Hi kath,

>If I can cancel our family saver 2nd class tickets...Am I able to purchuse ES tickets in the states that as others have said already include our reservation.<

You can cancel your railpass, but you won't get the full price back.

Train schedules, prices and tickets are at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html
Call center from outside Italy is 39-06-68475475

You could ask them about getting your reservations before you go.

What's your itinerary, and how many days will you have before you need your tickets?

((I))

Hello All. More similiar questions. Will appreciate any/all comments. I'm tossing around new places for fall, with this trip ending in Paris. Arrive in Rome 3rd week in October, stay for 4-5 days, then to Florence for 3-4 days, then to the coast, maybe Genoa and begin a train trip to Marseille. Stay in Marseille for 3-4 days then end the trip in Paris. Marseille is new for me. Haven't been to Rome in a long time. Had planned to buy a Italy/France pass and am now rethinking due to all the posts. Haven't booked anything yet. Will be traveling alone.

BKnight,

Italy-ony oasses are rarey wrth it. Because you are traveling into France, a pass may still be of value to you. Input your entire itinerary at Railsaver.com and be sure to click "only if it saves me money."

Thanks. I'm in the thinking stage. Want to go somewhere new, only by train, and end up in Paris.

Glad you could translate my bad typing of "Italy-only passes are rarely worth it."

Hi Ira and All
we are leaving from Boston
april 15
our plans are
rom/naples/florence/venice/rom

Wanted to pay for tickets before we left US


In Sorrento for 1/2 day
would you advise taking Site/sp/ bus to Positano or all the way to Almafi
looks like Almafi about 100 minutes
not sure how far Positano is...

Is one more scenic than the other?
Looking for little shops and sights!!

thanks in advance k/Boston

Hi 888,

&gt;Wanted to pay for tickets before we left US&lt;

Why?

You can try buying your tickets at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html or via the call center at 011-39-06-68475475.

However, you can get all of your tickets at the train stationa at FCO or Rome TE.

&gt;In Sorrento for 1/2 day
would you advise taking Site/sp/ bus to Positano or all the way to Almafi

Positano is on the route from Sorrento to Amalfi by SITA bus.

More important: What's your exact itinerary?

((I))

&gt;Wanted to pay for tickets before we left US&lt;

A fairly common wish for novice travelers i think - understandable - just need to board the train - have seats reserved before leaving - no blips not getting it all right once there.

I echo Ira's sentiments that you should try trenitalia.com and say Good Luck from the legions of frustrated complaints Fodorites have had in the past - the site never seems to be able to work out its kinks - but Ira and others have proven to graciously help walk you thru it if you post about your troubles. Or you can IME always buy all your tickets upon arrival at the airport train station - have all the info printed out like train times, destination, number of travelers and ages if old or young and train numbers and first or second class - then there is little language problem and you will save money over buying them in the U.S.

That said i understand the desire anyway to have it all taken care of and some will find the extra cost priceless in peace of mind. If bent on doing it ahead of time thru a U.S. agent i can recommend none more helpful and expertise than the folks at www.budgeteuropetravel.com - the rare place now that you can actually talk to an expert and work out the intracacies IME - but again don't be afraid of getting the trains once in Italy - there are so so many trains - 2 an hour between key cities like Naples, Rome, Florence, Milan, etc.

Thanks Palenque for the budgeteuropeantravel link. I called them and they were very helpful. I too have wrestled with the Trenitalia site and am not willing to "risk" a "walk up and buy for travel today" situation. My trip inclues two short train trips, Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome. BTE is booking them for me now, advising on 1st or 2nd class, and I will have much less anxiety at a very reasonable price.