The Crucial Luggage Step You Shouldn't Skip If You're Traveling By Train In Italy

During an Italian getaway, there's a good chance you'll need to hop on a few trains to travel between spots like Rome, Venice, and Florence. The good news is that train travel in Italy is often considered the best and cheapest way to get around. However, it's crucial to protect your luggage from getting lost or stolen when traveling between cities.

There are spots to store your luggage on Italian trains, which can vary depending on the railcar. Some newer carriages offer luggage storage areas at the end of each car, while others only have space on the racks above the seats. You may also find room for smaller bags behind and under the seats. If you must store your bags out of your sight, they may be at risk of getting lost or stolen in transit. Therefore, there's one crucial step you should always remember: Label your luggage with your contact information, just as you would for a flight. This makes it easier to locate your items if they're lost or mistakenly taken by another passenger. You may also want to pop a tracking device inside your baggage that will alert you if it's taken off the train.

Locking your luggage is another essential step to keep snooping thieves out of your belongings. However, beware that security checks sometimes occur, where you'll be required to show the contents of your bags. In these cases, make sure you can easily access and open your luggage.

Passengers are responsible for securing and monitoring their own belongings on trains in Italy, so it's up to you to keep your bags as close to your seat as possible and watch over them at stops when passengers are exiting the train (and, if they're sneaky, may take your luggage along with them). With that said, there may be insurance included in your ticket that allows you to claim compensation for theft. For instance, passengers on Frecce and InterCity trains that have their items stolen from the baggage storage area at the end of the car may receive up to 300 euros ($325) per bag or 600 euros ($655) total per customer. Note that compensation varies by train company, and filing insurance claims can be difficult.

Another way to protect your belongings is to buy your own travel insurance. Many insurance companies protect against theft and lost items while you're traveling, which can come in handy if the worst-case scenario occurs during your train journey. Some credit cards also offer travel protection as an alternative to traditional insurance policies.

Finally, if you suspect your bag was simply lost — or if you accidentally left it behind on a train — you may be able to recover it at a lost-and-found center. Depending on the train company, there will likely be a place where lost luggage is kept at certain stations. Contact the company as soon as possible regarding your lost item to initiate a search.