Train Reservations
 

Hi- My girlfriend and I are going to Italy for the first time in August- I know, I know... It's going to be crowded. Can someone help me about the train protocol? I don't know if I need reservations or not. If you don't have one and it's crowded- can't you sit in the aisle? How early do you need to make resrvations? We are going to the Big Three Cities and taking some side trips. Also, how bad is the scaffolding and closures in Florence and Rome? Thanks for your help.

I just returned from Italy last Sunday. We went to the Big Three as you are planning. We purchased a Europass which allowed us to travel for 6 days during a two month period through a number of Western European countries. The cost is around $350 per person for the basic pass. We landed in Paris and wound our way down to Italy and back to Paris, so we had some fairly long train rides. If you plan to fly directly to Italy you may be better off buying individual tickets. The Big Three are connected by Euro Star trains which are fast express trains that, as an example, can go from Florence to Rome in about three hours. The trains at least in first class are super luxurious. Its quite a network. For example, you can travel by Euro Star from Venice to Rome with only two or three stops in between. The train has both first and second class service. I don't speak Italian so I don't have a complete understanding of all the rules. However, one thing is clear, if you buy a Europass and you wish to use the Euro Star (there really is no alternative) you must also purchase reservations for each train trip. The reservations are not very expensive, they run approximately $6 to $10 per trip. An interesting thing is that you are not required to take the train that you have reserved. In a number of cases we took trains other than the one we had reserved. Car 1 is designated as a non reservation car, that is, first come, first serve. That does not mean that you will always get a seat in car 1 even if you come early. It might be full when it arrives at the station. Using car 1 does not absolve you of having a reservation. It only means that you don't have to have a reservation on that particular train. Whether you buy individual tickets or a Pass, you should buy them in the US. The reason is that these trains are sometimes full. As an example, I tried to change a reservation to an earlier train a day before our departure. There was no space on the train that we wanted. Another reason for buying the tickets in the US is that I think you'll have better things to do than stand in lines at Italian railroad stations. The French have a fetish of pretending not to understand Engligh. It seems that many of the Italian clerks behind the windows really don't speak English. <BR>We bought our Pass and reservations from a local travel agent. However, if I had it to do over again I would have used a service that specialzed in Euro Passes. There are lots of questions that they can answer more accurately than a general travel agent. I found a web site that not only provided the schedule but also the price of individual train tickets. I'm sorry but I did not save the site, however, I'm sure someone will provide the site. <BR>I've been to Europe many times usually traveling by car. I was impressed by the trains. They are fast and comfortable. At least in Italy, they don't seem to be too punctual. All the trains arrived late. Some later than others. If you are making connections, leave yourself ample time. <BR>One other thing, the Euro Star trains that we used it did have dining cars with sparkling flatware and napery. All they had was a snack bar. You'll be much better off buying salami, ham, cheese, etc. and taking it on the train. The trains even have tables for each passenger. <BR>I would buy an Italian train schedule as soon as I arrived in Italy. It gives you a sense of control. The book has every train and its itinerary. <BR>As far, as scaffolding, there is plenty of it especially in Rome. The facade of St. Peters is unrecognizable. The interior of St. Peters is also littered with construction equipment. Happily the Sistine ceiling is completely restored. Unfortunately, Raphael's School of Athens is completely covered. <BR>

Hi Scott, <BR> <BR>this topic has come up before, and if you do some searching, I think you'll find some useful info. A few points I've picked up through my research and this forum: my impression from others was contrary to what Vic said, you could travel on the Eurostar trains without advance purchase or reservations. Some trains are "reservation required", but not all. I was led to believe that most trains would not be full. If you do take the Pendolino trains (which are the fast Eurostar trains between the big three) I believe you are not allowed to stand in the aisles. These are leaning trains, and I read somewhere that standing was not allowed. <BR> <BR>There is a website for making reservations for point-to-point tickets in advance from the US, it is www.fs-on-line.com. It is slightly more expensive to buy the tickets in the US. Another option, to avoid the lines and perhaps the language issue, is to buy the tickets from a travel agency in Italy that has the FS logo. I believe you can get them at American Express offices. This way you can get them a couple days in advance if you want. <BR> <BR>Sorry this is all pretty much second hand info, but I imagine someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I'm doing the same kind of train travelling in September, so I've been gathering the info for a while. <BR> <BR>--beth

When I went to Italy a few years ago we got an Italy FlexiPass. You choose the number of days you think you will be traveling (in our case, we got 12 travel days) and then you don't have to make reservations, even for the reservation required trains. I suggest you pay the $60.00 or so premium for first class. Those cars never fill up, and so you are never left wanting a seat. The FlexiPass must be bought from the US before you go--any travel agent could give you more info.

Don't believe that first class cars never fill up. That is simply not true. Some of the trains I took were virtually empty others were completely full. Another thing is even if the train is not completely full, you and your girl friend may not be able to sit together and/or you'll end up in a smoke filled car. <BR>You must have reservations on the Euro Star. You should buy everything in the US so that you won't waste valuable time.

Here's my 2 cents worth based on being in Italy the last week of May.Since we only used trains on three occassions (Rome to Florence, Florence to Venice and Venice back to Rome) it was less expensive to buy individual tickets for each leg compared to a Eurail pass. We bought our ticket in Rome at a travel agent the day before our trip (no additional fee) and did not have to waste time going to the train station to purchase a ticket. In Florence we bought our ticket right at the station the morning of our trip; while in Venice we used a travel agent right in San Marco piazza. We travelled on Eurostar each time second class. Second Class Eurostar is 10 times more comfortable than a plane and was very nice. When you travel Eurostar you pay an additional supplement. Regardless, it wasnt expensive. About $26 from Rome to Florence; and $40 from Venice to Rome. <BR>Once you have your ticket and before you board the train you need to validate it by time stamping it in machines that you see on the platforms right at the beginning of the tracks.I read there was a stiff penalty if you fail to do so. <BR>Whether or not the demand for travel is so much greater in August than the end of May is a question I can't answer. The only scaffolding we saw was at St. Peters which completely covers the church but not the dome, and some arches in the forum and part of the Colosseum. This was minimal.Personally, it was no big deal. Have a great time...and spend some time in Venice trying to get lost...great way to get a sense of the city!

I found the site that provides schedule and fares. <BR>www.raileurope.com <BR> <BR> <BR>

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