Italy train travel, need some advice- too much info to process

Just to clarify...a pass will cover Rome-Naples, but not Naples to Sorrento...as noted, that's the private Circumvesuviana train....actually, more like a subway car that a train with rather uncomfortable plastic seats. But I agree with Mike and Tim...check out point to point tickets before buying a pass.

Michelle, also post to the Italy page of Traveler's Helpline.

Train travel in Italy is relatively inexpensive so point-to-point tickets usually are cheaper than any pass. Read Rick's description of Italy passes in the railpasses section of this site. Be aware that if you have a pass and travel on any trains that require reservations, you will have to buy those reservations. They are cheap (€3-€4) for IC and ICPlus trains but are €15 for EuroStar Italia trains. Go to www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html, enter your routes, add up the fares, and compare them to the price of a pass.

Note also that the rail pass will not cover Rome <-> Sorrento because that is a separate company that is not part of the national system. The Circumvesiviana ticket isn't expensive, though.

As an earlier poster (and Rick in his guide book on Italy) points out, just buy as you go. Purchase a day or two in advance so you know what time your train leaves and don't waste time hanging out in train stations with all your luggage.

When i priced out a similiar itenerary last year point to point vs pass point to point was cheaper for 2 adults by quite a bit.

Thanks for pointing out my error Norm! I did this trip last fall, Roma Termini to Naples on the national train line, and then the Circumvesuviana which is right downstairs at the Naples station. The seats were hard, but I was happy looking out the window at the great scenery! And one of the stations there is a aerial tram that goes up to a nearby peak and gives great views over the Bay; when I was going from Sorrento to Pompeii on a day trip I stopped and rode this car.

Ditto to the others -- price the point-to-point tickets. We had a railpass last year and spent most of our time in Italy -- we discovered too late that we would have saved a LOT by skipping it there.

Thank you all; it looks like point to point is the way to go!