I will be traveling in Italy and I am interested in using a rail pass but I don't know how to use or even if it would be worth the expense. I will want to start in Venice, to Florence, to Pisa, to Rome, to Naples then back to Rome. I will be traveling with my 2 teenagers. I have no idea how to use the passes. Don't I have to make reservations to take the trains? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
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Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
In Italy point-to-point tickets are usually cheaper than a railpass, especially when you factor in the cost of reservations. You will likely take EuroStar Italia trains on most of your routes. The reservation fee on slower trains is 3€, but on ES trains it is 15€. Amica fares (20% discount) are likely to be offered on most of your routes. If any of the allotted seats are available, you can get Amica fares up to midnight of the day before departure. As soon as you're ready to commit to a date and time, go to a station and buy some--or all--of your tickets.