Okay, this may sound like a silly question, but what's the difference between Trenitalia and Rail Europe? It looks like Rail Europe is more expensive. I would appreciate any info anyone can give. Specifically I'm looking to go from Rome to Naples, then Sorrento, and from Venice back to Rome. Which of these two is best?<BR><BR><BR>BTW, I'll be in Italy for two weeks in September. It's my second trip to Italy, but first time in Sorrento and Venice. I've found this site to be very helpful in planning.<BR><BR>Thanks in advance, Jerry

Jerry as I understand it Trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.it are the company who run rail services in Italy. I'm guessing if Rail Europe are more expensive they may be a travel agency of some sort who can book tickets for you on trains in Italy, they have to make a profit, thus the difference in price. Hope this helps. Have a good trip<BR><BR>http://gofree.indigo.ie/~kieran

Rail Europe is a U.S. company owned by the French and Swiss railways.

Rail Europe charges a big mark up and often don't show all available trains. I wouldn't buy from Rail Europe. I think you should be OK buying tickets once you get to Italy, you can buy all your tickets at one station when you get to Termini in Rome, for example. <BR>

I had always believed that if you live in the US, you had to buy your European train tickets/passes from RailEurope. However, I learned from this board that Rail Europe rips you off. And that you can actually order your tickets via the specific rail company's website. For example, we are planning to travel from Paris to Strasbourg and then to Bern and from Bern return to Paris. <BR><BR>There are 3 of us and we'll order all tickets directly from Swiss Rail. Swiss Rail can mail the tickets in 1-3 days to your home in the US. If I ordered the tickets from Rail Europe it would cost me double what Swiss Rail is charging. Also the same price diff. between Rail Europe and SNCF. Generally, it seems that Rail Europe marks up their ticket fares by at least 50%.

RailEurope is not a rip off. It is no different than any other travel agency which charges a premium for service. Many, such as myself, like to do it themselves to save costs, but that does not mean any travel agent is a rip off.