kkatiejo

Ok- I have been reading others posts in hopes of finding an answer to my dilema, but I am still confused. My daughter, who is currently studying in Austria, my niece, and I will be enjoying a very rushed tour of Italy in April.

We plan to arrive in Venice early on the 23rd (that is if we get the train schedule figured out). We are short on time and will be spending the nights of the 25th and 26th in Cinque Terra. My questions are as follows: if we wanted to leave Venice around 2pm on the 24th and head to either Florence or Siena, first- which would you recommend, based on the fact we need to be in CInque Terra sometime on the 25th; and second, how you work the trenitalia website? Is there a way to look at locations and departure times to pick from? When I put in from Venice to Florence it says invalid departure and arrival, which I assume is because there are several stops in those areas, but I don't know how to figure out where they are. Since my daughter is a student she would ride 2nd class so we would prefer to just ride all together in 2nd class. Is it safe to assume that there would not be sold out tickets as it is during the week and not peek season? Can someone just give me a price on a ticket from Venice to Siena purchased last minute and one purchased in advance?

Also, my brother says we should just rent a car and drive as it will save a lot of time. I'm not sure I want to mess with finding a place for the car to stay as I have struggled enough finding a place for US to stay! Ha, ha!

Any suggestions would be appreciated! ALso, if you have suggestions on a place to stay in Florence or Siena would be great! Thanks so much and I can't wait to get to Europe-it will be my first time!

jent103

First, a potentially basic question: Are you using the Italian names of the cities (Venezia and Firenze)? When I use Venice and Florence, I get the errors you mention. Even the English page requires Italian city names.

A car is not much use in Cinque Terre.

genhassall

Hi,

I'm going in the reverse direction, but I'll let you know what I'm planning - i've also run this past a travel agent who agrees its a good way to go ( vetted by pros! haha).

We are leaving Cinque Terre from Rio Maggiore and getting the ten minute train to La Spezia ( cheap as chips ) and then getting a train from La Spezia to Florence which is around $20ish for under 26 yr olds and $27 for adults in best second class. It only takes an hour and a half!

Then from Florence, we are going to Verona instead of Venice, to stay there. This is because we wanted to see Verona, and also were keen to see Venice but I've been before and as the island essentially closes down at night, you have to ferry back to the mainland to your hotel at night anyway. It's not a far train ride from Verona straight into the island part of Venice, so that is easier for us and we get to see another place. Florence - Verona is 1.5 hours and $40-$50.

I just checked on raileurope.com.au though and it says the trip from Venice direct to Florence is $40-$50 and about 2 hours.

A roundabout answer, but I'd recommend Florence simply because I think as its bigger it might be better connected by more frequent trains etc, for me it just seems easier than Siena. I have been to Florence, and read about Siena and my impression is that Siena has great medieval history and Florence has more of a renaissance focus, so thats something to think about too!

pctraveler

Take a look at this:
Venezia S. Lucia
14:25 Firenze S. M. Novella
16:30 02:05
FRECCIARGENTO 9435
Price starting from 29. 00 €

IE, you can leave Venice (the S. Lucia station) at 2:25 and arrive in Florence (the Santa Maria Novella [main] station) at 4:30PM on the "fast train " #9435.

We have taken this trip several times and it works well. Then when you want to go to the C.T., buy a ticket at SMN again and as I recall, you have to change trains in Pisa. I believe the correct C.T. town is Monterossa (sp?) but someone will be able to correct me. Good luck!

kybourbon

>>>and then getting a train from La Spezia to Florence which is around $20ish for under 26 yr olds and $27 for adults in best second class. It only takes an hour and a half!<<<

I don't know where your travel agent got that info, but it's not accurate. There is no discount on Trenitalia for under 26 years old (residents of Italy do have some discounts, but not available for tourists). Price is the same whether you are 18 or 50. Price ranges from 12€-22€ depending on type of train and require a connection. Most are slow regional trains for 12€ and only have one class so there is no class choice.

>>>I just checked on raileurope.com.au though and it says the trip from Venice direct to Florence is $40-$50 and about 2 hours.<<<

Never use RailEurope to check trains or prices (especially for Italy). They are a reseller. They don't show all trains and mark-up prices.

>>>Can someone just give me a price on a ticket from Venice to Siena purchased last minute and one purchased in advance?<<<

You would take a fast train from Venice to Florence. Walk-up price is 45€ for a fast AV train on Trenitalia. On Italo, it's 46€ walk-up.

From Florence to Siena, you want to change to the bus (drops you at the historic center - the train doesn't, bus is faster). The bus is about 8€ - 75 minutes. It's around the corner from the Florence train station (right side with your back to the front of the station).

>>>Since my daughter is a student she would ride 2nd class so we would prefer to just ride all together in 2nd class.<<<

What does your daughter being a student have to do with anything? Is she using a 2nd class rail pass or something?

This is a pic of 2nd class on the fast train.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ssainterno.jpg

kkatiejo

Thank you so much for all the help in figuring this out. The pic of the train is great! Looks super nice for 2nd class! Thanks again!