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Jossofinast
Traveller
10 comments

Posted 5 years ago

Hi,

I will travel a lot in Italy and I noticed that every train there has to be booked in advance, which makes the trip super expensive even though I have an interrail pass. How come e.g. Milan-Firenze is 16€ + 16€ in booking and reservation costs just because the train goes via Bologna? Wouldn\'t 1x16€/train be enough? Booking via interrail.eu.

Is there any way to book trains without paying for booking (just paying for reservations)?

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Jossofinast
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

...I spoke to friends who have interrailed in Italy and they told me they didn\'t book any trains / didn\'t do any reservations and that was no problem at all.
Why does web sites say italian trains require seat reservations then?

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi.
High-speed-trains need a reservation. IC and regional trains does not need one. Just use slower connections and you travel for free with your Interrail pass.
Please read here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/italy/it[/u] and here [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-in-italy[/u]

Where do you have the "Euro 16" from ? It is Euro 10 per reservation of one of the high-speed-trains in Italy. :)

Example Milan to Florence:

Possible by direct "Frecciarossa" with a reservation fee of Euro 10. Please read here: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/frecciarossa/50[/u] / journey time about 1:40h / no change.

Or by IC and regional trains for FREE. Please read here [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/intercity-trenitalia/47[/u] and here [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/regionale-trenitalia/67[/u]

How to find these free connections: go to the rail planer [ux]https://plan.rail.cc[/ux] and click the option "Connections > More means of transport". Deselect the first box named "ICE" (general name for high-speed-trains).

If you like the free content and help on rail.cc, support it. Buy your Interrail pass via our partner link [ux]https://rail.shop/interrail[/ux] at no extra costs for you, but direct support for rail.cc - thank you! :)

If you have more questions, just let me know. Pete :)

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Jossofinast
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

Okay, thank you!
What does BahnCard mean? Interrail pass or..?

How late can you book high speed trains in Italy? Is it possible to book them at the train station or do you have to book in advance? I\'d like to be spontaneous and the friend I\'m travelling with for a few days there won\'t have an interrail pass.

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi.
"BahnCard" is a German discount card for train travel. Not important for your travels. It is just mentioned as the schedule planer is powered from Deutsche Bahn (=German railways).

You can book the high-speed-trains even on the day of departure at ticket machines, online or ticket windows. First select your route on the Trenitalia website. Then click below a connection the button "+" - then "view other offers" and there "Global Pass". Fill in as required number: 0000000.
Your friends will travel cheaper as earlier they book point to point tickets. There are saver fares available.

Pete :)

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Jossofinast
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

But high speed trains (e.g. Milan-Florence by Frecciarossa) will be 10€ for me with a global pass even though I book it the same morning?
Is there a risk of trains being fully booked if I don\'t book early?

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 5 years ago

Yes. Always 10 Euro. Not like in France for TGV trains where the price might be more expensive for a reservation doing it at short notice.
And yes, a train can be booked out. But no worries: there are plenty connections daily. And otherwise, just use the free regional/IC trains.
Everything relaxed in Italy! :)

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Jossofinast
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

Okay. What are the names of high speed trains (Frecciarossa - is there more..?) Is EuroCity a high speed train e.g.?
What about Frecciargento?

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Peter
Traveller
9330 comments

replied 5 years ago

Please use the links I gave you in the my first reply [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/italy/it[/u] . If you use the website of Trenitalia [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] , you can compare the given train names with the reservation list.