Have read the other posts and thanks for previous answers.

I may try to buy tickets on Trenitalia but guess my credit card may not work so will go to raileurope which is only about $50 more.

We are traveling the week after Easter so really think I need to have tickets ahead. And may even splurge for 1st class since we will have luggage and it may be crowded.

Question: First leg is Venice to Ravenna on April 6 (only 2 days after Easter). The Trenitalia site says only 16 min for the connection in Balogna. Can we make it not knowing the station at all? If I do have tickets and we miss the connection will the ticket be good for the next train from Balogna to Ravenna? Looks like it will if I am reading correctly. That is a local train and no reserved seating. But crowded that day?

Thank you for any thoughts, you have been so helpful already!
Barb

There is no point in buying this ticket in advance and overpaying at RailEurope since part of it is on an R train which doesn't allow reservations. The R train has no class distinction (some do, but this route doesn't) and the ticket between Bologna and Ravenna is only 5.80€. They seem to run hourly so if you were to miss the connection (16 minutes is plenty of time assuming your original train is on time), you could get the next train.

ES/AV trains runs hourly between Venice/Bologna so it won't be a problem to get a train ticket in Italy. There are also R trains (only 30 minutes more travel time on this leg-13.35€ 1st cl) and IC trains (20€ 1st cl). There is also an R train from Venice with change in Ferrara for only 13.50€ 1st cl and the travel time is only 30 minutes more than the AV/R combos.

I wouldn't be concerned about a train being crowded if you are traveling on AV, ES or IC. The seats are reserved so it's not going to be overcrowded.

My advice would be not to overplan and worry about the train connectition. 16 minutes is certainly enough time as all you have to do is exit your train and change binario and get on the new train. If for some reason you are late, there will be another train soon, so have a cappucino and relax. Be sure to travel light as lugging your belongings up and down the stairs at the stations gets very old if you have too much. I wouldn't pay an extra $50 through Raileurope either. Simply buy your tickets when you arrive in Italy. Train travel is great and not difficult.

For a local train your ticket is good for all the trains in that day (I am not sure, but it is possible that they are good even one month).
So, you can take any local train you want.

There is a problem only it is a train EC or IC that need seat reservation. The seat reservation is for a specific train, so you can use it only for it.

We were in May and travel only 2nd class, had no problems.

15 min. to change the train is a lot of time. You have to check when you arrive in Bologna on what line is your train so you will know where to go (they have numbers). I think (I don't remember) that you can check this also on Trenitalia site even now, so you will know where you arrive and from where you take the next train.

Don't worry about buying tickets from now, you can buy them very easy from the railway station in Venice.

You can check on Tr

Thank you all so much!

I am convinced not to buy ahead. My main concern is the holiday week and our exhaustion from the long travel day Sunday/Monday. I do tend to stress too much on these things and then it all works out. Will let you know!

I like the R train via Ferrara so may try that. But looks like many to choose from.

All the other legs, Florence, Padova should not be a problem.
Thanks!
Barb

Easter Week begins a week <i>before</i> Easter. The Monday and Tuesday after Easter Sunday are popular departure days. Yes, the train stations should be lively with lots of people leaving. Many will already have their tickets. By Tuesday after Easter, life should be back to normal. Monday, April 5 is a normal business day in Italy.

I, too, would not pay Rail Europe's ridiculous mark-up. There is absolutely no need to throw away so much money. If you want to avoid ticket lines on the day of departure, try to purchase your train tickets (in Italy) before April 6. You don't say how many days you'll be in Venice.

First Class and 2nd Class are almost identical. First Class has assigned seating, which, on busy travel days, can offer more security. There's nothing worse than schlepping luggage from car to car looking for available seating on a busy travel day.

Tickets are good for a generous period of time. People miss trains rather often.

I assume you are going to Ravenna for the mosiacs! They are wonderful - in my travels, I've seen quite a few and most don't begin to compare. Enjoy!

>>>Monday, April 5 is a normal business day in Italy.<<<

No, Monday, April 5 is Easter Monday, a major holiday, and Italians will be off work. Most things will be closed on Monday, including the Vatican Museums.

>First Class has assigned seating<

First *and* second class have assigned seating on all trains except Regionale trains, which have no assigned seating at all.

>Tickets are good for a generous period of time. People miss trains rather often.<

Tickets for trains with reserved seats (all except Regionale)are valid *only* for the specific train.

If you are not travelling on a special fare, your ticket can be exchanged *up to one hour after departure* at ticket counters and ticket kiosks.

My bad. Lunedì di Pasqua is a major holiday in Italy. I'm sure some Italians will be working at the train stations so not all will be off. As long as the OP is in Venice, she won't care about the Vatican Museum being closed.

I have had a Second Class seat a few times. I thought they were on a Eurostar. I'd have to check the records to be sure. There were no assigned seats in Second Class. If they were assigned, nobody honored them.

Barb65, like all of Italy's red tape, Italy's train rules and procedures are far too complicated for me. I tip my hat to anyone who can figure the whole mess out.

I use the system but I'm no authority. I should avoid the train threads. You just have to do it and learn as you go like the vast majority do. I typically purchase First Class, put college-aged assistants in Second Class, and I missed a connection only once, many years ago.

Visit Trenitalia's website to access their FAQ page and Traveller's Guide. Here are a few copy and pastes.

<i><b>For the services of: AV, AV Fast, ES*, ES* Fast, ES* City, IC, ICN, Express, Couchette, WL, Excelsior and Excelsior E4.</b>

You can change tickets twice before the train's departure but only once afterwards and within 3 hours afterwards.

<b>Access to other trains</b>

With the Basic ticket you can also <b>directly access for the same route another train of the same category on the same day and until 3 hours after the booked train's departure by paying a surcharge of 8 euro</b>. You must however stamp the printed ticket and approach the on-board conductor at the first opportunity. If you apply to change class or to access a different category train for the same route, again within the same terms and after stamping the ticket, you must pay the difference between the full price for the train used and the sum already paid plus the surcharge of 8 euro.

If there are no other trains of the same type within the three hours afterwards, you can travel at the same conditions as those stated above also afterwards, on the first train of the same or lower category that is available for arriving at your destination.

If the amount already paid is the same or greater than that owed for the train used and the surcharge, you will not be charged any fine but you will not have the right to a refund of any extra sum you made have paid. Whatever the case, you must always stamp the printed ticket before boarding, otherwise you must pay an 8 euro penalty (this is added to any sum owed from accessing a different train).</i>

From the "Ticketless" FAQ:

<i><b>ACCESS TO A DIFFERENT TRAIN FROM THAT RESERVED</b>

Should the customer access to a different train belonging to the same category or other service in the same day of the reserved journey or up to 3 hours afetr train departure or after that, if the train boarded is the first tarin available in the same or superior category, the customer will be regularised according to the same regulations as the paper ticket.

In the case of Flexi special offer the ticket change is allowed in the same day and up to 24 hours after train departure without having to be regularised. <b>The access to the Regional/local trains is not allowed.</b> The customer with the ticketless boarding the regional train will be regularised as being without ticket.</i>

Be sure to read "How you can buy, use and change your Italian national railway ticket" in the "Traveller's Guide." All the reading requires a bit of patience and three cocktails. Then you won't care what train you're on.

AHHH three cocktails - that will make it all not matter!

We will arrive in Venice on Monday April 5 afternoon after traveling since Sunday evening from US. Connect in Frankfurt. Actually only staying that night in Venice and then traveling around and will be back in Venice for 3 days the next week. I know this is strange but business calls and we will fly in and out of Venice.

So I will not have a lot of time or patience to buy train tickets for Tuesday the 6th but hopefully things will not be as crowded by then either.

Looks like the peak hotel season starts in April so I expect the worse.

Thanks for all the great info!
Barb

There is a website that will be relaunching in a couple of weeks that will offer all the Trenitalia tickets at the same price as Trenitalia (subject to exchange rate fluctuations).

http://www.italiarail.com is currently being upgraded and will offer eTickets at the same low prices you would get in Italy and will be able to accept all credit cards and provide customer service here in the States.