Luggage for Italy Train Travel

Have a wonderful trip with your mother – how wonderful you're helping her to be able to enjoy this adventure. The good news is that all three stations allow you to easily walk between platforms. The biggest challenge will probably be in Venice, where there's a wide flight of stairs to get out of the station (and usually people sitting on the stairs blocking some access to the hand rail). However I've been told that there's a ramp on one side of the stairs or station, so hopefully it will be evident. If you find yourself exploring areas where there are smaller stations where you have to go down stairs and back up to get other platforms, look at the far end of the platform and you should see a small elevator

You might want to get a really lightweight bag for your mom, particularly if you're going to be doing the luggage for both of you. If she can survive with an 18 inch, the Osprey Ozone is one of the lightest out there. I have the 22 inch version and it's been incredibly sturdy, and I plan on getting the 18 inch for my next trip so that I can reliably carry it on.

You have it figured out. If you carry your luggage on your back, that totally frees up your hands to help your mother.
I always take a small tote bag, or a small backpack...but since you will have your luggage on your back, perhaps a cross the shoulder tote would be helpful. Something to keep the necessities in, something for quick access, like your train tickets, camera, phone, book, etc. On the train, you would put your "under the seat" bag over head, there is very limited space under your seat...or if the train is not crowded, you can place it next to you on a seat.

Just know that usually you have to board the train fairly quickly. So do plan to be at the station well ahead of time to determine the track (binario) you will need. Sometimes these can change almost last minute.

Advise is to ask before you board the train...ask someone to make sure the train is going where you think it is! You can sometimes find a conductor just outside the train, or ask someone else as you board.

I'd tell you to let your mother get on board first, hand up her bag to her, she can roll it slightly in away from the stairs, and then you board..

Travel tip for luggage if you don't have a seat reservation: When you get to the platform, walk down the platform (maybe not too far past others waiting, in case the train isn't very long).
People have a tendency to jump on the first car, so cars closer to the end of the platforms generally have more empty seats and the cars closer to the station house will be more full.

Hi Kathleen,

I own the eBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible. It's what I use when my husband travels with me and uses the wheeled carry-on bag. Although pushing the size limits for a carry-on, I have not had an issue because I don't pack it over full, so there's lots of give. It's ultra-light, extremely roomy and has lot of organizer pockets that I find very useful.

It's quite manageable on your back, but it does rest well on the wheeled carry-on (there's a Travelon bungee on Amazon that we use). While my husband deals with our large check-in bag, I'm usually the one that wheels the stacked carry-ons. This set-up can prove useful given your situation.

The ramp at Venezia Santa Lucia is on the right as you exit the station; there may also be one on the left but I always exit to the right.

Very important to pack light. As Sherry said, the stations at Roma Termini and Firenze Santa Maria Novella are railheads, so you don't have to walk up and down stairs to get to your train platform.

Hi Kathleen, what a special experience for both of you to be together in these gorgeous locations!

Your biggest headache with the suitcases may be the up/down, up/down of the bridges you will walk in Venice. Try to just pack four outfits each and change out light-weight accessories such as scarves. I have a feeling those suitcases will gain some weight during the trip with items you will see. : )

There must be ramps on both sides of the stairs in Venice. I've always used the ones on the right as you face the station to enter. It's also easy to load/unload a suitcase on the vaporetto. Where you may have a problem in Venice is if you have to walk over bridges from the vaporetto to your hotel.

There are no stairs in Florence or Rome stations. I have found that most men are very willing to help lift a bag onto or off of the train. If you are having any difficulty and delaying the often-impatient riders, they will gladly offer to load or unload your bag. I would be concerned with your own well-being if you have a fairly heavy backpack and are lifting a suitcase. Don't hurt yourself. Take the backpack off before you lift the suitcase.

I take one 20 inch carry on bag weighing 15 lbs. total cause that's all I can manage on the trains. Those train car stairs can be long and steep, and so narrow that only half your foot fits on each step.

Major surgery anywhere means that most to all of the lifting, hoisting, carrying, and dragging will fall on you. So keep your Mom's bag very light. And keep your backpack light too.

From google maps, it looks like there is only 1 bridge to cross from the nearest vaporetto stop to our hotel (Hotel Saturnia). Is it worth the added cost of the private water taxi from the airport and then back to the train station.

My backpack is the smaller of the 2 Ebags sizes (19"). On past trips it has always been under 20 lbs and usually closer to 16-17 lbs. I've already started on my packing list.

Our seats on both trains are reserved. Venice to Florence is premium and Florence to Rome is business. Are the train cars labeled well? I didn't really care about premium or business but because of how early I booked they were the same price as regular 2nd class.

I've been listening to one of those language in your car courses on my commute for the last couple of weeks so I'm hoping to at least be able to ask for directions.

Diane- I think I'm going to order the Travelon bungee. I think that could come in handy in this situation.

Kathleen, note that the private water taxis can't always dock at the address you want, you may still have to cross a bridge.

Regarding your last post, Kathleen, the train cars are well-marked (high-speed freccia trains you are taking) and even better is that the position of the car is noted by a sign above the place each will stop. So as soon as you know which platform (binario) your train is boarding on, walk out to the place indicated, i.e., #4 hanging overhead for Car (Carozza) 4. Each train car also has signage indicating the best door to board based on the row where your seats are. 1 to 9 (or so) at one end and 10-19 (for example) at the other. A lot of people do not pay attention to this and just get on either end but if you are in row 4 and get on at the other end, it can be a struggle to get all the way to your seats.

There is luggage storage at the end of each car, and also between the seats that are back-to-back in an A-frame configuration, so there should be little need to lift them over your head. Best to store them near you if you can. If I cannot do this, I get up at every stop and stand where I can see my luggage ensuring it does not walk off the train at an intermediate stop. Luckily Firenze to Roma is non-stop!

One other thing about the private water taxis… They are designed like older speedboats, so they could be difficult for some elderly people to climb into and out of, and they can be particularly challenging if the tide is really low. The Vaporetti are easier for people with mobility challenges, and the attendants that I've seen are quite good at helping older and handicapped people.

Thanks Zoe and Sherry for the information on the water taxis. I think we will just stick with the vaporetto then.

And Laurel- thank you for the information on the train cars. That makes me feel more comfortable.

According to the hotel's website, using the vaporetto, you will have to cross one bridge, either at Campo San Moise or over the Rio de l'Alboro. They look about the same from Google maps street views. About a dozen steps up and the down, but the steps are wide and shallow (as opposed to steep), so easy to rest on the way up if you need to. Looks very manageable to me.

As I learned very quickly on my first visit to Paris - asking directions in a foreign language is not a good idea, especially if you're in a hurry to the toilet. You are more likely to get a detailed explanation that is far beyond your comprehension than a finger pointing the way. Spend your time learning useful stuff - the polite phrases, of course, the gelato flavors, signage words (exit, entrance, etc), colors (important for knowing which wine to order). Also very useful - the difference between permeso ("excuse me" when you want him to move over and let you walk past) and scusi ("excuse me" when you knock him over as you walk past and spill your gelato on his artfully draped scarf).

I just returned from a 3 week trip to Italy with my parents who are older and needed assistance on/off the train. My father was traveling with a collapsible motorized wheelchair.

We each traveled with 1 backpack and 1 day-bag each. If I had to do it again I would have packed less in my backpack so my day bag could tuck inside... Often the train platforms aren't marked on the boards till a few minutes before the train arrives and with older parents this always left us stressed we would be able to walk there quickly enough, load the bags up, and climb aboard, find their seats and then store their bags before the train departed. So, my advice is to allow your day bag/purse to fit inside your bigger bag. You'll be glad you did. One less bag, one less thing to worry about on travel days!

biggest train tip that hasn't already been mentioned: be ready to get off the train before your stop comes up. Sounds obvious, but I've seen many times, travelers staying in their seat until the train comes to a stop, and then do not have time to get their bags out of racks and fight a crowd that is boarding while you are trying to get off. Best to know what the last stop prior to yours is, and approximately when your scheduled to arrive at your's - don't wait for an announcement.

Stan's right on. Also, if there's a line behind you, someone is very likely to take your suitcase off the train for you and help your mom too, just so you aren't holding up traffic :-)

Kathleen,

Great tips from other travelers. Pack light, allow enough time and I have found that there is always someone to help. Just beware of people who may take advantage of your situation. Ususally there are employees who are willing to help. A few euros would be a great show of appreciation. Enjoy your trip.
Lorie

yes, unfortunately threads have been written about scams involving not so nice people who will try to take advantage of you and your luggage......
but I hear you.....I've traveled with my mom as she became less and less able to manage her own luggage, etc.....
I wonder if learning some phrase in Italian like "my mother is infirm, can you please help her?" wont get you lots of genteel assistance.

Maybe I'm overly cautious, but I would be wary of someone offering to help me with my suitcase in the middle of a city.

Regarding Stan's excellent advice, I sometimes take a photo of the train schedule poster that shows the stops before mine, or write it down from the scrolling list of stops at the departures board (larger stations also have these for each train at the track).

On my last trip I borrowed a suitcase from a friend that had 4 wheels that swiveled in all directions. Wow, what a huge difference! Both for airports, the train or going down the street around the hotel. You do not have to lean the bag to roll it. It sounds like a minor thing but it is much easier to deal with in crowded areas like the train.

Have a great trip. Fratelli Cuore is a very good restaurant in the Florence SM Novella train station and it is adjacent to the ticket agents. Not expensive, but very good and the wait staff is easy to deal with.

Yes, when a 2-wheeled bag leans as it drags, its entire weight is on you as you pull it. Why I pack my 20-inch carryon up to 15 lbs. total to lessen the burden.

I've since obtained a 4-wheeled structured bag that carries its own weight on flat even surfaces anyway, just enough to give me some relief.

I say this because one time I got so sick on a hot bus in Rome that my 17-pound 2-wheeled carryon felt like 17 tons. When airline security saw that I couldn't drag my one bag, they monitored me onboard until I landed in the US. They weren't going to let me board at all, but I refused their ambulance.

And yes I've had good people help me with my bag, but after a helper robbed my travel companion, I pack not to rely on strangers.

{grin} I never worry about the safety issue of having someone offer to help lift a bag on or off a train. That's because I'm the one choosing whom to ask for help.

Seriously though, since I often travel alone, I need someone's help lifting my carry-on up or down stairs or to stash in a bin. I cannot lift very far. I've gotten very good at spotting a gentleman willing to help and outright asking for help ahead of time. I usually aim for one that is already waiting to get on/off.

Guys all over the world tend to graciously lend a hand when nicely asked - so don't be shy! I've found this to be quite true in Italy as well, and have gotten (and returned) brilliant smiles as a bonus too! ;-)

A big shout out and a thank you to all you gentlemen out there, everywhere!!