There is a great deal of misinformation about the Trenitalia "MINI" fare on this and other travel sites. Here are some points to remember:
1. MINI fares ARE refundable, with a 50% forfeiture of the fare actually paid, IF the refund request is made no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel.
2. MINI fares ARE changeable, with a surcharge to the "base" fare, IF the change is requested no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel. The new reservaton must be for a LATER-departing train (not an earlier-departing train).
3. MINI fares must be purchased no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day which is TWO DAYS prior to desired travel. After such time, the MINI fare is no longer available.
4. MINI fares give a discount between 10% and 70% off the "base" fare. Discounts tend to get SMALLER the closer the travel date approaches. There is usually no advantage to wait to purchase the MINI fare (as long as one's travel fares are fixed).
5. MINI fares are often lower for trains departing as less popular hours (outside of peak commute times), or trains arriving at or departing from secondary stations such as Venice Mestre, Florence Rifredi/Campo di Marte or Rome Tiburtina.
6. MINI fares are available in both first and second class. Sometimes, the percentage discount in first class is greater than for the same train in second class (because MINI fares are all-capacity controlled).
7. MINI fares vary according to travel date, specific train, and class of service.
8. Once schedules and fares have been uploaded to the Trenitalia website, MINI fares can usually be purchased up to FOUR MONTHS in advance (although this is not a "hard" rule).
9. Except in very narrow circumstances involving missed connections from one of the Trenitalia fast national trains, you FORFEIT your MINI fare ticket if you MISS your scheduled train, even by one second. For that reason, it's risky to book the MINI fare on the same day as arrival by plane (unless the fare is so low that you're prepared to forfeit the ticket if you miss the train). As a rule of thumb, it's also risky to book a "MINI" fare ticket for a second or third connecting train (i.e. not the first train in a series of connections).
10. Outside of a couple of days each year, it's usually not necessary to book Trenitalia tickets in advance if one is not interested in saving money with a MINI or other promotional fare. Also, on popular tourist routes, fast trains usually run every hour or less.
11. MINI fares are the same for adults as for children. There is a separate child's fare, but it's not cumulable with the MINI discount. Sometimes, the regular child's fare (50% for children between 4 and 12) is lower than the MINI fare for the same train. (Toddlers under 4 ALWAYS travel free without a ticket and without a guaranteed seat).
12. MINI fares are available on all Trenitalia trains EXCEPT the unreserved regionale trains (which are non-discountable aside from children's fares).
13. As contrasted to the MINI fares, regular "Base" fares do NOT increase as the travel date approaches (UNLESS there is a system-wide tariff change).
14. As contrasted to the FAST trains, it's usually a very bad idea to purchase an electronic ticket for the unreserved regionale trains. Electronic tickets have significant restrictions which traditional paper tickets (purchased in Italy) don't have, and advanced purchases for the regionale trains don't generate any real benefits (aside for the convenience of not having to buy them in Italy).
15. People purchasing Trenitalia tickets through the Trenitalia website should read carefully the tariff rules for the ticket purchased ("base", MINI, etc.), as well as the rules on Electronic tickets:
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4420c9c3aa3fc210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4aa9335a9a605210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4420c9c3aa3fc210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=38ae99e8e609a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
www.lefrecce.it (bookings)
Edited: 9 years ago





