We will be taking several train trips in northern Italy during the latter half of September. Is it advisable to purchase train tickets ahead of time online, or is it easy to buy tickets when we are at the train station? Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
22267 posts
Depends if they are regional trains (answer: NO) or high speed Freccia or IC trains. For the latter, if you are sure of your travel plans and want to save money, YES. Discounts of up to 70% are available, but you are committed to a specific train time. Miss it and your ticket is worthless and you just buy a full fare ticket. As the limited number of super economy tickets are sold out, then only economy tickets are left. When they are sold out, just full fare tickets are available. www.trenitalia.com
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
That depends on whether you want to buy the tickets cheap, or want flexibility. If you purchase well in advance you might be able to snag some really smokin' deals with the super economy tickets. BUT, they are not refundable, good only for one particular train on one particular day, with seats assigned.
Personally, I like the savings. I've already bought most of the train tickets for my trip to Italy this October/November, only waiting to buy tickets for the regionale trains since they cant be purchased more than a few days in advance.
It can be a risk, though. On my last trip I had all my tickets in advance, and I missed my train from Milan to Verona by ONE FRIGGIN MINUTE. Oh well, I was only out 9 euros for that ticket and had to buy another for 22 euros. But I figure I still came out way ahead on the other tickets and I learned a valuable lesson about showing up on time for the trains (and the rumors of trains in Italy being always late is false).
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I usually give up flexibility for savings. I got a Milano-Venezia ticket for €9 buying 120 days ahead. I actually mark my calendar for the dates that the tickets I want will go on sale.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
It is easy to buy them at the station, although there can be LONG lines at major stations like Milan. The machines take cash, and at least until recently also took US credit cards (this may still be true or may have changed). There is rarely a line at the machines. So, while you can buy full fare tickets up to departure, you'll probably want to buy them at least a day before.
If you don't want to take advantage of discounts and/or don't want to be locked into departure times, there is no advantage to buying tickets online. On the other hand, if you want to save the most money, buy your tickets as soon as they go on sale to have the best opportunity for discounts.