Train travel

Laura, years ago the answer definitely would have been to buy a train pass. Now, the only way to determine the most cost effective option is to actually price out each of your anticipated trips, then compare that to whatever train passes would cover the same trips. Just to make it a little more complicated, if some of the trains require reservations, those costs are not included in a pass. Also, most countries have various "specials" that vary from time to time, such as bargain tickets on weekends, half price sales on a limited number of tickets for each train, etc. You will have to look at the Italian rail website to see what "bargains" are available. Basically, you have to do some comparison shopping to get the best deal.

Anita is correct. You'll need to do the math in order to see if a pass will save you money. They usually don't but do the math to be sure. You'll need to add 10 euros per leg per person for the high speed trains and 3 euros for the slower trains to the cost of the pass for reservations. These prices are included in the point to point prices. When comparing, if you will be using a regional train don't use a date more than 7 days in advance of today's date in order to see those prices. Trenitalia doesn't price the regional trains more than 7 days in advance. Also, be sure to check for mini fares. If some or all of your travel plans are set the mini fares are a great way to save up to 60%. Use the official trenitalia site when comparing fares. http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD Don't buy mini fare train tickets for the day you arrive in the country if coming by plane. They have very strict rules about changes and refunds. Donna

Laura, definitely check fares before you buy a pass. You mention using base cities and daytrips - if you are not planning to travel the entire length of Italy, the point-to-point fares will probably work out best. Also, for some day trips, you may want to take a bus instead of a train.

Usually, "day trips" indicates trips to smaller places outside of your base city. These are most often reached by the Regionale or IC class trains which are the least cost trains. Some, like Rome to Pompei, will involve a high-speed for part of the trip. For high-speeds you will pay a 10Eu supplemental fee for each one you are on with a pass. True that a Eurail pass gets you a free ride on the Regionales but the fares are so cheap, the pass may not be worth it. Florence to Pisa is 5.90Eu. If you are going from Naples to Sorrento, it's 4Eu. Plus, the train from Naples to Sorrento will not take your Eurail pass. Neither will the ferries. As you change base cities, this could involve high-speed runs. Naples/Rome, Rome/Florence, Florence/Venice, Venice/Milan. Again, a 10Eu supplemental fee for each one you are on. So you will have to go into the station to pay for your supplemental fee (unless you have purchased them online). Thus, it's not as convenient as you may think in Italy. Usually a pass doesn't beat point-to-point fares in Italy. And, with the mini-fares that you can get on the high-speeds, point-to-point is even better. Note that the mini-fares are non-refundable. It would be most helpful on the question if we knew more about your travel agenda.

There is a quick, rough way to determine this. Take the cost of the rail pass and divide by number of day usages - i.e. - $500 pass for five days of travel would be $100/day. Then look at your proposed trips and if cost is less than a $100/day then it is a bad deal. Historically in Italy a pass is not cost effective unless you a doing a lot of long distance, multi hour, train trips. A day trip from a home base for an hour or so, probably on an IC or regional train would not be cost effective.