I wish to take the fast train from Rome to Venice on May 1, which I believe is a holiday there, and purchase my tickets beforehand. However, using the Trenitalia web site, I have not had success despite alerting Visa beforehand, having sufficient funds, and filling in all requested information correctly. I have been able to get seat assignments and all looks good until I press the submit to purchase button. I'm always denied. That makes no sense to me. Has anyone else had that problem and has a solution to offer? Am I being unnecessarily concerned about purchasing tickets for that May 1 date beforehand? I'll be arriving in Rome on April 23. I appreciate any help. Thanks!
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
American credit cards have, 99% of the time, failed to be accepted on Trenitalia's website for a couple of years now....the company has never explained why. May 1st is a major holiday in Europe....with it falling on a Saturday, most people will take a long weekend, so it will be particularly busy. I would suggest you try raileurope.com to make sure you have your tickets on hand. Recently, they have been offering Italian train tickets at the same cost as purchased at the ticket windows, and free shipping.
Posted by
Los Angeles
425 posts
Since you'll be in Rome 8 days before taking the train to Venice, you have enough time to buy your train tickets on April 23 or 24, which should be enough lead time. There are HOURLY AV trains from Rome to Venice, and they won't all sell out one week in advance!
IN FACT, if you buy at least 7 days in advance, you MAY qualify for the "meno 15" or 15% discount. Tickets at this promotional fare are capacity controlled, so you may not qualify for the train you select.
The raileurope option is OK, as long as you don't have to pay a supplement. If you buy through raileurope, see if you can qualify for the "meno 30" or 30% discount, by purchasing at least 15 days in advance.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
as has been mentioned in dozens of posts, you can't use your US credit card on the website. But it will work perfectly well once yuo're in Italy and standing at the train station kiosk.
Posted by
Norfolk, USA
255 posts
Someone posted on here not long ago that they signed up for the Verified by Visa program for their Visa credit card and had then been able to purchase from the Trenitalia site.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
All Trenitalia transactions have to go thru Verified by Visa....so it's not a matter of whether or not you have signed up or not. If your transaction is successful, you'll have to go thru that stage anyway, but 99% of American credit cards never get that far.
Posted by
austin, texas, us
48 posts
Do you trust raileurope? I have had trouble getting tickets via Trenitalia as well. Argh... Have you thought about asking the hotel to make the reservation for you?
Posted by
Miramichi, NB, Canada
2 posts
Hi Lisa. I am impressed that you made it that far! I want to make ticket reservations to Firenze for May 2 (same holiday weekend). I will be awaiting news of your endeavours!
Anna
Posted by
OP
riverbank
14 posts
Thanks to everyone who's responded so far. From reading the replies it appears hopeless to have success with a Chase Visa. A previous reply gives a great web site with instructions on using Trenitalia. I could have saved lots of time if I had known of others' Chase Visa problems. The denial comes from the bin number of the credit card (indicating bank used by credit card)which is the first 4 numbers. Most American cards are rejected right away by their bin numbers..... A good idea was given to ask my hotel to purchase for me and I'll try to do that. In meantime my husband has been working with a local travel agent and just announced "success"! It took her a couple of hours ( I think it became a challenge!) but for a $15 fee we now have two one way tickets on May 1 from Rome to Venice at the time we wished to leave and with the 15% discount of Trenitalia. Our fee with the exception of the $15 will be the same as the one I had hoped to get on the web site....One suggestion that the travel agent made was that it helps to use the website during business hours there, which may mean at night for us........The tickets are being shipped to the travel agent and we will pick up from her in a couple days....Lisa