Help with Train from Bolzano to Naples

Go to: http://www.trenitalia.com/ Click on the English flag for English (top right) Enter the following information (IN CAPITAL BELOW) in the boxes: From: BOLZANO BOZEN To: NAPOLI CENTRALE Depart: 5/6/2013
Hour: 00 Enter number of Adults and Children click on CONFIRM. You will then have all possible solutions starting with the first one in the day (which departs at 5:00 am). Just make your choice. Remember that discounted prices (Economy or Supereconomy) are non refundable, therefore you must make sure you are going to take that train.

There is a train from Bolzano at 7:31 that arrives at Napoli Centrale at 15:30, with two chanes (Verona and Padova), plenty of time to get to Sorrento by Circumvesuviana (departures every half hour). Fare €59,60 per adult.There are earlier and later trains but this seemed to combine the best prive and time.

Thank you Roberto! We will be using a SuperSaver Pass, so I'm looking at the reservation fees from Bolzano to Naples on Rail Europe. Some of them are $425 for all 4 of us. Does this sound right? Looks like we can leave Bolzano at 7:00am and pay a reservation fee of $112 for the 4 of us.

Holly, Where are you getting your information and costs for reservations? According to Rick's Railpass site, reservations are normally about €10 per person for each leg of the trip. You might find it helpful to have a look at: http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/italy.cfm You can also download Rick's PDF Railpass Guide from the home page in the "Railpass" section. You can minimize the reservation fees by choosing a route with fewer changes and fewer trips on "premium" trains such as the Freccia trains. You'll need only your Railpassses for travel on Regionale trains, as reservations are not used. However, when travelling on trains which have compulsory reservations, BE SURE that you board ONLY the train specified on the reservations or you may be fined on the spot and it won't be cheap! Fines START at €50 PP plus the cost of the reservation, and increase from there. One of the easiest and quickest trains on that route will be a departure from Bolzano at 07:00, arriving Napoli Centrale at 13:55 (time 6H:55M, one change at Bologna Centrale, reservations compulsory on both legs). While this option will be a bit more expensive, given the distance you're covering from Bolzano to Sorrento, it would be a good one to consider. That would be a bit of an early morning, but you can nap on the train. There will probably be a dining car to buy breakfast & lunch, or you can pick up a "picnic breakfast" at the station prior to departure. Hopefully your kids won't mind an "unconventional" breakfast, perhaps just a Panino or a Cornetto and soft drink. As I recall, there's a McDonald's at Bologna Centrale, and with a 38 minute layover, you could also get a snack there. Happy travels!

This puzzling sentence is found on the Trenitalia site: "GLOBAL PASS This fare may be purchased only by holders of valid passes to travel on the entire international route of the selected train." "International route"? What about internal routes? (shaking head) Holly, for that 7:00 departure, you could outright purchase 1st-cl tkts for 116€ for all four people. It's no refunds/changes, and must be purchased ASAP for that price. Do you already have your rail passes in hand?

I will be purchasing 4 Super Saver/1st class passes (3 days/2 months) from Rick Steves' website. I've been told that I need to make reservations on Rail Europe for each of our trips. I am in the process of changing our hotel so that we can be in Bolzano the night before so that we can depart on the 7am train to Naples. This looks like the best option and the most direct. Rail Europe is showing me that the reservation fee is $28/per person for this journey. The later trains were showing a $100+/pp reservation fee. Does this all sound right????? THANK YOU!!!!

Holly, you are coming up against the seamy underbelly of passes. As far as I can see from a quick glance the advice you have received from the posters above is right on. Italy works on the Euro so I don't know about all these different prices in dollars. It is very rare that passes work out in Italy especially when you know when you will be traveling. The advice just above about just buying the first class tickets is good. The reason for the reservation fee discrepency noted is that mentioned by Ken. If you are using a pass you are limited to using Trenitalia trains because they are not valid on the new more modern private company .ItaloTreno or on the Circumvesuviana between Naples and Sorrento. Every segment of non-Regionale Trenitalia service you use attracts another pass-holder reservation charge for each person. The charges vary depending on which exact type of train you will be using and there may be certain non stop business trains with either no availability or a much higher charge. It isn't clear from this thread if any of your party are young enough to take advantage of child fares. What other trains will you be taking in Italy? You may very well find, even at this very late date of just a month out, that point to point tickets will be much less than the reservation fees plus the daily costs of the passes. Maybe a slightly touchy subject - sorry in advance - but why do you need First Class? If you look at the photos on Seat 61 you will see that the Second Class seating on the Freccias is pretty darn good and cheaper. I'm sure you will pull this off, good luch on it being easier than it has been...

Holly, I'm assuming you had to buy first class Railpasses due to your age: "If you're 26 or older, you must buy a first-class pass. Those under 26 have the choice of buying either a second- or a first-class pass. For two traveling together, a first-class Saverpass for two costs the same as one first-class adult and one second-class youth. Most families choose to keep youths together with them on a first-class Saverpass." As you're planning to buy the Railpass from Rick Steves, you might find it helpful to call the Rail department and have a chat with them. They'll be able to provide information on reservations. Cheers!

Holly, before you buy those passes, you might post you itinerary here. MIT is very possible that a pass will cost you more than individual,tickets, due I part to the reservation fees which are additional and must be paid separately for each train segment in a journey.

I'm guessing (not knowing your itinerary) that you don't want a railpass. There are restrictions (mentioned above) and esp. if you're traveling in Italy you come out way ahead buying tickets online. Where and when are you traveling?