I have planned an extensive tour around Italy with weeklong stays on several places. I have bought a guide book for how to get from one place to another by train but I still think it looks fairly complicated. has anyone used AAA or a travel agent to just book train travel?? Looking for next steps to make sure all goes smoothly. I do know we cannot book too far out depending on which rail service we want to use.
Thanks for anyone with experience taking trains all over Italy

While it has been many yers, we did a 19 day tour of Italy that I put together. We trained from Salerno to Florence (took a non-stop) from Chiusi to Venice (also did not change trains) Venice to Novarra(no change) and then a 6 hour trip to Paris. All destinations were accomplished without changing trains (a blessing). Look for non-stops or no change required between destinations. We also took a day trip to Milano from Novarra. Only about 45 minutes. However, took another 45 to get out of the station! But it was fun. I always booked us in first class. Never give your luggage to an "attendant" Get it on and off yourself. One reason to pack light (smile) The Italian people are lovely. They are always willing to help. We took a bottle of wine and cheese, meat on our long trips. Wonderful way to experience train travel like a local.
We found that for an especially large train station it behooved us to check it out the day before we traveled. That way we could find our way MUCH easier!
Rail Europe is what I used the most. Hope this helps.
Barbara

Hi Diane

My brother is an expert in train travel, particularly in Europe. He is a transport economist (or something like that) who specialises in railway systems. He goes EVERYWHERE by train, even when any sane person would get on a plane. He absolutely swears by this website for research and booking... The Man in Seat 61 There is a massive amount of information on here as the website is intended to provide information, not sell you something. As you are spending some time in Italy, intending to travel around on train and have time to plan and book, it would probably be worth your while getting a Eurail Pass .

Enjoy the planning

Hi. We used trentitalia to book our train travel from Venice to Florence then onto Rome. It was fairly easy. I was a bit stressed about the trains but my kids were a great help. (This is what happens when your the mom.) The ticket agent booked our train and bus to Pompeii for us and it was great. In Florence we just went in and bought a ticket to go to Bologona for the day. Very simple.We did read lots of websites and all the info is overwhelming.My advice is relax your in Italy.

Enjoy,
Carolyn

We haven't used a travel agent or AAA for train reservations, but we used the OMIO app last trip and it worked well. We are heading back to Italy next month, you reminded me to find my AAA international driver's license!! Happy planning!

thank you for these tips Carolyn.

thanks Mike! I will check it out

I second the Man in Seat 61 website!
Fantastic resource for train travel in Europe.

Good in depth information if you want to do your own planning and online purchasing, but can save you in finding the best booking options. There are several different ways in Italy and he has great explanations as to differences in booking sites, train types, seat maps, etc.
Last year I saved over $75 a first class ticket on a trip from Prague to Germany using a published recommendation that I found nowhere else.

Eurail was the way to go in the decades of the last century, not so much today with online options and dynamic pricing.

Booking trains with the apps, we used trainline too, was so easy. Unless you have a specific time to be somewhere, no need to really book very far out.

The app will show you all connections and usually give you several options if there are connections involved.

I would sign up at home and preload your passenger info. Then it’s just a few clicks.

Have fun
Ellen

Planning train travel in Italy for an extensive tour can indeed appear daunting, but it's a fantastic way to explore the beauty of the country. Using AAA or a travel agent can be a smart move, especially if you want to simplify the booking process and ensure a smooth journey. They have expertise in navigating the Italian rail system and can help you find the best routes, schedules, and ticket options.