I'd like to ask about the rail pass vs. point to point tickets. We are going to Italy over Easter for 3 weeks with 5 people (2 adults; 3 kids under 11). Rome - Venice - CT - Florence - Rome. I checked out the Italy train website and it appears that buying a rail pass (4 uses in 1 month) will save us at least 50-60 Euro per person when I ran the total for each of the individual tickets per each leg. (i.e. at least 300 Euro total saved on the trains for the family -- and this is for the fast trains except to CT.). I know every posting always says purchase point to point at the kiosk, but for this many people and trips, it appears that the railpass is cheapest. Am I missing something? Thanks!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23777 posts
Where or how did you obtain point to point pricing? That could be the difference.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
since you don't give the price you calculate for the individual tickets or for the rail pass you are considering, how can anyone tell if you looked it up correctly?
Posted by
OP
APO, AE, United Kingdom
11 posts
BY going to the website (italiarail.com), you can plug in the destinations and number of people (like Expedia or any other travel engine) and it provides a list of choices (times, fast or slow trains, connecting towns). It will also tell me the price of the entire trip on a family pass). I total up the 4 trips then compare to the cost of a rail pass and it appears I am saving about 50-70 Euro per person. For example, our family of 5 Rome to Venice on the Eurostar is 226 Euro (2nd class). Am I missing something?
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
I like to use the official sight.
But the price you quote seems correct.
BUT yes you are missing something. Each time you ride a Eurostar with your pass, there is a mandatory 10 euro per person seat reservation. So you need to factor those in.
I'm assuming that you are qualified for the Interail pass for European residents?
Posted by
OP
APO, AE, United Kingdom
11 posts
Ron, Henry, many thanks. We are US Military living in the UK. I noticed the European resident requirement, but I figured since were LIVING in Europe we were OK. Are they sticklers for citizenship or just residence? If OK to get a pass, is it then better to buy the point to point tickets or get the pass?
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
I think point to points might be cheaper. Please check my math as I'm too lazy to double check and check my logic too ;-)
Interail passes = 140 times 2 plus 70 times 3 for the kids for a total of 490.
the way I read it three of your trips will be on Eurostars most likely. The CT to Florence will be on a regional train. That means 5 time 10 times 3 for seat reservations on those Eurostars. Total 150
Grand total with passes 640 euros.
My calcs for 2nd class travel (point to point) were around 540. the price on the point to points include the seat reservation when needed.
I believe that's right but please check again with a better authority
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6038 posts
"But I don't know how they enforce the six month rule, or even know you are in the service. "
To answer the six month rule question, they can tell by looking at your passport. When you enter the country with a work/residence permit, your passport is stamped with your date of entry; the permit in your passport also shows dates of validity and restrictions.