Will be flying into Rome italy at the end of september 2008 and taking the train to venice and from there to padova and verona. Is there a different train system going from verona to the dolomites? Will I need to make train reservations ahead of time and which train system do I use? This will be our first time using the train. Also, we might want to rent a car in verona for a couple of days and wondered if we should arrange the rental here in the U.S.? And, if you have any particular areas of interest to be included in our itinerary after leaving Rome, would greatly appreciate suggestions.

rose g

Have you checked the Italian train website?

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

You can check various scenarios (probably not out to next September though).

If you decide to rent a car, it will definitely be cheaper to book it well in advance from home. Check www.autoeurope.com, a consolidator that finds you the best rate from among the companies with which it has contracts.

Hi V,

>Will I need to make train reservations ahead of time and which train system do I use?<

Not usually, unless it's a weekend or holiday.

http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

thanks for the info. if you buy a pass on trenitalia, can this be used on all trains in italy such as circumvesuviano and is the pass a good way to go? will be using the train for a day trips to pompeii, rome to venice, venice to padova and padova to verona. after we leave rome, we will base ourselves in padova. getting myself confused. help

rose g.

The Circumvesuviana is a private train and a pass is NOT good on it. However, the fare is only €2.50.

Train travel in Italy is relatively inexpensive so a pass usually is not cost effective. Point-to-point tickets will be cheaper, particularly if you buy your tickets a few days in advance and can get Amica fares (20% discount).

Tim is correct--you're not travveling enough miles to make a train pass worthwhile in Italy. Just by your tickets individually. If you are very sure of your travel plans, you can buy all your tickets at the same time. However, your short hops between Venice, Padova, and Verona shouldn't require any advanced purchase.

I'm not sure if there's a discount for Venice-Padova--it's only a 30-minute ride. Padova-Verona is about an hour.

vardon,

For a train newbie the site http://tinyurl.com/eym5b will get you oriented pretty well.

Also, Fodor's, DK Eyewitness, and Michelin have very good guide books for Italy. From your posts it cannot be determined exactly what your interests are so it is futile to make recommendations. What do you want to do, see, taste, drink, purchase, or whatever while you are in Italy? Give us a clue.

In general, always purchase train tickets (and reservations if you need them) in Europe and not in the USA. In general, always reserve a rental car from the USA and load up on insurance. In general, these "in general" advisories apply particularly to Italy.

thank you all for replying. First trip to Italy and do know that we want historical and arts and I realize this is a very broad statement. I have been reading everyone's posts since the summer and didn't realize what a novice I am. Have travelled to Ireland, Scotland and Wales by car but never anything that seems to be as extensive as all that Italy has to offer. I feel like a kid in a candy store with eyes wide open but can't quite focus on any particular object. So, for a newbie I do want to see the obvious but would also like to see the not so obvious and make the most of my 12 days in Italy by concentrating on Rome for about 4 or 5 days and going north to Venice, Padova and Verona for the remainder time. Point me in the right direction. All of you are very well travelled and knowledgable and I would appreciate the suggestions that you would offer. thanks.

rose g