Hi, leaving for Italy in a few days and we're trying to make sense of the Italy train system. My questions are:
Does the Italy Pass cover the Alta Velocita trains?
By my calculation, the Italy Pass (1st class saver) will suit our needs better than point to point, assuming that the AV trains are included. How do we get reservations for our segments?
Thanks to everyone who contributes to this site.
-Paul
Paul....how did you conclude the Italy Pass would save you more? The Italy Pass will cover the AV trains, but you will have to pay for reservations. You can do that at any Italian train station after you arrive.
Norm-
Thanks for the quick reply. :)
My math:
P2P: Rome-Florence (75), Florence-Venice (75), Rome-Naples (2nd 45), Naples-Rome (2nd 45) = 240
If you haven't figured it out, Naples-Rome is a 1 day jaunt.
Italy Pass (1st class Saver): 240.
This is correct right?
Paul
Sorry, I didn't mean save me more....I meant they were equal, and might as well take 1st class all the way...
Paul
Ron....I get Rome-Florence, $67, Florence-Venice, $80, Rome-Naples-Rome (same day), $76x@=$152..total $289...all first class, all standard fare, and on AV trains where available. So yes, once you add in the reservations, it'll be comparable. But you can save much more with second class. The differences between first and second on Italian trains aren't nearly as great as you find aboard aircraft...IMHO, it's not worth the extra money. By taking advantage of Amica fares (20% off, bookable up to midnight before departure, if any left), you could cut your total bill to $154 for your itinerary. Even at regular price, second class totals would be about $175, with all necessary reservations included Since you'll have to stop off somewhere to obtain reservations, you might just want to consider P2P second class....it'll mean more wine and gelato!
Norm- I know this is a little off the topic, but I haven't been able to find a good source to help me fully understand the Amica fares. If I were to book the Amica fare for, say, Rome to Florence, would I still have to pay the reservation fee on top of that? (I;d assume so, since the high-speed train requires a resevration.) And I know Amica fares are limited, but can one reasonably expect to be able to get them if they book a day or two early? Are they available for night trains? (I'm guessing not, since you usually have to book farther in advance.) I've searched and searched and can usually only find info that says the basic 20% off, but doesn't elaborate.
Bethany, AMICA fares are limited discounts based on date, time and train category. It's simple. You get a 20% discount if purchased before midnight before the day of travel. As you might expect, the Italians are very smart and jump on these limited discounts right away. Still, many posters report that they are often available when they arrive in Italy and purchase tickets days before travel. It is most reasonable to expect that they are not always available when you get there.
Can you purchase AMICA fares online in advance? YES. But only on www.trentialia.com. However, I've been hearing that Trenitalia may no longer be accepting American credit cards beause of too much fraud. I tried booking a ticket a couple of days ago on a credit card that I have used before and it was rejected. I need to call them and see what's up.
On night trains, you might not see the AMICA fares but you do see the SMART and SMART2 fares. Again, these are limited special discounts. But again, the sharp Italian travelers snap these up quickly after they come online (usually 60 days out).
You can see all of these fares and schedules for Italian train travel on www.trenitalia.com. You can buy Italy train tickets much easier on www.italiarail.com but they are a broker and I don't see them passing on the special AMICA and SMART discount fares.
Thanks!
See Larry...if you were Canadian, you wouldn't have these booking problems! ;) Bethany, As far as point-to-point tickets go....when you purchase them, the reservation is always included. So if you can, try for the Amica fares.
