High Speed Train Travel

Sounds like you maybe unfamiliar with European train travel. Check out the Man in seat 61 website, pretty much tye authority on all things to do with train travel. I've included a link to the page dealing with train travel from Rome. https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Rome.htm

The best price is 4-6 mo out. You can actually get first class very cheap that early.

Do a search in the search bar for this info as it is brought up often.

Also, as mentioned above - seat61.com is a great site for all info on European train travel.

As far as which train company - we've used both many times and we go with price and times -- we also book very early and get 1st class seats for less than the price of 2nd class.

Luggage is usually stored in racks above your seat or in the luggage section near the doors. Not much room near your seat unless you get the last row of seats, then there is sometimes room behind your seat. You can usually see the seats and layout when you book tickets. We usually book online and print out our tickets, but we also usually receive an email with a bar scan that they can scan when they check tickets.

You will enjoy traveling by train. We use it to get between most cities in Italy. The 2nd class seats are nice enough but I’ve upgraded when the cost difference wasn’t too much. There is usually a luggage area at the end of your car and also plenty of room overhead for “checked” size bags. I’ve only used Italo one time and it was fine, comparable to Trenitalia’s fast trains. I typically book as soon as the route becomes available and I use the app on my phone. Using e-tickets with the QR code has always been very easy for us.

Michael,

A few thoughts on your questions.....

I haven't noticed any big differences between Trenitalia and Italo. The Italo trains are a bit newer but both types are very comfortable, and both travel at the same speed. I've never felt there was any benefit to paying for first class or whatever, as the seats in second class or whatever are perfectly comfortable. Use whichever one has the best prices at the time, and best fits your travel schedule.

There's a luggage rack at the end of each coach, but these often fill up quickly. You can often place luggage in the "A" space between seat backs. Smaller carry-on size items are placed in the racks above your seats.

Buying tickets in advance for the high speed trains can save money. With Trenitalia there are three tiers of tickets - Super Economy, Economy and Base. The discounted tickets are limited for each train, and when Super Economy is sold out, Economy is offered and when those are gone the only thing left is Base fare, which is the highest level and what would be charged if the ticket was purchased on the day of travel.

You can buy tickets on the rail company websites via computer or phone, with or without an App. Tickets are also available from resellers such as Trainline which sells tickets for both rail networks. You can also go to the ticket offices in stations or use the convenient automated kiosks. If using a computer, you can print out a paper copy of your tickets If using a phone, just load the ticket onto that.

There are few important caveats to mention.....

• Tickets for the high speed trains are specific to train, date and departure time and can only be used on the one train specified on the ticket. If you board any other train even by mistake, you'll be subject to hefty fines which are often collected on the spot.
• The discounted tickets come with conditions. For example, Super Economy tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable once purchased, so be sure of your trips before you book.
• If you'll be using the slower Regionale trains with locally purchased tickets, these must be validated prior to use on the day of travel, or again, hefty fines. The same applies to tickets for the Metro in Rome, Vaporetti in Venice, etc. or for Buses.

This video is a bit dated but you may find it helpful - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n8rITO1Eek . You may also want to have a look at the newest Rick Steves Italy guidebook.

there is no 3rd class any more. Used to be when people took their goats and hens to market on the train, but no more. And never on high speed trains. They are very nice inside no matter what class you are in.

You may have been thinking of the generally 3 price gradations available, mentioned above. That won't matter to you because you are so late to the party that many of the cheap tickets will be gone. There is no difference in the seating based on what you pay, just how much you pay for the same seats.

Unless when you said you are traveling to Italy next week with your family you mean for an extended stay so you do have more time in advance to save money.

We travelled between Rome, Florence and Venice last month, first time on high speed trains. We booked all of our tickets in advance, non refundable for very inexpensive, but had to pay full price for Rome to Florence on our first day because our flight was cancelled. We used only Italo, sometimes smart (2nd class) sometimes primo (first class) and really didn't find much difference as others have said. In primo you get a snack and drink but it's just a pack of bisquits and coffee or soft drink. The biggest difference was between the 2 primo trains, just different age cars I guess. I never saw the space between seats as some have described, I'm guessing that's just dependent on car configuration. We had carry on wheeled suitcases plus a back pack each and had no problems storing overhead. The last leg we had an extra bag and still had plenty of room in the overhead bins. I bought most of my tickets online but had the app on my phone and pulled up the ticket on the app, or pulled up the email, both were easy. If you're traveling as a group and the tickets are bought together, you only show one qr code, that has everyone's ticket on it. I also used the trenitalia app to buy my ticket from FCO to Tiburtina upon arrival, also very easy.

Thanks everyone, very helpful. I ended up booking a high speed train with Italo from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale and back. Prices kept going up so thought it best to book in advance. Goofy interfaces both online and on the mobile app. Updated my profile and save changes but nothing saves?! Booked tickets came back with random seats (not together but in the same car) and had adults and seniors switched around. Is there an English based customer service number for Italo to get this straightened out or do I not even bother?

Wow, that's pretty weird that they didn't give you seats together. On one of our legs I did see a family of 4 that were separated a bit, but the mother just pointed to the dad and son sitting a few seats away and it was fine. The conductors seemed to already know seat assignments, I think it's on their hand held devices. Showing the ticket was very quick, as if they are just confirming that you have the ticket.
I also found their website and app a little confusing, but once I figured out a few quirks it actually was fairly smooth. I use chrome web browser and it translates the page - sometimes not the best translation. So instead I set the website's pull down language selection to English, slightly better translation.

Anyway, I don't know for sure, but based on my experience last month, I don't think I'd worry about trying to switch names/seats within your group. I'm pretty sure they don't care which was the senior ticket.