Italian train price/ website confusion

That 10:54 train is with Italo, a different company. They show it for €15.90.

https://biglietti.italotreno.it/Booking_Acquisto_SelezioneTreno_A.aspx

It may have changed since yesterday but I'm seeing a 7:54 Italo train "Smart" ticket for 9.90 €.

https://biglietti.italotreno.it/Booking_Acquisto_SelezioneTreno_A.aspx

If that didn't pull it up, input your date/stations on the English site.
https://www.italotreno.it/en

Italo is a private rail line that can be a good alternative to Trenitalia but their trains are all "fast" and travel almost exclusively between the bigger cities.

Great - thanks ladies!

If you have the choice of an Italo train my advice is to jump on it. I like them a lot, especially the leather seats in 2nd class and the lounge open to all Italo customers. Can't use them though if you are using a Eurail pass (which I don't because it normally makes no money sense).

Lisa,

I'd suggest using the rail company websites to check timetables and ticket prices, rather than other sites like Rome2Rio. The rail company sites will provide the most accurate information.

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
https://www.italotreno.it/en/destinations-timetable

Thank you all for your responses. I have another issue that I could use some help with. Our plane is due to land in Venice at 12:30 PM and then from there we need to get to Florence. Do I take the train to Mestre first and then change? Do I book the train journey ahead of time? If so how long should I leave? Has anyone ever been through customs and immigration at Venice airport? Thanks.

So this is a separate journey from the one you first asked about, from Florence to Venice? Just want to confirm.

If you are flying into Venice and going immediately to Florence, it is difficult to commit to a specific time to buy advance tickets. You plane could be late, or it could take longer than you anticipate to get out of the airport. So best to just resign yourselves to day-of-travel purchase.

There are no trains from the airport; you either take boat or bus. In your case, bus is best. And fastest would be to just take it to Mestre and transfer to the train to Florence there.

Yes Lola, this is a separate journey. Our itinerary has us flying in and out of Venice; spending the first part of our trip Florence and the second part in Venice and then back to the airport.

lisa,

In the same situation I'd probably take the Bus to Piazzale Roma, walk to Venezia S. Lucia, buy tickets and then take the train to Venice. Here's some information that you may find useful - http://www.veniceairport.it/en/transport/venezia-santa-lucia-station.html . You could also travel to Mestre station, your choice. Venezia S. Lucia is a much nicer station. (IMO). Note that your destination station will be Firenze S. M. Novella.

Do not buy advance tickets for the train, but rather buy when you arrive at the station. The main reason for that is that you'll likely be using a high speed express train, and if you miss the train you've booked because your flight is delayed, the ticket is worthless and you'll have to buy another more tickets anyway. Tickets for express trains do not have to be validated.

Venice to Florence travel time on the fast trains is 2H:05M if you use one of the direct trains (there are a few that have one or two changes, and travel time with those will be longer).

The only problem with Ken's suggestion is that to go from Piazzale Roma to the train station (Ferrovia) you have to cross the Grand Canal which involves going up and over quite a high bridge with your luggage. The bus from the airport will also take you to Mestre station and although you may have to go down and then up stairs (no escalators or lifts that I am aware of) to reach the correct platform it is many fewer steps and stairs than the bridge across the Grand Canal. Of course you would miss the beauty of Venice, but you will have it when you return, I take it.

Most flights from Venice to North America are very early hoppers to a more major Italian or other European airport and then a connection for the flight across the Atlantic. Most leave Venice very early which means boats and buses or taxi-boats or the Alilaguna right at the beginning of their day and getting out of bed at 2 or 3 am. Do you know the time of your home-bound flight?

Regarding immigration at Venice airport: easy. It's a very small airport and easy to use.

Nigel, our flight leaves at 9:30 AM.

Suggestions?