Cell phone options & train from Malpensa - Venice

Kat, A few comments on the Cell phone. If you're only planning very limited use of the phone, you might consider one of the "travel packs" from AT&T. That will reduce your costs somewhat and allow you to use your present phone. However, if you're planning to use the data functions of the iPhone, it's important to also get a data roaming package, in order to avoid horrendously expensive data roaming charges! If you want mostly voice and text functions, you could purchase a SIM from one of the "travel phone" firms such as Call In Europe, Roam Simple, Cellular Abroad, Telestial or Mobal. AFIAK, these DON'T provide data functions, so you'd need to switch the data functions "off" (however you could still access the net via Wi-Fi but make sure the phone doesn't access the cellular networks). Especially after a trans-atlantic flight, the absolute best option for travel from Milan / MXP to Venice is by train (Time ~3H:48M, 1 change at Milano Centrale, current second class fare €38). It's important to specify that you want Trenitalia trains rather than the Malpensa Express (operated by Le Nord Railways) that travels to Milano Cadorna station. It's likely that your flight will be arriving at Terminal 1B. I believe the rail station is in Terminal 1, level 1 so you shouldn't have any trouble buying tickets. Note that your destination station will be Venezia Santa Lucia. You could also take the Malpensa Shuttle Bus to Milano Centrale and use train from there. The trip is about 50M, so not much more than by train. You can buy tickets either in the Terminal or from the Driver. If you think you might use that option, post another note and I'll provide info for ticket purchase. Happy travels!

Kat: A few posts down is this one: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/61943/malpensa-express-to-milan-central.html answers some of your questions. While it does not take long to clear customs and immigration (especially if you have carry-on luggage only), buying your tickets in advance carries a risk: If your flight is late, you may well have to buy your tickets again, with no credit. The fares are a but complicated, but if you get a discount (mini) fare, there is no option to change your plans unless you do it well before the train would leave. There is a "flessibile" fare, which costs more and allows changes. See Ron in Rome's excellent post on this here: http://www.roninrome.com/%20transportation/booking-on-the-trenitalia-website. I am struggling with the cellphone issues too. I rented one last trip, with an Italian number. Expensive but easy. Knew the number before we left the US. Now I have a Droid Global, but I know I don't want to be accessible to everyone who might just dial me up from the US because they don't know I am in Italy. And I want my calls within Italy to be reasonable so I can confirm reservations, etc. Might rent again despite the expense so I can have the number before we leave, people who don't know we are in Europe can't reach us, and we can have easy service within Italy.

I bought an unlocked quad phone from Amazon four years ago, a Motorola Razr3, and then bought a TIM simcard for 10 euro which included 5 euro credit. Since we go to Venice every year, I have the same number/simcard since 2007. The simcard is good for a year after topup, so I buy an additioanal 5 euro credit just before leaving to keep it current. By the way, I use the same phone with an AT&T pay-as-you-go simcard here in the USA. For calling home, I have my laptop and use Google Talk to call home for free. The advantage of Google Talk over Skype is being able to call a landline/cellphone for free, at least through this year.

Hi, I have an article on the options for using your cell. Easily the most popular blog post I ever wrote as it can be a complex subject: http://www.lodgephoto.com/blog/how-to-phone-home-from-europe/253/ Buying a TIM SIM card is easy and cheap, and if you find someone in the phone shop who speaks English (not too hard), you can ask for the English-speaking option. This means that when you dial in to add more credit or find out how much you have left, all the prompts are in English rather than Italian. You get free incoming calls and a great local call rate. Mathew

Great reference Mathew, Thanks!

Regarding the train tickets, I agree with Laurel. The risks associated with buying your Milan to Venice train tickets in advance outweigh the advantages. Buy them when you get to Milan. You'll take either bus or train to Milan central station and change there to your Venice train. The train service between Malpensa and central station is fairly new and I've not yet used it, but you may be able to buy both Malpensa to Milan and Milan to Venice tickets at the airport train station. Rome airport train station offers full ticket service, and I don't see why Malpensa wouldn't too.

As you consider advance tickets for your journey to Venice from Malpensa, you should look at a couple of options. The seats on the train from Milano Centrale, where you will be changing trains, requires seat reservations. If your plane is late and you miss that train, you can get your tickets adjusted but you won't like the process and you will be later than you planned. Second, you most likely can't buy the tickets for the train from Malpensa to Milan as it's a Regionale train and no reservations are permitted. It's like a bus on train tracks. You buy your ticket and get on. These trains depart about once an hour. You can easily get tickets for this train at the Malpensa train station for your entire trip to Venice. Finally, www.trenitalia.com may be loosening up on accepting U.S. credit cards thus you may be able to purchase the ticketless journey along with the mini-fares being offered. If you must do this, make sure that you a departure time from Milan to Venice that provides ample time for you plane to arrive and you to clear customs.

Thanks so much for all the replies! I've decided that I will wait to buy my train tickets from Milan to Venice once we get there just in case there's a delay with the airlines. I've done ahead and done the research so I know which route. Guess the next question is - is it worth it to upgrade to first class? This will be our first train travel anywhere and don't know if the increase in cost provides noticeable improvements in comfort for travel. Opinions? On the phone issue - We will be bringing an unlocked iPhone as well as a regular locked one. The locked phone, I think we will get the AT&T World Traveler package just as a backup and keep the data and roaming turned off unless we need it. The locked phone we will look into getting a prepaid SIM to use while there. We've picked hotels that provide free wireless so we can avoid having to buy data packages. Thanks again for all the help so far! Kathleen

Kat, on the 1st class vs 2nd class, you really don't need to upgrade. The 2nd class seats are quite nice. It's not like the economy class on the airlines. The seats are 4 across - 2 on each side. The 1st class seats are 3 wide per row and do give you more leg and elbow room. It's your choice. When we first went to Italy, our first ride was 1st class. We just had to see. It was our last time in 1st class. 2nd class is just great. Since you are going to Venice, why not go 1st class on your first ride and see for yourself.

Kat, "This will be our first train travel anywhere " One point to mention about train travel in Italy. If you're using EuroStar Italia / Alta Velocita trains, these require compulsory reservations which will be included in the cost of the tickets. The reserved seats will specify a Car No. (Carozza) and a Seat No. (Posti). You'll have to make sure you sit in the appropriate seats or you'll likely be asked to move. It's a good idea to get in the habit of validating tickets in the yellow machines, even though this may not be required with reserved tickets. Have you researched travel from Venezia Santa Lucia station to your Hotel in Venice?

Hey Kathleen, If you're using an iPhone, you're welcome to join the private beta of our iPhone app - Onavo. We've developed a technology that can slash data roaming charges by up to 80%, totally seamless and transparent. You can read more on our blog, and claim your invite: http://bit.ly/fd9ROu. Happy travels :-)

Kat:
I popped for first class on this same trip because we were (like you will be) fresh off a long flight and I tired. I liked having a little less crowd, a little more seat & leg room, more luggage storage. They also came through the car with overpriced but delicious espresso. :-) On some of your other segments, if you buy in advance and get the mini fare, first class may actually cost less than second class. Laurel