advice would be greatly appreciated.
my fiancee and i are planning on 3 train trips and are wondering whether it is more economical to buy a trenitalia 4 days in 2 months pass or pay for tickets individually.

1. rome-florence. probably the ES train

2. florence-venice. probably the ES train

3. venice-naples. overnight ES train with 2 person couchette.

i did a costing of 300 euro each. and i think a pass is only around 200 euro.
however all the threads i have read on here say that it never makes much sense to buy passes in italy.
???

any advice is greatly received
regards
lynette

Depends on several factors.

1) The cost for 2 person couchette is going to be a supplement to your pass, so you really need to add up the cost without this factor. It's about 50 euros for 2.

2) First class or second class.

3) Price for a ticket depends upon where you're going.

Also Rail Europe's price is around 200 euros per person first class and 150 second class.

Unless you are willing to change trains on the Venice - Naples trip, the only through train is an IC night train.

Hi Lj,

Look up scheduled and prices at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

For Venice/Naples look up www.alpieagles.com

There is direct bus service from NAP to Sorrento. See www.curreriviaggi.it/

thanks rasta and ira [again!!]

i think its still looking cheaper to buy a 3 days over 2 months trenitalia pass with discount of 2 travellers.
we will be buying the 2nd class ticket.

???

In case you didn't realize it, hidden in ira's links was a great suggestion. Alpieagles is a budget airline for flights from Venice Marco Polo to Naples -- often around $75 per person and giving you back the better part of a day of your vacation.

thanks neopatrick
cant seem to get in to that sight. when i try to go to the english version it stalls.
but will try again, now i know what its about.!!

Hi lj,

Prices at www.trenitalia.com for 2 tickets

R-F ..... 66E
F-V ..... 62E
V-N .....180E dbl sleeper

Total ..... 308E = $406

2 4-day flexi passes for Italy
$366 + S&H

Sleeper supplement for 2: 100E = $130

Railpass cost >$500

Fly from Venice to Naples and take the bus from NAP to Sorrento, if that is where you will be staying.

dear ira
you are so very kind and helpful.
i keep trying to look at your suggestion of alpieagles, but it stalls when entering the english version!
i did look on alitalia which offers great rates for venice-naples, 115 euro for two people. do you think alpieagles is cheaper than that!!
now i just have to make sure i can get accomodation for another night in venice, if we decide to fly the next morning
thanks again for such kindness
regards
lynette

When I checked Alpi Eagles tickets one way from Venice Marco Polo to Naples were 29.90 each.

Hi LJ,

The English version is working now.

29.90 E + 10E tax for VCE/NAP

Read luggage restrictions carefully.

Did you factor in the 15 euros supplement with the pass for riding ES trains - times two is 30 euros a person over pass price or about $40.

I'm not saying pass is not worth it as i didn't do or analyze all the calculations but it rarely is. If you do need a pass i always recommend BETS (800-441-2387; www.budgeteuropetravel.com) for their great service and lack of mailing fees.

thanks neopatrick for looking that up for me.

palenQ- it turns out that a pass is definitely not worth it!

and ira thanks again, i've actually posted another question headed "naples to positano" that i would love your wisdom on

thanks
lynette