buying train tix from Rome to Florence

Someone once posted that there were 53 train a day between Florence and Rome. Will not guarantee the 53 but know there several trains each hour. Buy point to point when you get there and it will be much less than RailEurope quoted you. RE is travel agency and not a train company.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think we will just buy our tickets at the station. Seems the cheapest and easiest.

Having just returned from Italy, where we traveled all over by train, I would suggest you NOT wait until the day of travel to buy your tickets, especially for the ES trains. Go to the station---any station, preferably a smaller one---a day or two ahead and buy them then. Or if there is an American Express office in Rome, buy them there.

The one time we tried to purchase "day of" tickets it was a nightmare---long lines, broken ticket machines, and tickets that came without reserved seats when I finally made it to the front of the line to buy them.

You can also buy your tickets at any travel agency you pass that has the trenitalia logo. they don't mark up the prices so if you're wandering the city and see a travel agent with no one inside, stop in to get your tickets.

Donna

I was the one who posted the 53 trains a day running from Rome to Florence. It was easy. I just went to www.trenitalia.com and counted the train runs. A good deal of these runs were non-stop high-speeds. As mentioned above, it is so easy to walk up to the dozens of automated ticket machines and buy your tickets. The machines will prompt you in English and will make your seat assignments.

The high-speed run takes 1hr 35min and does cost 44Euro (about $55). Not cheap. However, if you wish to save some Euros, there are a few IC runs during the day that cost 28 Euro but the journey takes 3hrs 15min (some stops). There is even the occasional Regionale train run (no seat reservations) that costs 16.10 Euro. This run takes just 4hrs.

CLICK HERE to see a portion of a typical schedule.

Am weighing in with the other posters who say buy at the station. Having been to Rome a few times, never had a problem finding a machine to buy tix. If you're near the station it might be a good idea to go down on the 14th so you're not rushed and buy your tix a day in advance; that way you'll also know what time to be at the station and will be able to do other things before that time (including sleep!).

We just got back from Italy a couple of days ago. We traveled from Rome to Florence on the train. I bought my tickets at the airport at the train station as soon as we arrived. There was absoluteley no waiting at the ticket window, and was really simple. I was done with buying my tickets in a few minutes. If the ticket window is crowded you can use the self service ticket machines which are very easy to use also. You should have no problem buying tickets once you arrive in Italy rather than using the Rail Europe site and paying extra.

Agree, wait to but until you get there. Print out the schedule ahead of yime and buy all your tickets the first day if you know your schedule. I would not recommend raileurope. I did luck out and had a friend in Italy buy ahead for me on trenitalia and paid my friend for the 30% discount for prepayment (great).

THANK YOU! so much for your suggestions. We are staying 2 blocks from the Termini so we will buy our tickets a few days before we leave to Firenze.

Grazie!!