Trenitalia: Tips for Traveling on the Italian Rail System

Most of Italy can be reached by train-the Italian Rail System, or Trenitalia, is extremely intricate and extremely useful. Even the smallest towns and hardest to reach cities in Italy are connected by rail. So if you are tourist heading over to Italy, expect to rely heavily on the train system.

But before you head to the train station, check out this tip sheet for smoother travel:

• Buy Train Tickets in Advance- Traveling by train in Italy is very convenient and affordable, especially when booked prior to travel. If possible, buy your train ticket the day before travel and you will be eligible for the "AMICA" discount (20% off the price of the full fare ticket). Families of three or more are also eligible for the FAMILIA discount of 20%.

• 1st Class versus 2nd Class- When traveling by train in Italy, there is quite a disparity between 1st and 2nd class ticket prices-and most of the time it is not worth it. Most trains in Italy are entirely air-conditioned, and there is very little noticeable difference between 1st and 2nd class (except for the price).

• Types of Trains- The Italian Rail System runs a variety of trains, including Regional (the slowest), City-to-City, and Eurostar (the fastest). Generally speaking, Eurostar trains are the newest, fastest, and most expensive trains. Unless you've got money to spare, however, Eurostar trains are hardly worth the extra money or time spent (travel times are insignificantly shorter on Eurostar versus City-to-City trains in Italy). Regional trains cannot be booked online, and can be used for travel on any Regional train during a certain 3-month period. These trains are generally the most affordable and slowest. City-to-City trains can be booked online or in Italian train stations, and are eligible for the discounts mentioned above.

• Bring a Snack- Unfortunately, most trains in Italy do not have snack cars, so travelers are advised to bring their own water and/or snacks on board any longer trips. Trains do not stop long enough for travelers to disembark in order to purchase snacks.

• Baggage Storage- Most larger train stations in Italy offer temporary baggage storage for a few Euros per bag. This can be a godsend if you are merely stopping over in a city for a few hours and do not want to drag your luggage all over town.

• Multiple Train Stations in the Cities- Most larger cities have multiple train stations-one central station and several outlying stations. Make sure you know which train station on which to disembark, or you may need to spend extra on a taxi to get to your destination.

• Transfers- Sometimes you will need to transfer trains when traveling longer distances. Be aware that transfers are usually timed to the minute, and you may have less than 10 minutes to get to your new train assignment, so don't dawdle.

• Locating your Bin Number- When locating your "bin" number, or track number, on the master departures train board in Italian train stations, be aware that your final destination may not be the final destination of your train. You may need to look on the yellow departure and arrival sheets that are posted in all train stations in Italy to find out the final destination of your train so as to properly find the corresponding bin number.

• Travel Times- Trains in Italy are generally on time, so be sure to arrive to the train station at least 15 minutes prior to departure to get yourself and your luggage loaded.

A Word About Eurorail Passes-

Eurorail passes come in all shapes and sizes-and you can purchase a Eurorail pass for train travel in Italy only. There are various Italy-only Eurorail passes, depending on the number of train rides you need and the length of the validity period. Before splurging for an Italy rail pass (they're expensive), however, try calculating the total cost of train travel you will incur without the pass. Most often you will find that the Eurorail Italy pass is not cost effective unless you plan to travel very long distances. If you do decide the pass is worth it, be sure to get the youth discount if you are eligible (under 25 years old).