Hi all, this is my first post and I'm hoping it will help me plan our first trip to Europe next March. I found plane tickets for $90 from Venice to Rome. Is this a good price or should we take the train instead? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Oh for godsake's take the train. Why hassel with transfers to TWO airports. The ride is very pleasant and you can get a bite to eat on the train. Add to the $90 the cost of taxi or ground transportation to and from the airports.
The Eurostar trains are reay great.

YES, take the train. Again, why the hassle of 2 securities, getting to and from airports WELL outside the cities, etc. The trains are fast, cheap,comfortable, and easy. You'll end up RIGHT in the middle of Rome, not 40 km outside of it.
They could offer me $20 flights and I wouldn't do it.

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Welcome to Fodor's traveyangel!

Although the first two answers to your question were not posted in the most polite manner I do agree that taking the train between Venice and Rome would be the best. At least that is what I would do. From city center to city center. Best regards.

Train will take no longer - considering time to trek all the way out to and fro airports, wait on security lines etc. Plus - trains are much more comfortable.

Thanks for the responses. This is probably a dumb question, but how do I research train tickets? What is the best website? Do most people buy their tickets in advance? Thanks again.

I agree with the suggestion that you take the train. It's an Italian experience, and much more convenient than flying, for reasons mentioned above. Plus, you can walk a bit on the train, get a bite to eat, see lovely scenery. I think it's much more relaxing than flying, plus you don't have the expensive and time-consuming transit into town.

When we traveled by train all through Italy last May, we bought tickets as we went, and had no problem. I would guess that March wouldn't be a very busy month, either.
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Easter 2008 is on March 23. If you are traveling on that Friday or Monday, be sure to reserve in advance for the train. Very many Italians travel at Easter.

Also be aware that hotel rates go up for Easter.

Agree with everyone about taking the train - much nicer, easier, faster than going to and from the airport. It might be a good idea, but we've never booked train tickets more than a day or two ahead.
Sometime, while you are in Venice or when you arrive, just stop by the train station, choose your time and get your ticket. That way, you won't have to worry about lines just before departing. Also, if you want to have a late in the day departure, you can check out of your hotel and leave your luggage in the storage place at the station while you do more sight seeing/shopping etc. Just get back a half hour or so before your train departs, in case there are several people picking up luggage at once.

This site might help...
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Just a thought on this, we went first class on our train travels, and it definitely paid off...in particular a very crowded (think sardines) train from Florence to Rome, a long trip. You just have to tell whoever is sitting in your assigned seat that they have to give up the seat to you...sounds onerous, but they did it. I guess people just get on and sit wherever there is an open seat, it is your responsibility to claim your seat. My wife did all the legwork on this, but she did buy the tickets from home, and that worked out well. Day to day we bought as we went, but major movements were planned and purchased ahead ot time.

The train from Venice to Florence takes just a little under three hours and the train from Florence to Rome about 90 minutes traceyangel.

You could buy your ticket at the Santa Lucia Train Station in Venice when you first arrive if you like.

we took the train from Paris to Montreux, Montreux to Florence and Florence to Rome and it was definately a real joy and enhanced our vacation experience greatly. I would take the trains again in a heart beat.

regarding danocross' comments about crowded trains, occupied seats and 1st class - I take it that you did NOT take a Eurostar train, but rather an older, slower, IC or other train where open seating is allowed.

The ES trains take 90minutes, no stops, all seats are reserved, AC works great, seats are comfortable. Nobody can just get on the train and take a seat.

Unless you are oversized there is no need to spend extra $ for 1st class, in my opinion.

Regarding buying the tickets:
Online with Trenitalia I could not find any discounts and we wanted to go first class Eurostar as we have always done in the past. Since we were traveling and I couldn't do any printing, I put it off until we got to Rome (we had a week there before going to Venice). Instead of going to the train station where the advance ticket lines may be backed up an hour or more, we went to a travel agent with a trenitalia emblem in the window facing Largo Argentina. They booked the tickets for us, and to our surprise we got a 20% discount below anything we could find on the website. So we were glad we did. A Trenitalia travel agent will not only book your tickets for you without charge, but if you have a pass, they will even do a seat reservation for you. I highly recommend using one if standing in long lines is not a pleasant experience for you.