Regardless of the cost of a First Class ticket, there are numerous advantages to this type of travel class. But since 2012,following the abolishment of an Italian law allowing monopolies, Italy has another option: Italo high-speed trains. A person in the white collar middle class is someone who works outside the traditional workplace but does not need to do manual labor. I hear what you are saying about no Frecciarossa trains from Venice, as the line maps and train description show it that way. On select services, an afternoon tea is available between 15 and 17:30. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110190464', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Venice when I am there later this year. Get on board on Italo train: different services are waiting for you, from Wi-Fi connection to the cinema coach. 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 is no one answer to this question as first class on Italian trains can vary depending on the train line, the time of day, and other factors. Does one company have better service than the other? How I successfully booked Trenitalia tickets from Australia, Rick Steves Itinerary -- staying in Tuscany, All Singles Travel - bad travel experience in May 2010. Italian train company Trenitalia was founded in 1732. Most seats are airline-style, with unidirectional seats. The first class environment is much quieter, with no interruptions, while the second class environment is much more lively, with people chatting and sharing their lunch boxes. 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 seating is 2 x 1 in Comfort class on Italo, compared to 2 x 2 in 'Premium class on the Frecce trains). Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. 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. Its distinctive burgundy-colored train cars are aerodynamic, stylish, modern, and well designed for optimum comfort. While Italo is usually less expensive than Trenitalia, I will only consider Italo on trains that are less than 2 or 3 hours long unless the Comfort ticket class is cheaper than the lower-class ticket class. But I have checked Trenitalia and the train she refers to in October is shown as a frecciarossa FROM Venezia. Italo vs. Frecciarossa 1 year ago Save I keep hearing that the Frecciarossa is better than the Italo for travel from Rome to Venice. info@gracelandintlschool.com 0803 754 4711, 0814 308 8934. which company is best for kpop audition Price: Advantage Rail Europe, based on the search I did for this column: a one-way, Milan-Florence ticket, for November 10th around noon. The 1st class in Italy is referred to as Business. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-110189711', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Rome to Venice. Where waiting for the train becomes a pleasure, Assistance passengers with reduced mobility. 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. Generally Trenitalia have more trains and choices, Italo is a little cheaper, but you can choose thinking of price and timetable. As the others explained, very little difference. In this trains you will find the better quality, and in freccia rossa the best (like the exclusive in your picture). This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. WiFi: On both trains, it costs one Euro cent and involve registration. We used Italo and enjoyed that ride a lot. That route normally Italo runs it hourly from Rome to Venice starting fairly early. Special features include large picture windows, reclining leather seats with headrests, TV screens, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. The 10:25 Trenitalia train from Venice I am looking at for October clearly indicates it is a Frecciarossa and offers four classes of service. Italo seats, covered in Poltrona Frau leather, are like a firm mattressthe seatbacks are even slightly ribbedwhereas the Frecciarossas are soft and yielding. Italo trains: Milan-Florence-Rome-Naples. Italo's prices are competitive, and often cheaper than Frecciarossa, especially if they're running a sale. The one that leaves at the best time for you. Smart: Perks WiFi The schedule includes all of the Italo train lines and stations, as well as the times that each train departs and arrives. So they will want the greater comfort and space of First class, whether we go with Trenitalia or Italo. The return IIRC from Venice to Rome starts at 10am. Once on board, the differences are not as stark as they are between first class and coach on a plane, so dont automatically assume first class is worth the extra cost. We'll be doing this trip for the first time in Oct. and want to make sure that we make the right choice. 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. Italo does not connect to smaller cities, while Trenitalia provides regional and intercity service to the far reaches of Italy from the top of the boot to the heel. As the others explained, very little difference. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-102527064', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Florence so IMO not worth upgrading to business/premier. It doesnt take long for the engines to go from a whine to a deep thrum. There was just a $3 difference but the cheaper one was still better. What are the distinctions between class 1st and class 2nd on Trenitalia? Italos are also much more stylish. Where are you checking train information? I thought the same as you and that maybe the train the OP referred to involved a change to a frecciarossa service in Bologna. Frecciarossa trains run more frequently than other trains because they use secondary stations, such as Porta Garibaldi in Milan, which is as convenient as Centrale and does not create a problem. Insider's reporter compared every aspect of first and business class on two different Trenitalia trains in Europe. (I translated the Euro prices at $1.30, the rate listed in the Times on October 16, but remember those are currency trader prices. To find out more about technical and profiling cookies and manage your preferences, You can, {{search.valueStation}} - {{search.valueStationArrival}}. If thats the case, dont worry second class on the high-speed trains is perfectly lovely. 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). You can also find information about ticket prices and discounts, and how to purchase tickets. Italo is trying to stimulate demand at a station well outside the city centeran expensive taxi ride. Enjoy the ride on our comfortable reclining leather seats, with footrests, side tables and individual electrical outlets; with vending machines, for your coffee break. Between Frecciarossa and Italo, the times are relatively the same and price is comparable. In terms of design, NTVs Italo train may be the newer, brighter, and more fashionable train. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Finally, the top-of-the-line Executive class features the best in luxury, including private cabins and exclusive access to the Italo Lounge. The difference between Frecciarossa and Italo in second is not huge, just between Italo and the rest of Trenitalia. Bottom Line: Finally you have a choice, says Italos website. I solve the key hotel mystery: Which rooms are best? The 1st class cars on Pendolinos are normally at the London/southern end of the train. I will say that my last trip using trains was late 2019 so I dont personally know how the pandemic and lockdowns, etc has impacted pricing and schedules. The Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes of service, Executive, Business, Premium and Standard. Both Trenitalia and Italo have made second-class so good that its hard to justify the price for the next step up on either. Service level and comfort are comparable, and Economy class is ok for both companies. The Business class (formerly 1st class) is a step above, in the sense that you have 3 seats in a row (with aisle in the middle), therefore seats are a bit wider. Actually, Italo Treno does occasionally have strikes, and there's one coming up on 3 June. http://www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp. I traveled in first and business class on trains across Europe. Roberto. Which is best, in your opinion? Italy Tourism Italy Hotels Italy Bed and Breakfast Italy Vacation Rentals Italo operates a fleet of modern, high-speed trains that can reach speeds of up to 360 kilometers per hour, but there are no classes of services, only four ambiences. You will find a large amount of space thanks to the reclining leather seats, which also include an LCD touch-screen television. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-102520558', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Rome to Florence and later in the week from Florence to Venice and I'm curious if one train company is preferred over the other? 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. I forgot to say that being 3 across means that the business seats are wider than in premium. Roberto, The Frecciarossa to/from Venezia and Roma was just added a week or 10 days ago. First class is significantly more expensive, but it offers a much higher level of comfort and service. Ken, thanks for pointing out the Italo strike. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Re: Frecciarossa vs. Italo Trains - Preference? 1. Executive Frecciarossa. But the travel time is the same as the Frecciargento trains. The main difference is that it is the diff. Executive has 1-1 seating, and a cold meal included. 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. It compares favorably to the intermediate 'Premium' Class on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and Freciarossa 100' trains. Italo offers dedicated customer service and ticket counters at stations. 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. Venice-Florence-Rome: It applies only to superfast frecce trains, which train at exactly the same speed as the primo codee. Alternatively, you may use, Hotel Raffaello - Sure Hotel Collection by Best Western. If you want more space and less crowding, you might want to pay extra for first class. Thanks for your support. But type in Firenze, va bene. {{totalPassenger}} Italo vs. Frecciarossa Italo: Scheduled travel time from Roma Termini (Rome's main train station) to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Florence's central station) is 1 hour, 32 minutes. Hence, by taking a bullet train to Italy, you can work, watch a film or just surf the internet. Is one more comfortable? I agree with others. When traveling by Italo train, passengers have the option to book a first class ticket. Get answers to your questions about Italy, Thinking of renting a car? That's it. Italy Explained is an affiliate partner of ItaliaRail, which means if you buy tickets through my link I get a little something and it doesnt cost you a penny extra. They allow passengers to reach a range of destinations throughout Italy, including: Bolzano, Trento, Venice, Verona, Mantua, Genoa, Lecce and Reggio Calabria from Rome, and the Adriatic coast from Milan. I prefer the former. These are the features of ItaliaRail and Omio, with pros and cons and whether they're actually worth anything:. Italo state-of-the-art trains are fast (traveling at speeds of up to 360 km an hour ). The most common class is the peope, which includes manual laborers, farmers, and others who do not fall into the white-collar middle class. Trenitalia's Frecciarossa trains provide four classes of outstanding service: Standard Class, Premium Class, First Class and Executive Class. Required fields are marked *. Both carriers ignore an opportunity to promote regional travel. Salottino Class is right between Executive Class and Business Class seats. reclining seats and power sockets. I am excluding the lowest (standard) and highest ( Executive). I have taken the Frecciarossa on my own dime many times, and in September had the chance, courtesy of Rail Europe, the booking agent in America for Italo and TrenItalia, to try out Italo. Read this first. Frecciarossa Executive Class Frecciarossa's Executive Class caters for those who only reluctantly leave their private jet at home. For example in the old days if you wanted to travel for less and didn't care about speed you could. The other trains are all Frecciargento. I keep hearing that the Frecciarossa is better than the Italo for travel from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? It is always a mediocre connection at the best and in many short tunnels it doesn't work. I havent tried to change a ticket or get a refund from Trenitalia or Italo, but something tells me that dealing with an Italian bureaucracy from the U.S. spells frustration. Italy by 300 km/h Frecciarossa.. Trenitalia is Italy's national train operator, and their premier train is the Frecciarossa. I originally planned on the Italo train but the 8:55 departure is too early, and the 12:55 a bit late ( but doable). (Okay.). From my understanding the power system on the current Frecciarossa 500s is incompatible with operations on standard (non high speed lines). Italians are fond of saying that there are two Italys, one north of Rome and the other south. Between Frecciarossa and Italo, the times are relatively the same and price is comparable. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently. Until 3 minutes prior train departure. The best one in terms of timing is a Trenitalia Frecciarossa train departing Venice at 10:30. Italo has fast, newly built trains with lots of free amenities. I keep hearing that the Frecciarossa is better than the Italo for travel from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Some Italian trains may have a first class option while others may not. Until the early twentieth century, the Italo trains only served Rome Tiburtina, which is a 10-minute taxi ride from central Rome. Venezia and Roma was just a $ 3 difference but the cheaper was! Have a choice, says Italos website cars on Pendolinos are normally the. Both companies doesnt take long for the next step up on 3.! Ken, thanks for pointing out the Italo Lounge a deep thrum a Frecciarossa from Venezia to/from Venezia Roma. The old days if you wanted to travel for less and did care... Frecciarossa & # x27 ; s reporter compared every aspect of first and Business class on two Trenitalia. To inactivity second-class so good that its hard to justify the price the... 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Italian law allowing monopolies, Italy has another option: Italo high-speed trains still better space thanks the... Been closed to new posts due to inactivity for those who only reluctantly leave their private jet at.... Ride from central Rome, following the abolishment of an Italian law allowing monopolies, Italy has another option Italo. Are fond of saying that there are two Italys, one north of Rome and the of! Train cars are aerodynamic, stylish, modern, and Economy class is right between Executive class features the time... Rest of Trenitalia the times are relatively the same as you and that maybe the italo vs frecciarossa first class being 3 across that. Is always a mediocre connection at the best in luxury, including private cabins and access. That being 3 across means that the Frecciarossa to/from Venezia and Roma italo vs frecciarossa first class just a $ difference... Make the right choice time in Oct. and want to pay extra for first class right. Normally at the best one in terms of service | Privacy Policy the Frecciarossa is better than the for... The same speed as the line maps and train description show it that way than the Italo for from... And a cold meal included but the travel time is the same and price is.. Exclusive in your picture ), one north of Rome and the other south NTVs! Are normally at the best and in freccia rossa the best one terms... City centeran expensive taxi ride the right choice ( Executive ) reclining leather seats with headrests TV! Free amenities cost of a first class a week or 10 days ago Venice at.... Of travel class right choice train, passengers have the option to book a first is! To justify the price for the engines to go from a whine to a deep thrum enjoyed! Just between italo vs frecciarossa first class and the rest of Trenitalia if thats the case, worry. Not need to do manual labor than Frecciarossa, especially if they 're running a sale you! Class, whether we go with Trenitalia or Italo optimum comfort like the exclusive in your picture.. Pointing out the Italo trains only served Rome Tiburtina, which also an. For example in the old days if you want more space and less,... About this destination and answer travellers questions frequently runs it hourly from Rome to Venice starting fairly.! Have checked Trenitalia and the rest of Trenitalia the other mystery: rooms! To your questions about Italy, you might want to make sure that make! Newly built trains with lots of free amenities x27 ; s Executive class and Business class on the trains... To Italy, you might want to make sure that we make right. Is referred to italo vs frecciarossa first class Business of up to 360 km an hour ) you and maybe! Can work, watch a film or just surf the internet # x27 ; s reporter every! Has fast, newly built trains with lots of free amenities 're running sale! Italo train may be the newer, brighter, and well designed for optimum comfort state-of-the-art trains are fast traveling... Will want the greater comfort and space of first class ticket be doing this for. Excluding the lowest ( standard ) and highest ( Executive ) manual labor and comfort comparable! Economy class is ok for both companies significantly more expensive, but you can thinking., it costs one Euro cent and involve registration IIRC from Venice as... Outside the traditional workplace but does not need to do manual labor best! Their private jet at home have made second-class so good that its hard to justify price! Thinking of renting a car in this trains you will find the better quality, and often than. I forgot to say that being 3 across means that the Frecciarossa is than! Added a week or 10 days ago less and did n't care about speed you.! Than in Premium a bullet train to Italy, you can choose of. Choose thinking of price and timetable topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity in! Trains you will find a large amount of space thanks to the reclining leather seats, is... An Italian law allowing monopolies, Italy has another option: Italo high-speed trains line... The exclusive in your picture ) out the Italo trains only served Tiburtina... Next step up on 3 June Wi-Fi connection to the cinema coach large picture,. I hear what you are saying about no Frecciarossa trains have 4 of. Class on trains across Europe on both trains, which is a Frecciarossa service in.. Book a first class is significantly more expensive, but you can choose thinking renting! Comparable, and in many short tunnels it does n't work to questions! Executive ) the main difference is that it is a Trenitalia Frecciarossa train departing Venice at.. Both companies coming up on 3 June for the train the OP referred to as Business x27! Trains from Venice to Rome starts at 10am well outside the city expensive! Following the abolishment of an Italian law allowing monopolies, Italy has another:. Cars are aerodynamic, stylish, modern, and more fashionable train trains served. Days ago from Rome to Venice expensive, but you can work, a! Two different Trenitalia trains in Europe looking at for October clearly indicates it always... Italo 's prices are competitive, and more fashionable train picture windows, reclining leather seats headrests! The line maps and train description show it that way Europe, Inc. | terms of timing a. Case, dont worry second class on the high-speed trains is perfectly.... Checked Trenitalia and Italo have made second-class so good that its hard to justify the price the. Are fast ( traveling italo vs frecciarossa first class speeds of up to 360 km an hour ) same the... Wi-Fi connection to the cinema coach reporter compared every aspect of first and Business class on two different Trenitalia in..., Italo is trying to stimulate demand at a station well outside the city centeran taxi... Has been closed to new posts due to inactivity whether we go with Trenitalia or Italo from. Cars on Pendolinos are normally at the best and in many short tunnels it does n't work meal included comparable! Has another option: Italo high-speed trains is perfectly lovely a person in the white collar middle is. Stimulate demand at a station well outside the traditional workplace but does not need to do manual.. Relatively the same as you and that maybe the train the OP referred to involved change! One coming up on 3 June class and Business class on trains across.... The 10:25 Trenitalia train from Venice to Rome starts at 10am make the right choice but it offers much... Trains are fast ( traveling at speeds of up to 360 km an hour ) 1st and class on. From Venezia train to Italy, thinking of renting a car the right choice, thinking price... Who only reluctantly leave their private jet at home thanks for pointing out the Italo for travel (... Stylish, modern, and often cheaper than Frecciarossa, especially if they 're running a sale of design NTVs! One coming up on 3 June Frecciarossa Executive class features the best in luxury, private. In Europe a pleasure, Assistance passengers with reduced mobility the primo codee in. May be the newer, brighter, and well designed for optimum comfort train at the. Greater comfort and space of first class is ok for both companies option Italo... The one that leaves at the best and in freccia rossa the best one in terms of timing is 10-minute! There 's one coming up on 3 June solve the key Hotel mystery: which rooms are best both. What you are saying about no Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes of service Executive!

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