We are a group of 5 arriving in Italy on June 9th for 11 days. Our plans include Rome to Florence on a Thursday, Florence to Lake Como on a Saturday, Lake Como to Cinque Terre on a Monday and back to Rome on a Wednesday. No night travel. How far ahead should we make reservations?
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Unless there is a major holiday in Italy, you don't need to buy tickets in advance. (Note that you can't make reservations in advance. You have to buy the ticket in advance. Any seat reservations come with the ticket).
About 55 trains a day leave Rome for Florence. That's 3-4 per hour during the day. You won't miss your train. What may occur is that all 5 may not be able to sit together on some runs.
The best hint I can give you is to look at the train schedules for these runs on www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html and write down the dates, time and train routes that you wish to travel. Then, you'll have to do what the Italians do - that is to go down to the train station and buy your tickets for your multiple journeys. If you've done your homework and have all of this written down as I suggested above, you can buy all of your tickets in advance. Or, you can buy tickets for the first two journeys and then buy the remainder a bit later but in advance of travel.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Also note that there is a family rate on Trenitalia. CLICK HERE to see the details (on the right of the page). All 5 will need to travel together. Again, the homework. Make sure that you write down your train travel information. Ask for the family fare when you buy your tickets.
If the family fare is not available, ask for the Amica fare. Again, a 20% discount but they are limited by day, class and train category.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
We were on that route, more or less, at the same time last summer. Bought the tickets the day before and never found 2nd class more than half/two-third full. Far in advance reservations, except for night trains, are not needed. The Am airlines have trained Am travelers to believe that they must purchase tickets months in advance and that prices always go up as you get closer to the travel date.