We will be travelling by train in Europe - Italy, Switzerland and Germany -have tried to work out in Australian dollars the price of the tickets and have decided that passes would be more expensive.
However when we arrive in Italy (our first train trip) do we reserve tickets and seats with a travel agent or at the train station?

Normally at the train station, though I suppose that, like in France, you could get them too from a travel agent. But you'd have to pay them a fee, so except if what you're asking for is complicated and you can't figure it out by yourself, I don't think there's a point in doing so.

I always buy at the train station.

I have written down what I want on a piece of paper. About all they need is departure place, date & time; destination, class, and round trip or one way. If you hand that over with a credit card it's amazing how few questions you'll be asked.

I speak basic French and don't have to do this in France. In fact I find purchasing train tickets to be one of the most standardized conversations. It's very rare to have a curve ball thrown at you.

Unlike hotels where the conversation can take bizarre turns. Everything from "this is how the key activates the room electricity" to "the police are blocking the street off tomorrow for a parade" can be thrown at you. I know that's all part of hotel business and necessary, but it can be a bit disconcerting when all you want is a room key and breakfast in the morning.

Avid, in my experience, train travel in Europe is so routine, you can really just purchase your tickets at the counter without any advance planning. Tickets are relatively inexpensive and the trains are, for the most part, fairly efficient. I only wish we had such a system in the US! Best of luck in your travels.

Hi avid,

If you are flying in to FCO, you can purchase all of your tickets within Italy and your train ticket out of Italy at the train station at the airport when you take the express shuttle into Rome.

You might even be able to buy some tickets for travel in other countries.

You can buy your tickets in Germany on line at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

You will have to register, but it is easy.

Thank you to those who replied - I will buy at the station - I have rudimentary Italian so should get by.

Hi avid,

If you go to www.trenitalia.com you can get the train schedules.

I suggest that you write down the trains you want in block capital letters. We found that this makes it much easier.