Buying Italian train tix from US
New Member
Posted on: Wed, 16/07/2008 - 21:45
Hi,
We are traveling to Italy in a week. I thought I could buy tickets online from the trenitalia site, while I was still in the US. I have tried 3 times, though, and it says credit card denied (and there isn’t anything wrong with the CC).
Anyone know if there is a ban/block on buying Italian train tickets from outside of Italy? I thought I had read in Rick Steves that I could buy them online before going.
Any help appreciated!
Lora
I’ve bought tickets on-line from trenitalia.com, with no problem. The system is really slick. On some routes you get a confirmation number and print out the tickets from the kiosk at the train station. On other routes you can go “ticketless” and just take your home-printed confirmation slip with you — although you can also print out those tickets at the kiosk if you want to.
Apparently, some credit cards work on trenitalia and others don’t. In reviewing old posts I find one from someone who bought tickets on-line from trenitalia about 5 weeks ago — apparently with no problem. The last few posts in this thread indicate a problem with some cards and not with others: http://eurotrip.com/... Maybe try a different card?
I would not worry too much. It is fast and easy to buy your tickets from the automated kiosks at the train station in Italy — although I suppose it’s possible you may have the same problem with your credit card there.
Thanks,
On further investigation on the site, I think a couple of things may have happened.
One of my questions was how far in advance can you buy tickets? (I need tix for July 27- August 4)
Also, your card has to be signed up with the “verified with visa” program (which apparently I was not yet fully signed up). I think that I tried to use the site before my visa was fully set up, and in the fine print, they block you from using that card again if that happens too many times. My other cards are debit, which also seem to prevent problems, so I think that I am SOL.
Thanks for your help. I just wish I had found the fine print before locking myself out of the site!
Sorry you got locked out of the site. The whole credit card situation for Americans on European websites can be a rail pain. I went through three cards the other night before I could finally book a ticket on a Spanish airline. I hope you can figure out a way around it. I booked everything online when my wife and I went to Italy and not having to stand in line saved us a decent amount of time.