kct

I am planning to go to Italy only and will need to take a train between Rome, Florence, Cinqua Terra & Venice. What is the best train to take and/or best pass to buy? I have been reading Let's Go and it appears the Italian Kilometric Ticket is the best. Please advise. Thanks!

LarryBall

I'm going in November, and have purchased a first class euro-pass from Venice to Florence then from Florence to Rome, the beauty of this pass is that as long as I'm going in the same direction as my destination, I can get on and off. I believe most of the trains leave at least once an hour during the day. I've been advised to call ahead to make sure the first class sections are not full. Never rode the trains there. I would think that they would be safe ,clean (on time?).

dickv2

Good morning, ket
Would suggest going into www.trenitalia.it. to determine the point to point ticket cost for each length of your journey.. Then compare that price to the price of the various
prices, sometimes it might be cheaper to go point to point other than purchasing a pass.. also that suppliments for seating on trains can
increase the cost of the trip...
Richard of LaGrange Park,Il.

PalenqueBob

The kilometric ticket is defunct according to an official at the Rome station last year when i asked about it, expired as of end of Dec 2002! Italian train pass is too expensive for what you're doing - just buy point-point tickets (what one person called 'euro-pass' pass) - buy them all at once so you won't have to stand in lines, which can be lengthy in places like Rome, only once. To reach the Cinque Terre from Florence or Rome usually involves a change of trains at La Spezia to locals that stop in each of the five villages though some long-distance trains stop in Riomaggiore and Monterosso, the two largest of the five 'lands'. However if you buy a point-point ticket this allows you to ride most trains with it, but to ride the crack Eurostar Italia trains, tilting pendolino trains that go faster and stop less often, you will still have to obtain a reservation and supplement before boarding - supplements vary but run about $10 in second class and $17 in first class. More and more trains are becoming Eurostar Italia so you may well encounter one of these, especially if wanting to do direct between Florence and Venice. There are usually alternatives, for instance taking regular train Florence-Bologna and changing to a regular train Bologna-Venice, avoiding the Eurostar Italia. As most regular trains don't require reservations or supplements you need not reserve, and let impulse dictate when to travel. Eurostar Italia trains are popular so reserve as early as possible once in Italy. For the eurostar italia supplement you get a small pastry in a plastic wrapper and the world's tiniest cup of coffee! Bon appetit!

GAC

The complimentary refreshments on Eurostar Italia trains are offered in first class. In second class, you pay for them.

ira

Hi kct,

To check prices go to www.railsaver.com.

Schedules are at www.trenitalia.com. The English site might not be working. The Italian is straightforward, even if you don't speak the language. They don't always give the prices for IC/RC trains.

ES* trains come with reservations. If you decide to change trains you have to get a new ticket before your train leaves its originating station (ie the Florence to Venice train starts in Rome). IC/RC trains do not require reservations, the ticket is good for 60 days from the date of purchase.

As PalenqueBob says, buy your tickets when you get there.

e_roz

The Kilometric ticket doesn't exist anymore. Point to point is usually best and very affordable. Just buy your next destination as you arrive or a day before you are ready to leave each city. Give you more flexibility also! www.trenitalia.com for schedules!

wondering

we did your exact trip plus siena, lucca in oct and just bought point to point at the trainstations or american express offices as we went...very reasonable and no problems whatsoever...just remember you do need to buy on the eurostar two hours in advance for a seating assignment.