My plane is due to arrive in Rome (FCO) at 8:20 a.m. My ultimate destination is Orvieto, which I plan to get to by train. There is a departure from Rome Termini at 11:14 and another at 12:47. Do you think I can make the 11:14, or should I book the 12:47 to be safe?

I planned to buy these tickets from the U.S. so I have one less thing to worry about upon my arrival. Good idea, or no?

On a side note, I'm having touble with the Trenitalia web site. It offers directions in English up to the point that I actually click the shopping cart to buy the tickets. The following screens are in Italian, which I don't read! Any suggestions for how to complete the whole transaction in English and/or can I purchase the tickets somewhere else?

Also, I'll have a couple more long-distance train rides during the trip. (Orvieto to Naples and Naples to Rome). Can someone advise me on where best to buy these tickets once in Italy?

Thank you.

It is a very simple process to purchase your train tickets at the airport.

It sounds like you've done your homework on train times, etc., so just buy allo of your tickets from the machine at the airport.

You quite possibly may make the 11:14, but you wont need a reservation for that train, and probaly there will be enough open seats for the IC tran at 12:47.

Bon viaggio!!!!

I've just started researching our trip so am a total neophyte, but am wondering if there is a reason not to book through this site: http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fa...ules/index.htm ?

I just tried a dummy purchase for Rome-Orvieto, and as far as I went with it,(which was up to credit info), it was in English.

Of course I may be totally missing something which would be apparent to anyone who is well into his planning and has searched in depth already, but this site looks to be fairly sraight forward otherwise.

Olive - It is easy, but considerably more expensive, to buy your tickets through Rail Europe rather than directly from the trenitialia site or after arrival in Italy (or any other country in Europe.)

jende: I would NOT try to buy your train tickets ahead of time while in the U.S. It is very simple and easy to do once you are in Italy. Prior to leaving, just print out the city pairs you want (i.e. Roma to Orvieto) with the desired departure time(s) and bring those sheets with you. You can then show them to the ticket office clerk at Roma's Termini station and purchase at that time.

FCO airport is only about 40 minutes outside of the city so I would think you could make the 11:14 am train to Orvieto. The Leonardo Express train that leaves daily every 20 minutes to/from Termini to FCO (from Terminal C) arrives in Termini's tracks 26, 27. From there you can walk to the front ticket/info area and purchase your ticket(s) and then walk to the train for Orvieto.

You can buy all your train tickets in Rome at Roma's Termini station - even if it is for other city pairs (i.e. Orvieto to Naples, Naples to Rome); and you can pay with a credit card to make it even easier. Additionally, if you miss a train, you can always use the previously-purchased ticket if the routing and city stops are the same. Also, you can return any unused tickets for refund at Roma's Termini station. There is a refund window and they gladly oblige - so all is not lost!

"Of course I may be totally missing something which would be apparent to anyone who is well into his planning"...such as a surcharge!! Thank you Lesli!

As mmr said, you can buy ALL your train tickets at the train station in the airport, so when you arrive at Roma Termini, you won't need to stop and buy tickets again before departing for Orvieto.

On the topic of purchasing train tickets in advance or not. I waited last summer to do this from A'dam to Paris and back. Not only did the ticket cost $30 more than purchasing online, we also had to wait 2.5 hours at the A'dam train station to buy them. The sales clerk there stated that was a light day for summer travel and the wait could be up to 4 hours! the train ride wasn't even that long. We chose not to buy r/t tickets so the price from Paris back to A'dam was $15 less, but still more than buying online. This year I am buying in advance!

Clea

The scenario Clea describes is exactly what I'm trying to avoid! On a trip through France a few years ago, we assumed we could purchase tickets at the station just in advance of the departure we needed, but it was sold out and we nearly missed our flight home from Paris.

Although being that there are two departures to Orvieto close in time, maybe I'll take my chances by buying tickets on-site.

Just to clarify, can you purchase tickets at both Rome Termini and FCO, or just Termini?

Also, is it true that having a ticket doesn't guarantee you a place on the train unless you ALSO have a reservation? I seem to recall from our last trip that although we had a railpass, we also needed to make reservations to guarantee our place (hence the missed departure in France).

Both at FCO and Termini. And you can buy ALL your tickets for ALL your trips at once, if you already know your travel plans. Termini is a huge complex and can be confusing, so many would say to do all your purchasing at FCO.

The scenario Clea describes for France (tickets online costing less) is NOT true of Italy.

Oh--the reservation part. If you buy an ES ticket, you automatically have a reserved seat for one particular ES train.

For an IC ticket, you can get on any IC train for your route. You have to purchase a reservation seperately if you want a reserved seat on a particular IC train.

The 11:14 and 12:47 trains are both on the IC, so it sounds like if I buy a 11:14 ticket and miss the train, I can get on the 12:47. I'll also buy the tix for the rest of my trip at Rome Termini.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Several tips, no charge: buy all tix in Italy, at the stations or ticket agencies, and in a pinch, AmEx offices.

Study Italian before you go. This is very useful. You'll receive better treatment and service.

Learn to read the timetable and the overhead signs in train stations, where to have your tickets stamped before boarding, etc.

There are travel books with pictures and details.

Obtain Elaine's data on all her cities.

Contact ScalaReale for their tours in Rome, and for the restaurant recommendations. Indispensable. The FoodSnob will confirm.