Arriving in Milan this Sunday 12/5 and want to take the train to Florence. Is there any reason at this point to try make a reservation in advance from the U.S. -- in view of the trouble many have had using U.S. credit cards on the Trenitalia web site -- or is it just as easy and economical to buy the tickets at Milano Centrale, especially knowing approximately but not exactly in advance exactly what time we may want to leave Milan for Florence? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I would wait---they run hourly and you do not know if the flight will be late.

Go to the Trenitalia rail desk in Malpensa Airport, just out of Customs' exits and make your bookings after clearing Customs - allowing plenty of time to make your way to Milano Centrale, the main in town station - from the airport, which is a long way out of town, as airports go. Buses run regularly and there is supposed to be a new train service from the airport to Centrale Station. You do not want to take the Nord de Milano Railways' Malpensa Express to Milan's Cordona station as this is not near Centrale station.
Trains run usually twice hourly I think and you will certainly be able to get on any of your choice. IMO paying a bit extra for first class is well worth it - especially for those with bulky luggage.

FMI

What time of the day are you arriving at Malpensa?

At 12:21 there is a rapid train (Frecciarossa) that will take you direct from the airport to Florence. It is one of only 2 (I think) such departures per day. Soon there will be 4 such departures per day:

DEP 12:21 MALPENS
ARR 15:00 FI.SMN
DURATION 02:39
TRAIN 9517 FRECCIAROSSA
76,00 € (1 cl) 57,00 € (2 cl)

I don't see that taking the train to lovely, tiny Cadorno station and then taking the subway/ metro to Milano Centrale is such a big deal. But others have less resilience in these matters than I.

An example of this alternative routing is as follows:

TRAIN 344
DEP 13:03 MALPENS
ARR 13:32 MI N CA
TRAIN 9519 FRECCIAROSSA
DEP 14:15 MI C.LE
ARR 16:00 FI.SMN
DURATION 02:57
81,00 € ( 1 cl) 63,00 € (2 cl)

There is probably a direct bus from Malpensa to Florence. I have never taken an intercity bus ("un pullman", in Italian) but they always look lovely and new -- much nicer than NA buses.

Trenitalia only has a couple of trains from Malpensa to Florence on the schedule currently. The times probably won't work for you. The earliest departs Malpensa at 12:21 and arrives Florence at 3. They are supposed to be adding more, but schedules don't update until 12/12.

If you are planning on sightseeing a bit in Milan before departing, I would just wait and buy tickets at Milan Centrale. There is luggage storage there if you need it while sightseeing.
http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/i...003f16f90aRCRD

The AV train from Centrale only takes 1:45 and 2nd class is fine (more room than coach on an airplane) with plenty of room for luggage. Last AV train departs 8:15.

There have been a few reports in the last few months of purchasing success on Trenitalia with Visa credit cards.

Wow - fantastic suggestions. Posters like you all make this the great travel forum that it is.

We'll have a day in Milan on our return, so the direct train from Malpensa sounds great, especiallly if the flight is somewhat delayed. That's also good to know about the train desk at the airport.

Where are you staying in Florence? I see my favourite place in Florence (self-catering but with maid service) is giving good rates this weekend and next week.

spend the relatively little extra and go first class - you and your luggage will be very glad you did IME of riding Italian trains for decades. There is a significant difference between 1st and 2nd class and that's why many Italians gladly it seems pay extra to ride in first class.
For loads of great info on Italian trains check out these fab web sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com. If taking more than 3 or 4 longish train rides then by all means look at the Italian railpass (despite adamant claims here that such a pass is ALWAYS a waste of money - which IMO is a bunch of hogwash!

>>>spend the relatively little extra and go first class<<<

Actually, 1st class is 35% more. Yes, we know you always tout first class, but that's because you also tout 1st class railpasses. For such a short journey, 1st class certainly isn't necessary.

This website has pictures of 1st and 2nd class and lists the differences. The end recommendation on the website is for travel 5 hours or less, 2nd is fine.

http://www.roninrome.com/%20transpor...rsus-2nd-class

This link also has pictures which shows how little the difference is between 1st and 2nd class. The first set of pictures would be the type of train you would be taking.

http://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.h...0trains%20like

Surely the bigger difference is between categories of trains rather than between classes on a single train.

Until last month, I had always traveled on a major route such as the Rome-Florence express. Beautiful new trains, loads of empty seats in 2nd class.

By contrast, a month ago I took an IC train from Orvieto to Rome on a holiday Saturday.

Old, graffiti-covered carriages; 6-person compartments with a side corridor FILLED with standing-room passengers and their luggage. On a train like that, 1st cl. would be a well justified splurge.

The Frecciarossa, as a high-speed train with quite high-priced tickets, would be at the very top end of the trenitalia stock. I would expect to be comfortable even in a full 2nd cl carriage.

Actually, 1st class is 35% more. Yes, we know you always tout first class, but that's because you also tout 1st class railpasses. For such a short journey, 1st class certainly isn't necessary>
Of course not necessary but well worth it in my experience - 2nd class is way more crowded typically whilst first class often has empty seats - I always put my backpack on an adjoining seat and always have a table if i want.

I've taken zillion of Italian trains in recent years and for the average traveler taking the trip of a lifetime the yes relatively little extra for first class is worth it.

Put the same criteria into rail travel IMO as you do hotels or restaurants. You can eat perfectly well at McDonalds and sleep perfectly well in a austere Pension but do you?

I chuckle when remembering being upbraided by a FodorOligarch once for advising first class that cost 30 euros more than second class for two people (Rome to Florence) and the FodorGarch saying that 30 euros could be better spent at a restaurant, etc. A few days later he posted about his 200 euro dinner in Venice! IMO he could have gotten just about as good a dinner in Venice for half that price. Thus it always flummoxes me why folks nickel and dime train travel but splurge on other aspects of their trips.

I steadfast and adamantly claim that those who say second class is just as good as first class just have not ridden very many Italian trains, in either class.

Thanks again for all your assistance. This may be worth a separate post, but on our return we'll have a Saturday afternoon and evening in Milan before our return flight the next morning. What would you recommend doing in that brief period there this time of year?

I am planning to travel from Milan to Chiusi because I am staying at a house 20 minutes from Chiusi.
Would someone please give me pointers on which train to take? I have looked at the Trentalia site and it seems that in the morning the IC train is nonstop and the Eurostar stops?
I am looking at mid morning trains as I would like to arrive in Chiuse before late afternoon.
I understand I cannot use my dates of travel as they are too far in advance but would really appreciate some pointers on this route.
Thanks
p.s.I did travel on an IC train, I believe, from Naples to Rome once second class and it was awful. There were people in the aisles and lots of boxes and suitcases. Tell me if I choose an IC train the first class will be somewhat better?

Sher - I would look at the AV/ES trains to Florence and then switch to an IC or R train from Florence to Chiusi as you will have more time options.

MRand - It may be too late, but you could attempt reservations for the Last Supper.
http://www.vivaticket.it/index.php?o...nge_language=1

I looked at the schedule for Milan to Chiusi and it is a little under five hours. I never considered looking at Florence but I will check it out.
Thanks

The travel time will not be much different, but AV/ES trains from Milan to Florence are at least hourly (travel time 1:45). There are also likely hourly R or IC trains from Florence to Chiusi (travel time about 2 hours depending on choice of train). AV/ES trains do not make many stops or stop in small stations such as Chiusi.

Bookmarking excellent advice

>>>There is probably a direct bus from Malpensa to Florence.<<<

I'm not aware of any bus from Malpensa, but Sena operates a bus from Milan Cadorna station to Siena. It stops on the outskirts of Florence and doesn't go into town.

I originally looked at trains from Varenna to Chiusi and they were about 7 hours. I thought that the train from Milan would be easier but actually I would like to arrive by air into Milan stay a day or two and move on to Varenna for three days or so.
But I thought that would not be smart because it seemed more efficient to travel from Milan.
But maybe now I will try different combination. So when we arrive in Milan we will just buy the tickets at one time and be done with it.
We will be staying in a villa about 20 minutes drive from Chiusi and I would like to get there as efficiently as possible with not too many train changes if I can.