zookeeper08

I need help with figuring out our train travel on our upcoming trip to Italy (with one overnight trip up to Bern, Switzerland, and back [staying in a little place - closest station is Siera, Switzerland]).

I arrive in Italy (Malpensa Airport) the 16th, and my 22 year old daughter arrives the 17th. We will be going to Bern, Como, Bergamo, Venice, Modena, Florence, Pisa, Genoa, and back to Bergamo. Yes, and all in a few days...we fly out the 22nd.

I know, much to much to do in such a short time, but we will modify the trip as we go along, I'm sure.

Q: Which type of pass would be best? My daughter suggests point-to-point (she's been living there for 16 months but will be returning home with me -- would she count as a resident of Italy or could I get her a non-resident pass?) but when I add up the numbers based on what little I know, it seems like a pass bought here in the states before I leave may be cheaper? ANY help would be appreciated! Never dealing with eurorail, etc. before I am totally lost and feel like a real fish out of water on this one!

Can you help me know how to do this?

Thanks,

Karen

spillthewine

ttt

suze

I'm no rail pass expert but there are websites where you enter your itinerary and can figure out if a pass will save you money. Hopefully someone will chime in to assist.

Can you even physically ot each of those 8 places in only 5 days travel? That sure doesn't leave much time for sight-seeing for a LOT of time on the trains.

Intrepid1

Input the itinerary at www.railpass.com or www.railsaver.com to check whether or not a pass would save you money.

suze

Well if you take your daughter's advice, it's easy, you just walk into a train station, buy a ticket and get on the train!

Unless a pass saves you tons of money, it wouldn't be worth the trouble to me.

WallyKringen

Do us all a favor, wontcha? After your trip, tell us just how you did it - what time on which day you hopped onto which train, and off, and where you slept? I'm sure I'm not the only one scratching his head about the feasibility of this itinerary in the stated timeframe.

WK

zookeeper08

LOL, yeah, I'm sure you are. I'm not sure how it will work out myself, either. I'm certain when my daughter and I get together next Friday morning we will have a lot of talking to do -- what MUST we see, what can we cut, etc. In the meantime, I have a friend who lives in Switzerland (where we will be staying one night) who has offered to take us on a tour of Switzerland...like I have extra time! I'm wishing more and more that I could double the length of my trip...

You guys have been so helpful. May I ask another question? As for travel guides, is the Fodor's one best? Are there others you'd suggest? What about Rick Steves - does he know what he's talking about? Or that other travel show on cable that is about Italy lately? Or should I forget all those and just do my own research on the web?

Thanks,

Karen

enzian

Hi Karen---I think the Rick Steves guide is very good on things like trains (schedules, routes, and passes vs tickets), other transport options, telephones, reserving in advance for museums, etc. His food and lodging options tend to be "safe" (as opposed to adventurous, not dangerous!) and inexpensive to moderate in price. (In other words, we don't use his restaurant recommendations). You should also do your own research on the internet (it's fun). For train schedules, it's a good idea to look at them and get an idea of what you're in for if you try to hit all those places. I like the German train site www.bahn.de but there is an Italian one too; I think it's www.trenitalia.it (somebody correct me if I'm wrong).

Since you aren't sure where of all those places you will be going, it's hard to know if a pass will be any benefit to you. It will, however, save you time standing in line to buy tickets.

You say you are spending one night in Switzerland, but mention both Bern and "Siera". Do you mean Sierre? That is not close to Bern. For both, you would take the train from Milano Centrale to Brig; Sierre is 30 minutes to the west from there, and Bern is 90 minutes to the north.

zookeeper08

Hey, All,

I am back from my trip and working on a report of it...I know a lot of you wondered how on earth we would manage this trip...I have details.

Will send asap.

Karen