My husband and I will be flying into Rome next Wed and I had a couple of questions I was hoping I get answers to. We are going from Rome to Florence. So I've been looking at trenitalia to book our train tickets and I was wondering what is the difference between 1st class and 2nd class.

In the Eurostar trains between Florence and Rome : In 1st class the seats are 2 and 1 (with aisle in the middle). In 2nd class there are 2 and 2 (with aisle in the middle).

For this 90-minute trip, 2nd class should be fine. It's like coach on an airplane.

Hi S,

>what is the difference between 1st class and 2nd class.<

For this route, 13E.

PS,

What is your other question?

In 1st class on Eurostar Italia trains you also get a free cup of java, a pastry and an Italian newspaper!
In 1st class there is 25% more room as there are 25% less seats in the same space - more room for luggage, etc.
Apply the same criteria to train rides as you would to a hotel room IMO.

First class has an assigned seat; 2nd class the seats are first come,first served. I'd pay the extra E13 for the assigned seats unless you're used to dealing with the native Italians. They will push right past you and grab a seat-don't expect courtesy. The concept of orderly, taking your turn is foreign to Italians. Last year, when talking to the B&B owner who had been to NYC for the marathon, I asked what he found most pleasurable about the States. His reply, how people actually wait on line for their turn! He thought that was a "fantastic idea".

I believe that all second class seats on Eurostar trains are reserved much the same as first class so that's not a reason for paying 13 euros more, nor is the skimpy food - more room for you and luggage, yes in my opinion.
the above poster may have confused Eurostar trains with IC trains where

reservations are optional - on these trains certain seat numbers are unreserved - up for grabs whilst others are reserved and this is not marked on the train as to which ones are reserved and not so you have to know which seats in each coach are not reservable.
But on Eurostar trains seat reservations are mandatory to my knowledge and i'm fairly poisitive of that.
And about <They will push right past you and grab a seat-don't expect courtesy> i've ridden hundreds of trains in Italy and have never seen this type of activity - not that in other lines in other places, like train station ticket windows this may not happen but i think it's an unfair overhyper generalization as to trains.
Maybe i'm wrong and just haven't ridden enough trains!

> I believe that all second class seats on Eurostar trains are reserved much the same as first class ...<

You are corrct, PALQ.

Thank you everyone. This has been helpful.

Funny, I just went on 1st class on Firenze- Venezia and later Venezia- Roma and they never offered me anything other than water ( lukewarm) or coffee. No pastry or newspaper. But I found he extra space good. Also , for the Venezia-Roma I got the 29 Euros promotion which applied to either 1st or 2nd class , so in my case it was a no brainer.

I agree that the standing in line conception has not quite reached the Italians, lol but as far as Italians on trains I have received nothing but genuine courtesy including Italian men putting my luggage in the overhead rack for me and removing it when I was leaving the train. All without my asking anyone for help. I have even been offered food by Italian train passengers. Standing in line is just really not part of the Italian culture so they are not being rude but just doing things their way. When in Rome....

Can someone update my understanding that in first class on Eurostar you get a coffee, pastry or snack and Italian newspaper - been two years since i rode one and it seems to have changed. Not that the tiny thimble-sized cup of coffee, plasticixed pastry and foreing paper were worth anything at all!