A young colleague is flying into Naples in mid February and had thought she would go to Capri for two nights. Now they are thinking of simply flying into Naples(tix have been bought) and then taking train to Rome straight away. They will have flown with three stops from California for a total of 18 hours of travel time. I suggested they get a hotel (they arrive @ 1100 am) , sleep for awhile, head out for dinner and then sleep the night in Naples. I also suggested they take an afternoon Eurostar the next day to Rome so as to arrive in Rome relatively fresh. They are not seasoned travellers and speak not a lick of Italian.

Does this make sense(my suggestion) or should they really try to do all that (arriving at train station in Naples and taking train to Rome) on the same day they land in Naples?

I did read Bardo's trip report and recommended the hotel in Naples to them as it is a ten minute taxi from the train station.

Train from Naples to Rome is 71min, non-stop. Departures twice an hour. Doesn't seem like a big deal to get to Rome if that's what they want to do.

Well, there is plenty to see in and around Naples -- Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Archaeology Museum -- just these could take up the two days they have wisely decided not to spend on Capri. The February weather which makes that destination iffy can actually be a benefit in Pompeii, which gets uncomfortably hot and crowded in the summer.

But if they want to speed to Rome it's entirely possible, though if they are like me they'll be nodding off on the train.

A few questions are in order:
1) Where are they departing from, Rome?
2) How many nights in Rome (assuming they head straight there)?

I think they would love an afternoon and evening in Naples, especially if they sayed at the Decumani, just wandering around the neighborhood, relaxing at parks, wine bars, and peeking into all the gorgerous churches. Leave the next day so as to arrive in Rome close to check-in time.

But not at the expense of short-changing Rome. I think 7 nights in Rome for a first visit is ideal. If staying in Naples means, they will have less than 5 nights in Rome, then I would suggest heading to Rome straight away.

with the time difference, I would rather suggest they take the train to rome, whats another 2 hours more with such a long trip. Go to Rome, refresh and go out, its the best way to beat the jet leg coming from CA. With all the excitement and new impressions I doubt they'll be all that tired.

I believe they have 4-5 nights in Rome and from there 4 in Florence and 3 in Venice. They will fly out of Venice.

In that case, they should train straight away to Rome.

Rome is 10 times the size (and has 10X as much to see) of Florence and they are allotting roughly equal time - but that's a whole new thread....

Thanks everyone. I passed along your information. The point about arriving in Rome at check-in time was not one I had thought of.

Here's a wee bit of human interest: she is certain they are getting engaged on this trip. She worries he will pop the question at the Vatican as he is deeply religious

And the worry is she will have to be relatively sedate if at the Vatican.

Hello, PamSF. I agree that with their itinerary I would go straight to Rome also. I had always enjoyed being in Naples but in this case it is one more hotel to have to check in and out of, a bit of unpacking and packing again the next day.

I am smiling about the possible proposal at the Vatican, I hope that works out!