Discussion title changed on April 4th, 2007 as requested by GAC. For details, see his post dated April 4th, 2007. ROME TO SICILY FOR 15 EUROS!!!
How much do you think it costs to fly from Rome to Palermo or Catania?
How much do you think it costs to take an overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo or Catania or the Aeolian Islands/Milazzo?
How much do you think it costs to take a bus from Rome to Sicily?
How much do you think it costs to rent a car from Rome to Sicily?
Did you know that you can travel by train, ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, from Rome to Sicily, in a comfortable, reserved, FIRST CLASS seat on either of the two daily Intercity Plus (ICplus) trains, or on any night train (ICN or EXP), for as little as 15 Euros?
That's right, 15 Euros. And, for the identical promotional fare, you can go to either Palermo or to Taormina/Catania/Siracusa, on the same trains, which divide at Messina.
The two daylight trains, both newly reconfigured to ICplus standards (removal of separate compartments with sliding glass doors in favor of totally open-railcar seating (as on Eurostar Italia trians)), are totally air conditioned, entirely non-smoking, and have a self-service restaurant car. First class railcars have approx. 50 seats, three across and facing each other, with working tables in-between the seats which have outlets for electronic gear such as laptops and personal DVDs. Seats pivot forward to afford a modest recline, and illumination has been enhanced for nighttime travel. Each train typically has ONE first class and FOUR second class railcars to EACH of Palermo and Siracusa.
NOTE: Some of the SECOND class railcars may continue to be of the traditional type, with separate compartments of six seats with sliding glass doors, but with newly upholstered pivoting seats and more modern reading lights and restrooms. This traditional layout in second class is actually preferable to the open-railcar layout of more modern trains, which have four seats across in second class, resulting in narrower seats.
Here are the simple rules to obtain this fantastic fare, called "Liberta' di Viaggiare" ("Freedom to Travel") on the Trenitalia website:
1. Fare valid DAILY until further notice.
2. ADVANCE PURCHASE: Must purchase tickets no later than midnight of the day beforehand, and NO SOONER than 60 days beforehand.
3. Seats at the promotional rate are capacity-controlled. When seats at 15 Euros (first or second class) are sold out, more seats become available at 30, then at 45 Euros.
4. Tickets may be purchased on-line, at any manned rail station or automated ticket machine in Italy, at authorized travel agencies, or through Trenitalia's National Call Center number in Italy (open 7 to 21 daily).
5. RESERVATION CHANGES: Up to ONE HOUR prior to departure time, you may change your reservation to any IC, ICplus, ICN or EXP train departing after 12 midnight of the day on which the original reservation is held (subject always to seat availability), for a modification fee of 5 Euros. For example, you could switch from the 7:27 ICplus train (out of Rome Termini) to either the 7:27 or the 11:45 ICplus train NEXT DAY (or later).
6. TICKET EXCHANGES: If you need to make a change which does not qualify for the promotional rate (e.g. switch to an ES train, or take an EARLIER train), you can surrender your ticket and exchange it for a new ticket at the regular fare, without losing the value of the money already paid for the original ticket, by paying the DIFFERENCE in price, PLUS an exchange fee of 5 Euros.
7. Ticket is otherwise NON-REFUNDABLE.
8. Complete rules should be reviewed on the Trenitalia website.
9. This is a terrific deal: the regular fare for a reserved first class seat from Rome to Palermo on either ICplus train is 76.65 Euros, so the 15 Euro promotional fare represents a discount of 80%. The savings to Siracusa is nearly identical. A party of four can save up to nearly 250 Euros, or approx. US$ 320.
10. For 15 Euros, you can also purchase a reserved first class seat on one of the several night trains to Sicily: ICN or EXP. The EXP night trains also have couchette/bunk compartmentsfor 4 or 6, and/or traditional wagons lits sleeping compartments (single/double/triple occupancy) which cost more (review the promotional information on the website for exact price information). The ICN train has "Excelsior" class luxury twin sleepers (see separate posting below).
11. The ICplus train departing Rome at 7:27 arrives in Palermo at 18:10 (15 minutes earlier in Siracusa). The ICplus train departing Rome at 11:45 arrives in Palermo at 22:20 (10 minutes earlier in Siracusa). The number of intermediate stops made by these trains (numerous south of Salerno) is identical, although the earlier train makes three stops between Rome and Naples whereas the later train makes no stops before Naples. By clicking on the train number, you can track the precise itinerary, location of stops, and timeframes. If you're keen on arriving during daylight hours, you should take the earlier train. You can also board these trains in Naples or Salerno, for the identical promotional fare of 15 Euros.
12. ALL SEATS ON EITHER OF THE TWO ICPLUS TRAINS ARE NOW SOLD ON A RESERVED BASIS ONLY (as on Eurostar Italia trains). The ticket price includes the mandatory seat reservation. Seats can be sold up to 10 minutes prior to train departure.
THIS IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE METHOD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN ROME, NAPLES OR SALERNO AND SICILY.
quote:Originally posted by GAC: THIS IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN ROME OR NAPLES AND SICILY.
Uhm... I bet hichhiking is still cheaper ;-P In any case, don't forget that you can also comine these promotions with other tickets: You have to get from Florence to Palermo? In case the promotion covers onlhy the ROme-Palermo tract, you can still get separate tickets for the Florence-ROme tract and for the Rome-Palermo tract.
You're absolutely correct, Alice, and I might add that you can travel on any SATURDAY from NORTHERN ITALY all the way to Sicily for as little as 30 Euros, by taking an ES or IC train to Rome Termini and immediately connecting to 11:45 ICplus train to Sicily, by purchasing a "Sabato di Trenitalia.com" promotional ticket through the Trenitalia website or National Call Center.
For example, you can travel on any SATURDAY from Venezia S. Lucia or Milano Centrale or Bologna Centrale or Firenze S. M. Novella to Rome Termini on an ES train, in time to connect to the 11:45 ICplus train to either Palermo or Siracusa (two back-to-back trains), for only 30 Euros. From Venice, your savings is 75.82 Euros, or nearly US$ 100, per ticket!!!!!! A party of four can save nearly US$ 400!!!!!!! With this fare, however, you can't make a stopover in Rome.
This arrangement is available with the "Sabato di Trenitalia.com" promotion.
Even if NOT travelling on a Saturday, you can still save a bunch on money by combining two different promotional fares. For example, from Venice to Rome with the "Eurostar a 29 Euro" promotion (valid through April 30, 2005, unless extended), followed by the "Liberta' di Viaggiare" promotion from Rome to Palermo. Total fare to Palermo is 44 Euros (29 plus 15) instead of 105.82 Euros, a savings of 61.82 Euros, or US 80, per ticket. With two different promotional fares, you don't even need to travel both legs on the same day.
Finally, for the purpose of being complete, I should add that you could take an "Espresso" (EXP) train from Northern Italy DIRECT (no train change) to Sicily, any late afternoon or evening, for 15 Euros in reserved first class, with the "Liberta' di Viaggiare" promotional rate, as long as you don't mind this category of train, which is usually not as attractive as the ICplus or ICN, and the fact that service is slower than taking an ES and changing in Rome to the ICplus or ICN train. I usually advise against using the EXP trains where there are better alternatives.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: GAC,
Here is a list of en-route stops along the Tyrrhenian Coast of Sicily of the two ICplus trains between Rome and Palermo:
Messina Milazzo (gateway to Aeolian Islands) Barcellona Capo d'Orlando S. Agata di Militello Cefalu Termini Imerese (connect by train to Agrigento) Palermo Centrale (connect by bus to Trapani, Castelvetrano, Mazara del Vallo, Marsala, Sciacca, Ribera, Agrigento)
These trains divide at Messina, and part of the railcars proceed south along the Ionian Coast of Sicily to Siracusa. Here are the en-route stops:
Messina Taormina-Giardini Giarre-Riposto Acireale Catania Centrale (connect by train to Caltagirone and Gela, connect by bus to Enna, Piazza Armerina and Ragusa) Lentini Augusta Siracusa (connect by train to Noto, Modica and Ragusa)
There are direct railcars to both Palermo and Siracusa, in both first and second class.
These two ICplus trains represent the fastest DIRECT (no change) train service between Rome, Naples, Salerno, and Sicily. Total travel time has been reduced slightly in recent years. Night trains take a bit longer.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: GAC,
TRENITALIA OFFERS A "BONUS" COUPON FOR FUTURE RAIL TRAVEL IN THE EVENT YOUR TRAIN ARRIVES MORE THAN 30 MINUTES LATE TO DESTINATION.
You should be aware of this "reward", particularly in the context of long distance trains to Sicily, when delays are not infrequent.
Here's how it works:
1. Your IC or ICplus train arrives at destination more than 30 minutes late (60 minutes late in case of ICN or EXP trains).
2. You mail your original ticket to Trenitalia within 30 days.
3. Trenitalia will mail you a "bonus" coupon within 30 days of receipt of your ticket claim.
4. The "bonus" is equal to 30% of the face amount of the ticket, inclusive of any reservation charge. If you've purchased a full-fare ticket from Rome to Palermo in first class on an ICplus train(76.65 Euros), the bonus will be worth 23 Euros. If it's a 15 Euro discount ticket, the bonus will be worth a very modest 4.50 Euros.
5. YOU MUST UTILIZE THE BONUS VOUCHER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF ITS ISSUE DATE, TOWARDS FUTURE RAIL TRAVEL WITH TRENITALIA. So, you have an excuse to return to Italy within six months ........
6. The voucher itself has no cash value.
7. EXCLUSIONS: no "bonus" will be issued if the train is late for any of the following reasons: force majeure, planned track maintenance which has previously been announced to the public, stikes and labor stoppages, acts of third parties (e.g. takeovers of tracks or rail stations), fire, flood, landslide, etc., delays prompted by police or other civil authority directives.
IF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF AN IC or ICplus TRAIN MALFUNCTIONS AND YOU ARE NOT RE-SEATED IN A RAILCAR WITH FUNCTIONING AIR CONDITIONING (in the same or a superior class of service), YOU ARE INTITLED TO THE SAME "BONUS" VOUCHER (but you can't get a double voucher if both events occur simultaneously). In the case of malfunctioning air conditioning, you must ask a ticket agent on the train to annotate your ticket accordingly, before you mail it in to Trenitalia.
Very interesting information, but how about the ferry from Naples to Palermo. How much is it, and how long does it take? Is it an overnight ferry, or are there departures during the day too? Do they have sleeping compartments? Thanks
Alan
Posts: 32 | Location: New York City | Registered: 28 November 2001
Alan, try to post this qiestion on anther thread. This one is specifically on trains and the users that follow it may not know much about the ferry. Still, if you are planning your trip for winter I would use the train and not the ferry, if you are planning for summer, the train offer (15 euro) may be off by then.
Both Tirrenia Lines and SNAV operate daily overnight car ferries between Naples and Palermo, 365 days per year. Tirrenia has some additional daylight crossings in August. The crossing takes a little over 9 hours, and there are both cabins and reclining seats which can be reserved.
Siremar, a subsidiary of Tirrenia, also has overnight car ferries between Naples and the Aeolian Islands, terminating in Milazzo. Departures range between twice weekly from November through March to six times weekly in July and August. Naples to Lipari takes nearly 14 hours. Cabins and reclining seats available.
TTT Lines has a daily overnight car ferry between Naples and Catania. The crossing takes 10.5 hours. Cabins and reclining seats available.
Grimaldi Lines has a thrice weekly overnight car ferry between Civitavecchia (the Port of Rome) and Palermo. The crossing takes 12 hours. They also have six weekly departures between Genoa and Palermo, a crossing of 20 hours. Suites, cabins and reclining seats available.
Even the cheapest fare on these ferries is significantly more than the 15 Euro promotional fare for the train.
Hi train experts! Please excuse my terrible ignorance. I did not know that you can take the train to sicily. How does the train... uh... go over the water? Is there a bridge? You mean i can get to sicily without having to set foot on a boat? I flew there cuz i get boat sick!
You do set foot on a boat: the train is disassembled, the cars are transferred on a ferry and once, you are across, the train is assembled back. And don't talk about bridges over that strait! Subjects of discussion to avoid: politics, religion, smoking, soccer and bridge.
With the 15 Euro promotional rate (or indeed any other type of promotional rate), whether "Freedom to Travel", "Eurostar a 29 Euro" or "Sabato di Trenitalia.com", you may NOT break your journey and reboard a different train later in the day, or later in the week. The promotional fare ticket loses all value once you break your journey. Nevertheless, you can still save quite a bit of money by purchasing TWO promotional tickets, e.g. Rome to Naples, then Naples (or Salerno) to Sicily. The combined fare of 30 Euros for TWO promotional tickets is still less than HALF the full fare ticket from Rome to Sicily in First Class!!!
FYI, if you are travelling on a FULL FARE ticket on a journey on an Intercity (IC) or Intercity Plus (ICplus) train which is over 200 kilometres, you MAY BREAK your journey for no more than 24 hours, then board a similar category train (IC, ICplus) later in the day, or next morning. For example, you could take the 11:45 ICplus train from Rome to Salerno (ar. 14:16), spend the night in Salerno (or along the Amalfi Coast, say at Vietri sul Mare or at Cetara, both very near Salerno), then board the MORNING ICplus train from Salerno (dep. 10:12) to Palermo (ar. 18:10), all on a full fare ticket. I did this myself.
NOTE: You would need to purchase TWO seat reservations, one per train, for 3 Euros EACH.
NOTE: You may NEVER break a journey on a Eurostar Italia (ES) train!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you do, your ticket loses all remaining value. BUT, you could purchase TWO Eurostar tickets for 29 Euros each, with the "Eurostar a 29 Euro" promotion valid through April 30, 2005, or TWO Eurostar tickets for 30 Euros each, with the "Sabato di Trenitalia.com" promotion, valid on Saturdays only.
SLEEPING ACCOMMODATIONS ON NIGHT TRAINS BETWEEN ROME AND PALERMO
Interested in securing sleeping accommodations on the night train between Rome and Palermo? Here are a few notes:
1. For as little as 45 Euros per person with the "Freedom to Travel" advance purchase promotional rate, you can reserve a twin standard sleeper with air conditioning and private washbasin (hot and cold water). There are 12 twin sleepers per railcar. Some compartments have three beds, and a single occupancy will command a premium. Toilets are at the ends of the railcar.
2. Also for as little as 45 Euros per person with the same promotional rate, you can reserve a bunk in a 4-bunk "Comfort Class Couchette" (C4). This makes sense if there are four persons in your party. There are 9 couchette compartments per railcar, and each compartment has air conditioning, but no washbasin. Toilets and washbasins are at the ends of the railcar.
3. The twin sleepers and C4 Couchettes are available on both of the Espresso (EXP) trains, which leave from Roma Termini at 20:22 and 21:32, and take about 12 hours.
4. If you want to travel in luxury, the Intercity Night (ICN) train "Conca d'Oro", which departs from Roma Termini at 23:00, has "Excelsior Class" twin sleepers (BUT NO "STANDARD" SLEEPERS), 8 per railcar, each with air conditioning, washbasin, toilet and shower. "Excelsior" sleepers DO NOT qualify for the promotional rate. They cost 110 Euros per person. There is a premium for single occupancy. In each railcar, one of the compartments is a bit larger (classified as a "Matrimonial Suite", though no one will ask to see a marriage license!), and costs 125 Euros per person. This ICN train does NOT have "standard" sleepers or couchettes.
5. This ICN train also has ordinary first and second class seats, which can be reserved for as little as 15 Euros per passenger (see previous postings). This is not so bad, as 11 hours in a first class Trenitalia seat is more comfortable than 11 hours in a coach class seat on a transatlantic flight. The ICN train going to Palermo has ONE first class railcar with 9 separate compartments of 6 seats with sliding glass doors (total 54 seats) and THREE second class railcars with 11 separate compartments of 6 seats with sliding glass doors (total 198 seats). There are also ONE first class and THREE second class railcars going straight to Siracusa. Obviously, to qualify for a first class seat at the 15 Euro promotional rate, you must book as soon as possible (up to 60 days in advance). First class seats are plusher than second class, and first class railcars are usually less crowded and tidier. Both first and second class seats pivot forward to provide for a modest recline, and have adjustable headrests with soft side supports useful for snoozing. The railcars are air conditioned.
6. Bear in mind that you can fly between Rome and Palermo on Air One in one hour for as little as 46 Euros (see separate posting).
7. The fares quoted above are all-inclusive of transportation, accommodation, and reservation. Sleepers and couchettes should be reserved as soon as possible (up to 60 days in advance).
8. Going to Taormina/Catania/Siracusa rather than Palermo? The train information posted above is similarly valid (all trains divide at Messina, with roughly half proceeding south to Siracusa and half west to Palermo), EXCEPT that the ICN "Conca d'Oro" does NOT have "Excelsior Class" sleepers to Siracusa, only to Palermo. This ICN has only ordinary seats to Siracusa. For sleepers or couchettes, you must take one of the EXP trains.
TIP: BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE (up to 60 days beforehand) if you want a FIRST class seat for only 15 Euros. The IC and ICN trains to Sicily typically have only ONE first class railcar to each of Palermo and Siracusa. This translates into about 50 first class seats for each destination. Because seats at the promotional rate are capacity-controlled, they tend to sell out very quickly after the 60-day reservations window opens.
For 15 Euros, even a second class seat is quite acceptable. The primary differences between first and second class is that first class seats are plusher,and the first class railcar is typically less crowded and cleaner. There is slightly more leg room in first class. All seats pivot forward to provide a modest recline. First class seats are more comfortable for sleeping.
When seats at the 15 Euro promotional rate sell out, more seats at 30 Euros become available.
All seats on both of the daytime ICplus trains between Rome and Palermo/Siracusa (the "Peloritano" and the "Archimede") are now sold on a RESERVED-ONLY BASIS (just as on Eurostar Italia trains), which means that there should no longer be people standing in the aisles of these trains. Seats can be purchased up to 10 minutes prior to train departure. The ticket price includes the seat reservation fee.
There is usually only one first class railcar to each of Palermo and Siracusa (with approx. 54 seats), and four second class railcars (with a total of 264 seats) to each destination).
The first class railcar should be re-styled with totally open-car seating (as on Eurostar Italia trains), whereas the second class railcars may be either the traditional type with 11 separate, sliding glass door compartments, or re-styled as in first class.
I'll be in Italy in March, and will want to book tickets for the overnight ICN train from Rome to Venice... to find fares/times I've been entering other dates since March obviously isn't available yet. I haven't come across any of these "freedom to travel" discount fares though, and I am wondering if you have to enter a promotional code or something to access them. I think I'm missing a step? I've put in a wide variety of dates and the prices are all 30/40 euros and up for seats, more for compartments.
Originally posted by emeybee: I'll be in Italy in March, and will want to book tickets for the overnight ICN train from Rome to Venice... to find fares/times I've been entering other dates since March obviously isn't available yet. I haven't come across any of these "freedom to travel" discount fares though, and I am wondering if you have to enter a promotional code or something to access them. I think I'm missing a step? I've put in a wide variety of dates and the prices are all 30/40 euros and up for seats, more for compartments.
When you look up prices, you must select the promotional fare(s) from the special pull down screen. Otherwise, you'll be quoted the "standard" first and second class fares. The most popular promotional fares are the "Liberta' di Viaggiare" for ICplus, IC, ICN and EXP trains; and "Eurostar a 29/39 Euro" for ES trains.
From time to time, Trenitalia offers a rock-bottom one-way promotional fare of 10 Euros from Rome to Sicily.
This promotion is called "Happy Train: Last Minute di Trenitalia". Tickets must be purchased online or via the national call center in Italy. Ticket is NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-CHANGEABLE, and valid only on the train and for the date selected. You can purchase the ticket as much as one week in advance, based on availability. The list of available trains at the super-discounted fare changes daily.
Currently, you can travel on the 7:45 a.m. ICplus train "Peloritano" from Roma Termini to Palermo for 10 Euros, first or second class, subject to availability; or on the 11:45 a.m. ICplus train "Archimede" from Roma Termini to Siracusa for the same fare, first or second class, subject to availability.
Subjects of discussion to avoid: politics, religion, smoking, soccer and bridge.