Train Travel In Italy: Trenitalia or Italo
 

Four family members need one set of point to point tickets one way from Rome to Venice.

I have been becoming familiar with both of the above train schedule sites.

Initially, it seems to me that the Italo site is much easier to navigate.

Can I have opinions. And picking random dates about 90 days out, the prices are comparable.

Would anyone like to give their 2 cents on which might be better or easier to use.?

I have traveled on both, though not on that route. Not a huge difference IMO; sometimes Italo leaves/arrives in a different part of a station, so check that out just in case. I'm not a stresser about those kind of things so I'd just pick the best schedule/price for your group.

Thanks Leely2.
I am going to probably go with Italo since price seems the same and tickets can be printed at home. Although maybe that is what can be done on the other also.

I have read so many times, but not checked recently, where the Trenitalia site is so tempermental that I want to make this as easy as possible.

You don't even need to print the Italo tickets. Show the ticket on your smartphone. All they need is the number.

Italo routinely has sales. If you follow them on twitter you'll get announcements basically every week.

You don't need to print the Trenitalia tickets either. Show them on your smartphone.

You can also follow Trenitalia sales offers on Twitter @LeFrecce or @FSNews, and get real time news about possible train delays or disruptions, as well as other news.

Another plus for Italo is that if you are over 60 you can get the Senior (over 60) discount. You prove your age if asked by showing a personal ID. With Trenitalia you have to register and the process is not as easy, especially for foreigners.

Trenitalia tickets can also be printed at home. Or kept as email on a device.

Don't know about over 60 discounts. Trenitalia typically has 2x1 deals and family pricing, discounts for traveling on weekends, and Italo might have those also so look for them if you are traveling in a group.

Since it was so easy to do , I registered my email for Italo this week and already I have received an email with a sale that is until November 30th.

Also, when checking arbitrary dates, the Senior fare for me (yes over 60) was less expensive in their Prima class then in the Smart class. A really good price considering the level of service in that class.

We will not be traveling on any of the discount Italo days.

Thanks. all of you.

If all things are equal (schedules, fares), I pick Italo over Trenitalia because the wifi onboard is free on Italo. Not that I mind paying 1 euro for wifi on Trenitalia, but I don't want to tap my credit card number into my device on an unsecured system, so I don't use it on Trenitalia.

As far as I remember, Wifi on Italo is unlocked with the ticket number, Wifi on Trenitalia needs a registration number; the number is sent by SMS, if you have an Italian SIM registration should be free.

And if you don't, it isn't.

Well. After all of these good suggestions I feel a lot better about buying tickets on line. I will print up paper tickets in case my phone gets temperamental.

I have only purchased tickets in Italy two or three times. And the tickets were purchased at the last minute.

The tickets from Rome to Venice are considerably more than my previous purchases and for four of us. The train journey is quite a lot longer than the last ones, so I would like to be comfortable.

check www.seat61.com for insights. Most folks here say Italo is just as good as Trenitalia trains - though trains may be older some say.

Book the cheapest IMO and easiest to use.

check first-class too for discounted tickets - one Italian train expert said recently she found 1st class just 5 euros more than the cheapest available 2nd cl tickets - usually not so but check and if just a bit more go first class- especially nice for folks with lots of luggage. You also get a comp drink and pastry in first class.

In addition to www.seat61.com for general info on Italian trains check www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com for general info.

when I signed up it asked what country I was from and there were only three choices... Italy, San Marino and one I forget. Do I just choose Italy?

((H))

bookmarking

>>>when I signed up it asked what country I was from and there were only three choices... Italy, San Marino and one I forget. Do I just choose Italy?<<<

For Italo, I've read some people have just used one of their hotel addresses in Italy. YMMV.

On Trenitalia, scroll down the country list until you get to Stati Uniti d'America.