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ETA for Italy train tix ordered through RickSteves.com

I'm hoping to order some train tix in advance for a trip in June. Does anyone know how long it takes to get tix once ordered? These are all within Italy including la frecce trains.

Posted by
663 posts

Don't buy thru this website, get them directly from trenitalia.com. You will be able to print them off of your computer at home or go paperless depending on what you choose, no need to wait for them to arrive.

Posted by
11294 posts

I don't want to be disrespectful to this site, but there's no need to order Italian train tickets from RS. You can book your tickets on Trenitalia.com or Italo.com, and you get an immediate email with the PNR number, which serves as your ticket (so nothing to wait for).

If you're not interested in advance purchase discounts, you can just buy your tickets when you get to Italy (the machines accept cash and US credit cards, and have an English language option, so they're easy to use). And for non-frecce trains, if you mean Regionale or Regionale Veloce, there's no advantage booking them ahead. The prices don't change, and the online tickets actually have more restrictions than the ones you buy locally.

Edit: cross posting with Angela, and you see we agree.

Posted by
3272 posts

They don't even sell train tickets here, just rail passes.

It is very easy to buy them on Trenitalia.com. The earlier you buy, the better the price. As noted above, you print them out yourself, so you get them right away.

Posted by
7209 posts

Don't ever buy train tickets through a 3rd party reseller EVER if possible. You'll always pay a markup. Buy directly from the national rail site of the country in which you'll be traveling. And while we're at it - don't ever waste your money on these silly Eurail Passes. Stick to either point-to-point or, if you do buy a pass such as in Switzerland, buy the pass directly for the country in which you want to travel.

Posted by
16895 posts

Sasha's info is out of date. You can buy train tickets this year at http://ricksteves.raileurope.com/us/rail/point_to_point/triprequest.htm. For faster trains within Italy, these are e-tickets to print-at-home. Rates "match" Trenitalia.com, but the exchange rate applied may be higher than what your credit card will charge to convert euros. If the Trenitalia site gives you any trouble, then you do have this option for US purchase, or can buy on shorter notice in train stations and travel agencies in Italy.

Posted by
7737 posts

FYI, the big discounts on Trenitalia tickets become available four months before the travel date. At that point they begin to disappear and will not be replaced by more tickets at a discount. Some of the major routes sell out quickly at the discounts, esp. for early morning and late afternoon.