Is it better wait until arrival in Italy to purchase train tickets. What is your experience booking through the "italia rail" website. Compared to the Trenitalia websites, the Italia rail tickets are more expensive. Is it worth it to get the reservation via italia rail? Is pre-booking the only way to get reservations for the longer trips?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
It is like going to any travel agency. They have to get paid somewhere. Purchase through trenitalia.com. It is my understand that the site will now accept AM credit cards. The only reason for advance/on line purchases is to take advantage of the mini fares. These are non-refundable tickets so be sure of your trip plans. Second, go the Italian and or Transportation sections, you will find a couple similar questions currently under discussion.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
203 posts
Use the trenitalia.com website. They are cheaper. You won't have to worry about finding long lines at the ticket booths which seems to happen on that unfortunate day when you are running late :-) The mini-fare tickets are a good value but come with the price of having a penalty for changing the train and are nonrefundable if you don't use them at all. Many train and transportation threads on the "To the Boot" forum.
Posted by
Toledo
653 posts
Pam, I replied to a similar question on the Italy page. I always check the Trenitalia site to plan costs, but I wait to buy the tickets until I am at my first train station in Italy. If I'm sure of my travel plans, I buy all the tickets at one time, eliminating the need for standing in line over and over. There is a customer care office at every major station, they can print out all the tickets there (so you don't do it standing at a ticket window, causing the line behind you to growl...).