Getting to naples??? train from Florence or from Rome
 

Hi,
planning on a trip to Italy, Im starting off in Barcelona, and thinking of going from there to Venice, Florence, Naples (Capri, Sorrento etc) and then Rome.. is it better to go from Florence to Naples or go to Rome then Naples and fly home from there??
Also, any hotel recommendations for Mid May in Venice, Florence, and Rome would be greatly appreciated. Nothing too expensive. Location and cleanliness are important.

Thank you.

"is it better to go from Florence to Naples or go to Rome then Naples and fly home from there??"

There's no "better" way. It all depends on the flights available to you between the cities in italy and your final destination (home airport).

"Nothing too expensive" is subjective. Can you provide an actual price range?

there are direct high-speed trains running frequently enough between Florence and Naples, taking about 3.5 hours i believe (via Rome)

Use www.renfe.es to book the overnight sleeper train (or rather, 'trainhotel') between Barcelona and Milan, this is called the 'Salvador Dali' and runs 3 times a week. It will save you a hotel bill and be a pleasant and interesting experience, unlike an environmentally-nasty flight with all the airport hassle. It'll in fact save time over flying.

There are 4-bed tourist class shared sleepers (from 80 euros one-way), 1 & 2 bed 'preferente' sleepers (with breakfast included) and 1 & 2 bed 'Gran Clase' sleepers with private shower & toilet, dinner & breaktast included in the restaurant car from 149 euros per person each way, for two people travelling together, booked in advance).

www.elipsos.com will show you what these trainhotels are like, with a nifty virtual tour of the sleeping-cars, restaurant and cafe-bar.

Booking it at renfe.es, you simply print out your own ticket.

Then use www.trenitalia.com to find train timnes and fares (and, if it'll accept your credit card, buy tickets) from Milan to Venice an Venice-Florence-Rome-Naples. You'll find advice on using trenitalia.com (and on train travel within Italy) at www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm.

There is an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Rome's port Civitavecchia (or to Livorno near Pisa/Florence).
http://www.grimaldi-ferries.com/engl...dex.jsp?lan=EN