Trenitalia- difficulty purchasing online
 

Hi Friends, <b>especially Ira</b>,

We're having difficulty purchasing &quot;smart&quot; tickets on the Trenitalia site. We're budget travelers and found 35 euro/pp fares (one way) from Rome to Paris on the overnight, 6 person couchette.

On some occasions I got a message saying the fare was sold out for the date we need, on other attempts the message we got is something about not being able to connect to the server (which seems to be BS- we seem to connect just fine until it comes time to actually finalize the purchase).

Any suggestions? Considering that through other sites the tix are ~$300- $400, we really want to take advantage of this discount... should we call a travel agent? Is this the correct customer service number to call to book via phone: +39-06-68475475?

Thank you!

Raspberry,

The smart tickets may be sold out. Try to go to the next level which is smart2 tickets. Trenitalia was difficult for me too when trying to purchase tickets. I got the same message over and over again. Luckily for me I was in Rome at the time and was able to ask at the train station. My guess is that the date is sold out for the smart tickets, but smart2 is probably still available. Go to that level and be sure to get a seat reservation. We went from Rome to Vienna on smart2 tickets and were SO glad we had seat reservations. People were standing in the hall all the way from Rome to Venice!

Hi R,

The trenitalia site is very quirky (ie, not reliable).

39-06-68475475 is the number for the Trenitalia call center.

What is your travel date?

((I))

Thanks to you both!

We'll be heading overnight Rome to Paris the night of January 4.

Why not fly??

We are flying (mid-March - scarcely the lowest of low seasons) round trip Paris (CDG) to Rome (FCO) on Air France.

The fare each way is $18 Canadian -- plus tax, of course.

But it still works out to $135 Canadian (ie about $140 USD) round trip!

well, to give you an update:

we still have not been able to book our train tickets. we've tried online, but either the server is unable to connect (right as we're about to purchase- we get so excited thinking it's finally working, then we get that message), OR on random other occasions the inexpensive tickets we need are sold out. we can't easily afford the next tiers up in prices (i'm talking a difference of 35 euro per person and $400 for the two of us).

so we call. and call, and call over and over again. we left a message, trenitalia actually called us back. DH called trenitalia back. finally he gets through and supposedly can't make the purchase his credit card is from here in the US, then on another occasion a call center rep says he can't buy the smart tickets unless we're there at the station.

it's been nothing but a headache, and we're feeling resigned that we're just going to have to go there and pay $400 for the two of us to take the overnight train (6 person couchette).

do you think if we wait until 12/30 when we get to rome that there will be seats left on the train for us? it's my first time abroad, so i have NO concept of supply and demand for these seats.

grazi for reading all the way to the end! :)

Hi R,

For some reason tickets between Italy and France are often not available online.

www.voyages-sncf.com has a special on 2 1cl for 270E (220E for 2cl), but that is still too high.

Check www.whichbudget.com for cheap flights.

Ask your hotel if they can reserve the tickets for you, and you will pick them up when you get to Rome,

or

Ask your hotel to buy the tickets and add it to your bill. (You might have to send them the money in advance, or let them charge it now.)

Hope this helps.

((I))

I too am having difficulty purchasing tickets. For me it is when I am asked what coach # I want? Can I by pass this? I tried entering in a number and that didn't work. I'm wondering also if I even need to worry about it in Winter. We want Eurostar tickets from Rome to Florence for the day.

There are ES trains from Rome to Florence once or twice each and every hour throughout the day. There is no need to purchase tickets for that route before your arrive in Italy.

If you do choose to purchase online, you do not need to select a coach or seat. Trenitalia will assign seats for you. The option to choose a seat/coach is only for when you want to sit near someone who already has a seat assigned.

Thank you Ira!!!

Hi C,

&gt;For me it is when I am asked what coach # I want? Can I by pass this?

You should bypass that. It is only for people who want to sit next to someone who already has a ticket.

You are welcome, R.

((I))