TrenItalia booking
Jun 10th, 2011 | 05:05 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 7
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TrenItalia booking
Hi everyone,
I'm thinking of heading to Italy and I've found out that TrenItalia organises the trains there but I have no experience of travelling or booking train tickets in Italy.
I'm doing a tour there that ends in Venice but I fly out of Rome Fiumicino and I was wondering if you guys could tell me how you would book a train from Venice to Rome airport (Fiumicino) IN FIRST CLASS FLEXIBLE. I'm going to do the ticketless option, will I be able to choose a seat doing this? If not how will I find out what seat and carriage I am in and will I be able to choose a window or aisle seat? Also are there any luggage limits that I need to know about? I've seen on the website that even on the english option some things are still in Italian. When I get my ticket will it be in English or Italian? If it is in Italian can someone please tell me what the ticket will say.
I know that there are two train stations in Venice and that there is a time in red. What is the difference between the two train stations and what time is the boarding?
Thanks so much and sorry for asking so many questions but I don't want to get scammed and I have absolutely no idea about taking trains in Europe.
I'm thinking of heading to Italy and I've found out that TrenItalia organises the trains there but I have no experience of travelling or booking train tickets in Italy.
I'm doing a tour there that ends in Venice but I fly out of Rome Fiumicino and I was wondering if you guys could tell me how you would book a train from Venice to Rome airport (Fiumicino) IN FIRST CLASS FLEXIBLE. I'm going to do the ticketless option, will I be able to choose a seat doing this? If not how will I find out what seat and carriage I am in and will I be able to choose a window or aisle seat? Also are there any luggage limits that I need to know about? I've seen on the website that even on the english option some things are still in Italian. When I get my ticket will it be in English or Italian? If it is in Italian can someone please tell me what the ticket will say.
I know that there are two train stations in Venice and that there is a time in red. What is the difference between the two train stations and what time is the boarding?
Thanks so much and sorry for asking so many questions but I don't want to get scammed and I have absolutely no idea about taking trains in Europe.
Jun 10th, 2011 | 08:08 PM
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,266
Likes: 0
Many of your questions are answered in the articles at this site:
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm
The site includes images of tickets and explains the Italian words.
The luggage limits are what you can carry.
You will want to travel from Venice SL (Santa Lucia) which is the station on the island. (Venice Mestre is on the mainland.) You will be able to board just a few minutes before your departure time.
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/index.htm
The site includes images of tickets and explains the Italian words.
The luggage limits are what you can carry.
You will want to travel from Venice SL (Santa Lucia) which is the station on the island. (Venice Mestre is on the mainland.) You will be able to board just a few minutes before your departure time.
Jun 10th, 2011 | 08:26 PM
#3
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
Use Trenitalia to book your tickets, but you need to book Venice/Rome using the fast train section of the website as you will get a seat diagram and can click on the seat you want (like when you select airline seats online).
http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/cms...003f16f90aRCRD
For the Rome/FCO ticket, just buy it when you get to Rome. This train has no 1st/2nd class or reserved seats.
http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/cms...003f16f90aRCRD
For the Rome/FCO ticket, just buy it when you get to Rome. This train has no 1st/2nd class or reserved seats.
Jun 10th, 2011 | 10:49 PM
#7
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,546
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If you enter in wwww.trenitalia.com (selec English) the following info :
from Venice S.Lucia
to Roma Aeroporto Fiumicino
then you will see that you have to change the train in Roma Termini. So no need for a taxi.
You buy the ticket from Venice S.Lucia to Roma Aeroporto Fiumicino, at Roma Termini just change the train and continue with this train till airport.
from Venice S.Lucia
to Roma Aeroporto Fiumicino
then you will see that you have to change the train in Roma Termini. So no need for a taxi.
You buy the ticket from Venice S.Lucia to Roma Aeroporto Fiumicino, at Roma Termini just change the train and continue with this train till airport.
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Jun 11th, 2011 | 03:31 AM
#8
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,332
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You buy the ticket from Venice S.Lucia to Roma Aeroporto Fiumicino, at Venice.
At Rome Termini just change the train and continue with this train till airport. Give yourself about 20min to change trains.
Really though, since you are booking a 1st class flexible fare I don't think there's any advantage to buying now. There are trains every hour all day long and they don't sell out.
You are paying a 25% premium for the flexible fare when there's really no need.
Once you know your planned departure time you could simply walk up to the train station and buy a ticket for the same or lower price.
At Rome Termini just change the train and continue with this train till airport. Give yourself about 20min to change trains.
Really though, since you are booking a 1st class flexible fare I don't think there's any advantage to buying now. There are trains every hour all day long and they don't sell out.
You are paying a 25% premium for the flexible fare when there's really no need.
Once you know your planned departure time you could simply walk up to the train station and buy a ticket for the same or lower price.
Jun 11th, 2011 | 04:27 AM
#9
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 37,526
Likes: 14
>>>>Which of the 3 stations in Rome is the airport Fiumicino train station?<<<<
Yes, you have to get off the train in Rome and change to the Leonardo Express train to the airport. The Rome airport is not in Rome, it's in Fiumicino.
You do not want to book Venice/airport as you will not get any discounts since the Rome/airport train is a slow R train and doesn't ever have a discount. When you combine a slow train with a fast train on a ticket, Trenitalia won't offer any of the discounts. I see mini fares for a random date in Sept. for 73€ 1st cl and 37€ 2nd cl for Venice/Rome. Trenitalia
You need to select Venice/Rome on the link I gave above for the AV fast trains IF you want to select exact seats, but you can't book more than 4 months in advance (currently through 10/8). You also can't enter the airport as your destination, you must enter Roma Termini. If you attempt to book on the regular Trenitalia link, you will not get the seat diagram to select seats. If you want to see how the seat diagram function works, select a random date/train, click select seat and purchase without registration. You can select any seat in green.
You just buy the Rome/FCO ticket when you get to Termini from one of the ticket machines. It's similar to a subway/commuter train.
>>>IN FIRST CLASS FLEXIBLE.<<<
>>>You are paying a 25% premium for the flexible fare when there's really no need.<<<
I agree with J62. You are overpaying. Even 1st class isn't necessary on the fast AV trains as 2nd is fine. If you want a flexible ticket, don't buy in advance at all. Just buy it when you are ready to depart and that way you don't have to pay the extra 25%.
>>>I know that there are two train stations in Venice and that there is a time in red.<<<
The red means the train is stopping there.
I'm wondering why you are going from Venice directly to the airport. If you have a flight that day, it's very risky to depend on public transport to get you there as there could be strikes, late trains, etc.
Yes, you have to get off the train in Rome and change to the Leonardo Express train to the airport. The Rome airport is not in Rome, it's in Fiumicino.
You do not want to book Venice/airport as you will not get any discounts since the Rome/airport train is a slow R train and doesn't ever have a discount. When you combine a slow train with a fast train on a ticket, Trenitalia won't offer any of the discounts. I see mini fares for a random date in Sept. for 73€ 1st cl and 37€ 2nd cl for Venice/Rome. Trenitalia
You need to select Venice/Rome on the link I gave above for the AV fast trains IF you want to select exact seats, but you can't book more than 4 months in advance (currently through 10/8). You also can't enter the airport as your destination, you must enter Roma Termini. If you attempt to book on the regular Trenitalia link, you will not get the seat diagram to select seats. If you want to see how the seat diagram function works, select a random date/train, click select seat and purchase without registration. You can select any seat in green.
You just buy the Rome/FCO ticket when you get to Termini from one of the ticket machines. It's similar to a subway/commuter train.
>>>IN FIRST CLASS FLEXIBLE.<<<
>>>You are paying a 25% premium for the flexible fare when there's really no need.<<<
I agree with J62. You are overpaying. Even 1st class isn't necessary on the fast AV trains as 2nd is fine. If you want a flexible ticket, don't buy in advance at all. Just buy it when you are ready to depart and that way you don't have to pay the extra 25%.
>>>I know that there are two train stations in Venice and that there is a time in red.<<<
The red means the train is stopping there.
I'm wondering why you are going from Venice directly to the airport. If you have a flight that day, it's very risky to depend on public transport to get you there as there could be strikes, late trains, etc.
Jun 11th, 2011 | 04:39 PM
#10
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 7
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@kybourbon thanks, Im leaving out of Rome because it is just so much cheaper than flying directly out of Venice at least if you book with Qantas it is.
By the way are Italian trains reliable and do they keep to schedule like the Deutsche Bahn in Germany? How long should I give myself at Rome Termini before changing trains to the airport train?
You mentioned strikes, do these occur very often?
Thanks again guys you've really helped
By the way are Italian trains reliable and do they keep to schedule like the Deutsche Bahn in Germany? How long should I give myself at Rome Termini before changing trains to the airport train?
You mentioned strikes, do these occur very often?
Thanks again guys you've really helped
Jun 11th, 2011 | 04:45 PM
#12
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,266
Likes: 0
Italian trains are relatively reliable, but there's always a chance that something might happen.
The Leonardo Express to FCO runs every 30 minutes. It will probably take 10-15 minutes to find you way from the arrival track to the Leonardo Express track.
"You mentioned strikes, do these occur very often?"
Often enough, though they are usually announced well ahead. Strikes last for a set period of time, anything from 4-24 hours. I, too, would not want to depend on all to go well on a train ride from Venice to Rome to FCO on the same day before catching a flight. I'd probably travel to Rome the afternoon before to be sure I was within easy reach of the airport.
The Leonardo Express to FCO runs every 30 minutes. It will probably take 10-15 minutes to find you way from the arrival track to the Leonardo Express track.
"You mentioned strikes, do these occur very often?"
Often enough, though they are usually announced well ahead. Strikes last for a set period of time, anything from 4-24 hours. I, too, would not want to depend on all to go well on a train ride from Venice to Rome to FCO on the same day before catching a flight. I'd probably travel to Rome the afternoon before to be sure I was within easy reach of the airport.
