Should we purchase train tickets in advance?

I just did a quick check to compare costs and found that if tickets are purchased for tomorrow from Varenna to Venezia, they would cost €102 but if they were for travel 3 months from now, they would be €33. I was looking at trenitalia.com/

The only reason to wait is flexibility. If you do not want to be held to a particular day/time, then you should wait to get the tickets. My feeling is that I get to the airport in time to catch my plane, why wouldn't I also get to a train station in time to catch a train? We purchased our train tickets well in advance and traveled from Rome, to LaSpezia, to Venice, to Pescara (Adriatic Coast), to Salerno (Amalfi Coast), and back to Rome for $343 total for two people. Cheap! It was actually so cheap that I thought if we were to miss a train it wouldn't be that big of a loss. We had no problems and thoroughly enjoyed train travel. Will do it again ASAP!

The ONLY reason, but it is a good one, is take advantage of any discount tickets that may be available. I am not sure where Darcy is getting his numbers, but my quick check of fares showed a 2nd class base fare of 45 euro and discount fare of 16 euro for that trip or double for two. The actual fare will vary a bit with the time of departure. Mid-day trains are always a bit more expensive than earlier or later trains. Some of that route will be Regionale trains and there are no discounts on Regionale trains.

Thanks to all that posted replies. I think I will purchase tickets in advance as we know the times we want to leave and arrive.
Michael

102€ from Varenna to Venice?
Traveling in the Executive class I suppose?
Full fare in standard class is about half that.

I bought our tickets to go from Florence to Milan to Varenna in three weeks. it saved money but only do it if you're locked into your travel times.

We saved so much buying 3 months ahead that we splurged on more expensive class tickets just to see what it was like. From what I've read the more expensive seats/train cars tend to be quieter because families with children don't tend to purchase the more expensive tickets. The seats are wider too. It was a comfy, quiet place to catch a nap between destinations.

Quieter too because school groups of teenagers usually don't travel in 1st class. However, our school group did, and we learn WAYY before the trip how to behave and not be obnoxious travelers. But when an older lady boarded our 1st class compartment she turned out to be the biggest sourpuss I've ever encountered - NOT happy that our school group was traveling in her 1st class carriage. ha