Hello All -

My Honeymoon is coming up in a few weeks, and I have yet to purchase rail passes. I will be in Italy for a month, and using the trains at least 6 or 7 of those days. By that thinking, I will likely want to use the 1st class saver pass to maintain flexibility.

I have consulted these postings for additional info on passes, and learned quite a bit, but remain confused on a few things:

1. If I purchase the 1st class passes, I then need to make a reservation for each trip I take? Is that an additional charge, and if so, would it not be more beneficial just to do point-to-point to avoid hassle and cost?

2. Is it possible to pre-pay for a 2nd class saver ticket? Are reservations needed for those also?

3. For faster trains, do I need to pay extra?

Thanks for your help. This is only my second trip to Italy (and my first with any money!)

Thanks for your help.

Jeff

I believe that all Eurostar trains require reservations and even if you have a railpass you do have to pay a small fee for the reservation. That's the information I got from speaking to a Rail Europe representative.

Point-to-point rail travel is such a good bargain in Italy, it almost takes an itinerary befitting a traveling salesman to make a rail pass advantageous.

But it always makes sense to run down the factual comparison - - at www.railsaver.com

I have made the statement more than once, that if a rail pass benefits you in Italy, maybe you are moving around too much! See where you are more. Move around less.

Whatever your decisions, congratulations on your new life in marriage... and...

Best wishes,

Rex

Eurostar Italia (ESI) trains require a supplement over the railpass, of about $10 in 2nd class, bit more in first class; first class you get a snack and a drink and an Italian newspaper. InterCity (IC) trains don't require reservations or supplements. You can reserve IC trains for about 3 euros.

Hi dut,

I assume that you have gone to www.railsaver.com and determined that a railpass for two will save you money.

1. If I purchase the 1st class passes, I then need to make a reservation for each trip I take?

No. Only if you a) want to reserve a seat on an IC train or b) you want to travel on an ES* train. You will pay about 5E per reservation.

Is that an additional charge, and if so, would it not be more beneficial just to do point-to-point to avoid hassle and cost?

Aha! You have not been to www.railsaver.com.

2. Is it possible to pre-pay for a 2nd class saver ticket?
What do you mean by prepay?

Are reservations needed for those also?
See above.

3. For faster trains, do I need to pay extra?
See above

Hope this helps.

Hello All

Thank you for your replies... this is all new to me and quite helpful.

I did try railsaver just now, and it turns out that I would just buy point-to-point rather than a pass, especially because I am perfectly willing on most trips to ride 2nd class.

A couple follow up questions that perhaps you can assist me with now that I learned that info:

1. How far in advance while in Italy, do you suggest I book these 2nd class tickets?

2. My understanding is that 2nd class tickets are not assigned seats. How far before trips do you suggest I show up to the station? Would I normally be able to show up, purchase, and wait for the train all on one day while not wasting too much time in train stations?

3. Are the rates on railsaver (they say I can purchase now) more expensive than if I do it in Italy?

Thanks again!

Hi dutti,

You can purchase all of your tickets online at www.trenitalia.com/en for the same rates as in Italy.

You can buy seat reservations at the same time, if you wish.

>2. My understanding is that 2nd class tickets are not assigned seats.

I am afraid that you have been misinformed. You can purchase reservations for 2cl on IC trains.

How far before trips do you suggest I show up to the station? Would I normally be able to show up, purchase, and wait for the train all on one day while not wasting too much time in train stations?

Depends on when you will be traveling. Weekends and holidays, I suggest you buy in advance. Weekdays, get your tickets the day before.

Go to www.trenitalia.com/en. You can even book seats ticketless with a cell phone.

We bought all of our Italian train tix in Italy. When we arrived at one location we just went to the desk and bought our tix for the next city. It was usually 2-3 days before we needed them..no problems!

Hello All -

Thank you for your good advice... I have definitely learned a lot.

One more quick question, slightly off topic:

I plan on taking a hydrofoil from Naples to Positano. Do you suggest I buy these tickets in advance (this would mean I purchase them in the US, becuase that is the first day of our trip), or can I do that at the port on the morning I travel?

If I should purchase that in advance, is there a web-site you can suggest?

Thanks again!

After waiting in lines and finally giving up in a couple of Italian train stations to buy tickets and make ES reservations (not for same day), I gave up and bought several at two different travel agents -- one in Ischia and one in Rome. There was no waiting as opposed to the two hour wait in both Venice and Rome. And the agents spoke perfect English and got me exactly what I wanted without any additional charge. Just make sure it is a travel agent with a Trenitalia emblem on display in front or in the window.

Hi dutti

> plan on taking a hydrofoil from Naples to Positano. Do you suggest I buy these tickets in advance (this would mean I purchase them in the US, becuase that is the first day of our trip), or can I do that at the port on the morning I travel?<

Yes, you can get them at the port.

However, if your trip would be ruined by having to wait a few hours if your boat is full, you might want to spend the extra and reserve ahead.