I'm headed for a 2 week trip to Italy where I will be staying with family friends native to the area. I want to buy the Euro Italy train pass, but am feeling unsure since I'm overwhelmed with so much web stuff, and to add to the confusion, dyslexic.
I am looking at the 5 day pass, one day will be used to get me back to the Milan airport from south of Pisa. My friends must work during the regular days so I thought it would be nice to have a day trip here and there.
I guess what I'm asking for, is this a good purchase, and anyone know how much more I may experience in reservation fares on top of the first class pass?
Thank you for your time.
Posted by
693 posts
Train passes in Italy are almost always poor value for money. If you are doing longer trips by high speed train purchasing in advance at trenitalia is a good option. If just travelling locally by regionale trains then purchasing tickets on the day is the way to go. If you can perhaps give a more detailed account of where you are staying and where you want to catch trains to then forum members can give more detailed advice.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1227 posts
I think compare the cost of a pass with the cost of buying tickets as you need them. The Trenitalia site
Www.trenitalia.com is a good place to start. For trains other than Regionale, you have to make a booking, as seats are assigned.
Second class is pretty comfortable - you could compare it to flying coach on a proper airline.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
My place of stay is Castellina Marittina. My friends will drive me to Pisa to take train to Milan for home bound flight.
I will have several days where I would like to go into C M take a train to somewhere for the day.
It sounds like I should just pay as I go. The five day pass was around $257. So hopefully the cost of daily round trips won't be too much. I'd like to see Pisa, Florence, Rome. No real hard set plan as I like to wander.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11346 posts
Tickets are very inexpensive on the regionale trains which serve non-major cities. If you can plan ahead a few days for your day trips, the freccia high-speed trains between larger cities (Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and more) can be booked for a discount (non-refundable), and the sooner you book, the higher the discount. You might try Captain Train as it is very easy to use. Note the regionale tickets cannot be booked more than a week in advance, but the freccia trains can be booked 120 days in advance.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32219 posts
sms,
Rail passes are rarely a cost effective value for travel in Italy, as tickets are relatively cheap there. That's especially true if you buy advance discounted tickets for the fast trains. It's also worth noting that Rail Passes DO NOT include the compulsory seat reservations which are required for the fast trains. You'll have to buy those separately. Even with a Rail pass, DON'T be caught without a valid reservation for the train you're riding on, or you'll face hefty fines starting at about €50 PP, which will be collected on the spot!!! One other important point is that not all rail networks in Italy (and elsewhere) accept Rail Passes. For example, if using the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento, a Rail Pass is useless as that network doesn't recognize the passes.
Your best bet for having a "day trip here and there" is just to buy local tickets at the stations. You'll likely be using Regionale trains most of the time, and the tickets for those are cheap. However, DO NOT forget to validate Regionale tickets prior to boarding the train on the day of travel or again, hefty fines collected on the spot!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I agree, for your trips a pass would not be a good choice. I rarely spend that much on 89 days in Italy, taking trains every three days or so.
Fast train tickets go on sale up to 120 days ahead, since you seem to know your longer travel days, this might be the best option. Day trip tickets can be bought on the day of travel (roundtrip sometimes is a few euro less, no commitment to a specific train with regionale tickets, remember to validate them in the machines near the tracks).
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you very much to each of you for your reply's.
So I'm going to pre book the high speed train for Pisa to Milan now, The rest I will book as I go. Since I'm still several weeks away and regional can't be done more than a week in advance I will do those when I get closer to departure.
I appreciate your kindness and good advice.
Posted by
Green Bay
20196 posts
You do realize that there is no train station in Castellina Maritima. You will need to take the 108 bus to Rosignano Solvay. They are not very frequent but a couple in the morning, one afternoon and one early evening each direction. http://www.livorno.cttnord.it/Linee_e_Orari/Extraurbano_Invernale/L/56
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
To answer one of your questions, with a pass, seat reservations are about 10 euros per leg for Le Frecce trains and closer to 5 euros on EuroCity or InterCity trains. Not needed or offered on Regional trains.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1227 posts
There is no need to book Regionale trains in advance - just as easy to buy tickets from the vending machines at the station.
Remember that you MUST validate your ticket before you travel. Look for the green validation devices at the stations, or look to see what other people do.