Has anyone traveled by train from Paris to Rome or other Italian city? If so, what were the highlights, and where would you recommend stopping? Or is it better to just fly and get to Rome faster?

It depends on how long you have for the trip, what your interests are and how you likke to travel. If it were me and it was just hop from Paris to Rome I would fly. If I wanted to spend time seeing things along the way I would do a road trip.

IMHO train is best for getting from one city to another when the time involved is not more than 6 or 7 hours. Longer than than can get really boring - and I wold never consider trying to sleep in a train (too uncomfortable, too expensive and too much chance for loss of belongings).

From Paris to Torino and Milano, there are daytime TGVs. From Paris to Roma, there is an overnight train with sleeping cars. Look at www.seat61.com for information on the options.

You can usually find cheap flights on EasyJet from Paris Orly to Venice/Pisa/Rome Ciampino/Milan Linate/Genoa. Pay attention to check-in times/luggage rules as they are strict.
http://www.easyjet.com/asp/en/book/index.asp?lang=en

Depends on how much time you have - you can take a direct overnight train between Paris and Rome/Florence and Venice or the daytime TGVs to Milan then change as Geoff posts above.

But if you have time eschew the most direct route via Torino and Milan and spend a few days in Switzerland - take a train from Paris to say Bern then head for the fabulous Jungfrau Region - the essence of the dreamy picture of the Swiss Alps ethced in your minds' eye - to me the absolute highpoint, both figuratively and literally of Switzerland and is about half way between Paris and Florence or Venice. You could also stop by Lake Stresa, Stresa train station as your first Italian stop and visit the fabled three Borromean Islands just off shore there - Stresa being on the main rail line Brig, Switzerland to Milan.

If traveling enough by train in France and Italy thn investigate the Frane-Italy Railpass, valid on nearly all trains in both countries. For loads of great info on trains in France and Italy I always spotlight these fantastic IMO sites - www.seat61.com as Geoff above recommends and also www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

A daily sleeper train leaves Paris (Gare de Bercy) at 18:54 and arrives Rome Stazioni Termini at 10:12 next morning. centre to centre.

See what the trains are like at www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#The night trains from Paris to Italy ...

It has couchettes (simple 4 or 6 berth sleeping compartments) and private sleepers with 1 2 or 3 beds per room. There's also a restaurant car. It's quite pleasant spending an evening on the train as it swishes along past the River Yonne past small French villages and picturesque churches as night falls. Take some wine (no rules against that on the rails, unlike flying) and chill out.

It'll also save the cost of getting to and from airports, and a hotel bill.

Fares start at just 35 euros in a couchette, though 50 euros is a more readily-available price. Booking opens 90 days ahead. Book at www.tgv-europe.com (but if you're from the USA, select 'Canada' to avoid being bumped to Rail Europe).

I;'ve taken these Artesia overnight trains France to Italy several times and though they lable themselves 'Hotel Trains' they are nothing fancy and IME not even as comfy as many overnight trains in Europe. Indeed RailEurope issued a notice a few years ago to clients not to hype these trains as luxury hotel trains - this after the AC failed during a notriously hot summer and folks nearly boiled to death inside. And during warm summer months with windows that do not open if the AC is not up to snuff... Yet they are, like any overnight train, a utilitarian way to cover lots of ground and save yes a nice hotel bill. The Paris to Venice train takes a different routing and goes via Switzerland, though all at night soi you see nothing of what to me is Europe's most beautiful country.

Or is it better to just fly and get to Rome faster?>

Still around? You'd have to say how much time you have overall to answer this question.

How long are you staying from the time you leave Paris to the time you leave Rome - I'd say anthing less than 3 full or 2.5 full days in Rome would find you cutting short things you want to see and do.

www.tgv-europe.com>

Man in seat 61?

Is there a difference between fares on tgv-europe.com and www.voyages-sncf.com or are they the same - curious and figure you know - what's the difference - one better than the other.

www.idtgv.com I know is very different - basically a charter train not appearing open to others on schedules I think.

I traveled on an overnight train from Florence to Paris. It was a bit bumpy, but since it was overnight the travel time didn't take away any sight-seeing time. I was with a group and we turned the train ride into a very memorable experience. The only downside was we didn't get to see much of the countryside since we slept through most of the trip.

Riding in a private compartment - say a double with someone close to you can be really nice - in fact one of my best friends says his son was conceived on the overnight train between Paris and Venice he believes!

But if in a 6- or 4-person compartment it is all difference - you are in with strangers of both sexes and potentially loud snorers - folks who constantly get up during the night and may not lock the compartment door when returning, etc. But these couchette-type digs are cheaper so there is a trade off for sure.

Hi, everyone! Thanks for all of the interesting insights and comments. Since many of you have asked how much time I have for travel, here's the plan: I will be meeting my husband and son in Paris on April 11 or 12, then we will spend a few days touring France, then my husband returns to US and I continue on with my son towards Italy. So, we will likely depart France on or about April 14, and we need to be back in Paris on or about April 23. Which gives us roughly 9 days to go somewhere in Switzerland/Italy and return to Paris. I have been to Paris, but never to other areas of France and never to Switzerland or Italy. What do you all recommend? THANKS!!!

Well again in Switzerland I would highly recommend the Jungfrau Region in and around Interlaken - and this is about half way by rail to Rome or Florence or Venice - and Interlaken is just off the main rail line to Italy - a spur rail line ends in Interlaken from where toylike trains take you into the wondrous glacier-strewn Jungfrau Region - the gorgeous Alpine Switzerland ethced in your minds' eyes - the absolute highpoint of Switzerland for first-time tourists - both literally and figuratively. Spend say 3 days here - so much to see and do - mountain trains, long thrilling aerial cable cars - rides on paddlewheel steamers on the two lakes that bookend Interlaken, which means 'between the lakes'.

About five hours by train from Paris this Valhalla of an Alpine Wonderland. Kids will love actually going to a glacier!