Customs in Pisa and Trenitalia

Do you really mean immigrations and not customs? There is a difference. Where is your flight to Pisa coming from? Customs in Europe is walk through - maybe 30 seconds. Just walk through the door that says, "Nothing to ." Without more complete information from you, I would guess that you have already gone through immigrations when you caught the connecting flight to Pisa. I would not book the ticket in advance simply because the time is too short and should the plane be delayed you could miss the train and the ticket could be worthless depending on the type of ticket purchased. Buy it when you get to the station. Trains rarely if ever sell out. It is now reported that AM credit cards are now working at Trenitalia.

Agree that time is too short, barely enough time to get off the plane and definitely not if you have checked luggage.

Take print-outs (or good notes) of the train skeds b/n (1)Pisa Aeroporto and Pisa Centrale, (2)Pisa C. and Monterosso (I'm guessing that's what you meant - many Italian names are very similar), and (3)Pisa A. and Monterosso, because: (A)There are trains from Pisa Aeroporto to Pisa Centrale stazione at :03 and :18 after the hour, they take 5m travel time, and they cost €1,20. I'd take that train, then from Pisa Centrale you have many more trains to choose from, most of them costing €5,80 - depending on what day of the week you're traveling...You can't even purchase those online - they have to be bought at the station. And it looks like you can buy tickets from a machine, or a counter (probably a tabac or something). Your American credit cards will work in these machines. See below at the link I've inclosed... (cont.)

(cont.) (B)I can understand wanting to take the direct train you're looking at, but I'd take the next train 1h0m later - it's the same as above, but if you buy the tickets together as one itinerary, your total is only €5,80 (as in, your 5m trip b/n the airport and train station is free). And, this trip is only 22m longer and you connection times look good. AND that should give you time after finishing at the airport to actually make this train! Remember, the later in the day the flight, the more likely it is to be late. If you have the train skeds with you, you'll know which of the above scenarios make the most sense - if the timing is good for the €5,80 train from Pisa A., great. If you'll do better just getting to Pisa C., then going at a later time on to Monterosso, you can do that. I would NOT count on making that 17:18 train...and if you've checked any bags...LOL! Here's a helpful link: http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/buying-train-tickets-updated Pay close attention to the end of the lesson when he talks about the "Bigliette Self-Service Rete Regionale" machines - that's YOU! AND - Don't for get to validate ('convalidare') your tickets in the yellow boxes!

All, Thanks so much for the thoughtful and helpful replies. It looks like the easiest and best option will be to take a train to Pisa Centrale and then up to Monterosso. Eileen - a quick question for you. Ideally, I'd like to purchase tickets online ahead of time just so that we know we have them. Are the train tickets you suggest getting Trenitalia tickets? If not, what is the train system, can could you direct me to a link? Thanks so much! Jonathan

Trenitalia is the National Rail System of Italy. That is where you buy your ticket. There are a couple of private lines that provide commuter service like the Circumvesuviana in Naples that you cannot buy in advance. Without looking at the schedule the train to Montereosso could be a regional which has no reservations so cannot buy tickets in advance. Just buy a ticket and get on after validation, of course. Buying tickets in advance locks you into a train that if you miss there will be a hassle getting new tickets. Buy them when you get there. It is easy.

Yeah, the point in NOT buying the tickets ahead of time is that when you arrive at Pisa Centrale you can then take the best train available. This isn't like a train to Vail over the Christmas holidays - you'll get a seat on the train, and it'll just take a few minutes to get your ticket. IF you buy a ticket online in advance, I'd get one no sooner than 6:30 if you aren't checking luggage. If anything delays your flight, that's money down the drain otherwise. IF you purchase a ticket with no seat reservations (good for any train after you validate it), you probably have to actually collect it at a ticket machine anyway - might as well just buy it from the ticket machine! Only some of those tickets can be purchased ahead of time, anyway, and they may not be the ones you want - either too early, or too late. Don't worry about just 'showing up' with no tickets - you'll get to Monterosso just fine. I'd just get my ticket once I arrived at Pisa C. (OR, perhaps at Pisa Aeroporto...). (cont.)

(cont.) FWIW - I'm flying to Europe in Sept; I just checked on the actual dp/ar times for that flight for the last 3 days...today, the flight dp'd TWO hours late, and ar'd TWO hours late. No bad weather on either end; probably a sleepy crew or a bolt that needed replacing. But, you just never know...and because I have a long-haul train ride after arrival in Europe I've purchased my tickets already...if I waited until I got to the train station I'd pay about $190 US; buying it online and ahead of time it cost me $75. It's the last 'good' train (route) of the day, AND it's a very popular route...so I've already purchased the ticket. Chances are, it'll be fine. And, the ticket will covered by my travel insurance if something drastic keeps me from traveling. Your train, on the other hand, will take b/n 1h10m and 1h42m and cost $8-15 dollars with NO reduction in the price if purchased ahead. Just bring a print-out of that day's trains, their connection times, and the prices with you and point out the one you want to the ticket agent (if you don't use a ticket machine...). Or, follow Ron in Rome's instructions on how to use the ticket machines.

You cannot not buy tickets for a regional train on line nor is there any discount for a regional train. Regional tickets have to be bought at the machine or at the window. All are open tickets good for 60 days which is why you must validate the ticket in the little yellow box. Buy the ticket, stamp the ticket, get on the train and find a seat or stand if no seats available.

Thanks everyone! The posts have been incredibly helpful and insightful. I'm really glad I posted a message here. Based on everyone's input, it looks like the best option will be to take a train to Pisa Centrale, and to take a regional train to Monterosso. Woohoo! Now, the obvious second question I have is what the best option will be for the final leg of our trip: Monterosso to Roma Termini. I see now that there is a big difference between a ticket and a reservation. For all trains other than a Regionale train, you need to both purchase a ticket and make a reservation in advance. My question is: can we simply purchase the ticket (and reservation) in advance at a self service station at, say Pisa Centrale, for travel from Moneterosso to Roma Termini? Based on my reading of the (excellent) website linked above, it looks like we should be able to purchase that ticket form Pisa Centrale (on our way to Moneterosso), but I just wanted to double check with folks that this is correct. Thank again everyone for all your help! I really appreciate it!

Almost any set of trains that you can get from the Pisa Airport to Monterosso is a Regionale train. The question of advanced ticket purchases is moot as you can't buy advance tickets for Regionale trains. Trenitalia does sell them within a week of travel but you can easily get them at the Pisa airport station. No seat reservations are permitted. The tickets you purchase will be open tickets that are good for 60 days. No train number or departure time will be on the ticket. You can jump on any Regionale train making the run during the 60 day period. From what I see on the Trenitalia schedule, the 5:16 run (actually 17:18) is no different from the other trains except that its the only run during that part of the day that does not require a second train change at La Spezia Centrale. Buy the tickets (one ticket for each train you are on), try to make the 5:16 train and if you can't, take the next train. No penalty except that its a later train. As for the AE card, I haven't checked lately but some time ago, the Trenitalia website did specifically exclude AE cards except in the EU.