I will be leaving Vareena (lake Como) on 5/25 by train and need to get to the Rome port (Civitecchia)..
I see a lot of different costs on the train site. My questions are these:
- how much time do I need in Milan Central to get my train down to Rome? (Is 30 minutes enough time?)
- how much time do I need in Rome Termi station to connect for train down to port? (again 30 minutes enough)
- why do I see such a big difference in some fares?
I'd like to get there in the quickest time and will be going First Class. However, I see around a $65 difference
in fares but can't understand why when they both look the same. ($140 vs $207 same amount of time)
I'd appreciate some help on this. Thank you.
Posted by
Green Bay
20081 posts
What train site? Is it Trenitalia who actually run the trains, or a reseller like Raileurope.
30 minutes is plenty of time at Milano Centrale.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
We were looking at trainline for Trentalia
Posted by
Sunnyvale, CA
143 posts
You should use trenitalia website. The trip that takes the shorter time is 5 hr. 39 min. departing at 1:35 pm and the cost is 66.60 euros.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
On Trenitalia, the price difference depends on the T&C of each ticket. The cheapest tickets (SuperEconomy) can't be changed or refunded. The most expensive BASE tickets can be changed up to 1 hour after the departure of the booked train.
Nevertheless, if you miss a connection because of Trenitalia you will always be protected and you will be assigned a seat on a later train for free. As long as you got tickets on the official site.
First class is a waste of money, especially on Wednesdays.
As a side note, the correct spelling is Varenna and the station's name is Varenna-Esino.
The minimum transfer time in Milano Centrale and Roma Termini is 15 minutes, some train stations are big but the tracks areas are quite compact.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
I'd like to know why first class is not worth it?
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4845 posts
It's not really worth the extra money because the second class seats are comfortable, unlike airline, or even bus (coach) seats. Have a look at the man in seat 61 website for information on train travel in Italy: https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-italy.htm
This site should be required reading for anyone comtemplating train travel in Europe for the first time.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Ok ... do you suggest buying tickets online at Italia Rail versus Trenitalia.com?
Posted by
Green Bay
20081 posts
The first train of the trip is 2nd class only, from Varenna to Milano Centrale.
Posted by
Minneapolis
1215 posts
Hi. As others have said, shop and buy on the trenitalia.com site only. Any other site will have only partial info, extra charges, etc. The prices vary by demand, just like for air fares. If you click on a train time, you will see a chart of fares and fare types. Click the 'i' above the fare type, you will see pics and info about that class. . Business class will have larger seats, and maybe a free beverage; that section will be almost empty because few people pay extra for it. Up to you if it is worth it to you. Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Southwest Florida
856 posts
Fare types will vary by time of day, speed of route, etc. Book via the Trenitalia app or website. If your travel plans are locked in for a specific date or time, then you may be able to book the cheapest fares. However, these are usually non-refundable. I've only booked 1st Class on occasion - typically for a long journey and if the price differential is not to great. What you are buying is not necessarily a better seat/comfort, but fewer fellow passengers in the cabin and a better seating selection option.