We are traveling to Italy in September. We are visiting 4 cities while there. Is it better to purchase the train tickets as we go (each day we are going to a new destination) or purchase on-line before we leave home?
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, USA
306 posts
Purchase when you are in italy. Trainitalia is notoriously fickle with American cards. If I am arriving in a city by train, my usual practice is to by my departure ticket the same day I arrive since I am already at the train station. If I arrive by another method I will buy my train ticket if I happen to be by the train station otherwise I just wait until the day of departure. I have literally bought train tickets 5 minutes before departure and have never had a problem. Use the ticket kiosk instead of the ticket window. Press the button for english and follow the instructions, they are super easy to use.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
203 posts
Ken, I saved about 40% on 4 point to point tickets by buying in advance and taking advantage of the mini fares. Of course they impose a penalty if you change them and there are other restrictions regarding cancellations that you can read about on their website. If your trip, like mine, is very structured and your travel plans make it easy and or necessary to commit to a specific travel time, you should plug in the dates and times on trenitalia.com and see the savings for yourself. Being committed to a time may not suit everyone, so keep that in mind.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
At the beginning of the year the trenitalia site started taking U.S. credit cards. Many people have been able to buy them online and take advantage of the 60% mini fares by buying in advance. If you know your plans I would suggest buying them in advance. The only tickets I wouldn't buy ahead of time are tickets if you are taking the train the same day you fly into Italy. I would wait to buy those at the station because if your plane is late and you have a mini fare that ticket will be worthless. Donna
Posted by
Austin, TX
48 posts
Donna has good advice. I booked "mini" fares for my routes where I can take an ES or IC train (major routes). The regionale trains like from Florence to Pisa, there's no need to book in advance, as these trains don't offer special fares because they're already so cheap, and you don't get a seat reservation. Trenitalia's revamped website is fantastic. I suggest booking the electronic method and all you need is your PNR code to ride the rail.