Train tickets from Florence to Venice - price variability

seat61.com is a great site for all things TRAINS. He does a great job at comparing Italo VS Trentalia. We are booking for October when we can and we learned a lot on the seat61.com site.

They are different train companies and each has its own pricing. Italo has a “2x1” ticket for 2 people together. Use the little “i” in a circle by the ticket category to see the terms and conditions. That one says it is modifiable up to 3 days before departure, but with a 50% supplemental fee. Or you can add a refund option for £1 that gives you 80% back ( this appears after you proceed to checkout).

If you're booking ahead and you're looking for a deal on Trenitalia look at the fares below "base". The Base fare comes with advantages like being re-bookable or you can get a refund if you miss your train. Super economy is a "use it or lose it" ticket but it's about half the price. And if you're travelling midweek and lucky enough to get a FRECCIADAYS special fare it's almost half the half-off fare.
Click the little circled "I" by the ticket class "base" for the options.

Essentially you're trading flexibility for a much reduced fare. If you're sure you're going to be able to make the time you reserve - you're not coming from a flight or some organized tour you don't control etc - then there's no reason to book a cut-rate fare and take the deal. As long as you understand the risks of losing your fare and having to rebook an expensive "day of" ticket if you don't make your train.

The cost versus flexibility debate is something only you can decide knowing your budget and your travel style/priorities.

Download the Trenitalia and/or .Italo train apps for use in country.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

A quick check on April 17, mid-morning for Italian train found fares from base 57 to super economy for 17 euro. The base fare allows changes but no change, refund, etc. for the Super economy fare.

you are looking at two competing train companies.

And two very different price levels.

Italo (the little guys, my favourite because I like the train colour and the interior, and how may trains do you find with a cinema car) often is a little bit less than Trenitalia, and if you join their club (free) you will get emails every week or so with extra discounts of 10%-20% and sometimes but rarely 30%. The Economy fare you found for them is a discounted fare with some restrictions, usually the cheapest or next to cheapest they offer.

Trenitalia (the big guys, with the whole country, effectively the national company, owned by the government) have quoted you the highest price. Base is what it says, the full fare from which discounts are taken off.

There are trains frequently on that route from both companies, same stations, same tracks, different trains, like Ford and GM.

Compare discounted with discounted or full price with full price. Look at a train about 30 days out from each for the full gamut. You may have looked too early for the deals on Trenitalia, and look a train or two earlier or later.

Nope, you worked out, not apples with apples.