pass or point to point train??

I think that last post clearly shows the difference between understanding the cost involved vs just pointing to a website which might or might not be correct. Although the cost map shown is presented by our benefactor (Rick), it is a gross oversimplification.

Case in point:
According to that map, Rome to Venice is $140.

Even according to RailEurope, Rome to Venice will cost only $106, if you buy your tickets from them, at what most experienced people on this site recognize is an inflated price.

If you go to the source, Italian Rail, Trenitalia's own website, you will see that the "real" cost of a ticket from Rome to Venice, on the fastest express train, is $98.66 (€73) at today's exchange rate. Further, if you are willing to travel slower, in an Intercity train, still an express, it is only $57.43 (€42,50).

So, to summarize, that map is an over-simplification and will lead you to false decisions. There is no substitute for digging in and figuring it out for yourself.

Wanda, I'm not spending the time to research the particular costs for the individual trips you're mentioning -- maybe someone else will, or you can use the resource mentioned above.

I would say two things -- the only time I bought a railpass was my first trip to Europe. After riding trains all over Germany and Italy, I realized I had paid a premium, particularly in Italy. Trains are so plentiful and some of the most inexpensive in Europe. I haven't bought a pass since, but I would consider it for the right trip, and if I couldn't get a discount fare.

The other thing is, are you only riding the trains in Italy? When you say the "Europass" do you mean the Italy pass? (Much cheaper.) Don't bother with first class, in my opinion. Also, you say "10 day," but I only count 6 trips above.

But that's the point of my question -- the pass isn't $381 if you get an Italy pass. And if you travel 2nd class on a saver pass, you only pay for the days you actually travel.

I get 7 days of travel. I think Florence back to Milan is one, since she specified Milan to Florence RT.

Using the fare map, I added up all the links and got $600. If the pass is $381 plus 7 $15 reservations, that's $486. One might be led to think that a pass would pay. However, if you look up the actual P2P fares on Trenitalia, you get €347, $463. So, buying P2P tickets as you go is actually a little less expensive. Plus, depending on how long you are there, you can probably get at least Naples to Florence to Milan (€123) for a 15% discount (7 day advance purchase) and save another $25.

A 10 day 2nd cl adult pass is $381. But does she need a full adult pass, not a saver? Savers are for 2-5 people traveling together. There are 10 people. 5 savers for 2 people each, who would have to travel together in pairs, would still give a lot of flexibility. And does she really have 10 days of travel, 3 of which she has not mentioned? How much does that travel cost, P2P?

(I hope she doesn't mean that she is going to try to do all of this in 10 days!)

Without her giving us more information, she really is the one who has to "do the math".

That was really my point, Lee -- not the math, but the question of really needing 10 days or not, given the trips listed in the question. The base price is only $177, plus additional days as needed.

Base price is $177 for three days. If you click on "buy this pass -> Italian pass Saver", it will show you the price for each number of days. Seven days is $260.

Enter your itinerary into http://www.railsaver.com/. But almost certainly an itinerary like that will be cheaper by buying individual tickets as you go.

Peter, I think in this case a pass would pay. I was surprised, but adding up her individual legs, I came up with €347 ($463) for seven days. She might save $25 by getting a 15% discount on the last two legs (Naples to Florence to Milan) 7 days in advance after getting there, but that's still over $400.

For seven days of travel, a Saver pass is $260 2nd cl. Add about $15 per leg for ES* reservations and you're still under $400.

I think the reasons it works in this case is that 1) she has some fairly long legs of travel (RT Milan-Florence & Naples-Florence), and 2) she has a fairly large number of travel days. Rail passes get cheaper per day the more days you buy.

As for RailSaver, I don't find them to be anymore accurate then getting your P2P fares from RailEurope or Rick's map. They only use full fare for the fastest, most expensive trains. I find that they consistently overestimate the cost of P2P tickets.

There is still no substitute for going to the national rail sites for P2P fares.