Need Help with Italy Transportation
 

We (2 adults, 4 children--16, 15, 11, 8) are staying in Rome and will be traveling to Florence for a 3 night stay (Thurs-Sunday). We have to be back in Rome on Monday, so were thinking of leaving Florence on Sunday, taking the train to Pisa and then to Cinque Terre and staying there that night. Then, we will train back to Rome on Monday. I am having a hard time figuring out the trenitalia site. Questions:
- -Can I buy a family train pass? Who is considered a family? How much is it?
- -What is the least expensive way to get from Rome to Florence, then Florence to Pisa, Pisa to CT, and then CT to Rome?
- -Also thought about taking a day trip from Florence to Sienna and San G. Any help on how to get there for my family of 6?

Thank you so much!

These journeys are relatively short by Italian standards, and I cannot imagine any rail pass would be a good idea. Basic train fares in Italy (and most European countries) are calculated from the distance in kilometres, and a round trip costs twice as much as a one-way journey. Italian fares are about half comparable fares in France. There are supplements for Intercity trains which are faster, and an even bigger supplement for Eurostar trains which are faster still. However, for short journeys, it's often not worth paying for a faster train. To travel cheaply, try to stick to slow stopping trains.
In Italy, children aged 12 pay the adult fare. The Trenitalia web site advertises a family fare for two adults travelling with a child - the child goes free. In your case, you have four adults (aged 12 or over) so you should get free travel for the 11- and 8-year olds.

go to www.railsaver.com and out in your itinerary and it will tell you if a pass of some sort would save you more money than point-to-point tickets.

I traveled with 6 adults in 2003 and we were offered discounts when booking tickets on some trains (not ES). At that time 5 or more traveling together qualified for discounts. Florence/Pisa ic train is about 5E. I'm not sure it's a good idea to do a one nighter in CT but since I haven't been to CT maybe someone else will know more about the Pisa/CT/Rome connections.

Hi t,

Children under 4 ride free.
Children from 4-11 are reduced fare.
Everyone 12 and older is an "adult".

After you click the shopping cart for the train you want, the next menu has a red box, click it.

You can then purchase 2 "Family Railcard" - one child traveling with 2 adults.

Rome to Florence on the ES* is 59E 2cl. On the IC it is 53E.

Florence to Riomaggiore, via Pisa, is 16E for a family of 3.

From Florence to Siena, the SITA bus is
13E RT for adults. I don't know if they have family fares.

See http://www.sita-on-line.it for schedules.

Have a nice trip.

((I))

Thanks Geoff, Sandi, Ky, and Ira. Would you suggest going to Pisa and CT, or just staying in Florence?

Thanks!