Hi M,

When you buy your tickets, the computer puts you in the best seats available, usually. (One time they split up a group of four and my wife and I, but we worked it out.)

Your ticket has a train number, a carriage number and a seat number.

All of the carriages have a 1 or 2 (1cl and 2cl) and a number.

There is usually a board along the track showing where each of the carriages is. It is usually correct.

My husband and I are under 26. Do we get a discount on trenitalia.com because of this? It looks like you have to have some special card kind of "Cartaviaggio" card along with your ticket and student ID. What is this Cartaviaggio card and does it cost money?

Maria - I have also been searching for tickets online and I am pretty sure you CAN purchase them online, but CANNOT receive them outside of Italy. You have to bring your printed email confirmation with your booking code (on the email) and enter it into a machine at the station. Does this sound right???

Yes, what you said about the tickets sounds correct.

I do know that you cannot purchase a cartaviaggio unless you ive in Italy.

I don't believe your age gets you any special discounts on point to point tickets. I think the only discount you could get because of your age is if you purchase a pass.