think that you can also have 5% discount if you buy tickets using the Trenitalia web site.

Ciao.
Gianni (Milan, Italy)

HI A,

You can find Point-to-point ticket prices at
www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Note the discounted Amica fares - available up to the night before your train leaves.

A railpass is rarely cost effective for Italy.

All railpasses are sold by RailEurope.

EuroStar (ES*) trains are the high-speed trains.

They are reserved seat only. If you have a railpass, you will still have to purchase a seat reservation - about 8E.

If you buy the ticket at Trenitalia, the reservation is included in the price.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

You likely do not need a pass.

To determine that for sure, you would need to list each of your individual train trips, know the cost of point-to-point (1st or 2nd class), then compare the total price to the cost of a train pass.

Ira - Do you have a link for an 8€ seat reservation? I think it's double that for the AV/ES trains.