Help with train and itinerary

Gail,
Going directly to Orvieto is a good idea. Get tickets at FCO train station for Orvieto. You can get the rest of the tickets at Orvieto so there souldn't be a problem with the fare being sold out.

See http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=d50025ef095ba110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
for family discounts.

See http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=193f943d919da110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD&let=o
for places to buy tickets in Orvieto at no additional charge.

Hi Gail,

If you want to save Rome for the end of your trip, that's perfectly do-able. Once you arrive in Rome at FCO, you can take a train to Rome's main station (Roma Termini) and from there you can train to Orvieto. It will take just over an hour.

You do not need to reserve train tickets/seats in advance. Trains will be heading out regularly from Rome to Orvieto, so you can purchase your tickets when you arrive at Roma Termini, and I'm sure you won't even need to reserve a seat (as most usually don't). You can check out the train schedule at it's website (www.trenitalia.it)(**do note however, that the schedule times are only given so far in advance, so they probably won't have July's schedule up yet. However, the schedules are essentially the same now as they are in July, so just pick the same day of the week to search and you will find the appropriate times).

Your itinerary looks good though! Just to mention, your trip from Venice to Cinque Terre will be a long travel day though. It will be a trip coming back through Florence then going out to the west coast, taking about 5 1/2 hours overall. You will have to have at least one long travel day I guess, so it can either be then, or if you wanted to, go to Venice from Orvieto, then come back to Florence before Cinque Terre. But either way works fine.

Your itinerary is very do-able by train, so I definitely wouldn't get a van and have to worry about the driving and the parking, etc.

But enjoy your travels!

Thanks for the info Stuart and Henry. I'm really relieved that you both think it will work to go right to Orvieto. This will be a first European trip for our kids and grandkids, so really want to plan things out. Gail

Gail,

Given the arrival time of your flight, I'd probably carry on directly to Orvieto but you'll have to consider how well your group handles jet lag. The trip from the US west coast to Rome is LONG (I also travel from the west coast)!

By the time you collect your luggage, clear Passport control and get to Roma Termini it will probably be at least 11:00. Use the Leonardo Express into Rome as it's the quickest method and not subject to "traffic issues". You can buy tickets at the airport (DON'T forget to validate them in the yellow machine before boarding the train!)

Buy your tickets for Orvieto when you arrive at Termini, either at the staffed ticket windows or via the kiosks. Second class fare is listed as €13.50 PP. There are frequent trains to Orvieto, so you likely won't have to wait long. The trip is about 1H:10M.

Be sure to familiarize yourselves with the release mechanism on the train door. When you arrive in Orvieto, buy tickets for the Funicular. You should be able to walk to your Hotel, but check the Guidebook for other options. I'd highly recommend adding at least one day to Orvieto and perhaps dropping one from Venice. A trip to Civita will take the better part of a day, and having an extra day to get over jet lag would be good.

One point of concern is that your proposed Itinerary doesn't mention travel times. It's very important to allow for adequate travel times between locations. For example, the trip from Venice to the CT and the CT to Rome will EACH be about half a day. You might need to adjust your timing slightly, perhaps dropping one night from the CT?

Another thing to consider is that you'll lose the first day in flight times and time zone changes (you'll arrive in Italy the day after you depart) and the last day will be spent on the trip home. Have you made provision for that in your planning?

Good luck and happy travels!

Gail,

One other thing to mention, is that Italy will probably be VERY hot and crowded at that time of year as it's peak travel season. Be sure your group is "prepared" for that.

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I am concerned about the heat, but we really didn't have much of a choice with my daughter being a teacher and kids school schedules Gail

Gail....i'm going to make a different suggestion...buy your ticket from FCO to Orvieto. No need to take the Leonardo Express. You also get to bypass Rome Termini.

Many of the routes from FCO to Orvieto change trains at Rome Tiburtini--Rome's second train station. The walk between trains will be less, and the total time is the same as if you went to Rome Termini. I'd also think it's cheaper than having to pay for the Leonardo Express.

Thanks Frank. That sounds like a really good idea. Gail

Frank II,

Changing at Tiburtini never occurred to me. Good suggestion! Must make a note of that for future reference.

Cheers!