buying italian train tickets

They need an Italian address to register. I registered a few years ago before that was a requirement, but my understanding is that it is just a blank spot that has to have something in it to proceed. You can use the address of your hotel if you want, they won't be sending you anything.

Another option is to use www.italiarail.com. That site is operated by Trenitalia and the prices are the same. If you choose USD as the currency, there is about a 3 % conversion charge built in. You could also choose euros as the transaction currency and save a couple of bucks if your credit card company doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

You do not need to register to purchase on Trenitalia.
Use the English site, choose your train/ticket, click continue then there is a choice Registered or Non Registered User.

(Sorry it's been a few months but it goes something like that!)

The Non-Registered User option looks like it will work fine. If you have a PayPal account, that option might also avoid possible credit card approval hassles.

You can also avoid credit card approval card hassles by calling your bank prior to purchasing, to advise them you will be making a purchase from an Italian website. I have never had my charges rejected once I did that.

Agree with Lola.
We notified our bank/credit cards before we started making any online reservations for our trip- trains, tours, hotels in Italy, etc.

Thanks for suggestions, but I don't see a non-registered or guest option on the Trenitalia website. It won't let me proceed without registering.

I just visited the italiarail website and found only a very limited timetable and ticket prices almost double the trenitalia prices. I guess I'll wait until I arrive in Florence to purchase my ticket at the station there. I'm just not having any luck trying to do it online here. I'm still open to suggestions if anyone can help!

Kim,

I just checked both sites. I picked a date of Nov 20, for the trains from Florence (SMN) to Milano Centrale, and I found exactly the same trains and prices at both Trenitalia and Italiarail. I used euros as the currency at the Italiarail site.

You might be seeing some artificially low prices on Trenitalia, but when you click on the details, you will find that they are Cartafreccia Specials. To get that price, you must have a Cartafreccia (kind of like a frequent traveler card) and for that, you need to register and have an Italian address.

FI, when I look at the 11:00 departure, it shows a 25 euro fare that does not show at Italiarail, but both show the next cheapest price of a 29 euro Super Economy Premium seat. The only Standard fare is the Economy 39 euro fare on both, but they both show the Super Econmy Premium.

Don't give up. Otherwise you will definitely pay the 50 euro standard base fare.

PM me with the details and I'll check it out and get back to you.

I can not help you re: buying ticket from the states since we bought ours in Italy, but do suggest you do your searches on raileurope.com. The site shows Trenitalia and Italo times and fares. I think raileurope has a service fee so we purchased directly at the Italo web site (their price was better on all 3 of our high speed trips). The Italo trains were excellent and we bought the lowest price seats. They have fast, comfortable trains with good wi-fi. You do not need a paper ticket, can show your confirmation number from your mobile device.

Raileurope only shows selected trains, you can get a better description at the national site, Trenitalia, or at Italo.com. Or bahn.de, which only sells tickets for trains with a stop in Germany, but gives schedules for everything on one site.

trenitalia

kim,

You may find it easier to use the Italia Rail website as it's more "user friendly" than the Trenitalia site.