Trains in Italy
 

I need two train connections next month: Florence to Venice and Naples to Rome. I have searched ItaliaRail and Rail Europe and am finding better connection times and slightly better fares on Rail Europe. Is there any reason that I should not use Rail Europe?

Why not use trenitalia.com? Both the agencies you mention above are resellers. They don't run trains, and they can't really have better connections than the rail system itself.

Neither of the trips you mention require connections. The trains are direct.

Neither are train operators. They are both re-sellers. The difference is in what each chose to display. If you want to see the complete listing, use www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian spelling for city names, Roma Termini/Tiburtina-Napoli Centrale-Fireze S.M.N-Venezzia S. Lucia) for the state railroad and www.italotreno.it for a private rail company running the exactly same route but with less frequency.

Look at their prices and compare to what you found so far.

TY...I did not find either of your options on my search. Love it when we can help each other.

pollyvw: you are very welcome.

What are you using to do a search? When I type "Italy Train" into google.com search box, I get www.trenitalia.com as the first entry and www.italotreno.it as the 11th entry, both on the first page displayed.

www.italiarail.com (reseller with fee) is shown as the 2nd entry and www.trainline.eu (reseller, no fee) as the 3rd entry.

When is your trip? The official schedules and fares are published 120 days in advance. Raileurope usually shows schedules for longer periods, but they're subject to change if the date is beyond 120 days.

As Greg suggests, use Trenitalia or Italotreno. They both operate high-speed trains on these routes; Italo is often cheaper.

As always, the most complete railroad advice is available from www.seat61.com

I agree with bvlenci. Look at both Trenitalia or Italotreno. Their English language sites are:

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

http://www.italotreno.it/en

If your itinerary is clear you can get some great fares in advance including first class. If you are seniors (over 60) you can get a discount (but advance booking may even be less than the senior discount) - however, Italo does not require prior registration for the senior discount (just some ID) whereas the Trenitalia situation is more complex.

My favourite carriage is the Trenitalia Frecciarossa Silenzio where you cannot use your phone and conversation should be kept very quiet.

Also there is a wifi connection on the Frecciarossa trains which allows you to view your actual location (a bit like the map function on aeroplanes) but it also shows the speed you are travelling at. The latest Frecciarossa ETR 1000 can reach a top speed of 400 kph (almost 250 mph). The non-stop train from Milan to Rome (roughly 350 miles) takes only 2 hours 55 minutes!

What fares did you find on RailEurope exactly for which trains and check handling charges from RE - if order is under $399 you may have an order fee I think.

If prices are better there is no reason not to use RE - in fact you can use your c c without foreign exchange fee and if have to cancel refunds would be easier if not going to Italy (but check refund policies for the type of ticket you order).

But do check the various sites folks have given above.

For lots on Italian trains yes www.seat61.com is awesome especially on booking your own tickets online- for general info like 1st v 2nd cl also check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

RE taps into Italotreno site and matches fares pretty much when I checked recently- so could well be cheaper than Trenitalia sometimes but check www.italotreno.com to see if fares are as cheap or even cheaper.

Do any of you understand what the Trenitalia site calls 2X1 fare. I am searching for transportation for 2. Does the 2X1 really mean that two travel for that one price...both over 60 and traveling on Saturday?

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Of...-Special-Offer

What trip are you doing? If long then may 2 discounted tickets could be cheaper than 2x1 at assumingly full fare?

>>> Is there any reason that I should not use Rail Europe?<<<

Whenever you buy from a reseller, you are putting a middle man in between you and the actual company you are buying the product from. These middle men often have their own rules (for making changes/cancelling) in addition to the actual train company rules. They typically tack fees on to the purchase and/or jack up the price with the exchange rates or both.

>>> Is there any reason that I should not use Rail Europe?<<<>

Again check the bottom line - if all told cheaper yes there is no good reason not to use them - but check added fees which often make them higher. Only use if significantly cheaper IMO for reasons kybourbon says.

2x1 is just that: two people travel for the price of one. It's basically a 50% discount, but, as Palenq says, some discounted tickets have an even bigger discount. However, the Trenitalia web site always highlights the best fare you're eligible for.

There are discounts for seniors, but they have to be in Trenitalia's loyalty program, which is only open to Italian residents.

I haven't used Italo at all yet, because it doesn't serve any of the lines that pass near where I live. I know their base prices tend to be lower, and their discounts may be better, too,

2x1 it says no available on Regional trains (which are dirt-cheap anyway) but if you want to go for the cheapest possible price take regional trains - if you are not in a hurry as they are slower but only about an hour on Naples-Rome and they are literally dirt-cheap and you can take any regional train that day with a valid ticket I believe -no seat reservations even possible - ultimate flexibility -just head to station and buy ticket and hop on next one.

2x1 fares are a great deal.

The slower regional trains are subject to delays, are often uncomfortable and lack usable toilets. Giving up an hour or two of your sightseeing tone to save a few bucks is a false economy. As is spending hours of your time trying to figure out the Trenitalia webstie if using Raileurope is simpler, Yes, you pay for that service. Decide if it's worth it to you.

>>> I know their base prices tend to be lower, and their discounts may be better, too,<<<

They used to only be cheaper by 1€, but now you can find about a 10€ difference at times. They currently have a 50% off on Saturday so you wouldn't have to do 2 for 1 like on Trenitalia. Even though most of Italo's trains are newer, I don't care for their 2nd class product compared to Trenitalia's.

if using Raileurope is simpler, Yes, you pay for that service. Decide if it's worth it to you.>

Again RE seems to match italotreno.com prices when I checked last year - are you sure it has changed or are you just saying that about RE as many do without checking?

I'm saying something different. Especially if people are self-employed, spending hours comparing train fare prices on websites they don't understand is already wasting money. If using RailEurope is time efficient, don't be deterred by the supposed wisdom that if you're paying a middleman you're wasting money. Depends on personal circumstances. There are dozens of things in my life I pay other people to do because it's cheaper than me stopping what I am doing to try to figure out the cheapest way to do it, especially if in the end all I am saving is $12.

OK - I agree. Seems trains fares are something weird in that folks who go great lengths to save a few bucks and for novice users of often fickle European train sites spend hours doing so.

Bookmarking

<i> The slower regional trains are subject to delays, are often uncomfortable and lack usable toilets. </i>

On many routes regional trains are the only trains. Some of them travel very long distances, such as the train from Ancona to Rome. The longer-distance regional trains are quite different from the commuter lines that travel near the larger cities. A 4-hour train ride would obviously be impossible without working toilets.

I travel often on the regional trains to Rome from Le Marche, because there aren't many other choices. The regional trains on that route are not bad at all, with comfortable seats, air conditioning in the summer, and decent toilets. The only problem is that they take longer than the only Frecciabianca train, and the few Intercity, trains on the route.

Even on routes which have mostly high-speed trains, many people have to use the regional trains, because they're the only ones that stop in the smaller cities.

Never been on a true regional train that did not have toilets - workable too - never seen a train in Europe without a working toilet except yes commuter trains going short distances.

>>>if using Raileurope is simpler, Yes, you pay for that service. Decide if it's worth it to you.>

Again RE seems to match italotreno.com prices when I checked last year - are you sure it has changed or are you just saying that about RE as many do without checking?

OK - I agree. Seems trains fares are something weird in that folks who go great lengths to save a few bucks and for novice users of often fickle European train sites spend hours doing so.<<<

I haven't compared RE to Italo much, but for Trenitalia, RE just flat out makes stuff up and always has (they used to make up what the trains were called and now they make up names for the types of classes so you might not be getting what you think you are). You typically can't select your seats on the resellers either.

>>>The regional trains on that route are not bad at all, with comfortable seats, air conditioning in the summer, and decent toilets.<<<

I've been on some nicer regional trains also, but they had stairs inside the train which I find odd for newer trains. A train I took from Pompei (Trenitalia line, not Circumvesuviana) south a few years ago was a new regional with a very large, modern, wheelchair accessible bathroom. I also ended up on quite a few ratty old ones last trip.

ky,

Yes, for the 3rd tme, I am saying if somebody finds the RE website easier to use & locates tickets they need at a price they can afford, just buy them. All the effort to find marginally cheaper fares on Italo isn't worth it.

In my experience only Freccia trains in Italy reliably have usable clean toilet. Not even IC trains are guaranteed to have them. Regional trains have locked doors, out of service facilities, filthy ones, lacking toilet paper, water. The day I don't feel a need to travel Italy's regional and IC trains without packing my own toilet paper, I'll post. Lack of air con, long delays on many regional lines are standard (waiing for IC trains to pass), are standard experiences. There are some nice new regional trains. There are still many in service on many lines that are rattletraps running behind schedule several times a week.

Every place the OP wants to go is connected by fast train. Unless they truly can't afford, I recommend they book the fast train because they will have a nicer train trip and have more time to enjoy their destinations.

are you sure it has changed or are you just saying that about RE as many do without checking?>

when checking once last spring - once but many trains RE had Venice to Rome $23 tickets galore when Trenitalia had mainly more expensive tickets - but RE does have a $15 or so handling fee on orders under $399 - probably best for most to go to www.italotreno.com and book direct. Trenitalia yes RE was higher on their trains.

So I'll and you'll have to check to see what today's story is. But RE is not IME always more expensive but often is - depends on country and product.

Just did quick check Nov 18 2017- single one-way

Rome-Venice

Italo- 45 euros best fare on lots of trains
RE - $54 best fare but only 1 train several others $64 and one at $27 but on slower train taking 5.25 hours.

trenitalia.com cheapest fast trains 50 euros - quick search but RE not out of ball park especially vs Trenitalia.

And I errored in previous post Venice to Florence that was $23 not Rome.

So again just go to www.italotreno.com or trenitalia.com - always been my advice unless RE is cheaper but if for some reason can't get to work...

I fully agree with PalenQ - go directly to the sites of Trenitalia and Italo.

The English versions are:

http://www.italotreno.it/en

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

For longer trips I prefer Trentalia beacause the seats are more comfortable and they have something called Business Silenzio where phones should not be used and conversation should be quiet.

However, Italo often offers better fares and it is easier to book senior discounts for those not resident in Italy.

I find it offensive that RailEurope can charge a minimum of $18 per ticket. I had a look at their site and there is no option to pay in Euro which indicates that it is designed exclusively for the US market - exorbitant commission and poor exchange rate.

A little extra as PalenQ and I suggest can save you a lot.

I find it offensive that RailEurope can charge a minimum of $18 per ticket.>

I believe that is $18 charge per order -if $400 or more no handling fee. But yes one ticket would be $18 - same as ten would be.

But again no need to use RailEurope unless for some weird reason you can't get either site to work.

there is no option to pay in Euro which indicates that it is designed exclusively for the US market - exorbitant commission and poor exchange rate.>

Actually paying in $ for an American is no minus but if your c c charges foreign transaction fees a minus - like comparing prices thru Italian sites in euros to RE or others in $'s - if you are charged not uncommon 3 % card foreign transaction fee then the euro prices would be 3% higher.

But it's a moot point because RE's $18 order fee means they would rarely be as cheap or cheaper.

Again only reason to us RE is you just can't get Italian sites to work - very unlikely as per many reports here.