Train Travel Deals in Italy

When I was traveling in Italy recently I bought a lot of train tickets from Trenitalia, the primary passenger train company in Italy. What I discovered is that I could save a lot of money by checking out the deals Trenitalia offers on their website, which has an English version as well as Italian.

Very frequently, Trenitalia offers various promotions, and two of the best ones are the Mini Offer and the Sabato Italiano Offer, which translated means Saturday Travel Offer.

Mini Offer

The mini offer changes from time to time, but the latest one is offering fares as low as 9 euros, which can be savings of up to 90 percent off. This fare is available on the high-speed train system-wide and includes the Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity, Intercity Night, and Express. The fares are only available on certain journeys, and there are a limited number at this price as they are capacity-controlled.

For example, I wanted to take a high speed train from Rome to Milan. The normal fares on the date and time I wanted to go are 116 euros for first class and 91 euros for second class. I was able to buy one ticket for 9 euros. I needed a second ticket for this same journey, and the mini price was available, but at a rate of 29 euros. This was still is a savings of 66 percent, and I took it.

There are, of course, restrictions, such as these mini fares are only available for advance purchase and must be purchased two days in advance.They also are not refundable, although there are circumstances where a portion of the cost may be retrieved. The Trenitalia website explains these rules in detail.

Usually these mini fares can be purchased as far as four months in advance, and you have a better chance of getting the lowest discounts by booking ahead if you know your travel plans.

Sabato Italiano Offer

This offer may be for a limited time, like many of Trenitalia's promotions, and things may change often, like other situations in Italy. This offer is good for anyone who is planning on taking a train on a Saturday.

You are able to buy two tickets for the price of one standard fare. This offer is good for most Trenitalia trains. Like the Mini fare, the number of seats available for this offer are limited, and they are not available on every journey, so it pays to be a little bit flexible. These tickets are also not refundable, so it is best if you are sure of your plans when buying these train tickets.

When traveling by public transportation in Italy, you can save some money by checking Trenitalia's website prior to travel. The money you save might make your travel experience even better than it already was.