ebookers.com & train tickets

Ebookers is a serious (US dominated) internet travel nework. They offer almost no flights of low cost companies. I often consult ebookers.es, ebookers.com, ebookers.ch, start.de, mcflight.de, nouvelles-frontieres.fr and book finally directly with the airlines.
Trenitalia: there are some special offers bookable only on the web. For small distances, like Milan - Genoa, Rome - Naples, etc. it is easier to get tickets and seat reservations at the automates in the big stations (they accept mastercard, visa, etc.). ES-trains are the most expensives, IR and locale the cheapest, IC and ICplus are between.

If you're sure of what train you want, and want to save time at the ticket office, book trains within Italy online at www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html</a> - for fast trains you can normally just print out the booking reference and quote it on board.

Otherwise, just buy at the station (and for short local trips like Florence-Siena where no reservation is needede, definitely just do this).

neckervd,
i have actually found the cheapest flight through ebookers.com, and i have looked around a great deal.
only $526 round trip to rome from florida.

i read a few bad reviews about them online though, so i was sort of weary about making the purchase..

man in seat 61,
one thing i have not been able to understand is , when exactly reservations are needed.
and if they are needed , can you still make your purchases on the spot at the stations?

When you buy a ticket for a train that requires a reservation, the reservation is included in the fare. Reservations aren't even possible on regional trains in Italy, but they are required on some of the faster trains. The timetables on the Trenitalia site indicate clearly which trains require reservations and which don't. If a seat is still available on a train requiring a reservation, you literally buy a ticket at the last minute.