We are traveling by train to Venice and would like some suggestions about which trains to use, whether first class is worthwhile, and are there any special passes, etc. Since we are traveling in mid-October, would it be easier to just get the tickets when we get there?

The one other train trip for us will be from Venice to Milan.

See my previous postings: two types of trains from Rome to Venice; three types of trains from Milan to Venice.

Recommendation: from Florence to Venice, take the Eurostar Italia (ES) in second class

From Venice to Milano, take the Eurostar Italia in second class or the Intercity (IC) in second class.

Buy your tickets locally, unless you're travelling on a Saturday (in which case, see postings on Il Sabato di Trenitalia).

BTW, my "types of train" postings are on 8/12/2004. The posting about Il Sabato di Trenitalia is on 6/01/2004.

GAC gives great Italian train advice. I took the train from Florence to Venice last month, 2nd class Eurostar was fine, cost about €28 for the ticket which I bought the day before using one of the very user-friendly ticket machines in the Florence train station. Trip was under 3 hours.

We used the Eurostar, second class, and found it to be just fine. We normally buy tickets for our onward journey when we arrive in a town and have never had any problems.