Train tickets: advance purchase or flexibility

CT to Florence is by Regionale train, they might fill up, but you just cram yourself on board like a subway train. They are not discounted in advance and always the same price. You can buy them out of a ticket machine or station ticket window. Don't forget to validate your tickets.

It would be unusual for a Florence-Rome Freccia train to fill up, they go about every half hour, and you also have the option of using an Italo train, just as fast, about the same price, but less frequent. Still, you want to go from Florence to Rome on a certain day, you are checking out of a hotel in Florence and checking into a hotel in Rome. So how much flexibility do you need? Just pick a convenient time and commit.

I used to tell people not to buy freccia tickets in advance because "there's always availability on SOME train," but last year some friends ended up taking a bus (hours and hours in a bus) from Rome to Venice because some convention or convocation had ended up in all trains being completely booked for the entire day they arrived. Even the Trenitalia and ItaloTreno people were amazed as it was so unusual, but my friends were not alone in their predicament. Do now I advise with caution....

If you want flexibility, buy in advance but buy a full price exchangeable ticket. If you buy a discounted ticket, your ability to change is limited or non-existent.

The ONLY reason to purchase tickets, on-line, in advance is to take advantage of any discount tickets that MIGHT be available. But those tickets come with limitations - mostly no refund, no change. So you need to be absolutely certain of your schedule. All trains exception Regionale trains require a reservation with a specific seat assignment. Just like a plane. The Regionale trains are open seating - get on and go. No seat - wait till one becomes available. The frequency of trains and size needs that it is very rare for a train to sell out. Regionale tickets should never be bought on-line because the tickets pre-validated. Regionale ticket bought in a station or ticket machine are open tickets and are not valid until the ticket has been validated (time stamped) in a yellow/blue/green box near the tracks. Watch the locals do it. Then the ticket is valid for about five hours and any Regionale train going in the right direction.

Another reason to buy in advance is that you can choose your seats and all 5 of you can sit together. Show up last minute, and you may not get seated together, or even in the same carriage.

I am still puzzled by the myth of "flexibility". Nobody seems to have any problem with showing up at the airport 3 hours before a flight, going through all manner of hoops for people whose job, as Bob Crandall used to say, "is to prevent you from getting on the airplane." For trains, have your prepurchased tickets in hand with seat reservations when you show up at the station, walk to the platform your train is located, then find your carriage, board and sit down in your assigned seat. You don't have to wait in line at a ticket counter watching the clock tick. You don't have to figure out how to navigate strange ticket vending machines while fending off "helpful" people you want to help themselves for your change.

WRT flexibility, there is joy in taking travel as it comes. While it may only mean an extra day somewhere, its nice to have the choice at the moment as things unfold (or to shorten by a day). If I don't like where I am I can leave early that morning and move on to the next place. If Im really enjoying myself I can stretch it out for a day and arrive that night at the next place, and so on for each destination ... I do buy tickets for things I need to commit to, and seating the 5 of us together would qualify as a need, so that may be the decider (3/5 are kids)

thanks all

Are you aware of Bimbi Gratis? http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Offers/Bimbi-Gratis
Great deal if you have kids under 15, but ya gotta book 48 hours in advance.

Hi Jessica, you did not mention the time of year for your travel...this can make a big difference...flexiblity is what I am all for, especially with a big group, because quite frankly, people can be jet lagged or sick and not up to travel at a particular time, but a few hours later will be up and about...with a group that large, have discussion, see what the majority thinks is best...consider if anyone has even travelled in Europe before etc. If you have 3 destinations, and as long as you don't mind separating to find seats, stay flexible. I always buy my Italian train and ferry tickets on the spot...but rarely travel in high season. Enjoy!

Sam - thanks. Yes I am aware of Bimbi gratis and already have tickets to get us from France to the CT. Ive been to Europe a couple times, and on one trip I had a Eurail pass so went for flexibility, and the last trip with my eldest daughter I scheduled every train trip ahead. The scheduling worked great, but there were times I wished we could have caught the train 2 hours later. Then again, the structure got us moving, which allowed us to see and do a lot .

Live-from-NY - Im there in HIGH season. Early July. The packed-train thing and sitting separately wouldn't work this time due to the kids' ages.

Im thinking Ill buy tickets early and travel mid-day when we would otherwise have a lull in our desire for activity anyway.

Thanks again

I wouldn't buy the CT to Florence in advance. The only portion which is potentially on high speed trains is the short La Spezia to Pisa. How much money can you save?

I think for 5 folks the savings potential on the Firenze-Roma portion are too good to pass up. Book a late morn or early afternoon train and take a chance. You have to check out of your hotel by 11am or noon anyhow. You might as well head to the station at that time.