Classes on Trenitalia?

http://www.seat61.com/frecciarossa.htm

The website provided in the first reply will answer many of your questions. First class seating tends to have larger and more comfortable seats, and the comfort level of second class will vary depending on what type of train you're riding on. Second class seats on Regionale trains will be somewhat "basic".

The prices are only partially related to the classes. Tickets for Regionale trains are always the same price, so only the tickets for the fast trains are variable.

On the fast trains, first class may include wifi, quiet compartments; apart from those types of things, and seat size, there isn't much difference, in my opinion.

Whatever class you decide on, you can buy tickets for high speed and intercity services upto 120 days in advance. If you get superconomy discounted fares you save substantial amounts of money but there are restrictions such as the fact they are non refundable.

Ginger, we've always traveled 2nd class on Italian trains, and found those carriages to be perfectly comfortable. There's no need, IMHO, to spend the extra for 1st-class seats.

Regionale Veloce trains usually have 1st class seats at 50% more than 2nd class. Since they are relatively cheap to begin with, might be worth it on busy routes.

Information about the faster trains is proudly advertised at http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Frecce and also on Italo's web site (competing fast train company). The fastest, Frecciarossa and Italo, both have more than two categories of seating/service.

2nd class (called now Standard and Premium Standard on the Frecciarossa trains) is better than business class on a plane.

So if you generally travel economy on a plane, you will be more than satisfied on 2nd class on a Freccia train. No need to spend more on higher classes.

The main difference (besides the higher price) is that the 1st class is used primarily by business travelers wearing suits and working on their laptop, while the 2nd class is favored by tourists, students and other ordinary people.

1st class is also often half empty, and very quiet (apart from the occasional business conversation held by one of the business travelers over a cell phone).

I've traveled on 1st class a few times (mostly when the 2nd class was sold out on a train and didn't want to wait for the next train). I find the 1st class very boring. In 2nd class you get to know people sometimes and have a nice talk with fellow travelers. Every time I traveled on 1st class it was always very empty or near some stiff looking lawyer or accountant or manager working on a lap top and occasionally calling their secretaries in the office. Being an accountant myself I can certainly attest to how boring we are (really awful to be with). Obviously you can't talk to these business travelers because they are all working. So the only thing left to do is either sleep or read.

First class on a regional train (when available) could be a nice upgrade during commute hours, when 2nd class gets kind of crowded with commuters.

Thank you so much everyone - I really appreciate your comments and suggestions.

May I ask another question now...Termini vs Tiburtina? Is is worth our effort (and time) to take the metro to Tiburtina to avoid the madness of Termini? I can't recall how far apart they are.

We are travelling from Rome to Cortona. I really want to give my family the most relaxing travel day possible! :)

It wouldn't be worth it to me, but I don't mind the chaos at Termini, so it's up to you. You won't be spending too much time at the station, anyway (hopefully).

No, it wouldn't be worth it to me either. Termini is perfectly fine, and the A and B lines of the metro cross there so you're probably going to be dealing with it if spending time in Rome during a segment of your trip. It's well signed, and a convenient station for all sorts of reasons.

Maybe I am just use to it, but I don't think Termini is that bad. It is a large, busy, lots of people but it part of the Italian travel experience. Personally I would not want to put up with the metro ride. We always ride 2nd class until we can get a great deal on first. Once we rode in first class and we were the only people in the car.