Hi there
We are from South africa and doing a budget trip. We plan to take trains from Florence to Varenna ( Lake Como) and again From varenna to Rome. I see you can choose between Standard, Premium , Business etc. If we choose Standard, will there be space for our luggage? As we are travelling with a large suitcase and hand luggage each. Or do we have to take the Premium tickets in order to have luggage with us?
Thank you
Hi eljohtheron -
"ItaliaRail" isn't a train system; it's merely a third-party booking agency, and one a fair amount of us on this forum do not use for purchasing our tickets. For your journeys, you will be using Italy's national rail system: Trenitalia. For fast trains between bigger cities, Italo trains are also an option, and there are some smaller localized lines as well, although you won't be needing those.
But yes, there is room for luggage on any carriage of any Trenitalia train, or any train at all in Italy. You may have to store your large bag in a space for those at the front or back of the carriage, if it doesn't fit above your seat or, when provided, spaces between the seats. Keep your hand luggage with you. On regionale trains (no seat reservations) it's possible that you could stand for awhile if the train is very full, although we've yet to run into that situation.
We always travel 2nd class on the high-speed Italian trains as the space difference isn't enough to warrant 1st class or business prices.
Editing to add: regarding those "large" suitcases, do be aware that the larger and heavier they are, the more difficult they're going to be to manage in Italy. Many hotels do not have lifts, and you'll need to be able to get them in and out of the trains pretty quickly. Stairs are going to be unavoidable, here and there, and walking surfaces can be rough (e.g. cobblestones), narrow and/or uneven. Pack as lightly as possible, and each of you should be able to manage your baggage yourself.
Thank you. SO where should I book on if not on Italia Rail? I also checked out TrenItalia website but the prices on there is A LOT more expensive for the same routes.
That shouldn't be the case (although I won't swear to it) but without a concrete example of prices for exactly the same trains, I'm not sure what you're looking at. ItaliaRail also charges a small booking fee, although it's been preferable for some travelers who've found it a bit easier to use than Trenitalia. You might also look at www.loco2.com, and I believe that one has no booking fees.
But if you're comfortable with ItaliaRail, go ahead and purchase your tickets on that site.
Thank you. I will relook at the different prices again tonight and let you know if I dont manage. I really appreciate the advice
You can take as much luggage as you like, in 1st or 2nd class, so long as you carry it yourself. There is no checked luggage, and no-one to help you with your luggage on and off the train, or up and down stairs at the stations.
That is why most people recommend travelling light.
For some more info and pictures of where you stow luggage. see here: https://www.seat61.com/luggage-on-european-trains.htm
P.S. How far ahead are you trying to book? There is a timetable change in June, and times past then are not yet on the website ( http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en ).
Florence to Varenna will involve two trains: A High Speed train from Firenze S. M. Novella to Milano Centrale, and a "regionalle" train from there to Varenna-Esino.
Give an example of date/time you're looking at and we can see what you're seeing for fares.
Florence to Varenna will involve two trains: A High Speed train from
Firenze S. M. Novella to Milano Centrale, and a "regionalle" train
from there to Varenna-Esino.
Chris is right: Milano to Varenna - Esino (or the other way, when traveling to Rome) with be an inexpensive regionale train with no seat reservations or different classes of tickets so a different animal than the high-speed trains from Firenze - Milano and Milano-Roma.
As you can see from Seat 61, luggage space can be tight. While the modern trains use overhead compartments resembling those on airliners, they are not large, and the racks near the doors can fill up quickly. Packing light is essential. Many trains don't start boarding until about 20 minutes before departure so being ready may help you secure space.
Many trains don't start boarding until about 20 minutes before departure so being ready may help you secure space.
More like 10-15 minutes, and only that long at the station the train starts at.
A train from Florence to Milan will be coming from Rome or Naples, and will stop in Florence for 9 minutes (just long enough for the driver to change ends, as it is a terminus station).
At a local station like Varenna-Esino, the stop is timetabled as one minute. So, start getting your luggage ready to get off as it slows down, and when boarding get ready as soon as you see the train approaching.
You might want to reconsider the "large suitcase." As you have no doubt gleaned, most of us who post on this Forum are advocates of "packing light." Check out the many threads on the Forum that specifically deal with packing for tips and advice. My first trip to Europe (decades ago!) I carried a large suitcase and a smaller bag. Never again! Traveling light is liberating; traveling heavy is exhausting. Here's a link to the packing section of the Forum:
When traveling by airplane you may take a fairly big luggage; in most cases you have to walk with luggage from a taxi or bus stand to the check-in area and, on the arrival side, from the luggage carousel to the taxi stand.
When traveling by train you usually have much longer stretches within stations, often including stairs, and you have to climb a couple of steps when boarding most trains. On trains there is space for luggage, but usually is not a very large space. So when a trip involves a train leg I usually take with my a smaller piece of luggage than on airplanes.
Another recommendation to reconsider your luggage options. The lighter the better. If you can manage to do carry-on only that will set you up for a more pleasant trip. As others have said, you will have to drag, lift and carry your bags...possible up several flights of stairs. Bring as few items as possible and handwash in your hotel sinks.
I suggest you browse the Q and As in the Tips and Travel Reports section to see what people are talking about. Packing and Technology posts may be most helpful.
I am in Italy now on a 5 week trip. 3 pants, 3 LS Shirts, 1 SS shirt, 2 tanks for sleep. All light weight antimicromial wool. Easy hand wash and fast dry. Two pair shoes. In this weather it could have been one. Total bag weigh was 18 lbs. think I am ditching the guide books for E-versions next trip.
Will read them on my big phone. Save 1.5 pounds or so.
Have fun planning. Have more fun on your trip!
