Trenitalia question
 

Hi everybody,

We are planning to travel by train from Rome Termini to Monopoli.

The Trenitalia site lists the possible schedules, but also says "Reservations must be made in Italy."

Since the site apparently sells tickets on many other routes, I wonder why we are unable to purchase our tickets online.

Is our only option to wait until we are in Rome to reserve this trip? We would really like to have the tickets/reservations in hand before we leave home.

The train in question is an ES Italia AV, Frecciargento, train number 9351, if this makes any difference.

Than you for any help.

Byrd

did you put your country of origin at U.s. if so that could be the problem or perhaps even Canada - try puttng U.K. resident - seems to be a problem many times.

but keep topping as kybourbon and others know every little thing about trenitalia.com

Thanks, PalQ.

We love to take the trains in Europe, and almost always just buy point-to-point tickets. However, this time we want to spend the first night of our trip in Rome and leave the next morning for points south.

It would be very good to have those tickets and not have to worry about getting to Termini in time to buy tickets for the early morning train.

kybourbon, I hope you see this!

Byrd

Topping

Anybody?

I'm not sure what your problem is, can you explain?

That phrase means, that in Italy reservations must be made on all fast trains. Looking at the schedule for tomorrow, I see fast trains that I can book and reserve for.

Yes, I can explain that when I attempt to buy the ticket, I am told "We are sorry, but the chosen schedule is not purchasable."

Byrd

It may be the time period you are looking at is not available for purchase yet. Try the same trip using tomorrow as the date for the trip.

rs899, yes!

I just tried that, and it is "purchasable" this week.

Grazi!

Byrd

That good. Next problem for you (unless they recently fixed it) is if you are a US resident with a US credit card, you will not be able to purchase off the Trenitalia website.

You can't book more than 4 months in advance. Sometimes, if the the route requires a change of trains and combines an R train (R trains prices only show on Trenitalia if you enter a date within 7 days) with a fast train (which can be booked 4 months out), it will not let you book more than a week out although the website seems to have improved this problem in the last year (only for combined routes, not just R routes).

FYI - If you plan to book the train that is AV only, use this link instead of the regular Trenitalia link as it will let you see an actual seat diagram and select the seats you want. You will not have a choice of cars as the first available car will appear (it will be numbered). You must let your cities autofill as it's quirky and the names must be exactly the way Trenitalia wants (in Italian). After you select the price, scroll down and click "select the seat" (auto select is preselected so you want to change it). You can do a trial run to see the seats by clicking I want to buy without registration. You do want to register before actual purchase so you have access to your reservation online. If you make any changes, it will revert to seats being autoselected resulting in 4 tickets showing to be purchased when you only want two. Always make sure that is unchecked.
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index...003f16f90aRCRD

This link is really great on the more popular routes if you are traveling fast trains (AV,ES,ESCity,IC) as it's lets you search cheapest fares and over a 3 day period plus letting you choose your exact seat.

For Monopoli it's not quite as useful since there only a couple of AV trains. If you want to use the AV/R train combo, then just enter Roma Termini and Bari Centrale to book the AV train portion only. Buy your R ticket when you get to Bari as there is no reserved seating on R trains and no discounts so advance purchase is not necessary.

Further FYI - If you are not familiar with the AV trains and are using the link I gave to select seats, the seats at the ends of cars on the diagram without the gray oblong (which represents the shared tables)do not have tables. They will be like airline seats with drop-down trays. Avoid seats by the WC. This is a picture of 2nd class on the fast AV train. Notice the lady on the right has her table flipped out for more room while the other people don't.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr...ssainterno.jpg

Thank you so much, kybourbon, and everybody!

All this information will be extremely helpful.

Again, many thanks.

Byrd

>>>That good. Next problem for you (unless they recently fixed it) is if you are a US resident with a US credit card, you will not be able to purchase off the Trenitalia website.<<<

This was fixed last year. You can use Visa or Mastercard (no Amex). Notify your credit card in advance that you will be making an online Italian purchase so they don't block it.

More good information!
Grazie!

Byrd

I am happy they finally fixed the credit card issue for us Americans. Looks like Italy can use the money ( credit crisis).

Actually, our banks need to join the rest of the civilized world and issue cards we can use everywhere ( I hear we are finally starting this with the chip embedded in the cards).

byrd - spend a little extra for first class - that's what my zillions of train trips in Italy tells me to advise the general tourist of the trip of a lifetime - esp those hauling luggage around. and do not judge 2nd class by that picture - that is for the newest generation of ETR high-speed technology and is not representative IME of the whole ETR fleet - which now includes about five different style trains some deating back years now - first class IME is much much more relaxed.

Thanks for the advice, PalQ.

We've usually taken 2nd class and been satisfied with the accomodations, but this trip (8:45 to 13.28) is somewhat longer than our usual daytrip rides.

We do love European trains! I think that several years ago someone here on Fodor's asked "Where would you like to be right now?" I thought about it and decided my answer would be "Standing on the platform at a little Italian or Swiss train station waiting for the next train."

Anyway, we are so looking forward to our next adventure, and to seeing a "new" (to us) part of Italy.

We will certainly investigate first vs. second class for this ride. Thank you again for your interest and advice!

Byrd

It's not the 2nd class is a cattle car - at least on high-speed trains in Italy but 2nd class is typically usually full with few empty seats, etc. whereas in first class IME there are often empty seats so if you do not like your assigned seats you can relocate - and to me the single row seats are priceless - having an aisle and a window and for couples these seats can face each other with a table in between - no having to get up to let someone in an adjoining seat in or out or if you are on the inside or window seat of a two-seat row having to bother the person next to you to get up, etc.

And with these so-called isolated single row seats it is easy IME to put your luggage under them and again not have to worry about bothering other folks who may want to get out, etc - ah a window and an aisle seat at least to me is priceless - and of course seats since there are 25% fewer in a train car are obviously larger too so for a long journey more comfy. for lots of great info on Italian trains and things like first and second class I always spotlight these fine sites - www.seat61.com - should have pictures of seats in both classes and you really have to be shown pictures of the same train in each class to appreciate the difference - (there is some reason many Italians pay extra to ride in first class!) and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. And you will have no problem booking tickets once in Italy if you want any flexibility to decide once there which train to hop - the online discounts do not allow that and I believe are train specific - so many trains running all the time.

>>>and do not judge 2nd class by that picture - that is for the newest generation of ETR high-speed technology and is not representative IME of the whole ETR fleet<<<<

We were discussing the newest generations (the pic isn't actually the newest) - AV trains (AV - alto velocita=high speed) and that is exactly what they look like and is representative of the AV trains. You seem to be talking about the older ES or ESCity trains, but they are not the fastest trains nor or they being used as much. Here's a picture of an older ESCity 2nd class. The tables on these are much different, but they are not the trains we were discussing on this route.
http://www.alleuroperail.com/eurosta...-2nd-class.htm

I'm seeing less and less ES trains on the main, popular routes between Naples/Rome/Florence/Venice (actually none between Rome/Florence). It's mostly AV trains these days taking advantage of the high speed lines. You will only find a few ES trains on these routes each day with the faster AV trains hourly. The ESCity trains tend to run between Milan and Venice and Rome/Pisa (up the coast). It's only been in the last year AV have fully taken over between Milan/Rome routes drastically cutting travel time. Also a year ago Naples/Rome was cut from 2 hours on ES to one hour with the AV.

>>>>ES Italia are trains connecting Rome to Ancona, Genoa, Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria, Perugia, Ravenna, Rimini, Taranto. These trains are being replaced by the higher capactiy super fast trains of Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca.<<<<<
http://www.italiarail.com/italian-high-speed-trains

I've taken pictures and videos of Italian trains over the last few years and haven't loaded them online anywhere, but am working on it. I will also take lots more on my upcoming trip so people will know what the interiors look like and be able to see the difference between an AV train and an ES or IC train.

I think it important when talking about train classes to show pictures of BOTH first and second class and not just one or the other - and I have not been to Italy this year - the first time in decades so I may not realize the quicker than I imagined demise of the older ETR trains and I do agree the AV and newer ETR technology trains are much nicer than the older ones and I presume first class is even nicer as well. Again the main difference is having the chance to get both an aisle and a window seat - no one next to you to bother you or you bother them and crowding with first class often having empty seats much more than 2nd class - these things to me are major differences and an objective picture is not some staged photo but a typical one with bags all over, etc. and more room to leisurely stow bags is also crucial - with 25% fewer and really more than that since there are more empty seats in first class it is oourse easier to store your bags - even with the seats being bigger there is obviously more room under them and in front of them. Price is not everything and again 2nd class is comfy enough just that first class is more comfy and relaxed for the above reasons. To be honest if I did not always have a first class Global Eurailpass when taking trains in Italy and had to buy tickets I would buy 2nd class because I travel on a shoestring budget but for folks typically spending $200-300 a night for a hotel and $100 or so for their evening meal, etc I think they should apply the same criteria to train travel as they do to those aspects of travel - you can get hotels a lot cheaper and decent restaurants a lot cheaper, etc. It does indeed boggle my mind why the mantra on Fodors is on trains cheapest is the way to go - IMO there are other factors as well that override for the average tourist on the trip of a lifetime to go in the most relaxed way - but it is a subjective take as to what I see important and others may not.