My plans are to travel from Munich to Venice on June 9th. We will stay in Venice for 3 nights and then travel to Florence for 2 nights. Followed by traveling to Rome for 3 nights. Since the rental will not be of much use during these days. I am looking into using the train systems. I will have a rental car in Germany prior to our travel to Italy. So I can keep the car but I am interested in the train options. Can someone help explain which rail passes I should buy for 2 adults and 2 kids(15 & 13)? Thanks in advance.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19240 posts
Two adult 3 country (DE, AT, IT) Saver passes plus two youth passes would cost $1438 and you would have to sit in 2nd class with your children. Your longest leg is Munich to Venice. Right now you can buy an advance purchase a 2nd class Europa-Spezial ticket for all four of you from Munich to Venice from German Rail (Bahn) website for as low as €117 ($157) for the four of you. A buy-at-the-time full fare ticket would only be only €247 ($332). In Germany and on the Munich Venice train, your 13 yo would be free if listed on the ticket. Your other two legs of travel, Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome would certainly not cost the difference. You can find the fares on www.trenitalia.com. Remember, in Italy there is a surcharge above the cost of a railpass for using anything but regional trains. A rail pass would not pay. You haven't said what your itinerary in Germany is, but I can almost guarantee you that you can spend less for point-point rail tickets than for a rental car.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8307 posts
Donnie: You'd do best to buy point to point tickets from Munich to Venice on German Rail. (Don't use RailEurope.) They have a good website. You'll be routed through Innsbruck and some incredible scenery. Just try to get one of the early a.m. departures, as you'll not want to get into Venice at night. Venice is a maze of alleys, not best negotiated the first time in the dark. I would wait until you get into Venice to reserve and purchase your tickets to Florence; 158 miles away. Buy them the night before your departure to get the Mini Fare discounts. Trains are about every hour from Venice, and they seldom sell out. Reserve and purchase your next leg's tickets from Florence to Rome after you get into Florence. RoninRome.com has the best explanations of Italian train travel. Have a great time.
Posted by
OP
Huntsville, Alabama
10 posts
Thank you both for the advice. My RS's Italy package should be here tomorrow. I am using my Marriott points for hotels in Venice and Rome but I need to find a hotel in Florence still. As far as Germany I lived there many years ago so I will be traveling from Frankfurt to Pirmasens first and staying in Karlsruhe before making Munich. From Munich we will be going in all directions and the car will be faster.