bridgitte

We are staying in a villa in Cevoli from August 6-20th (near Pisa) and are flying into Pisa or Florence - whichever is better - from UK. We would also like to visit Rome and Venice. How do we do this? Have spent hrs researching trains and still don't understand the websites! Also it appears you cannot book months in advance?
I was thinking?
a) train Pisa to Venice
b) train Venice to Rome
c) train Rome to Pisa

Is there a better way of doing this? We only have 4 days to visit Rome and Venice.

Thks in advance for your help.

Intrepid1

I assume you have been to the Trenitalia website to look up schedules www.trenitalia.com and used the "English" version...is this true?

You generally cannot book trains or seat reservations more than 60 days ahead.

The fastest route Pisa-Venice will inevitably take you through (with a probable change) Florence

Venice-Rome brings you back through Florence

Rome-Pisa can either be through Florence or direct.

You should be able to buy all these tickets after you arrive in Italy.

Tell us what it is you have trouble understanding please so people here can help.

MaureenB

Or take the easy way out and call the helpful people at BudgetEuropeTravel.com. (The website lists an 800 number.) I've used them a couple of times and they know their stuff. They will sell tickets at face value plus a small S&H fee ($15?) to mail the paper tickets to your home.

bridgitte

Thks so much for prompt response.

Have looked at trenitalia site. Trying to find out approx. costs and help deciding if we should book a car and rather drive or use the train service.

We can fly into either Pisa or Florence and just want to know the best way of visiting Rome and Venice and what a recommended schedule will be?

Would you do what I suggested in my first post?

Thks again
bridgitte

mdtravel

Bridgitte,
On my two previous trips to Italy I have always bought tickets when I get to Italy. So, we fly into Rome and stay there for say five days. On the second day we're in Rome, we go to a travel agent and buy our tickets for Rome to Florence, where we will stay for three days. Upon arrival in Florence, we buy our tickets for Florence to Venice, where we will stay for three days. Upon arrival in Venice we buy our return to Rome.

I think buying in advance would only be needed if you are getting into a city (Rome in my example) and immediately leaving for another city. I'm doing that on my next trip and was considering buying the tickets in advance until a Fodorite shared the cancelation / change policy with me. Now, I think I'll just risk it and buy the tickets when I get to Rome to get to Naples.

One thing I did always do was jot down all of the train times from Rome to Florence, Florence to Venice, and Venice to Rome that worked for me so when I went to the travel agent I knew exactly what to ask for and even wrote it out in Italian (don't speak it) on a card to give them.

In looking at trenitalia.it it looks like Pisa to Venice will require a change in Florence. Venice to Rome you'll be able to use a direct EuroStar, and Rome back to Pisa will take you through Florence again.

Does that make sense?

Intrepid1

If it were me I would certainly use the train services as opposed to renting a car especially if i wanted simply to get from one city to another which with your timeframe seems like what the goal is.

You cannot do anything but park a car in Venice and a lot of people don't like to drive anywhere within Rome.

I would also suggest when you are comparing the two means of transportation to include all the "costs" not only the monetary ones such as gasoline, insurance, parking fees, etc., but also TIME.

There is no way you could drive from Venice to Rome in the same amount of time it would take you to get to the center of the city by Eurostar.

mdtravel

One more, you say you only have four days to visit Venice and Rome. Are you aware that these cities are cross country from each other?

Depending on how much time you have and how badly you want to include Pisa, I would suggest flying into Florence. That would allow you to make Pisa a side trip without having to pass through Florence to get to your home base. You can take a bus or regional train to Pisa from Florence.

If this were me (opinion only) I'd not include Pisa on my first trip unless you are planning on spending a lot of time in the Tuscan region. Florence will give you much to see and from what I've read (never been there myself) Lucca is a better side trip...aside from the leaning tower.

mdtravel

Last one...do not drive this route. You'll certainly waste all of your time driving and parking and getting stressed. A car is fairly worthless in Tuscany, Rome and Venice.

bridgitte

Thks so much for all replies - much appreciated and I now have a much better understanding.
BudgetTravelEurope was very informative too.

bridgitte

nospam

Train, train, train. As for the cities being on opposite sides of the country, well, by train it will take approximately 3 hours. Here are some hints:
1. Train from Pisa to Rome. Either transfer in Florence to a Eurostar (total time approx 3hrs 11 minutes) OR take an Intercity Plus train (direct, no transfer, total time approx 3hrs 15 minutes).
2. Train from Rome to Venice. Take a direct Eurostar (no transfers, total time approx 4 hours, 45 minutes).
3. Train from Venice to Pisa. You will have to transfer from your Eurostar train (Venice to Florence) and take a regional train from Florence to Pisa (total time approx 4 hours).
If you have the chance, you might want to fly into and out of Florence, as it will cut your return train time from Venice by 1hr 30 minutes (no transfer in Florence required!).
You might want to pick EITHER Rome OR Venice, instead of both, as you can see that you will spend a good 6 hours in transit (to, from, and on the train itself). My suggestion would be to go to Rome, as you can maximize your vacation time actually seeing the city and minimize your time in transit.
Cheers!

mdtravel

How many days do you have and what do you feel strongly about seeing?