Help with train from Venice to Florence to Rome

A pass would not be economical for only two train rides - however, if you go to the Trenitalia website, you may be able to get discounted tickets online (within a 120 day window). These discounted tickets are only valid for a specific train, so you would need to be sure of your plans - if not, just pay full fare and buy either online or at the station. You will need to use Italian names for cities and stations (Venezia Santa Lucia, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Roma Termini). You might also consider Italo, an alternative to Trenitalia.

For trains, Trenitalia.com.
Use Italian spelling for stations.

Venice-Venezia Santa Lucia.
Florence-Firenze SMN.
Rome- Roma Termini.

If you purchase 120 days before your trip savings can be substantial.

Venice-Florence. 2H05m.
Florence-Rome. 90 m. These trains run at least hourly. Taking mid to late afternoon trains will get you to thes cities in time for your hotel rooms to be available.

In Venice, take the bus from the airport. A 48 or 72 hour vaporetto pass may be worthwhile. Only you can decide but keep in mind a single ride is E 7,50.
If you plan on visiting the Doge Palace, book ahead. For Saint Marks Basilica you can book a skip the line ticket for E 2,00.

Florence has the Firenze card, though it's not inexpensive.

Rome has the Rome pass, 2&3 days. It does include transportation. Bus and metro.
If you plan on the colosseum,
And the Borghese it pretty much pays for itself.

Hope this helps.

For Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome, there is another train company you can use, called Italo. Many find their website easier to use than Trenitalia.

http://www.italotreno.it/en

We rode an Italo train from Venice to Rome just about a year ago, and it was very nice. At that time the train stopped at both Rome Tiburtina and Rome Termini stations, so one could choose where to disembark.

If you are concerned about arriving in Rome in the evening, I suggest you take a taxi to your hotel. Make sure it is one from the official taxi rank---there will be a queue for that. Donot let anyone steer you away from that queue toward a different area.

Thank you both so much for your help. In Venice now so will have to eat the cost for a train rather than the 120 days prior. Thank you again.
I also recommend that you don't take the vappretto from the airport after 10:30pm. Because of construction on Rialto bridge we had to take a detour and took us much longer and not being in Venice before trying to walk to find out hotel was a nightmare, especially in the rain.

If you move to the next town late in the day you need to consider what you are doing with your luggage during that day.

You may still be able to find a discounted fare for the two train trips if you can commit to the day and time. Pull up both Trenitalia and Italo and have a peek. You never know until you look....

I hope you are having a wonderful time, now that you found your hotel.

Oh, by the way, that's another consideration about evening travel - you have to find your hotel in the dark.

Say hi to Venice for me please.

If you happen to walk by a travel agency you may buy tickets there, with a small surcharge or no surcharge at all. I usually prefer buying tickets in advance and not having to cope with the ticket office on day of travel. Now I buy my train tickets on the we, but also travel agencies are a good alternative.

Maybe use this RS link to plan your train schedule https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains. I found it very easy (first time travels..) then I would suggest you schedule a driver to pick you up at the airport in Rome - esp. if it's evening.. Our host did this for us so ask (we stayed at a VRBO, my sister stayed at a B&B -both hosts were happy to offer this service)

Just to clarify: tickets go on sale 120 days prior to travel, and the bargain fares are limited in number. When they're gone, the higher priced tickets are all that's left. For runs at popular times, the cheap tickets can sell out very quickly; for others, they may still be available close to travel. As Nigel said, it never hurts to look. I forget when they become unavailable (I definitely think they're not available the day of travel no matter how empty the train is, but other than that I'm not sure). So, even if you're going to Florence and Rome soon, look online now to see if you can still snag a deal. In particular, the trains later in the day are sometimes easier to get.

If you're arriving at night, with two people, and your luggage, it's often worth the extra money to take a taxi to your hotel. Just go to the labeled taxi rank in front of the station, and refuse all offers of other "taxis" you get from touts in the stations. Once it's daylight and your luggage is at the hotel, you can take buses to your heart's content (or in Florence, walk, since the only city bus you need is to Fiesole).

Even if it is for travel as early as October 4, there are still Economy discount tickets available beginning at 11:30 for 71.80 EUR versus full fare of 98 EUR total for 2.

I have occasionally bought economy and even super-economy tickets at the station on the day of travel, but not in peak season on popular routes, those tickets do go quickly.

Since you are already in Venice, you know more or less how long it will take to get to the train station. In Florence, the station is walking distance to the main sights, so probably to your hotel as well. It should be pretty easy to sightsee for the day, then pick up your luggage and take an evening train (with picnic dinner) to Rome. When you get to Termini, walk to the front of the station (with your backs to the train tracks) to get to the official taxi rank. There are taxis at the side exits, but they are likely as not to try to rip you off. You should have no trouble getting a taxi and no traffic getting to your hotel. Or take a somewhat earlier train. Even a 6 pm train should allow you to get to your hotel around 8 pm - plenty of time for a nice dinner then.

Thank you all so much for your advice. We booked on Italo for a cheaper price than Trenitalia (sp). Italo was cheaper even 24 hours before and website much easier to use. You calso get a roomier cart (x-large) for the same price as economy. The trains are fast!
We packed some wine and shared a few glasses, we used our hotel plastic cups;)
Across the Firenze Station, on Nazionale there is a supermarket and we bought procuitto, cheese, bread and olives and shared a picnic on the train to Roma Termini. Turned out to be a lovely night.
You were right, thanks for the warning about the taxi drivers, we went straight to the que and worked out great.
*side note, long lines for Uffizi and Accademia in Florence so we bought a guided tour and got in much quicker.
Thank you again for all your advice, this has been very helpful. On our last leg and don't want to go back to the grind!

Thanks for posting your feedback and experiences.

Sounds like it all worked out well. Super! Safe travels.