I have such frustration with this web site! I can supposedly book 120 days in advance, but in spite of availability indicated for various times and classes on the selection menu, no matter what I select, I'm told there are no seats available on May 12 from Florence to Venice. Am I too early? It let me book Milan to Florence on the 9th. Anybody else experience problems like this?
Posted by
Hudson, Ohio, US
36 posts
Take a look at "The Man in Seat 61" at http://seat61.com/Italy.htm
He's got the best resource for European train travel out there. What he recommends (and what I did last summer) is to use the http://www.italiarail.com site rather than Trenitalia's. If you book at Italiarail's site, through Seat61, they will refund the 3.5 Euro booking fee.
You also might want to check out the other Italian train service, Italo at http://www.italotreno.it/EN/Pages/default.aspx We didn't use the Italo trains, but I've heard good things about them.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
You are just a day early. Try tomorrow. I input May 11 and many solutions were generated, including the terrific €19 fares. Be sure you select Venezia Santa Lucia!
edit: I used Trenitalia's site. I always do and have had great success, but once in awhile ItaloTreno beats the price. Also, be sure you select "Freccia" so you get the highspeed trains.
Posted by
OP
California
30 posts
I was indeed one day early. Booking done! Now I have all of our transportation issues resolved and I can now focus on what to see and in what order.
Posted by
OP
California
30 posts
P.S. Buying train tickets in advance can REALLY save you some money. We saved $119 by booking early. Granted, it's nonrefundable, but we have our hotels lined up already, so we know when we're traveling on to the next location (Milan, Varenna, Florence, Venice).
Posted by
Chicago
792 posts
Melinda, did you print tickets or do you print them out at the station? Has anyone had difficulties printing them out at the station? I did this in the UK without difficulty but read that some other people did have problems. Thinking about doing this for myself.
Posted by
Chicago
792 posts
Also, did you save money because you purchased the economy or super economy? Aren't some of those only available to certain groups of peopleor you have to be an EU citizen?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
@Kristen you do not need to be an EU citizen to get the discounts.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Kristen, Laurel is right. There are some passes in some countries that require EU citizenship but not the tickets you are interested in. Where such a requirement exists, you have to provide specific information to proceed with the purchase, otherwise you get routed to the regular screen for all purchasers.
Posted by
Chicago
792 posts
Thanks! I was reading the Ron in Rome website section on train travel and I think I got a little confused about the types of train tickets. Thanks for posting Melinda! It is a great deal!
Posted by
OP
California
30 posts
Kristen, you do not need to print out tickets. They are electronic and you supply the conductor on board with your ticket number, or PRN. I printed out the confirmation with the PRN number and clipped it with my travel documents, to have handy just in case the phone is dead or something. Just be sure you're in that 120 day window. I thought I was, but it was actually day 121. I could view the schedules and availability, but when I went to purchase tickets, I was told the schedule or seat I was interested in was not available.