On the Italo site there is a ticket from Venezia Mestre (I've never been - only Santa Lucia...is this why the cost difference?) to Roma Termini for 10 euro - then it jumps to 30 and up. What's the scoop? I need to get 8 people from Venice to Rome and want to task a teenager with this bit of the trip, but figure I better do some back-up homework first.
Should we just buy at station when we arrive in Venice or book in advance?
Thanks,
Marisa
Also, last time we did this route in October (Rome to Venice) we did just purchase at station and women and children were free...I have no idea why, but only the men in our group paid - I can't imagine I'll get that lucky again, but if anyone has any experience with this awesome phenomenon i'd love to hear...:)
You don't say what day you are looking at, but from your other posts, I'm guessing around October 20?
The Italo site shows tickets available that week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday for 9.90 EUR. On Oct 20, that price is available for both S Lucia or Mestre to Tiburtina or Termini on the 9 am departure. I'd jump on it. Because it is so cheap, everyone will pay the same price regardless of sex or age.
Only a few seats are sold at the cheapest, nonrefundable, advance-discount prices. They will certainly be higher than 30 euro by your day of travel. Full fare in the cheapest class of service is 79 euro. It's basically the same answer as your German fare question.
Your "women and children free" deal might have been a weekend 2-for-1 price for adults, children under a certain age ride free.
Huge price difference is probably due to type of ticket - cheaper price has more restrictions.
Venice Mestre is on the mainland and Venice Santa Lucia is on the island. To get to the Santa Lucia station the train goes through the Mestre station and then over the causeway, which is a 5- 10 minute trip. If you get a ticket departing to Rome from Mestre then you will have to buy an additional ticket to get from Santa Lucia to Mestre or arrange some other form of transportation such as taxi or bus from the Piazzale Roma. Tickets only get more expensive as you wait so it can be cheaper to purchase ahead of time if you are willing to commit to a specific schedule.
Thanks everyone - booked the 10 euro tix (we're keeping to a schedule so I'm good with a specific time) was so affordable the moms choose to splurge for the dads and put them in the big "fancy seats" while the women and children travel in the "less fancy but we're gong to Rome so who cares seats :)"
