Me and my 2 other travelers have purchased a global eurail pass. Now, we want to make reservations in Italy and Germany to secure seats (not purchase anything). Does anyone have time to walk us through (idiot-proof) how to do that using the bahn.de and trenitalia web pages? Thanks so much!
Posted by
Clarkston, wa, usa
35 posts
All of my visa cards are now registered with verified by visa, none of them will go through on trenitalia's site. No better luck with my AMEX, so far the only options I've found for Italy are paying way to much and buying them on Raileurope, or Paying way to much by buying them in Italy.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
1 posts
I also have tried to purchase tickets on Trenitalia and have contacted their website, visa europe, and the Italian bank intessa san paulo who set up their payment system with bankpass. My visa is verified and after contacting my bank, they said that the visa needs to be verified by an Italian bank who participates in bankpass. I have not tried to do this because of the language barrier, etc. Now, I think I'm just going to pay through raileurope because of how difficult they are making it.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
"we want to make reservations ... to secure seats (not purchase anything)".
I guess I don't understand, to secure seats you have to purchase reservations.
You can purchase reservations separately for German trains online from German Rail for the same price (~€4) as purchasing them separately over there.
Just find the trains on which you want reservation on the German Rail website, then click on purchase. It will give you the option (if availabel) to purchase reservations only.
Personally, I would never get reservations in advance for a railpass in Germany. Just get them at the station before you leave. I have seen some fully occupied trains in Germany, but none were fully reserved. Same probably goes for Italy.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Except for night trains, most trains in Germany do not require reservations. Since popular night trains can sell out weeks in advance, it's good to make reservations for sleeping accommodations ASAP. For others, as Lee says, you can wait until you get to Germany or buy them at www.bahn.de. Fast trains in Italy require seat reservations, but you cannot buy them on the Trenitalia site.
You can buy all of your reservations for both countries at in-Europe prices by phoning the US number on the Euraide site. For a $50 handling fee you can make as many reservations as you want for all three of you.