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Eurail Italy Pass or Pt to Pt Purchase?

All-

We are taking our first European Adventure. Will be traveling in Italy 05-22May

We will not have a car. I've booked all of our lodging, as well as the tours that we know for sure we want to take. So... our itinerary is pretty well set with the exception of possible unplanned side trips on the days that we have no definitive plans. I followed RS advice and looked at the his Italy train travel cost map to figure est pt to pt Tix & Then looked at a 10-day/2mo Italy Saver Pass. Price was cheaper with the Eurail Pass so I thought I had made a decision b/c price was better & flexibility, which might be good since we're not well versed train travelers & somehow mess up & miss a train, etc. The I checked the Man in Seat 61 & he advised that if you know your plans you always come out ahead by buying pt to pt tickets if you purchase them well in advance. So... Then I went & actually priced the Tix on the days we'd need to travel & cost was significantly less. But I keep second guessing what would be best for us. I think it's my lack of confidence b/c of my lack of general train & travel experience. It's not all about the $, but obviously, I don't want to spend extra $ if I don't need to. Mostly, I want to make the right decision.I'd like some advice on what you seasoned travelers think we should do based on our limited train travel experience

Train trips that I know we will take are:
8 May Venice to Rome (1-way);
10 May Rome to Naples (RT);
12 May Rome to Siena (1-way either by train or bus - I posted a ? earlier seeking advice);
16 May Siena to Manarola (1-way);
19 May Manarola to Varenna (1-way);
22 May Varenna to Tirano (1-way)

Thank you for your experience & advice!

Dana

Posted by
21370 posts

Do not get a rail pass. These trips can be purchased 120 days in advance for peanuts. They are nonrefundable, nonchangeable, but if your lodging is set, you are already commited. Just pick a convenient time and buy the tickets. The price references in the RS guide books are meaningless. Go to www.trenitalia.com and get real prices.

Posted by
6898 posts

Dana, a lot depends on three questions. 1) Are you willing to prepare detailed travel planning so that you know precisely what days you will be traveling?, 2) Are you willing to commit 119 days out from the time of travel and lock in specific trains on specific travel days? and, 2) are you willing to accept non-refundable fares in trade for great discounted fares?

First, you are looking at $469 for a 10-day pass over 2 months. Plus, Italy charges a 10Euro seat reservation fee to Eurail passholders for each fast train you ride. I see four. So we're up to $509. Let's start from there. Now, the discounted fares on the fast trains. No discounts on the Regionale trains but they are really cheap.

  1. Venice to Rome. 29Euro discount. 80Euro full fare.
  2. Rome to Naples R/T. 38Euro discount R/T. 86Euro full fare round trip.
  3. Rome to Siena. 16.45Euro on two Regionale trains.
  4. Siena to Manarola. 15.50Euro on three Regionales or 21.10Euro on 3 Regionales and 1 fast train. The more expensive choice with the Frecciabianca train is about 30 minutes faster (3.5hrs)
  5. Manarola to Varenna-Esino. 22.85Euro discount. About 30Euro full fare. 2 Regionales and 1 Intercity train.
  6. Varenna-Esino to Tirano. 7Euro on 1 Regionale train. 1.5hrs. No discount.

About 130Euro ($179) for the entire itinerary as you show it. About 35% of the cost you would pay for a pass. I can buy all of the tickets except the all Regionale train runs right now. Your choice.

Posted by
7737 posts

99% of the time, the answer for travel within Italy is P2P for the reasons given.

Posted by
23 posts

Great!! Decision made! Will go ahead & buy my pt to pt tix for best pricing. Your responses confirmed what I was thinking. I just needed a sanity check from you seasoned travelers! Again, thanks!

Dana

Posted by
6898 posts

One more option. For Venice to Rome and for the round trip to/from Rome/Naples, you have the alternate option and similar discount pricing on the new Italo train system. Fabulous new trains. www.italotreno.it They don't accept any railpass.