Italy Only: Regional Train Pass vs. Point-to-Point?

Go to Italia Rail: http://www.italiarail.com. Price your train trips. Then you'll know. Check the reservation fees for your high speed trips as that is a cost in addition to the rail pass. You didn't ask, but I would strongly suggest you cut back your itinerary. That looks like one long train ride without much time to actually see where you are going. Are you really only going to be in Italy for just seven days? If so I'd do something like this: Rome 4 nights 3 days with possible day trips to Orvieto and Ostia Antica (much like Pompeii but just 30 minutes from Rome). To Florence or Siena stay there for 3 nights and two full days Return to via Assisi to Rome Or Rome 3 nights two full days High speed train to Venice: 3 nights two full days Train to Florence or Sienna possibly via Pisa 2 nights one full day in Florence or Sienna. Train to Rome possibly via Orvieto or Assissi I'm assuming your itinerary doesn't include the days you fly in and out of Rome.

We often find this confusion amongst first time travelers who would much prefer one magic ticket for all of the rides. The alternative is doing a whole lot of work online and visting lots of train stations to get tickets in Italy. The Eurail pass in Italy is usually the most expensive way to travel by train. For the Regionale trains, you can just get on and find your seat. No problems. For your trip, the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to and from Sorrento will not accept you pass. But, it's only about 4Euro each way so its not expensive. But, you do have to buy a ticket. For the high speed trains, you will have to pay a 10Euro supplemental fee for each train you are on. The seat reservations come via paying the fee. For point-to-point tickets, there are no supplemental fees and the seat reservations come with the purchase of the ticket. So, for the high-speeds, you will have buy your reservations in advance online, which may not be convenient, or you will be in those ticket lines to pay the 10Euro supplemental fee. Note also that the ticket on the Leonardo Express train to the Rome airport is first class only. You would have to have a 1st class Eurail pass or pay the 14Euro. One piece of missing information is how long you will be in Italy. Are you traveling every day by train, every other day, every third day? What type of Eurail pass are you considering?

Rome-Naples: Booked well in advance (up to four months allowed) at trenitalia.com, you can get an economy fare as low as €9.00 on high-speed trains. The standard 2nd class fare is €43.00. Rome-Orvieto: The 2nd class fare on regional trains is €7.50. Rome-Assisi: The 2nd class fare on regional trains is €9.90. Assisi-Bologna: The 2nd class fare on a regional train from Assisi to Arrezo is €7.55. The standard fare on an InterCity train from Arrezo to Bologna Centrale is €19.00. Booked in advance, you can get an economy fare of €9.00. Bologna-Pisa: The standard 2nd class fare for Bologna-Florence on a high-speed train is €24.00. The cheapest economy fare is €9.00. The 2nd class fare for a regional train from Florence to Pisa is €7.10. Bologna-Venice: The 2nd class fare on a regional train is €10.75. The standard 2nd class fare on a high-speed train is €30.00. The cheapest economy fare is €9.00. Bologna-Siena: The standard 2nd class fare for Bologna-Florence on high-speed trains is €24.00. The cheapest economy fare is €9.00. The 2nd class fare for a regional train from Florence to Siena is €7.70. Bologna-Rome: The standard 2nd class fare on high-speed trains is €56.00. The cheapest economy fare is €9.00. Summary: Since you will be making roundtrip excursions on several days, a railpass might not be a bad idea, even with the €10.00 fee you will pay for seat reservations on each leg on high-speed trains and the €4.00 fee you will pay for each leg on IC trains, and if you don't book in advance to get discount fares. However, the only way you'll know for sure is to do the math.

Thank you all so very much for your generously thorough responses! I truly appreciate it. I left out non-train days in Italy (figuring we'd hoof it around town to the sites but all together we'll be in Italy for 10 days (not counting flying in/out). I was intending to use Rome as our 'home base' for 5 nights, doing in-town sight-seeing for three days, then taking day trips via train to the places I mentioned. Then, we'd relocate to Bologna as our 'home base' (since it seems smack in the middle between Venice & Florence) and do day trips from there (staying for 4 nights). We'd finally return to Rome for a final night and catch a flight home the next day. I will definitely check out the website for trains, per your recommendation. Based on what you've said, it is looking like a rail pass isn't our best option. I've got 6 train days, but several of those are likely on high-speed trains and the Circumvesuvian private trainboth of which don't take rail passes from what I understand. I can't thank you enough, and if there is more to know (like how far in advance to book the trainsthank you for that tip!) I'm all ears .

@ Tim--I will do the math, and thank you for pulling all those figures for me. You have no idea how helpful you have been!

You're welcome! Railpasses are accepted on high-speed trains, but you will pay €10.00 for a seat reservation on each and every leg on which you ride those trains.

I use the DBAHN site to research train schedules: http://bahn.hafas.de/bin/query.exe/en If there is a circled R on a train route, then reservations are compulsory. If you are on the train without a reservation, you will be fined. Prior to leaving the States, I will print off possible train routes. If you want a more detailed listing of the schedule, double click on the red arrow on the left. I like having this info so that I know the stops before mine. I will also use the printed schedule to purchase my tickets at the ticket window. Just a few ideas. Have a great trip!