online purchase of train tickets

Something is confusing and you may have misread something. It is pretty simple.

ONLY Regionale train tickets (slowest trains) need to be validated. All other trains require a seat reservation - High speed, IC, etc. Since those ticket are only good for a specific a train, date, and time so no need for validation.

Regionale tickets should ONLY be purchased at the station from either the window or a ticket machine. A Regionale ticket is good for 60 days from date of purchase so that ticket must be validated (time stamped) in a little blue or yellow box near the platform when you decide to use it. Once validated it is good for any regional train at any time for five hours. You must complete your trip in five hours.

You can purchase Regionale tickets on-line seven days in advance BUT those tickets come pre-validated so you should never purchase Regionale tickets on-line. Regionale tickets are never discounted so these is no reason to purchase in advance. And, of course, they never sell out.

The other tickets with seat reservation have three pricing levels - Super economy (no change, no refund), Economy (one change paying difference in fare) and Base fare (can be changed anytime prior to the train leaving the station). The SE and E tickets are limited in availability and the number available with vary by train, day, and time.

Reynolds & Denise,

If you are trying to buy tickets for Regional (Regionale) trains. You can only buy them 7 days in advance and you must use them within 60 days.
There is no advantage in buying these tickets in advance as price stays the same.

If you are buying high-speed train( freccia) tickets, you can buy them up to 120 days is advance at considerable savings but keep in mind that these tickets are for a specific train & time and they are non-refundable and unchangeable so your travel dates must be firm.

Where are you traveling to?

Will you be arriving at Malpensa Airport?

Edit: I forgot to mention that Regionale trains do not have reserved seats only freccia trains.

If it becomes too confusing, you can always go to a travel agent when you get to Italy and get all your tickets. We have done it every time and you get all the tickets you need, accurate and they charge a very small fee.

Yes. Arriving in Milan June 1, going directly by train to Varenna. Then Varenna to Florence June 4, Florence to Rome June 7, Rome to Vernazza June 9, and Vernazza to Milan June 11, flying back to JFK June 12. Thanks for all the good advice. I haven't been to Europe in decades and my friend has never been. We are 2 60+ yr old best friends-hope this is going to be the trip of our lives.

Arriving in Milan June 1, going directly by train to Varenna. Then
Varenna to Florence June 4, Florence to Rome June 7, Rome to Vernazza
June 9, and Vernazza to Milan June 11, flying back to JFK June 12.

• You can buy your train tickets at the ticket counter at the airport.
• You will take the Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale then transfer to a Regionale train heading to Varenna-Esino.
• Then return to Milano Centrale (from Varenna) -> freccia train to Florence >freccia train to Rome> freccia train to La Spezia> Vernazza

Given your itinerary above, you are only staying 2 nights in Rome? That will only give you one full day to visit Rome, this in not enough time.

This is your itinerary as I understand it:

• Varenna (3N)= 2 full days in Varenna
• Florence (3N) = 2 full days in Florence
• Rome (2N) = 1 full day in Rome
• Vernazza (2N) = 1 full day in CT
• Milan (1N) = few hours in Milan then fly home the next day.

I'd suggest going to Varenna or Vernazza but not both, then add those nights to Rome.

Edit: You have 11 nights on the ground, so this makes for a more relaxing trip:

Varenna (3N) > Florence (3N) > Rome (4N) > Milan (1N) > fly home.