meeshwlf

Friends are our booked a tour by rail from Rome to Venice, and have invited us to join them on their trip. Problem is, the package they booked is no longer available, and the other agent I found is working out to be more than we can afford (we want to tack on a few extra days in Venice).

So we are planning to book the trip piecemail on our own (appears to be cheaper). However, I've never booked nor traveled by rail before.
-I'm assuming I need a point to point pass on the Eurostar Train?
-I did find tickets on Eurorailways.com. Should I purchase in advance or would it be best to purchase them once in Rome?
-How difficult/confusing is it to travel by train in Italy (compared to NY trains)? Any travel tips/suggestions?

Also, what's your experience with some of the sightseeing tours in Rome (i.e. Ancient Rome, Vatican Museums)? Any suggestions on a reliable company to book through?

Thank you for any help!

ellenem

You will buy a point-to-point ticket. (A pass is another type of ticket.)

I suggest you buy the ticket at trenitalia.com for the best price. Unless you are traveling on a Friday or holiday, you can buy them a few days ahead in Rome.

Italian trains are similar to NY trains. Biggest issue is looking at the notice board: the FINAL destination of the train is listed, which may not be your destination. Train number and time are listed, so this is what to look for. You can also look for the Partenze posters in the station, which list all stops the train will make to verify your departure.

PalQ

It's easy - very easy. Start your search by going to www.trenitalia.com and then find the train you want and either print out your own ticket, get a code to retrieve it at an Italian station or a code to give the Eurostar conductor. Or just wait until Venice and buy your ticket at the station - so many trains no chance of being shut out but still do it as soon as you get there. The worst is you'd have to pay for first class in the unlikely event 2nd class was sold out. If you reserve in the US you'd pay a bit more but hey if you've never been there and don't want to worry about it, then pay about $10-15 more for Raileurope to do it for you - and if you want to do it in the US i always advise contacting BETS (800-441-2387) who i've dealt with for years and who will patiently walk you thru it all and send tickets to you so you just have to show up for the train. Internet sales are the same price but you can't talk to an expert like at BETS. But first try to print your own ticket off at trenitalia - but beware that many find this site to be most frustrating - there have been numerous posts here telling how to navigate the finicky site! Even a full fare Venice-Rome ticket should only cost about $50-60 in 2nd class or about $70-80 in first class trains in Italy are very cheap compared to other countries.

Larryincolorado

If you wait until you get over there and buy the tickets from Rome to Venice at a ticket counter or at a machine, the most it will cost for a direct connection on the Eurostar is about €45. If you buy your tickets at least the night before, you might get €29 fares for the Eurostar or €15 fares for the IC that goes to Venice.

The only possible justification for buying the tickets online in advance from Trenitalia is to get those lower cost tickets before they are all sold.

Stateside ticket sellers will charge you a lot more for tickets than you would pay at travel time over there.

mikeyb

Hi M,

This question has been asked many, many times before. Put your question in the seach box and read forever.

meeshwlf

Thank you so much for all of your input. We'll be leaving Rome on a Tuesday, so I checked out the tickets on tenitalia.com. I found some ES trains from Rome Termini to Venezia S. Lucia (they als list Mestre in red, guess they also stop there).

You're right that the site is somewhat confusing. What are they looking for on the purchase page under "Seat Near To..." "enter the seat number beside which you wish to travel here."
Then it has 3 boxes, one titled train showing my chosen train, one titled Coach with a blank entry box and one titled Seat with a blank entry box.

GeoffHamer

This option is so that you can sit near someone who has already booked. If your friends are booked on the same train, you may be able to get a seat near them if you enter their seat numbers; otherwise ignore this question.

ira

What GH said.

PalQ

<If you wait until you get over there and buy the tickets from Rome to Venice at a ticket counter or at a machine, the most it will cost for a direct connection on the Eurostar is about €45. If you buy your tickets at least the night before, you might get €29 fares for the Eurostar or €15 fares for the IC that goes to Venice.

Stateside ticket sellers will charge you a lot more for tickets than you would pay at travel time over there>

depends on what a lot more means
on Raileurope you can buy Venice-Rome for $70 on Eurostar 2nd class including the reservation - compare this will the 45 euro regular fare you'd buy in Venice or about $58 - so for $12 more you put angst to rest and have the ticket in your hand, be guaranteed the train of your choice, etc. Many people would find that a small fee, especially novice Italian train travelers. But of course RailEurope charges a $15 reservation fee per order and a $15 mailing fee if under $200 - BETS noted above would charge $5 mailing fee along with RE's $15 order fee so the extra $20, or $10 per ticket would mean that each person would be paying $22 total extra - still a sum that many novices would gladly pay to relax about it.
But as Larry points out, you could (or may not) get the 29 euro fare a day before, making savings greater. I'd try to navigate the trenitalia.com site and see if you can print out your own ticket at a PREM rate or get a code to pick it up in Italy - if that doesn't work then you may want to pay extra to have it done in the U.S.

ump

My wife and I will go by train from Rome to Venice. Yes, trenitalia.com is not very helpful. On the Eurostar, it won't quote me different prices for first and second class. Do they have 2 classes? What do you get in first class, as opposed to second?
Thanks!

europeanhm

I booked 2 tickets on trenitalia website from venice to rome. Cost me EUR29 (the price per person was the same in 1st and 2nd class). I chose the ticketless option and got an email confirmation.

kybourbon

Ump - I responded on your other thread. Yes, there are 2 classes with different prices unless you are able to book one of the specials that europeanhm just mentioned. The 29/39E specials can be used on 1st cl until sold out and then on 2nd cl.

ump

Whoa! I did it: 29 Euros apiece. Thanks very much!