I am trying to purchase a ticket on-line for a regional train from Viareggio to Florence. I am within the 7 days required to buy a ticket on line; however, when I try to go through the process, it says I must sign in or register. I looked at the registration screen but do not see the United States listed to enter in the requested field. Does anyone know how I go about doing this on-line? Thanks!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23666 posts
Do not buy a Regional ticket on line. There is absolutely no reason to do so. No discount. An on-line Regionale ticket comes pre validated with a four hour window to use. Buy at any station or ticket machine and the ticket is good for 60 days. Of course, when you use it must be validated (time stamped) at a yellow or blue box but you can use it anytime within the 60 days. In my earlier posting to you on the same subject, I tried to get across the idea that purchasing a Regionale ticket in advance (unless it is combined with another ticket for a faster train) is not a good idea. Please do not do it.
Posted by
Watertown, MA
118 posts
Regional train tickets bought on-line are already validated and are to be used within 4 hours!
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=1e71eb82a8fbf310VgnVCM1000008916f90aRCRD
Unless it is combined with one of the Le Frecce trains, regional tickets are best bought in Italy at a train station or travel agency.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
I most definitely agree with the others. Buy Regionale tickets when you arrive in Italy, either from a staffed ticket window (if the queue isn't too long) or from an automated Kiosk. The Kiosks have an English language option and they're very easy to use. There's really no point in buying online, as there's no price break for doing so, and the tickets will have less flexibility than tickets purchased locally. I often buy tickets the day prior to travel, so there are no delays on the day of travel.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
I also agree that there's no benefit to buying this ticket online. Buying in the station is easier and more flexible.
Posted by
Santa Fe, NM, USA
192 posts
Dumb question, but are round trip tickets cheaper than buying two one way tickets?
Posted by
Watertown, MA
118 posts
No such thing as a dumb question in my book!
However, no round trip discount : (
Posted by
Ballwin
833 posts
Actually, for the freccia trains there is a roundtrip discount if you are purchasing it for the same day. This does not apply to the trains you will take to Viareggio, however, and often the discounts for purchasing in advance do outweigh the A/R in one day discount.
Posted by
84 posts
Can you buy tickets at kiosks that are located in town, such as Rom, or are they only available at the train station?
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
@dwarren2: As an addendum to Quirite's reply, you can buy domestic Italian train tickets (regional or high speed) at any Italian station, not just the departure station. So, while in Rome, you can buy a ticket from Florence to Pisa if you wish. It's often handy to buy tickets at least a day in advance, to save time waiting in lines and to have them ready on the day of travel.