Looking for suggestions on Euro-rail riding through Italy

[goddessrita]

My husband and I are embarking on a 3 week through Italy, partly on a Tauck Tour and then on our own. We are ending up in Venice on the tour and then we are going on our own to Florence for three nights and then to Rome for another 3 nights before flying home. We want to use the train to visit other areas and would appreciate any information concerning experiences with the trains, what kind of passes to buy, daily or multiple.

[travel2fun]

goddessrita:



First of all, I love that name.



Secondly, if your husband really treats you like a goddess, how come he isn't paying for a private luxury car and driver/guide to convey you around Italy?



Thirdly, and lastly, if you travel by train and your trip involves evenings or nights, sleep with one eye open at all times! My experience has been that night time travel on many European trains results in loss of personal items and other unsavory encounters. Hope you buy your ground stays at a greatly reducedprices on LL.



Ciao

[CMDAVILACLI]

Hi Goddessrita,



check out www.raileurope.com for the many options on train tickets/passes for Italy. Ihave used them several times before, purchased the tickets in advance here in the USA and things went very smoothly with them. Keep in mind that train travel in Italy is relatively cheap, so if you are justgoing from Venice to Florence and then down toRome, it is cheaper to buy thesetickets individually (I just did that trip last year by train and it definitely was cheaper to buy first class tickets individually... ) When looking at the train schedules, definitely shoot for the highspeed ones and not the little local ones which stop at every singlelittle town enroute. Neither of these journeys are long and both the train stations in Venice and Florence are extremely easy to use.

Enjoy your trip!

cmdavilacli

[CMDAVILACLI]

Hi Goddessrita,

One last thing... don't forget to check out the destination boards and blogs about Italy... there will be some good info from LL travellers on Italian cities/stays/visits.

cmdavilacli

[ShirleyT]

The express trains between Venice and Florence take about 2 hrs. 45 min., and the ones between Florence and Rome are a little over 1 1/2 hours... no night trains necessary. We have taken both First and Second class, and really haven't noticed that big of a difference between the two. (We're not talking about Bulagri Toiletries and Frette linens here!) Second class fares are about half of the First class fares. For booking ahead, Trenitalia offers a 20% discount-- look at the fare categories on their website.



I think there's a far greater risk of pickpockets at the stations than on the trains themselves, especially at the Termini station in Rome. Keep your passports and valuables in a place where no one can get at them.. the only cash you'll need is for snacks on the train and taxi fare to your hotel. , and I would advise you just to stay together. If one of you goes off to the restroom or for coffee, and the other has to watch all your possessions, you are a much easier target. We've never experienced any problems.



Have a great trip!

[obrienkf]

suggest that you do not underestimate the pick-pocket elements of travel in italy... a common trick is to use a cane / hook / umbrella, and from the seat behind a tourist, drag the handbag under the seat while the tourist is looking out the window, or nodding off .... and after taking what is of interest (including just an impression of the credit card if that is all that they need), and hopping off the train at the next stop.



a well travelled friend of mine, on a first class sleeper from vienna to rome, alone in the car, with the door locked, was robbed. handbag found, next car, with only the cash taken. the only explanation was an inside job... so, keep a very close eye on your valuables. watch your credit cards and cash, and be aware that the pick pockets are very professional in europe, italy being the best of the bunch. dont fall for the standard "did you drop this ring" trick, and beware when someone helps you when you have just been 'hit by a bird'. all tricks. designed to distract you.if you know these tricks in advance, you are that much better prepared, and your holiday wont be ruined by some thief.



kind regards

[imbues]

Hi shirleyt, I was under the impression that the main difference is first class is a reserved seat and second class is not. Is this true?

[lippincottfarm]

No, actually it depends on the type of train that you are riding on. Eurostar has reserved seats in both first and second class. You can keep your luggage with you in your compartment in first class. First class has fewer persons per compartment, so more space. I have never had a problem using the train system. For longer trips, I do travel in first class. Use a purse that has a strap and keep it on you. I have used second class for shorter trips.



The trains are frequent and convenient. I am a worrier, so I rarely sleep. I'm the type you want to have travel with you because I'm always checking to make sure everything is fine and going as planned. Everyone else sleeps, but not me. I read.



It takes a little bit of figuring out to understand your ticket. If you look closely, it will show you your track, coach numberand seat number.The only time I ever had a problem was in Reggio Emillia. I bought two tickets for us to go toModena for the day. We got there with no problem, and then caught a train back in the late afternoon. The conductor came through, took our tickets and then stood there and looked at us. I could tell something was wrong, but had no clue. He then asked if we were Americans. I smiled and said yes. He explained that I did not have the express tickets but general tickets, which didn't cost as much as express tickets. We were on an express train. I asked if we could pay the extra and he said no, but it was okay. Just don't do it again. I said sorry, and I wouldn't. He said I could be fined a lot of money if the conductor wanted to. So make sure you buy and get on the right class of train. Trains are not like buses in Europe; in Italy, people just get on the buses with no tickets. No one checks. They always check on the trains. I watched a woman in France get a150 euro violation ticket for not having a ticket for her train ride. She was French. They didn't cut her a break; as she obviously knew what she was doing. I actually thought they were going to arrest her.



Have fun using the train system.Contrary to what people say, they areon time and run smoothly. I will be using the trainsthis summer when I go from Rome to Barletta and then to Venice.

[nomadbea]

hi goddessrita

from my experience, i've found that i've always fared better with the daily passes. You really aren't going to be travelling for days straight, so i think you're going to save more if you get the daily vs. the multiple.


Cheers