train Tickets
We are traveling from La Spezia to Florence on May 2, 2012. When should we buy tickets to ensure seats? the tickets are only $28 for two, but if we buy themnow we spend $18 to have them sent to us. Can we wait until we are in Europe to buy them a week or two before?
Ali
Oakland, CA USA 2/6/12
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Your route will be La Spezia-Pisa-Florence. The fare for an IC train from La Spezia to Pisa and a regionale train from Pisa to Florence is €16.10. The fare for regional trains on both legs is €11.30.
Your tickets must be for regional trains. Do not waste money buying them now. There is open seating on regional trains and no reservations are possible. You cannot be guaranteed a seat, but you can stand if all seats are occupied (extremely unlikely). You'll be fine if you wait to buy your tickets in La Spezia.
If you choose a departure time that puts you on an IC train from La Spezia to Pisa, you will have a reserved seat for that leg. It's included in the price of the ticket. Again, you'll be safe waiting to buy your tickets in La Spezia.
They were looking at RailEurope prices - $14/p for 2 trains - not Trenitalia. R/E charges $18 for shipping.