Luggage on train from Rome Fiumicino to Florence

Moving your luggage on and off the plane will be a challenge, remember that. You will need to try to carry it all in one trip. There will be storage spaces for your luggage, however. There are areas in the ends of a train car where you can leave larger luggage. I, on the other hand, prefer keeping it closer to me and if you have a car with seats that sit back-to-back, there will be a ^ space between the two seats where you can slide your larger luggage in. Then you can put the carry-on above your head, and the messenger in your lap. I haven't checked schedules lately, but I believe you will probably be connecting through Termini from Fiumicino, so you will likely have more than one on/off a train.

I suppose it is much too late to suggest that you reduce your luggage. My son's study abroad office restricted the students to one suitcase and a carryon and only take critical items. One there you can easily purchase what you need. And you will find that you will be eager to replace your American bought clothing. You really need to rethink what you are taking. Second, you each need to be able to handle all your luggage by yourself. There is plenty of storage on the train so that is not the problem but you need to take the train into Termini and it will be a good walk from the L Express platform to the Florence platform. Third, if you look like you are struggling with your luggage will be descended upon by young males (and some not young) who will be eager to help you. Some will be honest in helping you and would like a tip when you get to your train and others might be more interest helping themselves to your stuff as you will be very distracted with all of your luggage. Very difficult to tell the difference. Since you will struggling with luggage it is EXTREMELY important anything of value is well secured on your body - hopefully in a money belt -- camera, lap tops, etc, should be locked in your heaviest suitcase. And the carryon and messenger bags, purses not have anything of value because these will be the easiest bags to take. You will need to be very very altert.

Thank you for the advices! I guess we'll just chain our luggage together at the storage space so it won't be so easy for anyone to take one and walk off with it. I can handle my luggage since I've been traveling a bit, and with just two suitcases, I hope I'll be okay. Thank you for the helpful advices! We will stay very alert.

Good Luck My family and I went to Italy this summer for a few weeks. Take as little as possible. Mix and match. You will be able to wash your clothes. That is also interesting when you go the laundrymat. As for your question yes you can put your luggage above you but with all that luggage, do you really want to lug it around. You could be a target and there are people that will grab your luggage and run. I have seen this it is quite a commotion when it happens. And do not have someone show you where to get on the train with your luggage you will be ask for money and they will say they work for the train and that is a thief because my sister got sucker into that. Have fun and enjoy.

If you bought winter clothes for the year, maybe you can still return them. (just guessing that in Hawaii, you don't have a lot of coats and boots and woolens in your closet) Much better to buy there, as suggested above. The same goes for electrical gadgets and toiletries.

Clothing can be expensive in Italy, so be sure to look for thrift stores or consignment stores. Chances are your university will have all sorts of recommendations for how to live in Florence as a student, including places to shop for clothes. Have a great time. I really envy you and wish I had had the opportunity to do the same thing back when I was in college. Happy travels.

There is a great monthly thrift sale once a month in the English church in Florence.

Katie Just a difference of opinion. PP have mentioned buying clothing when you arrive instead of carrying so much luggage. That sounds like very logical advice. However, I found clothing to be very expensive in Italy (and France) for women. Also, if you are not slim, clothing was more difficult to find. Of course, the outdoor markets are a bargain. Would be interested in other's comments. Bobbie

@bobbie: I thought about that, actually. I know clothing is expensive in Italy as some of my relatives and teachers have traveled there and informed me. So, I packed what I really need: one winter coat, a light trench/rain coat, clothes that can be layered easily, running shoes, a pair of boots, and a pair of dress shoes. You get the idea, boiled down to the very necessary stuff. I tried to pack only one suitcase. So, I bought a duffel bag today and I'm gonna use it as my carry-on. Problem solved, I guess. It's much lighter than a suitcase and I can put it on top of my big suitcase when I'm walking. No more hassle! Thank you for the advices! I really don't plan on buying so much clothes in Europe. I mostly just want to study, learn languages, experience cultures, history, eat great food, and meet awesome people.

The train stop will give you plenty of time to load on and off- don't panic. Yes, there is storage on the train, but be sensible and keep the bags close.

@Mark: thanks. I've been waiting for someone to tell me not to panic. I feel less stressed now!

DO NOT PANIC !!! I have no idea about your size, but we just got back from Italy, and we saw japonese tourists ( girls) dragging two, three suitcases, some times bigger than them,all over the place. If they can do it, so can you. Just use common sense and yes, the trains have plenty of baggage room. Juddging by your itinerary, you wont be using the " Regionale " trains. They are smaller and often old and outdated. Good luck. :-))

When you really have to worry about having enough time is when you're getting off at one of the minor stops along the way, in which case you better have your bags ready and be standing at that door before the train comes to a stop. You might get less than two minutes to get off. It's different when you're on an Express - they don't do minor stops.