How can I get around paying extra charges when traveling by train through Italy with a Eurail pass?

Eurail Pass--Booking Trains (clarification)?

• I've seen questions about this, but I wanted to ask using my own words and get answers directly to my question...just to be sure. I will be traveling in Europe this summer, and I am getting a eurail pass for a portion of my trip (3 country pass--Germany Switzerland Italy). What I'm not 100% clear about is how to go about booking train travel using my pass. I've looked on websites for trains and times and how to book them (if they were available this far in advance). What I haven't noticed is how to order/book the ticket as part of my Eurail pass. If I have the pass, can I just go make a reservation at the station a few days before I go? Can I make all of my reservations online in advance? How far in advance? What website would be best to do this? I just want to have all my bases covered, so if someone could explain it to me, it would be really helpful! Thank you!!

• Answer:

  You can do either, booking in advance or at the station a few days before traveling, in some cases you can even still book while the train is already in the station. Which is best depends on when you travel and how much flexibility you want to have. If you book all your hostels/hotels, you will want to book all your trains too, so you know you will be able to reach the city when/where you have your booking. On the other hand, if you like the freedom to change your plans and can be flexible with which train you use, you can make your reservations at the last moment. In the weekends and in July and August it will be much harder to get reservations for the trains you want, which is important to remember. This site tells you how to get your reservations: http://www.seat61.com/Railpass-and-Eurail-pass-guide.htm#reservations or pay supplements Read the warning about the cost of some agencies, it can be cheaper to buy a ticket for a train than it is to buy just a reservation for that same train. Also remember that fast trains have compulsory reservations that include the price of a surcharge, in some cases taking a train that is a little slower can save a lot of money. And mostly you will be able to make reservations at the same time the tickets come available. Often 3 months before travel but I have been able to buy some tickets earlier than that. Added: You will need to show proof of reservation. When you make reservations from home you will either get to self print them, and need to bring the credit card with which you paid for them, or you will get them send home, and will need to bring the pieces of paper on which they are printed. When making reservations in a station you will get pieces of paper, often the same size as the local tickets. If it is a train with no compulsary reservation, you may enter without having your reservation tickets, but if someone else is sitting in your seat you will not be able to claim the seat, they will not trust you one your word. And if the train has compulsary reservations the train guard or conductor will want to see the pieces of paper to check them.