We are planning a trip to Paris in July and then from there travel to Naples, stay in Sorrento for 3 N, then from Sorrento to Rome for 3N, Florence (2 N), Venice (1N) and then back to Paris (1N). We will probably travel by train in Italy. The big question is whether to fly to Naples from Paris and then from Venice to Rome for the return journey? Are the budget airlines in Europe flying on schedule given the recent volcanic eruption in Icelend?

Also, any recommendations for affordable lodging for 3 people for 1 N in Paris will be highly appreciated. Our flight leaves the next day morning from CDG.

Thanks in advance...

the alternative to flying and the question marks posed by volcanic ash closing airports is to hop up to Rome and take the overnight train from there to Paris, arriving the next morning around 8am and you can also do an overnight train between Venice and Paris.
If traveling much in Italy by train and doing the overnight trains then investigate the France-Italy railpass - a Eurailpass good only in France and Italy. For lots on Italian trains and passes i always highlight these info-laden sites: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com; www.seat61.com - the latter will give you a good look at various types of sleeping accommodations and compartment layouts for the Artesia (Italy-France) overnight trains.

You can fly easyJet (a budget airline) from Orly to Naples and then take the Circumvesuviana commuter train from Naples to Sorrento.

You can fly easyJet from Venice Marco Polo to either Orly or CDG.

Thanks, Palenque and TimS.

There is a train from Venice arriving at Paris Bercy at 8:19 am. Does this give us enough time to reach CDG airport for a 10:50 am international flight? Is there a train station closer to CDG?

Too close. Skip Venice this trip and save it for next time.(Venice/Greece/Austria/Germany/Czech).
Your stay in Sorrento will give you time to see Amalfi, Positano, Capri. Rome for 3 days gives to plenty to see and time to enjoy, Florence you could spend extra night, see Sienna and Tuscany and then...get to Paris for an evening in plenty of time to make your flight.

It's wise to be at CDG a full three hours before a flight across the Atlantic. You'll need to spend your last night in Paris.

If you want to have the experience of taking a night train, you could take the direct Paris-Rome night train, then a high-speed EuroStar Italia train to Naples, and then the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.

IMO you should always be in your departure city the night before - if you have a non-changeable non-refundable flight simply because things like train strikes can pop up out of nowhere - tracks could be blocked by an accident, etc.

And even last week one day i guess the whole Paris metro/RATP was on strike - so even if going to the airport by taxi one of those may be hard to get.

Keep eyes and ears open as these strikes are usually announced in advance, like the recent national strike was.

Thank you, all. Good to know about the possibility of a train strike. But I do not want to miss Venice on this trip even if we can only be there for 1 N. I am going to book a morning flight the day before our transatlantic flight. And, there is a train that leaves in the afternoon at 12:50 pm from Venice that reaches Paris at 23:21 just in case the planes are not flying that day.

Does anyone know what I have copied below means...appears under arrivals on the trenitalia site.
Departures Arrivals
19:57 --:--
VE S.L. PARIS L
MESTRE

I guess that did not appear like I had hoped it would. I guess the question is why is there no arrival time listed?

Venezia Santa Lucia Sa, 31.07.10 dep 12:50 IC 9722 Intercity

Milano Centrale Sa, 31.07.10 arr 15:25

Milano Centrale Sa, 31.07.10 dep 16:10
EC 9248 TGV 9248

the above trains - changing in Milan to the Artesia France-Italy Day Train (there are also Artesia Night trains) - run every day at the same times, i believe, as dummy date i put in

Now i used the Wunderbar bahn.de or German Railways site that has schedules for all of Europe because IME it is the easiest and most reliable as well to use for me. Now an easy way to hook up with bahn.de's English schedule-finding page go to www.budgeteuropetravel.com and click on the home page on the words something like 'All European Railway Timetables' and it takes you to the English page of the bahn.de site where you have two boxes - Start (from) and Stop (to), the dates, etc and everthing pops up. I reference the home page connection above because they also give you there several useful tips on using the bahn.de site as it can tell you so much more than what initially pops up - note that reservations are obligatory on each segment so be sure to buy both segments in Venice or before from a U.S. agent - so you just have to change trains in Milan.

capiche?

Not quite, Palenque. Not sure why you are suggesting we go to Paris via Milan (more options perhaps?) but I will check out the website you suggested, hopefully later today. Many thanks.

If you have any suggestions for 'hotels/B&Bs in Marais with left luggage facilities', I would appreciate it very much.

The only way you can go in the daytime i believe between Venice and Paris is via Milan - via Switzerland involves more changes of train and takes longer - if you have a day to spare and stop off say in the Interlaken area it is a great route.

But i only did the Milan route with the information you gave - departure and arrival times and that is via the Milan route - the quickest route.

Palenque, I really like the Bahn.de site. Thank you for suggesting it. And yes, most trains go via Milan which is not at all obvious from the Trenitalia site.

What if we travel from Florence to Venice at 17:30 reaching Venice at 19:33. So we would stay in Florence for a night and leave the next day in the evening. Is that enough time to hit the main attractions? How long should I budget for getting from downtown Florence to the train station?
And is it safe to reach Venice late in the evening? I could then take the night train from Venice to Paris the next day and be in Paris at 8:19 am the day before my scheduled departure day.

When in Naples take the ferry to Sorrento. Glorious!

oohlala1 - Yes IME it is safe to arrive in Venice late in the evening - you get off the train and into a water taxi out front or hop a public vaporetto to near your hotel.

As for Florence it is compact in its tourist center - most everything of interest is say a few square-mile area.

To me, not being into are that much - especially old Italian masters - Florence's old town center, swirling around the really gorgeous cathedral and baptistry and the large square in front of the Uffizi with the David statue (copy here) is the essence of Florence - and the Ponte Vecchio - famous bridge with shops on it is just steps away as well.

Obviously it is better to have a few days but in one day, unlike much much larger Rome, you can at least appreciate it.

As for arriving the Santa Maria Novella train station - the main station - is about a 15-minute walk from the cathedral and tourist epicenter- buses also go and of course taxis - but the station is really close to the town center.

Oohlala - to maximize time in Florence if you want to visit the two mega-museum draws - the Uffizi and the Accademia (original David statue) then pre-book a time slot online. Otherwise you could wait in long long lines to get to the ticket window.

I booked 2 N in Florence before I read your post but the reservation can be canceled 3 days before arr date.
I googled Uffizi tickets and got several hits with one site charging 65 Euros for 3 tickets. Is there an official website?
Also, just realized that the Uffizi is closed on Monday. Not sure if David can be seen on Monday and how many hours to set aside for visiting both Uffizi and Accademia. I am leaning toward staying there just 1 N. All good info and suggestions, Palenque. Thank you.

Uffizi Official Site
www.viator.com/Uffizi-Gallery Skip the lines! Book Uffizi Gallery tickets ahead. Low price guarantee.

Uffizi, Uffizi gallery, Florence.
This website was created with the intention of providing a guide to the splendid Uffizi Gallery, primary art museum of Florence. ...
www.uffizi.com/

Ah yeh i see your confusion - the first site says it is the Uffizi Official site - yet it seems to be a private agency and is treading on its 'official' ability to book Uffizi tickets but it is not the official Uffizi site as the 2nd one seems to be - check that site out and see if you can book directly

Also in Florence opposite the Uffizi is an Uffizi automatic booking kiosk - automated - they do charge a few euro surcharge over the at the door price but keep it in mind - was there two years ago.

Ok, the first site is charging $26.34 pp and the second one 58.35 Euros. Checking with the B&B. Thanks.