HEADS UP for travellers needing to get between Rome and Florence "on the cheap": there are two ways to make this trip by train for under 20 Euros in second class: 1. Take the unreserved "regionale" train for 17.05 Euros (travel time around four (4) hours; fare is undiscountable, except for children under 12); or 2. Make an advance booking for the "MINI" promotional fare on the ultrafast Frecciarossa or Frecciargento AV train for as low as 19 Euros (travel time 95 minutes; other "MINI" fares can be higher than 19 Euros, but lower than the regular "base" fare of 45 Euros). NOTE: To find the lowest "MINI" fare for your date of travel, use the "Le Frecce" part of the Trenitalia website, instead of the main reservations page. This section will show, in matrix form, the "base" and "MINI" fares for all fast trains (except the Intercity trains) between the city pair selected, for the travel date selected. Note that the lowest "MINI" fare is often on non-peak hour trains. NOTE: Ignore the higher "fessibile" fare, which is rarely needed for leisure travel. BEWARE: The rules for reservation changes of "MINI" fare tickets are extremely restrictive. No changes are allowed after 11:59 p.m. of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel. That means NO REFUNDS if you MISS your reserved train by even one second! READ these rules on the Trenitalia website. NOTE: The "MINI" fare is NOT offered on the unreserved, undiscountable "regionale" trains. The regionale trains on this route have been modernized and are quite good compared to regionale trains on other routes. They make over a dozen stops between Rome and Florence. www.ferroviedellostato.it
Posted by
Florence, OR, US
267 posts
Thanks for the info!
And don't forget to validate your ticket before boarding! (I can guarantee it's something you'll only forget once....) =-)
Posted by
Caruthers, CA, USA
244 posts
Great Info! Grazie!
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
425 posts
1. Take the nonstop airport train from FCO to Roma Termini station (half-hourly departures; 32 minutes travel time; 14 Euros); 2. Take the fast train from Roma Termini to Florence (half-hourly departures on average; 95 minutes travel time; 45 Euros REGULAR fare) 3. Purchase tickets for BOTH trains at the FCO train station. 4. MINI fare is NOT available for same-day purchase/travel. The deadline to purchase the "MINI" fares is 11:59 p.m. (local time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel. 5. Allow at least 20 minutes to CONNECT between trains at Roma Termini station. 5. "Regionale" train to Florence costs only 17.05 Euros and is unreserved and undiscountable. 6. The "MINI" fares are NOT available on the airport train. 7. Don't forget to stamp your train ticket before boarding the airport train (unreserved seats). You are not required to stamp your ticket for the fast trains with mandatory seat reservations. You ARE required to stamp your ticket for any "regionale" train (unreserved seats).
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23284 posts
Again, you only need to validate open tickets no seat reservation and that is generally limited the regionale trains where you cannot make a reservation. If you have a seat reservation, it is train specific, and not validate on any other train so the yellow box, time stamp validation is not needed. If you miss a train with a seat reservation and do not have a restricted i.e.- no change ticket you have about 90 minutes to go to a ticket office and get a new seat reservation.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
The Regionale train that I see on this run is their new Regionale Veloce. I believe that it's a newer train.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
425 posts
Yes, although the "RV" designation now appears on quite a few commuter segments, and I'm not at all sure that ALL these segnments have gotten the newly refurbished IC railcars as does the Rome/Florence segment. Certainly, the refurbished "RV" railcars between Rome and Florence are very nice, compared to older models.
Posted by
franklin
9 posts
is it still true that you cannot use US credit cards on the trenitalia web site?
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles
425 posts
This is no longer true. Many holders of US Credit cards have reported lately success in purchasing tickets on the Trenitalia website using their cards (VISA/ Mastercard)
Posted by
Douglas, Georgia, USA
27 posts
I have purchased tickets for 4 train trips using an American CC. I bought Mini's for 9 of us and approximately saved 50% on our train travel. Sometimes it is cheaper with the Mini's to split up your trip. For example, we are traveling from Chiusi to Venice. The mini price for this trip was 48 euros. When I purchased Chiusi to Florence and Florence to Venice separately the price dropped to 41 euros per person. The funny thing is that they are the same trains :)