Trenitalia vs. Rick's Suggestion of Euro Rails

Rick's book suggests railpasses only when they would be cheaper or more convenient than point-to-point tickets. You can click on the "Railpasses" tab at the top of this page to figure out which would be best for based on the number of days you will be travelling, etc.

As an aside, the only train from the airport to central MIlan is one that runs only to and from the airport, and not even from the main train station. The plan you describe would require you on the second day to get back to the main train station either by bus or on the same train, connection with the Metro to the main station before heading to Florence. Why are you staying near the airport?

When are you going to travel? Soon? Later in the year? Asking because as over the Xmas holidays I did many of the same routes and just bought tickets via the self service machines in the terminals in each city. I'd arrive at in one city, find a machine and punch out my ticket for the day I was leaving. Very easy. Trains were always clean and on time. Always a 2nd class ticket. ALWAYS remember to punch your tickets (yellow boxes) before you board the train!

Lets work on the confusion and try to use common, understood terms. First, EuroRail is a travel agency that sells train tickets to North American generally with a substantial market up and fees.

Second, there are a hundred and one different type of rail passes. The old days of buy a pass and go are over and rail passes can be expensive. Generally speaking rail passes work for long distances and frequent trips. Call Steves and ask for the price of a rail pass covering your time period in Itlay. -- Don't buy. Third, determine you exact travel schedule and spend some time on the Trenitalia site to price all the tickets point to point. Only then will know if point to point is cheaper than a pass. That is a fair amount of work.

Train tickets in Italy are pretty cheap so my initial guess (and it is only that) would be that a pass would not be economical BUT it would greatly depend on the day trips your are taking by yourself.

Now there are a couple of other flaws in what you have suggested. First, why stay at the airport? That makes little sense. The train from the airport is basicly a shuttle run, would probably not be covered by the pass, and goes to the wrong station if traveling to Florence. Not familiar with where Mantova is so others will need to advise you of the potential for day trips. And for what you have suggested stay with second class tickets.

Thank you so much for your help! Maybe just buying the tickets on site will be the way to go.

We are staying at the airport hotel because that is the one the company booked as well as the one in Mantova. For Florence and Rome - I booked based on the RS 2009 guidebook.

Thanks so much!

Karen

Seriously try to get the company to rebook a hotel near the Central train station. The airport is about an hour via bus shuttle from the Central train station which is where you have to go for the Florence train. That is a real pain in the butt. The train from the airport goes to the Cordova train and then the subway or taxi to the Central Station.

If you buy P to P a day or two earlier you can often get the 20% discount for the Amica ticket.

Karen, some of the trips that you are looking at must be done on the local Regionale (R) trains. These are really inexpensive trips. I see the 2nd class fare from Florence to Montavo at 21.50Euro one-way. You start out on a Eurostar to Bologna and then change to R trains. Your trip into and out of Lake Como will be on R trains. Very cheap.

Here's the big secret on a Eurail pass in Italy. Trenitalia charges an 18Euro supplemental fee for riding on the Eurostars. Your trip to and from Florence from Mantova most likely has a Eurostar each way. You trips into and out of Venice will most likely on Eurostars. Same into and out of Bologna. Same down to Rome. You might want to factor these extra costs into the cost of a railpass. You really don't need a railpass in Italy. P2P is less expensive.