Trenitalia has the new timetable up, but like so many people in the past, I'm having problems with them rejecting my credit card. I called my credit card company and they said they had not rejected it as the charge had never been put through. I'm trying to get an Amica fare on a EuroStar train -- is that the problem? I'm staying under the 15 minute time limit when I try to book the ticket? Any suggestions or other tricks? Or should we wait until we get to Italy? Thanks!

I just booked everything in Italy. Found that to be much easier than trying the web.

Elly

I had the same problem and had pretty much given up but when I tried a few days later -
it worked! I suggest waiting for at least a few days and then trying again. I was glad that I was able to purchase online for the Venice to Vernazza portion of my trip.

I've NEVER had any luck booking Trenitalia tickets online. Neither has my sister. We've made several frustrating attempts using different credit cards and then gave up. It was easier for us to buy tickets in Italy, and we still got the Amica fare.

I don't know exactly what the magic is to make it work. This subject has been written about many times.

good luck

For some reason I rarely have problems, but I frankly have no idea why I don't. I have noticed that it sometimes is more reliable using the Italian version than the English one...but I wouldn't say it was any sort of guarantee, either.

Grabbing your tickets a day or so in advance either from a local agent or at a machine or window at the station should not be a problem, however. To get the Amica fare, it must be at least a day in advance; the further in advance, the more likely you'll get the fare (esp. on popular routes).

Also, each train only offers a limited number of seats with this discounted fare: could it be that all the seats avilable on this fare have already been sold? Finally, are you trying to reserve a seat on a train due to leaeve more than 60 days from now?

Thanks for the advice. I'll try again in a few days and if that doesn't work just wait until we get there. I am under the 60 day limit so that's not the problem.

Anyone else having trouble with the Trenitalia site today? I can't get anything to work! I'm checking for mid-December, so I'm within a 60 day window, and I KNOW there are trains from Perugia and Orvieto to Rome, but I've tried several times and can never get a schedule, just a message that says to change the time and try again!

Yes, earlier this morning it was giving error messages even for tomorrow's schedules, but it looks like the post-Dec. 9 schedules aren't fully loaded. I did Firenze-Roma for Dec. 16, and it only shows international night trains.

Last night all of the new schedule for December was up on the site but today it's gone.

Glad to know I'm in good company. Four unsuccessful attempts over the past few days for travel in mid-November, and I too checked with my bank to ensure no problem with my card.

Although I do not speak Italian, if the fields are the same I will try the Italian version.

Otherwise, the experience will be chalked up to "charming" and the tickets will be purchased there.

Michael

Still no luck today...I tried this morning, and agin just now, at 9 pm.....glad I'm not chekcing for travel tomorrow!

I tried again this morning, well, noon really, for a date in Nov, and altho I was abgle to submit an initial request, instead of getting a timetable I was told that they could not connect to their server, and to try again later! Does this happen every time they make seasonal changes???

TrenItalia - error entering credit cards

TrenItalia block your credit card after three failed attempts. This happened to me because
(a) my credit card company blocked my initial attempt, considering my "unusual activity" as fraud.
(b) They didn't bother to inform me in time and:
(c) I made another two attempts.
(d) had they informed me, they would also have prevented me using my other credit card with the same result.

It's impossible to speak to a human on the TrenItalia English-speaking helpline +39 06 68475475. Does anyone have a tip on the best time to phone them pelase?

TIA,

Peter