Newman5th

My husband and I will be traveling in Italy toward the end of June. We'll travel by train from Rome to Florence, Florence to Venice, Venice back to Rome.

From what I understand, we can buy a rail pass but this does not reserve seats. How necessary is it to reserve seats? With it being June, a busy month I'd imagine, would we want to go on and do that?

How far in advance does this need to be done?

faperry

If the specific train requires a reservations, book it.On your train schedule, it should tell you if you have to make a reservation. Usually it's not that much but it's better than messing up your travel plans.

ellenem

For your itinerary, you will probably not gain anything in buying a rail "pass." Just buy point-to-point tickets since you are making so few trips. Even first class seats should be cheaper than a pass, and second class seats on an ES train are perfectly comfortable.

If you are traveling on a Friday or Sunday, reservations a few days ahead are recommended. You probably don't need to reserve until you reach Italy. You are traveling on popular routes and there are frequent--almost hourly--departures for these routes. A ticket on an ES train, the fastest type, automatically includes a reserved seat.

If you know all your travel plans, you can buy all your tickets for all your trips when you purchase your first tickets.

Singletail

If you decide to use Eurostar trains between these cities be aware that the seat reservation comes along with the ticket. On other services (Intercity or Eurocity, etc) the seat reservations are extra.
I'm a big fan of passes but for your itinerary and for just getting from Point A to Point B a pass would be un-economical; point to poit tickets make much more economic sense.

First Class on Eurostar trains generally has fewer seats in the same amount of space that has more seats in Second Class. First Class MAY be less crowded than Second (but not always). Only you can decide if these "issues" are worth the extra money.

TexasAggie

I second the above post. Unless you are a student (under 26 years of age), you will spend much more on the pass than point to point tickets. 2nd class on a ES train still comes with reservations and is very nice. First class on an IC train is worth the extra money. Train tickets from city to city are very easy to buy from automated machines... just press the british flag symbol and all the prompts appear in English

ira

Hi Newman,

A railpass is more expensive than point-to-point tickets for travel on ES* trains (recommended) for your itinerary.

You will have to pay a supplement for the reservation on the ES* trains if you have a railpass.

Schedules and prices are at www.trenitalia.com/en.

You can purchase tickets online if you want to practice your Italian.

Trenitalia Tickets Online
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34465647

Otium

I have tried for days at different times at www.trenitlia.com, to buy tickets for the train in Italy and keep getting the response that these are not avaiable on-line. Kewl. Now the question is, can I purchase advance tickets at the Termini in Rome for days in the future: Rome to Naples; Naples to Rome TE; and Rome TE to Fumicino?

TexasAggie

Yes you can purchase advance tickets for any destination to destination within Italy from the Termini station. The automated machines are very easy to navigate and they accept credit cards

ira

Hi Otium,

Yes, you can purchase all of your tickets at FCO when you buy your ticket to Rome TE.

Have you been using the www.trenitalia.com site in English? If so, it doesn't work. You have to use the Italian language option.

Ivy

The other option, albeit a more expensive one, is raileurope.com I know they charge a premium for service but they are reliable, their site is all in english and they always deliver on time. I prefer using them and paying the premium for the convenience. But it's a personal choice.

Otium

Thank all of you so much. I love this site. I shall wait until I get to Rome Termini, since we are staying just a few blocks from it, and buy all the tickets there. My spouse wants be sure she has a relaxing ride to our hotel so we are taking a limo service to into Rome.

Ira, I did try the Italian version on trenitalia.com and kept getting a message that I read as "These can not be purchased on-line." My Italian is less than adequate, so I could be wrong about what it said. But, I thought it was funny that all was in Italian exept "on-line."

ira

Hi Otium,

Are you trying to purchase tickets longer tan 60 days in advance?

"on-line" and "home" have become pretty much universal.

Otium

Ira, I am trying to buy tickets for May 30th and June 3rd of 2004.