Hi, I was looking to buy train tickets to go from Milano Centrale to Padova in mid June when we start a Village Italy RS tour. There are different websites selling the same tickets at different prices and it is confusing. Is there a site that you would recommend or should we wait until the day of departure to buy the tickets?
Thank you.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15236 posts
The website is:
www.trenitalia.com
However if Milan to Padova is the only trip you need, I wouldn't bother and I would simply buy the ticket at the station when I decide to go. The trip is not that long therefore the savings on an early purchase not that significant.
Be aware that discounted tickets come with restrictions. They are not refundable or changeable. So if you miss the specific train you book, or if you accidentally miss that specific train, your ticket cannot be changed or refunded, so you lose all your money.
Posted by
Green Bay
20236 posts
www.trenitalia.com will have the definitive best price since they operate the trains.
www.italiarail.com has the same prices if you specify EUR as the transaction currency (they also do USD,CAD,AUD,GBP). But they tack on a service fee.
Right now, it looks like there are Economy tickets available on many trains in mid-June at 19 euro for 2nd cl. If you wait until close to your intended departure time, only Base tickets will be available at 34.50 euro.
Posted by
California 🦋
5226 posts
I just checked the trenitalia website & you can still find 'Economy' tickets for mid June ( Milano Centrale to Padova) at 19€ pp or you can just wait till you get to Italy & pay the 'Base' (full) price of 34,50€ pp.
Keep in mind that Economy tickets come with restrictions (unchangeable & nonrefundable), so your travel dates must be firm.
Enjoy your trip!
Edit: You can read about Economy ticket restrictions here: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Offers/The-economy-ticket
Posted by
OP
Cleveland, OH, USA
78 posts
Would there be a problem with ticket availability if I wait to buy the tickets until the day of departure?
Posted by
Green Bay
20236 posts
It would have to be a very unusual set of circumstances, like the evening before a 3 day Italian holiday weekend. Someone posted that they had to wait for at least 3 extra hours waiting for an available seat to Rome on the Thursday before Easter. There are about 2 trains per hour going from Milan to Rome in the afternoon, but they had to wait for 5 full trains to leave before they were able to get a seat.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15236 posts
Sometimes the 2nd class sells out for the most immediate departure. But it's rare. In that case you could by a 1st class ticket (which nearly never sell out) or wait for a later train when 2nd class is available (generally the next departure after the sold out one). Since between Milan and Padua there are many options, I wouldn't worry at all.