Love your videos. I’m an avid train travel fan, been on the Canadian from Toronto to Jasper, Via Rail from Jasper to Prince Rupert, Blue Train in South Africa, crossed the US from NY to San Francisco over 2 weeks, several Rocky Mountaineer trips, New Zealand Tranz Alpine, the Indian Pacific Australia from Perth to Adelaide, the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs and the Glacier Express in Switzerland, twice. Imagine my joy when my employer asked me to work for 6 months in Italy. I spent half my time in Florence and most of the rest in Milan & Turin. No car with this job, was expected to travel by train. I was greatly pleased how easy and reliable was the network.

I absolutely love the train system in Italy! ❤ I've only had the opportunity to visit their country for 1 week in 2022 and 2 weeks in 2023, but their rail system was a delight! Both years, part of my visit included attending an international HEMA fencing conference, and therefore I had an oversized long suitcase. Using the websites to buy tickets in advance was essential since it allowed me to be able to purchase a seat that had an empty, open space next to it. On some of the seat maps that empty space was labelled with a stroller icon and on others the map simply showed the lack of a seat alongside mine. Those seats were always next to the connection points of the cars, by the bathrooms. For the slow intercity/inter-regional trains that don't have reserved seats, I also found that there was always at least one car with a very large empty space at one end that I could use. Sometimes it was the last car of the train and sometimes it required walking alongside the train during loading/unloading to find it, but I was consistently able to. The flipdown seats in that open area of the unassigned cars were designed so that my suitcase was able to fit underneath, too (like how a city bus is designed)! Something else I appreciated about those slow intercity trains without assigned seating is how flexible they are about those particular tickets! On one instance in 2022 a delay caused me to have to catch a later train and in 2023 there was an instance where I accidentally missed my transfer spot (sleep deprivation after the international flight). In both cases, the ticketing window instructed me to continue to use my existing ticket instead of buying/changing anything AND also the conductors didn't even bat an eye about the time incongruity when they scanned the ticket! I got the sense that, since there's no assigned seating on those trains and they're so frequent, the staff was able to treat them similar to how we treat subway tickets (ie. a somewhat flexible time usage). Or maybe it was all just an example of Italian hospitality? The fact that I visited in their slow season (September) might have helped me, too.

Thanks, just dreaming, 72 and alone so can never go. Very interesting all the time from you both.

Great useful content! It's been a long time since I've been to a train station in Italy. Great video! Joyful memories from my childhood, were fabulously revived here in this video for me! Love this video. To me, getting on the train was the hard part. But once I was on the train, seeing Italy from the train, was the lovely part . Long time since ive visited the rail system in Italia. Will visit again.

You two are wonderful! I have lived or traveled in Europe since 1968 and I learned useful things in your video. I just have to say that your, (the lady of you) are lovely and your smile is in your eyes Your sweetness shines. Thank you!

There are more than 2 train companies in Italy that are running passenger train.

Thanks for sharing

Hi guys,,,, I'm new to your channel and watched this particular video twice already! All content seems so useful because in June I will be traveling with my dad and another 15 y/o girl friend of mine. It will be our first time visiting Italy and we're all excited!! We plan to fly into Zurich and then take a train to Milan, visit Lake Como first and then eventually (3 weeks later) depart from Sicily back to the U.S. I love how you mentioned the method of getting to Sicily via train/ferry!! My question is this -- Once we walk out of a train station in any one of the major cities, how much trouble will we have finding a hotel room? None of us speak Italian and we plan to travel with only backpacks or 2 carry on suitcases with rollers. Thank you for your response.

Please make a video on your health plan and travel insurance. Thanks

Forgive me but I have one tiny thing to point out. I don't know how recent it is, but Trenitalia's website does have a language translation function. In the upper right corner... It gives you five language choices.... Italian, French, German, Chinese and English.

This has been very helpful. I've been to Italy a number of times, but the only time on a train was when I did a London-Venice trip on the Orient Express. However, in the fall, I'm going to Rome and Florence. The group I'm going with has organized our train travel between those two cities, but I am considering treating myself to a few days in Venice after the tour, and would take a train, which should only take a couple of hours. I will have luggage, obviously, so it sounds as though business class would make the most sense? How far ahead of time would you recommend booking?

Can you tell me if you get access to the lounges at the train stations if you are in just “regular” business class? I only see standard, premium, business and first class. When I look it up online, it seems very confusing.

Great video! Was hoping you would do a walk through the business class car. I’m a solo traveller. Layout shows seating for 2 with table in between or single seat. (4 seating on other side). Was hoping to see the space for single seat and if there was space for luggage.

Hope all is well! Found your channel yesterday super excited because I dislike flying. Traveling to Charlotte NC this summer from Rochester NY - Amtrak is saying from Rochester to NYC then From NYC to Charlotte. My problem is I would reach Charlotte at 2:30 am (not good). How do I pick another route where I can arrive in Charlotte normal hours? Thanks!!!

This content is so informative. Thank you. When booking a Train trip is there an option to buy roundtrip tickets for the Executive level?

I have been watching you for a while. I been thinking Amtrak should have something like an executive class from Washington to New York. You pay for an executive room. At least test it out.

Thanks going to Italy Soon Question when you book the business class in Fresca I also noticed 4 seat 2 across from each other How do you book the numbered seats where you are facing the back of the seat of the person in front of you Thanks

Thank you for this video, it was very helpful. I’m traveling to Italy in March and the Italia Rail website was much easier. Trenitalia’s website does have English, but it’s not very easy to navigate.

I am going to Italy and several other countries in August. my question I have for you is transfers to other trains. My departure is from Rome to Berlin Germany. can you help me on what train and transfers to make. From this video you said I can only book a room if I travel at night. If I understand correctly, its not like Amtrak where you can be in it all day, as well.

How can I say "thank you?" ("Grazie," of course.) I have been so fortunate to have visited Italy on 4 occasions. However, I have never been south of Rome. That is a project on my bucket-list. I also love trains. I'm sure that I'll re-visit this presentation, often, as I plan. I have some friends who have taken the train from the mainland, to Sicily. That's a MUST on my list! PS: I always look for you, on Amtrak.

Very helpful video. Question for anyone. I’m traveling to multiple cities. : starting at Rome and heading to Florence, Naples and then maybe Milan or Venice. We are also wanting to go to Sicily but have only read about trains from Milan to Sicily or vice versa but nothing from Sicily to Venice/Naples. It would be inconvenient to go in and out of Milan. Would love to go from one city to Sicily and out to another city. Any advice on best method to do this ?! I’m having so much trouble planning the itinerary! Thank you in advance. ❤

is there an app for the frecciarossa, ? Which rail is the best rail if we want to go to Florence from Rome for a couple of hours and travel back to Rome

what is your feedback regarding staying in Sicily but traveling via rail further north for the day and then back to Sicily that evening. Will you have enough time?

Is it safe travel and arrive at Milan centrale at 9 pm at night with luggages?

Best to use trenitalia app or Italiarail website ? How do you choose seats w Italiarail?

Have you had any experience with Eurorail tickets?

how are things?- Grounded. professional editing! see you later, 👏

FRECCIABIANCA and FRECCIARGENTO no longer exist

It actually makes perfect sense that the country which brought us Fellini would have a train line that rhymes with 'genitalia'