Trenitalia help, please!
 

Help! I have some trip specific Trenitalia questions and I can't seem to get the information I need from the website. Here's the train travel I know we'll have:

11/15/06, Milano - Firenze one way
11/17/06, Firenze - Pisa round trip
11/19/06, Firenze - Venezia (through Bologna) one way
11/23/06, Venezia - Milano one way

Based on my research, Trenitalia is running a winter special on their passes (http://tinyurl.com/pfb4o), so I'm considering a saver pass as there's only 2 of us. I priced trains a few months ago and this seems like a good deal, especially since I would buy a 5 day pass, just in case we want to throw in another day trip.

I've read a lot of the posts regarding Trenitalia and I understand it's easier just to purchase tickets on that day, but what do you think of the pass? Is that a good deal? If yes, which class would be worth the money? I figure the 1st class pass is a better bargain, but obviously more than the 2nd class pass.

Also, how would Eurostar trains work with this pass? I read there's an upgrade fee, but how much is that? There's at least 2 ES trains I'd like to take (Milano - Firenze and Firenze - Bologna) to save some time as the days are so short. How much extra would that be?

Any other advice on trains? This is really the part of our trip I'm most nervous about. Our first experience with train travel a few years ago didn't go so well.... Thanks for any opinions and information you have!

How would a pass be cost effective?

I see that even with the specials and you buying saver passes, 4 day still cost 134€ and 5 day 149€ per person.

Standard fare for fastest trains, including all reservations and fees, are as follows:

Milano-Firenze 28.92€
Firenze-Pisa 5.20€ each way
Firenze-Bologna 13.17€
Bolonga-Venezia 18.33€
Venezie-Milano 20.66€

Total cost: 91.48€, which is much less than any pass you can buy.

Now I can't seem to find it, but I thought I read somewhere the saver pass allowed 2 people to travel on one pass. Is that true?

If it's not, I agree - the pass is no bargain. If you can have 1 pass for 2 people, the cost would be less (183€ vs. 134€) as long as the cost you quoted was per person.

The price for the passes are definitely per person.

The saver pass price is PER PERSON, based on two or more people traveling together. I think the reservation fee for passholders riding EuroStar Italia trains is around E9.

Thanks - that definitely clears things up - the passes are not the way for me, even with the winter special. Thanks for your help!! :)

Saver rail passes have been traditionally priced "per person". It is displayed that way since it is the same price per person for 2 to 5 people traveling together.