Even the "Smart" (basic") car of the Italo Treno looks pretty, well, smart I felt a little guilty, at first, even thinking of booking a ticket with Italo Treno. Trenitalia and Italo are two train companies Trenitalia is public and Italo is private FrecciaX is a series of Trenitalia trains that operates on high speed, Frecciabianca at 200-220km/h, frecciargento at 250-270km/h and frecciarossa 300-320km/h. Regardless of the cost of a First Class ticket, there are numerous advantages to this type of travel class. The Frecciargento is a Freccia train that travels on both high speed and standard speed rail (that is the case for Venice, since the Bologna-Venice segment is not high speed). But if you want to go from Florence to Bologna or Florence to Roma, you have far fewer options other than the Freccia. The Site uses first-party (ITALO) and third-party technical cookies: these technical cookies guarantee normal navigation on the Site . To purchase tickets ahead of time, you can do so for about two months and even the day before your trip. Find out the other features of Frecciarossa 1000 The exterior of the train 4 levels of service Executive How I successfully booked Trenitalia tickets from Australia, Rick Steves Itinerary -- staying in Tuscany, All Singles Travel - bad travel experience in May 2010. Onboard staff is friendly and multilingual. (Okay.). With the arrival of the newer ETR 1000, which can reach speeds of up to 400 km/h, the new trains (the 1000) will be used on the Milan-Naples high speed segment, while the older ETR 500, which will become available with the arrival of the 1000 from Bombardier-AnsaldoBreda Joint Venture, will be moved gradually to the Salerno-Naples-Venice (which is partially slower standard speed) and to the Milan-Bari (which is also slower standard speed south of Bologna). From Rome Termini to Milano Centrale (Milan's main rail station) takes 2 hours, 59 minutes non-stop or 3 hours, 30 minutes with stops. But the travel time is the same as the Frecciargento trains. Right now, Italy is Europes cutting-edge country when it comes to high-speed trains. But since 2012,following the abolishment of an Italian law allowing monopolies, Italy has another option: Italo high-speed trains. I always look at both lines for price and schedule. (If it actually happens.). Changes and Refunds: Advantage Rail Europe because it is here and it speaks English. Free food and drinks, an extra leg room, and reclining seats are included in the package. We have experienced, and heard other travelers complain about slow or non-existent WiFi on some Italo trains, though free WiFi is one of its featured amenities. NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori), a private company, operates the bullet trains for the Italo. But Italos major failing may be that the big premium for Club doesnt seem worth it. Alternatively, you may use, Hotel Raffaello - Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western. Get on board on Italo train: different services are waiting for you, from Wi-Fi connection to the cinema coach. Some say the enthusiasm and popularity that Italo enjoys has forced Trenitalia to improve its services and undergo upgrades, especially on its high-speed Frecciarossa line. This ride was about 3 hours. There are many classes, with different comforts and prices. Space, privacy and quiet: Trenitalia's Executive class features eight single leather seats, each 27 inches wide, reclining, and with a leg rest. Italo promotes a few benefit options, such as the Cinema Car, which are more relevant to Italian-speaking travelers. Between Frecciarossa and Italo, the times are relatively the same and price is comparable. Apropos to the original poster the Frecciarossa is, IMO, more comfortable equivalent to Italo. The seating in business is very comfortable, can be electronically reclined/adjusted etc. {{totalPassenger}} I solve the key hotel mystery: Which rooms are best? The seats are larger and more comfortable, the food and drink options are better, and you get a dedicated concierge service. In Standard Class, passengers are given a special welcome with a sweet or savory snack, nine hot or cold drinks to choose from, and a dedicated workspace with a laptop connector. Learn how your comment data is processed. Special features include large picture windows, reclining leather seats with headrests, TV screens, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. As Roberto mentioned, I'm also finding mostly Frecciagento trains between Venezia S. Lucia and Roma Termini. Which is best, in your opinion? There are also first-class lounges available for passengers in the upper class. Making comprehension more difficult is that the Base fare offered by Italo and Trenitalia is actually the highest fare. The 1st class cars on Pendolinos are normally at the London/southern end of the train. In first class on trains, its a treat to be able to sit in the first row. Clearly the sports car culture of Ferrari and the leather sourcing of Tod's played a role here. . Service level and comfort are comparable, and Economy class is ok for both companies. Frecciarossa means red arrow, and they can reach 300 km/h (186 mph) on Italy's new high-speed lines.Nobody flies between Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples now: Milan to Rome takes as little as 2h55 by train, Rome to Florence as little as 1h23, Rome to Venice just . Read this first. Elizabeth Heath has lived in the Umbria region of Italy since 2009 and has been writing for TripSavvy since 2017. Alternatively, you may use, Hotel Raffaello - Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western. Also - is booking the base fare in Economy ok or is there any reason to book premium or business? She has also written for Frommer's, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, and more. Frecciarossa Executive is the only class on board which is available for purchase as a standard, premium, business, or premium. There has also been a change to the names of the Italo and Av trains to distinguish first and second class. Italy Tourism Italy Hotels Italy Bed and Breakfast Italy Vacation Rentals Insider's reporter compared every aspect of first and business class on two different Trenitalia trains in Europe. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Large bags, backpacks, and containers that are too big to fit inside a backpack or container can also be considered oversize. Back in the summer I found a 19 Euro super economy Milan-Florence fare on Italo. I find the trains to be very similar and always choose whichever has best schedule and price for my needs. In the same situation I'd choose whichever departure time works best and buy first class seats if your budget will allow. Service available on AGV trains. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110189711', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Rome to Venice. For maximum entertainment on your journey. High-speed trains that use GWRs complimentary trolley service usually depart between 06.0 and 20.0 on weekdays between 06.0 and 20.0. Frecciarossa Executive Class members enjoy the most privileges and perks in addition to the highest level of service. Standard Class seats have less space, have less leg room, and are generally wider than First Class seats. The only thing I can think of TrenItalia being better is they leave (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It means Ive got more money leftover for gelato. There are two travel classes onboard - Standard and First. Trenitalia is schedule to debut new Frecciarossa 1000 train sets from June 14; look for news at that time, or closer to your travel date. Italo trains call their first class Club, their business class Prima, and their lowest level Smart. Some Italian trains may have a first class option while others may not. It applies only to superfast frecce trains, which train at exactly the same speed as the primo codee. But I am curious what is included with the Business seats that is not in the Premium. First class on Frecciarossa trains is broken down into three categories: Executive, Business, and Premium. To accommodate all students, Southeastern will be moving First Class to another location on Saturday, December 10th. Italo is adding new destinations all the time. The two men in our group are 71 and 78 and are the ones with touchy backs. Times are EXACTLY the same, trains of the two companies have the same speed (that is regulated by an indipendent authority) and use same tracks. The lowest income groups are those with the lowest wages (3% of the working population), including the unemployed, homeless, impoverished, and Roma (gypsy) people. If you travel on an airplane on economy class, then the Standard class will be more than adequate for your needs. The 9:30 departure is this type of train. Apparently the Frecciarossa ETR 500 were used only on high speed rail because they were more expensive and therefore they were more efficiently utilized in high speed segments where they could reach speeds of 360 km/h. On the day of travel, you can also buy tickets at the station from one of their 9 ticket offices or at self-service ticket machines. But the schedules I have looked at for September and October, all show a Frecciarossa train ( 9419) departing Venice Santa Lucia at 10:25 am and arriving in Rome at 14:10. First class is significantly more expensive, but it offers a much higher level of comfort and service. Eataly and then disappointing. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Business has 1-2 seating and a light snack and the choice of coffee or prosecco. Where are you checking train information? Customer service: It's entirely in English.So if you don't want to deal with normal Italian customer service (AKA: impatient employees who speak very bad English) in case your train is significantly delayed, or if you want to change your . The above will show you configurations and pictures of seats of each class. Between Frecciarossa and Italo, the times are relatively the same and price is comparable. If you'd prefer to arrive at Termini, then Freccia trains would be your best choice. The return IIRC from Venice to Rome starts at 10am. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Italo operates two types of trains: the AGV and the EVO, both with similar classes and facilities. I miss the old times when you could travel from Florence to Rome in one hour and 20 min (12 less than today) for less than half the price as today. There are two reclining chairs in this room, and there are other seating options, such as couches and coffee tables. The return IIRC from Venice to Rome starts at 10am. It compares favorably to the intermediate 'Premium' Class on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and Freciarossa 100' trains. Free WiFi, power sockets for laptops, cameras, and mobile devices, coffee, juice, soft drinks, and snacks are all included with your trolley fare. The most common class is the peope, which includes manual laborers, farmers, and others who do not fall into the white-collar middle class. As of 2018, routes have been expanded to serve Venice, Padua, Milan, Turin, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Salerno, Ancona, and Reggio Emilia. There is a big difference between Italo first class and second class. And it looked pretty luxurious. Able to travel on all European high-speed networks, it can reach a max speed of 400km / h thanks to its 16 powerful engines distributed on all the coaches making Frecciarossa 1000 a train able to exploit at best the adherence with the rails. Book far enough ahead and both trains offer a fast, reliable ride in second class at a good price. One can always carry on food and beverage. Before you board, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Italo has a better wifi, at least it was better on the trains I have taken over the years. Re: Frecciarossa vs. Italo Trains - Preference? . First class passengers also typically have access to complimentary snacks and drinks, as well as power outlets and Wi-Fi. By clicking "Accept" You are consenting to the installation of profiling cookies on your browser; clicking on the "Reject" button will not consent to the installation of profiling cookies. We'll be doing this trip for the first time in Oct. and want to make sure that we make the right choice. While most people will dress comfortably, there are a few items that you will not be able to bring on. You can purchase train tickets in advance online, on its mobile site, or by calling 060708. The Premium Class cabin has more amenities than the standard class cabin, including a separate work desk with a laptop connector, power outlets, comfortable seats, a child-friendly area, and a footrest. And although my Italian is not great I believe the following also says that the frecciarossa is now going to Venice: http://www.guidaviaggi.it/notizie/171669/il-frecciarossa-arriva-venezia-dicembre-anche-bari/. I expect they did it to compete better with Italo. The 9419 is a Frecciargento. Basically the time of travel remains the same (since the line is still standard speed) but they charge you more because you now sit on a leather seat. Find out more about the the necessary safety measures we have adopted in order to offer our customers a safe and tranquil travel experience. Italo has a better wifi, at least it was better on the trains I have taken over the years. With Italo you can choose between three travel ambiences: Smart, Prima and Club Executive. The Italo train schedule can be found online at the Italo website. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. To me this is another marketing ploy to increase revenue. Discounts are available for seniors (60 and over) and children (free for kids 4 and under). Does one company have better service than the other? We'll be doing this trip for the first time in Oct. and want to make sure that we make the right choice. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. You will have more space to work with, quieter surroundings, and a more relaxed environment when you travel in First Class. Personal 9 screens available in your seat to enjoy all the exclusive entertainment contents of the on-board portal for free and to surf the internet. Dalle Valle and Mr. Montezemolo were not directly involved in designing the train but certainly influenced the style and luxury standard of the interiors, according to a spokesperson at Italo. Hence, by taking a bullet train to Italy, you can work, watch a film or just surf the internet. Smart: Perks WiFi more. Theres a Ph.D. thesis in this. I hear what you are saying about no Frecciarossa trains from Venice, as the line maps and train description show it that way. I also haven't used since 12/19 but will probably look to Italo first if I decide to go to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Salottino Class is right between Executive Class and Business Class seats. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110189745', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Naples after arriving in Rome and Italo has frequently had better prices and the trains are just as fast, comfortable and with assigned seats as Trenitalia. Each has WIFI although the Frecciargento did not the last time I traveled on it. We will be taking the train from Venice to Rome in October, and I am trying to choose between Italo and Trenitalia. I did not notice a significant difference between the two brands of train in the standard seats (and made my own lumbar-support pillow from a sweater) in 2013. 1st class on Trenitalia offers more spacious and comfortable seating than 2nd class, as well as additional amenities such as complimentary food and drink service. ( In the Interrail, there is only one second class with a drink and snack.) On Time Fess Up: Slight advantage Italo. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. First class passengers receive a free "welcome drink" which can be a soft drink or coffee, a snack, and a newspaper upon boarding. My interest in improving aerodynamic efficiency in airplanes, cars, ships, and energy conversion devices led me to open this blog based on my expertise and desire to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Also - is booking the base fare in Economy ok or is there any reason to book premium or business? That route normally Italo runs it hourly from Rome to Venice starting fairly early. At the end of each car is a digital crawl that tells you the status. Now that NTV holds a 35% market share on Turin-Milan-Verona-Venice routes, it has expanded its reach. Service level and comfort are comparable, and Economy class is ok for both companies. Keep in mind that the complimentary wifi service on trains uses the 3G mobile network and that those trains rin quite quickly from cell to cell. There are no bars or restaurants, but passengers can use the vending machine and the Illy coffee machine. It is usually preferable to fly first class because there are more reclining seats and footrests. Forbes 100th Anniversary: A Century of Rich Humor (and Poor Jokes) in Forbes, ForbesLife at 25: Christopher Buckley's Authorized Unauthorized History of ForbesLife, Victor Cruz Talks The Success Beyond The Game Campaign, Fashion And Football, Romain Jerome SpaceCraft: Batman Watch--Gotham City Meets Outer Space, Why Thermapen Is The Essential $99 Kitchen Gadget, Wine And Dine Like Chef Chris Himmel In Boston, Introducing Montblanc's Heritage Chronometrie Dual Time Vasco da Gama 238, The High-Def Screen That Turns Home Into An Art Museum. { totalPassenger } } I solve the key Hotel mystery: which rooms are best privileges... Waiting for you, from Wi-Fi connection to the names of the Italo train: different services waiting... Ambiences: Smart, Prima and Club Executive many classes, with different and! Has been writing for TripSavvy since 2017 has a better wifi, at it... A digital crawl that tells you the status class members enjoy the most privileges and in... 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'S, the food and drinks, as the line maps and train description show it that way car a! And prices can work, watch a film or just surf the internet your trip your choice... Will not be able to sit in the summer I found a 19 Euro super Economy Milan-Florence on. Is actually the highest level of service others may not containers that are too big to fit inside a or... Frecciarossa trains is broken down into three categories: Executive, business, or by calling 060708 is.! Fit inside a backpack or container can also be considered oversize ploy to increase revenue,..., the Washington Post, travel + Leisure, and are generally wider than class... Works best and buy first class ticket, there are two reclining chairs in this room and!