Italian Honeymoon December 14-22nd

My only suggestion would be to study up on the European train systems. The man in seat 61 website is perfect for this, so you won't be nervous when you get there. Look at the trenitalia website for train times and fares (you need to use the proper Italian place names, like Venezia, Firenze, Roma). Try to avoid using sites like RailEurope which don't publish all the trains. The Italian rail system is very good.

The train system in Italy is excellent. I only speak a little Italian, and we did just fine. We just spent 3 weeks in Italy using just trains and buses between the cities. We did not go to Venice. I'm guessing the best/fastest routes between those three cities is the high speed trains. If that is your choice, you would benefit from purchasing those tickets in advance if the cheaper tickets are still available. I think given the short amount of time you have, you would want the faster trains. I agree your best place for train info is Seat61. The Italian train site is very user friendly, and I purchased my train tickets directly from them with no issues. https://www.trenitalia.com/en/offers.html If for some reason you find the site difficult to use, I would try trainline.

You’ll be fine. Treat yourself and upgrade your train trips to Executive Class, such a nice experience and access to the lounges. It’s your honeymoon, treat yourself!!!

The only thing to be aware of is to validate your ticket before you board the train. There is a yellow or green box, usually inside the station or just outside the station doors towards the platforms into which you stick your ticket for validation. Wait to hear that it has been stamped.

Congratulations!

DD

I may be confusing my national rail companies, but don't Freccia train tickets automatically come with a date and time on them (negating the need to validate)?

Trains are easy to use and don’t require speaking Italian, however, here are a few useful tips. It seems like a lot, but not complicated. The train system just assumes you know all this.

1. As previously stated, upgrading to Business Class is a good idea. Some people will say “but, the second-class seats are comfortable, it’s not worth it.” It’s worth it. It’s not a huge coast and the car is so much calmer and the luggage storage is very convenient, a slide in compartment in back of the seats.
2. High-speed trains require reservations, most local trains do not accept them.
3. There are both ticket machines and staffed ticket windows in most stations. It’s a good idea to go to the ticket window if you need advice on which train to take or haven’t figured out the machines. Also be alert to the fact that some local trains stop a couple times and some stop everywhere, avoid those!
4. You will board high speed trains by car number, however, be alert to which end of that car number you board. Board the end nearest your seat number.
5. Knowing the platform number is key to boarding Italian trains. Reader boards display the trains by city name in Italian (Firenze=Florence) and departure time. Train numbers are shown and you can check that against your ticket. Note that many trains will have Ritardo indications with added time. These trains are late, which happens often.
6. This is important, platform number frequently does not post until the train arrives. You will see large groups standing in front of the reader boards waiting for the platform to post, then everyone is off. There will be plenty of time to board so remain calm.
7. Venice station drops you on one end of the city, from there you can turn left and walk or you can get a launch right in front of the station and travel by water. We walked and then took a water taxi back.
8. Florence station is a moderate but easy walk to the center of town. There is a shopping arcade one level down from the main platform level with great corridors that take you under busy streets and deposit you close to town. Don’t take the trolley’s, they are leaving the center, not going closer.

You have great advice, although I'd be one that would argue that 2nd class on the high speed train is quite nice, but it is your honeymoon. Price it all out. The high speed trains which I would think would be your choice between those cities are for a specific day/time and do not require a validation. If you do take the cheaper, local trains then you do need to validate the ticket.

We will be spending 2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Florence and 3 in
Rome. We have some excursions planned but was wondering any local
places we should look for!

Hi and welcome to the forum. :O)

You've gotten lots of good input on the trains so I'll just comment on this part of your post? 2 nights = only one full day of sightseeing each in Venice and Florence, and 3 nights = only 2 full days in Rome. Without knowing what sorts of "excursions" you have planned, there's very possibly little time left for additional "local places". If you do have a little bit leftover to work with, what you should do with it depends on what trips your trigger: there are many "places" to be seen in each of the three!

So, can you tell us what's in your current plans for excursions, and what sorts of things you and your new partner are interested in? Also, 2+2+3 nights = 7 but nights of the 14th-21st ( I'm assuming you are flying out on 12/22) = 8. ????

Editing to add: referencing your other post on the Ireland forum, it looks like you have made most (?) of your arrangements through a travel agent? I assume this includes your accommodations? It's possible he/she has also pre-booked your train tickets?

Thank you all for your help! I should be clear we already have our train tickets booked just a little nervous of getting around the station and on the train, feeling better after reading a lot of your advice! Below are our excursions we have picked.
Venice:
eat, drink and repeat: Wine tasting tour
Small group Venice in a day with basilica San Marco and doges palace plus gondola ride
Venice street food tour with local guide and local food market visit
Florence:
Christmas in Florence tour
Florence wine tasting experience with early dinner
Winey tour in chianti with wine tasting
pizza and gelato cooking class in tuscan farmhouse
Rome:
skin the line Vatican, sistine chapel and st Peters basilicia
colosseum by night with underground access, arena floor and roman forum
Rome highlights walking group tour squares and fountains
small group: your Christmas in Rome walking tour

Thanks for getting back to us! I am still confused about how many nights you are working with (see my previous post)?

Being gently honest, I've no idea how you're going to do all of the excursions you've listed within the short amount of time that you have. Have you actually booked all of them? For instance, you list a wine tour/tasting in Chianti with wine tasting and a pizza and gelato cooking class in tuscan farmhouse. These 2 together will eat a day - and I'm guessing both excursions are outside of Florence - and you have only allowed 1 full day for that city. Plus, daylight is very short this time of year.

I agree with Kathy- the excursions you've listed appear to leave no time at all for anything else, and if they do fit into your current itinerary, may leave you exhausted by the end. You need to leave a little bit of time in each place just to relax and savor the atmosphere. I noticed that in Florence there is no mention of visits any of the more iconic sites like the Accademia, Uffizi, Duomo, etc.

We do have a lot packed in for our trip. I have booked everything but they are free cancellation until day before so im looking to see what should keep and what I should do away with. We arrive in Venice on the 15th at noon. Spend the 15th-17 there. then travel to Florence on the 18 and spend till 20th there. On 20th travel to Rome and fly home on the 22nd.

We arrive in Venice on the 15th at noon. Spend the 15th-17 there. then
travel to Florence on the 18 and spend till 20th there. On 20th travel
to Rome and fly home on the 22nd.

So your original count (2 nights Venice/2 nights Florence/3 nights Rome) is off. Based on the above, you have 3 nights Venice (15, 16, 17), 2 nights Florence (18, 19) and 2 nights Rome (20, 21).

Correct sorry just got home and checked our travel packet!

IMHO? You don't have time to add anything else at all to your itinerary for Florence and Rome. I'm not sure you can manage to do what you already have planned.

Not sure what IMHO is? Would you recommend eliminating any of the excursions? Thank you!

"IMHO" is internet shorthand for "In my humble opinion". :O)

I can't tell you what to cut as I'm not you - my interests are probably different - but I'd personally cut ALL excursions from Florence and spend the single full day you have exploring the city.

Same for Rome. If you only have one full day - which is what you will have with just two nights - you'll need to be very selective. I'm a little surprised that an agent would line you up with so many excursions if you only have 2 nights/1.5 days there.