So, like most travellers, I'm trying to figure out the most economical way for my husband and I to get around Italy in October. Our train stretches would be Rome-Siena, Siena-Cinque Terre, Cinque Terre-Sorrento, then Sorrento back to Rome. I've calculated the p-t-p cost to be slightly over $500 and the saverpass to be $400. Would someone mind double checking my math? Any other suggestions are welcome too! Also, has anyone ever rented a car in Cortona to tour the countryside with that as your homebase?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
1st or 2nd class?
It looks like a 2nd class, 3 day Saver pass for 2 is about $400. Is that what you mean?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Here are the 2nd class fares from the Trenitalia site:
Rome-Siena: 13.10 EUR on regional trains or 21.70 EUR on an IC train + a bus.
Siena-Vernazza: 11.20 EUR on regional trains or 20.90 EUR if one leg is on a EuroStar Italia train.
Vernazza-Napoli: 46.20 EUR on regional trains + IC trains or a little over 90 EUR for regional trains + EuroStar Italia trains.
Napoli-Sorrento and Sorrento-Napoli on Circumvesuviana trains (not covered by any railpass): around 8 EUR each way.
Napoli-Roma: 20.50 EUR on IC trains and 44 EUR on EuroStar Italia trains.
If you limit yourselves to the cheaper trains when a choice is possible, your total fare will be around 107 EUR/person. If you take the fastest and most expensive trains when possible, your total fare will be around 198 EUR/person.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19092 posts
But if she uses the faster EuroStar Italia trains with a railpass, there is a reservation fee, which is about $20 per leg and person. So that is another $160 on top of the $400 rail pass.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Lee,
Yes, reservation fees, when required, add to the cost of a pass. Currently they are 10 EUR for each leg on EuroStar Italia trains and 3 EUR for each leg on IC trains. (They used to be 15-20 EUR on ES trains, but I guess the reason that the fee is lower now is due to the fact that P2P fares for those trains have gone up and Trenitalia can afford to be "generous.")
After doing the math, it seems clear to me that buying P2P tickets is the way to go.
Posted by
OP
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
7 posts
Thanks for all the info. Yes, I was thinking of a second class pass. I take it, you both think that p2p is the way to go? Thanks again