Travel Consultant

[Valerie]

While there's a lot of good advice, I'll return to the original question in case @kbexplore or anyone else is looking for a travel consultant.

There is of course our resident expert @Jim Zurer who has been consulting for many years.
Rebecca at Italy Beyond the Obvious is excellent
Cassandra from Travel Italian Style is another good resource

There are many but these I've worked with, know and trust.

 

[DonPolo]

Thanks I'll try. Also I noticed that when I search on my phone, Trenitalia has a AUD19 option of a product that allows changes even of non changeable tickets and access to a lounge amongst other things while on my computer the option is not showing up.

Can't seem to find the AUD19 option any more. Also will probably book individual tickets I suppose.

Here's my proposed itinerary in September.

6 Depart Australia
7 6:00 am Arrive Rome Fiumicino Airport
8:57 am Depart Airport
13:15 pm Arrive Viareggio (On the the Roma Tiburtina - Roma Ostiense section there is a bus between the Tiburtina and Piramide stations due to rail works.
8-12 Italian A1-2 Language Course in Viareggio live in with other students
13-15 Not decided yet, might go to Lucca for two days
15-18 Meeting up with friends in Camogli
18-22 Meeting up with daughter, her husband and in-laws in Mirabella Eclano
(1 hr from Napoli).; husband's grandparent's former village - religious festival.
22-25 Naples, Amalfi, Pompeii (?)
25 Overnight in Rome near Fiumicino Airport
26 Depart Rome Fiumicino Airport

 

[Andrew]

(On the the Roma Tiburtina - Roma Ostiense section there is a bus between the Tiburtina and Piramide stations due to rail works.

This is on the other side of Ostiense from the trip you're taking, so the only relevance for your trip is that everyone would be getting off the train at Ostiense; you don't need to change to a bus. Also you don't need to wait until 8.57 to leave the airport; on a Sunday the train to Ostiense leaves at 27 and 57 past each hour, so you can take the first of those when you get to the airport station, and give yourself more time to connect at Ostiense.

 

[DonPolo]

This is on the other side of Ostiense from the trip you're taking, so the only relevance for your trip is that everyone would be getting off the train at Ostiense; you don't need to change to a bus. Also you don't need to wait until 8.57 to leave the airport; on a Sunday the train to Ostiense leaves at 27 and 57 past each hour, so you can take the first of those when you get to the airport station, and give yourself more time to connect at Ostiense.

Thank you Andrew. The display on my computer is showing slightly different times except for the 8:57 but no matter. However the earlier trains all involve 3 changes, a trip on a Frecciarossa and about 16 Euros more. I guess they travel further even though the travel time is more or less the same. But it's certainly worth considering.

 

[Andrew]

I should make clear that for the main part of the trip we're looking at the train departing Roma Ostiense at 10.07 for Viareggio, which you might book in advance. The 8.57 departure from FCO Airport is the last train that would get you to Ostiense in time, but you can take an earlier train if you're at the airport station in time, at 7.27, 7.57, etc. You can buy the ticket for this commuter train at the airport station or on the app when you know which train you'll make; that is, a separately purchased ticket Fiumicino Aeroporto-Roma Ostiense. This gives you more time to connect to the 10.07 train at Ostiense.

 

[DonPolo]

Thanks Andrew, it looks like that if I pre book the journey, I can change the time on the day of departure before the departure time of the train. The Website says: "If you change your mind, you can make an unlimited number of changes to the ticket's date or time up to 11:59 p.m. of the day before your journey, and, on the same day, you can make an unlimited number of changes to the ticket's time, up to the scheduled departure of the train."