Train reservations necessary in Italy
Jul 15th, 2014, 11:56 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Train reservations necessary in Italy
Hi All,
I'll be travelling in Italy in late September and early October, alone. When my flight lands in Rome, I'll be taking the express to Termini, then a train to Florence and spending a couple days there, then Pisa for 1/2 day, Siena for 1-1/2 days, a bus back to Florence, train to Naples and surroundings (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi, Paestum) for a few days, train back to Rome for 10 days, and a flight back home.
Many of the trains will be Trenitalia, with some Circumvesuviana around Pompeii, but there are a few Frecciarossa trains (Rome-Florence, Florence-Naples, Naples-Rome).
I'm hoping it is OK to just buy train tickets at the departure station, because I don't know whether my flight to Rome will be late in arriving, or exactly what time I'll make it to the train station in Florence from my bus trip from Pisa, or what time I'll arrive in Naples train station from my train from Paestum.
Is this plan OK, or do the Frecciarossa sell out, making me buy tickets online in advance to avoid wasting time sitting in train stations for the next train. If I buy in advance and miss the departure, am I out of luck, or is there some provision to let me on the next train?
Thanks,
Jeff
I'll be travelling in Italy in late September and early October, alone. When my flight lands in Rome, I'll be taking the express to Termini, then a train to Florence and spending a couple days there, then Pisa for 1/2 day, Siena for 1-1/2 days, a bus back to Florence, train to Naples and surroundings (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Amalfi, Paestum) for a few days, train back to Rome for 10 days, and a flight back home.
Many of the trains will be Trenitalia, with some Circumvesuviana around Pompeii, but there are a few Frecciarossa trains (Rome-Florence, Florence-Naples, Naples-Rome).
I'm hoping it is OK to just buy train tickets at the departure station, because I don't know whether my flight to Rome will be late in arriving, or exactly what time I'll make it to the train station in Florence from my bus trip from Pisa, or what time I'll arrive in Naples train station from my train from Paestum.
Is this plan OK, or do the Frecciarossa sell out, making me buy tickets online in advance to avoid wasting time sitting in train stations for the next train. If I buy in advance and miss the departure, am I out of luck, or is there some provision to let me on the next train?
Thanks,
Jeff
Jul 15th, 2014, 12:05 PM
#2
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>Train reservations necessary in Italy
Posted by: jeff7479 on Jul 15, 14 at 3:56pm
Is this plan OK, or do the Frecciarossa sell out, making me buy tickets online in advance to avoid wasting time sitting in train stations for the next train. If I buy in advance and miss the departure, am I out of luck, or is there some provision to let me on the next train?</i>
Whether the reserved seats sell out depends a lot on when you are taking the train. See the Italian rail site http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html for info and rules. If this is your first time training in Italy see the illustrated introduction http://tinyurl.com/eym5b to get up to speed.
Posted by: jeff7479 on Jul 15, 14 at 3:56pm
Is this plan OK, or do the Frecciarossa sell out, making me buy tickets online in advance to avoid wasting time sitting in train stations for the next train. If I buy in advance and miss the departure, am I out of luck, or is there some provision to let me on the next train?</i>
Whether the reserved seats sell out depends a lot on when you are taking the train. See the Italian rail site http://www.fsitaliane.it/homepage_en.html for info and rules. If this is your first time training in Italy see the illustrated introduction http://tinyurl.com/eym5b to get up to speed.
Jul 15th, 2014, 12:36 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
there are so so many trains on those routes that it would be rare for all of them to sell out - worse case scenario would be probably to have to go first class and IMO that has significant benefits, especially for those traveling typically with TOO much luggage.
the regional trains never sell out as there are no reservations possible and with a ticket you just hop on (validate yourself however in cancelling machines on the platform before boarding) - so bus is best to Siena, cheaper and quicker than train - regional trains largely to Pisa.
CircumVesuviana train is a commuter metro type rail line - no reservations possible - just board. There are no trains to Amalfi but the world-famous and scary for some Amalfi Coast buses ply that route very very frequently but can be crowded in season.
Pompeii and Ercolo (Heraculaneum) are stops on the CircumVesuviana line - Sorrento makes a perfect base from which to hop to them - also you can take mini-buses from some places to ascend to the crater of Mt Vesuvius.
Salerno can be reached by Amalfi buses or occasional boats from Sorrento.
The station for Pompeii's ruins is Pompeii Scavi - not to be confused with modern-day Pompeii's Trenitalia station a few kms from the site. That station does have trains to Salerno and Peastum I believe.
For lots of great stuff on Italian trains check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Again just so so many trains on Rome Airport to Termini (no reservations I believe on that shuttle possible) and Rome to Florence and Florence to Naples - I would feel comfy just showing up.
the regional trains never sell out as there are no reservations possible and with a ticket you just hop on (validate yourself however in cancelling machines on the platform before boarding) - so bus is best to Siena, cheaper and quicker than train - regional trains largely to Pisa.
CircumVesuviana train is a commuter metro type rail line - no reservations possible - just board. There are no trains to Amalfi but the world-famous and scary for some Amalfi Coast buses ply that route very very frequently but can be crowded in season.
Pompeii and Ercolo (Heraculaneum) are stops on the CircumVesuviana line - Sorrento makes a perfect base from which to hop to them - also you can take mini-buses from some places to ascend to the crater of Mt Vesuvius.
Salerno can be reached by Amalfi buses or occasional boats from Sorrento.
The station for Pompeii's ruins is Pompeii Scavi - not to be confused with modern-day Pompeii's Trenitalia station a few kms from the site. That station does have trains to Salerno and Peastum I believe.
For lots of great stuff on Italian trains check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Again just so so many trains on Rome Airport to Termini (no reservations I believe on that shuttle possible) and Rome to Florence and Florence to Naples - I would feel comfy just showing up.
Jul 15th, 2014, 12:58 PM
#4
The Freccia tickets come with a seat reservation. The long you wait the more you pay. o answer your question it all depends on the type of service (speed) you want. If you do regionals you probably don't need any reservations and those trains never sell out...just get there early.
You'll pay more money of you wait to but that ticket from Termini to Florence but I would do just that having arrived there in the past and missed my ticketed train and no refund possible.
You'll pay more money of you wait to but that ticket from Termini to Florence but I would do just that having arrived there in the past and missed my ticketed train and no refund possible.
Jul 15th, 2014, 02:11 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are different types of Frecciarossa tickets, very much like airplane tickets. The cheaper ones do not allow changing reservations - if you miss the train you lose your money. The most expensive ones allow repeated changes; the intermediate ones only one change and with limitation. It is all explained in the web site if you reserve on the internet.
Jul 15th, 2014, 05:58 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for all the info. I think I'll just buy at the station when I arrive for departure, and upgrade to 1st class if anything is sold out. I appreciate you all taking the time to fill me in.
Jeff
Jeff
Jul 16th, 2014, 05:37 AM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can reserve trains at any station in Italy - not just in the city's station where you leave from. A full-fare ticket can be changed before the train I believe without problem so book them ASAP once in Italy and then change if want.
Jul 16th, 2014, 07:31 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.italotreno.it/EN/Pages/default.aspx>
and there are also the Italo Trains that compete on some high-speed routes with Trenitalia - they may well be cheaper and you can also buy them as you go along.
and there are also the Italo Trains that compete on some high-speed routes with Trenitalia - they may well be cheaper and you can also buy them as you go along.
Jul 16th, 2014, 07:38 AM
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Money buys you freedom and flexibility. If you're not restricted by budget, you can simply show up and purchase a full-price ticket. In over 30+ years of travel, I've never heard of a train selling out. I suppose it could happen, maybe during one time slot, but I imagine the circumstances would have to be quite unusual.
Full-price tickets are substantially higher than sale fares. I know several people who traveled from Milano Centrale to Venice recently for 9€. First Class at the last minute will cost you 51.50€, Second Class 37.50€. You can save a chunk of change if you're willing to plan and there's time in your schedule.
Full-price tickets are substantially higher than sale fares. I know several people who traveled from Milano Centrale to Venice recently for 9€. First Class at the last minute will cost you 51.50€, Second Class 37.50€. You can save a chunk of change if you're willing to plan and there's time in your schedule.
