Train Travel Tips
Apr 8th, 2011, 02:53 PM
#1
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Train Travel Tips
Hoping for local help. Four of us will travel by train from Rome to Venice on Apr 18. We are on way to Europe now.
1. Can I book online and get e tickets or pick up at train station day of travel? If not must we go to train station in Rome to purchase? Must/should we do this in advance?
2. Any difference between booking between Trenitalia vs RailEurope sites - that is any reason we should use one vs. the other?
3. Is there only one train station in each city? If there are multiple stations, we are moving from Westin Excelsior to Westin Europa if that makes a difference please advise which station to use.
4. We are not experienced train travelers. Can anyone explain difference between first and second class?
5. Bonus. Once at train station in Venice, is it advisable to take water taxi to hotel? Is it easy to get to this taxi?
Appreciate your help!
1. Can I book online and get e tickets or pick up at train station day of travel? If not must we go to train station in Rome to purchase? Must/should we do this in advance?
2. Any difference between booking between Trenitalia vs RailEurope sites - that is any reason we should use one vs. the other?
3. Is there only one train station in each city? If there are multiple stations, we are moving from Westin Excelsior to Westin Europa if that makes a difference please advise which station to use.
4. We are not experienced train travelers. Can anyone explain difference between first and second class?
5. Bonus. Once at train station in Venice, is it advisable to take water taxi to hotel? Is it easy to get to this taxi?
Appreciate your help!
Apr 8th, 2011, 04:03 PM
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Most cities have more than one station. Usually local trains interconnect them.
Second class is fine most of the time , it is almost the same than first in short distances.
I think you can pick up at train stations reserved tickets, but I am not sure. My last experience taking a train in Rome to Florence ,
was as follow, I checked at home which train I preferred, noticed that if bought a week early
could get a good discount. So I bought it that way and got a good discount, also noticed the different prices of different trains between both cities.
One important thing when I got to the Termini in ROme to buy the ticket there were big lines so I bought it in a Travel agency inside the Termini for a small fee. No waiting there.
Later I had to buy other tickets so I bought them not at yhe main Termini but at the train Station in the Trastevere, because I was staying in a hotel at Trastevere, it was perfect bought it directly from the train station booth and no one in line at all.
Another thing you should do if you are traveling at lunch time , and if it is a short trip without restaurant in the train, do as locals do, bring your own lunch.
A tiny deli in Trastevere prepared our delicious lunch, salmon sandwiches etc. Good luck.
In two words read carefully the train web page and you will find all the alternatives.
Second class is fine most of the time , it is almost the same than first in short distances.
I think you can pick up at train stations reserved tickets, but I am not sure. My last experience taking a train in Rome to Florence ,
was as follow, I checked at home which train I preferred, noticed that if bought a week early
could get a good discount. So I bought it that way and got a good discount, also noticed the different prices of different trains between both cities.
One important thing when I got to the Termini in ROme to buy the ticket there were big lines so I bought it in a Travel agency inside the Termini for a small fee. No waiting there.
Later I had to buy other tickets so I bought them not at yhe main Termini but at the train Station in the Trastevere, because I was staying in a hotel at Trastevere, it was perfect bought it directly from the train station booth and no one in line at all.
Another thing you should do if you are traveling at lunch time , and if it is a short trip without restaurant in the train, do as locals do, bring your own lunch.
A tiny deli in Trastevere prepared our delicious lunch, salmon sandwiches etc. Good luck.
In two words read carefully the train web page and you will find all the alternatives.
Apr 8th, 2011, 05:11 PM
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For an illustrated introduction to trains in Europe see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. For schedules and details see http://tinyurl.com/c9jp54.
Apr 8th, 2011, 05:15 PM
#5
>>>Any difference between booking between Trenitalia vs RailEurope sites - that is any reason we should use one vs. the other?<<<
Yes. Trenitalia is the Italian rail company. Raileurope sells passes and some tickets (marked up).
You can purchase on Trenitalia in advance and perhaps snag some discount Mini-fares. Assuming you are flying into Rome's FCO (are you training into the city?), you can get your train tickets for Venice at the station there. Rome has multiple stations, but you will most likely want to depart from Termini.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
Yes. Trenitalia is the Italian rail company. Raileurope sells passes and some tickets (marked up).
You can purchase on Trenitalia in advance and perhaps snag some discount Mini-fares. Assuming you are flying into Rome's FCO (are you training into the city?), you can get your train tickets for Venice at the station there. Rome has multiple stations, but you will most likely want to depart from Termini.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
Apr 8th, 2011, 05:45 PM
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1. Can I book online and get e tickets or pick up at train station day of travel?
>You can do both. If you know the trains you want, you can book them now at Trenitalia and try to receive advance purchase discounts which are available on a limited basis until the day before travel.
If not must we go to train station in Rome to purchase? Must/should we do this in advance? >You can buy at any train station from a ticket window or from easy-to-use machines, or from an authorized travel agent.
3. Is there only one train station in each city?
>For Rome to Venice, you will probably want to travel from Roma Termini to Venezia SL (Santa Lucia)
4. We are not experienced train travelers. Can anyone explain difference between first and second class?
>First class has more room and less people because of the higher fare.
5. Bonus. Once at train station in Venice, is it advisable to take water taxi to hotel? Is it easy to get to this taxi?
>It depends. A water taxi is a private boat that takes just your party directly to where you want to go. It will cost at least 50 euro to take you from the train station directly to your hotel. A vaporetto is a public water bus that charges a per person rate of 6.50 euro per ride and makes stops along the way, and stops close to , but not right at your hotel. Both water taxis and vaporettos stop right in front of the train station. Only you can decide which sounds best for your party.
You can buy a travel card for use on the vaporetto that would give you unlimited vaporetto rides for a set period of time, which would make this much more cost effective. This website offers good discounts for advance purchase of the travel cards:
http://www.veniceconnected.com/
>You can do both. If you know the trains you want, you can book them now at Trenitalia and try to receive advance purchase discounts which are available on a limited basis until the day before travel.
If not must we go to train station in Rome to purchase? Must/should we do this in advance? >You can buy at any train station from a ticket window or from easy-to-use machines, or from an authorized travel agent.
3. Is there only one train station in each city?
>For Rome to Venice, you will probably want to travel from Roma Termini to Venezia SL (Santa Lucia)
4. We are not experienced train travelers. Can anyone explain difference between first and second class?
>First class has more room and less people because of the higher fare.
5. Bonus. Once at train station in Venice, is it advisable to take water taxi to hotel? Is it easy to get to this taxi?
>It depends. A water taxi is a private boat that takes just your party directly to where you want to go. It will cost at least 50 euro to take you from the train station directly to your hotel. A vaporetto is a public water bus that charges a per person rate of 6.50 euro per ride and makes stops along the way, and stops close to , but not right at your hotel. Both water taxis and vaporettos stop right in front of the train station. Only you can decide which sounds best for your party.
You can buy a travel card for use on the vaporetto that would give you unlimited vaporetto rides for a set period of time, which would make this much more cost effective. This website offers good discounts for advance purchase of the travel cards:
http://www.veniceconnected.com/
Apr 8th, 2011, 06:37 PM
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If not must we go to train station in Rome to purchase? Must/should we do this in advance?
Any travel agency that features the Trenitalia logo on its door or window can sell you tickets for any and all trains in Italy (and other places, too).
Many Italians get tickets at these agencies, and they will help you with your choice of trains. You needn't go to the train station unless you want to.
Any travel agency that features the Trenitalia logo on its door or window can sell you tickets for any and all trains in Italy (and other places, too).
Many Italians get tickets at these agencies, and they will help you with your choice of trains. You needn't go to the train station unless you want to.
Apr 8th, 2011, 07:14 PM
#8
Here are some pictures of 1st and 2nd class on the faster trains in Italy. The leaves on the tables flip down for more table space. There is overhead space for luggage or room to slide it in behind your seats because of the way the seats are angled. There is also storage at the end of the cars.
http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Lond...arossa%20train
http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Lond...arossa%20train
Apr 8th, 2011, 09:35 PM
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Either buy your ticket at the station (full price) or book in advance at www.trenitalia.com.
If you pre-book, you'll see cheaper Meno 30 or Mini prices, which will save you 30% or more. But no refunds, no changes to travel plans with a 'Mini'.
Rail Europe is a US agency and subsidiary of SNCF (French railways), so it can only sell the full-price tariff advised by the Italian railways (Trenitalia) to the French, converted to US dollars at a generous rate (to it, not you!) and usually with abooking fee added on top. It can't sell the Mini or Meno 30 discounted prices.
And of course, if you buy online at www.trenitalia.com, there's no fees or surcharges, what you see is what you pay, you get a booking number and simply board the train and quote it on board. Painless!
If you pre-book, you'll see cheaper Meno 30 or Mini prices, which will save you 30% or more. But no refunds, no changes to travel plans with a 'Mini'.
Rail Europe is a US agency and subsidiary of SNCF (French railways), so it can only sell the full-price tariff advised by the Italian railways (Trenitalia) to the French, converted to US dollars at a generous rate (to it, not you!) and usually with abooking fee added on top. It can't sell the Mini or Meno 30 discounted prices.
And of course, if you buy online at www.trenitalia.com, there's no fees or surcharges, what you see is what you pay, you get a booking number and simply board the train and quote it on board. Painless!
Apr 9th, 2011, 05:47 AM
#10
book on trenitalia (its a pain of a web site, but register, log in and keep going). Then go to the station (well just about any station) and pick up your tickets from the machine.
As you approach the train you need to compost your ticket (even though you have a reservation etc) at one of the composting machines.
The train you want is the silver arrow, very clean etc and leaves on time. the seats are numbered, Italians are very disorganised so don't expect them to be able to read their own ticket or the seat number. If you find someone in your seat, just say Scuzi and show them you ticket and point to where the seat number is. Helps if you get on the right carriage though (and yes they do say very clearly). When they move, and they will unless they are Russian say thank you and smile a lot.
Go for it
As you approach the train you need to compost your ticket (even though you have a reservation etc) at one of the composting machines.
The train you want is the silver arrow, very clean etc and leaves on time. the seats are numbered, Italians are very disorganised so don't expect them to be able to read their own ticket or the seat number. If you find someone in your seat, just say Scuzi and show them you ticket and point to where the seat number is. Helps if you get on the right carriage though (and yes they do say very clearly). When they move, and they will unless they are Russian say thank you and smile a lot.
Go for it
Apr 9th, 2011, 06:43 AM
#11
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More information than you will need: www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm.
Apr 9th, 2011, 09:08 AM
#12
Some of the above info is a bit out of date as is quite a bit of the slowtrav link (much of it hasn't been updated since 2005 and is no longer accurate). You can register on Trenitalia before purchase, but you no longer have to register. I assume compost your ticket means validate your ticket. That is not necessary unless you are on the slow R trains that don't have seat reservations. If you have reserved seats, you don't need to validate the ticket.
Apr 9th, 2011, 09:20 AM
#13
I took this train about 6 weeks ago (to Florence rather than Venice). You need to compost (validate) as one of the people in my carriage had not and was castigated by the ticket guy and since it is so easy.....
No you don't have to register but the software seems to be quicker if you do.
No you don't have to register but the software seems to be quicker if you do.
Apr 10th, 2011, 07:59 AM
#16
>>>I took this train about 6 weeks ago (to Florence rather than Venice). You need to compost (validate) as one of the people in my carriage had not and was castigated by the ticket guy and since it is so easy.....<<<<
Tickets sold on Trenitalia for AV, ES, ESCity, IC trains will come with your seat reservation and do not have to be validated as you have purchased a specific seat on a specific train.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
Most tickets for trains listed as R or Regionale Veloc (the slowest trains) need to be validated, but not always as there are some online purchases for the R trains that don't have to be validated. Many people will not have tickets at all when boarding the trains as they have made an online purchase and will just be showing a code (many have the codes on their phone, not a paper print out). When you purchase online, you will be told whether you need to print your ticket at a self service machine. Otherwise, you can just show your code.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
Tickets sold on Trenitalia for AV, ES, ESCity, IC trains will come with your seat reservation and do not have to be validated as you have purchased a specific seat on a specific train.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
Most tickets for trains listed as R or Regionale Veloc (the slowest trains) need to be validated, but not always as there are some online purchases for the R trains that don't have to be validated. Many people will not have tickets at all when boarding the trains as they have made an online purchase and will just be showing a code (many have the codes on their phone, not a paper print out). When you purchase online, you will be told whether you need to print your ticket at a self service machine. Otherwise, you can just show your code.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...003f16f90aRCRD
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