Trains from Paris to Rome or Naples

German DB Bahn ICE 9573 Intercity-Express
Paris Est - dep 10:55 / Stuttgart Hbf - arr 14:04

Transfer time 10 mins <<<< THIS IS A WORRY , BUT YOU HAVE 3.5HRS UP YOUR SLEEVE IN MUNICH

German DB Bahn ICE 517 Intercity-Express
Stuttgart Hbf - dep 14:14 / München Hbf - arr 16:27

Austrian Railways OBB Nightjet EN 295 - Departs Munich 20:10 / Arrives Rome 09:22
https://www.oebb.at/en/angebote-ermaessigungen/nightjet
http://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/nightjet.htm

I used the Deutsche Bahn website and found options that do not require that you visit Munich. Try entering PARIS as the origin, NAPOLI as the destination, a travel date in early April that matches the day of the week you want to make the trip and a departure time of 18:00.

The first option I found was a 7:14 PM trip with one change in Milan at 6 AM, arriving in Naples at 11 AM. Only the first train (a EuroNight) has sleepers and couchettes, so you'd be sitting up (possibly sleep-deprived) on the second train (a EuroStar) for almost 5 hours.

You could start your journey a few minutes later on a TGV to Dijon, but you'd only be on the TGV about 1-1/2 hours, would still have to make the 6 AM change in Milan and would arrive at the same time as on the first itinerary, presumably having paid more for the privilege.

The Deutsche Bahn did not display any options involving a night train thru Munich. When I searched for just the Munich-Naples part of the trip, the best I found was a 13-3/4 hour trip, departing at 8:10 PM and arriving at 9:55 AM after a change in Arezzo.

Can you fly? Check skyscanner.

Regarding the night train option: ÕBB Night Jet EN trains have taken over the DB's CNL night service. Does it make any difference? No, not in a practical sense. The night routes still exist. with the night train as a viable option.

"I would rather travel at night than spend 14 hours during the day on a regular train...." So would I, but it also depends where in Europe. I've done 10 hour rides by day but not 14. From Paris to Munich can be easily done with one transfer. Take the early TGV Paris Est to Frankfurt Hbf, direct, arriving at ca 11 am, have lunch at the station, then take the ICE to Munich Hbf. I've taken this route, both legs.

part 2 here...When you arrive at Munich Hbf, you still have ample time before the night departure at 20:10 hrs...no need to rush.

Guys, that looks like 22-1/2 hours on the train, and the OP is not yet in Naples. Would you seriously recommend that?

Our motto is ... "we give 'em what they ask for".

For these distances, it is better to fly. You are mis-prioritizing toiletries over losing a day of your vacation in travel time.

Take smaller quantities of toiletries that can be taken on board, finish up one set of toiletries and buy new in Italy, or pay to check a bag. It's not worth it to spend so many hours on a train just to avoid checking in toiletries!!!

Check out some of the great tips on Lady Light travel for reducing your toiletries load:

https://ladylighttravel.com/category/toiletries/

Or on the blog of Rick Steves's Italy tour guide Sarah's blog:

http://adventureswithsarah.net/packing-for-travel-toiletries-edition/

(plus several other posts that you can find there).

Really, you are causing yourself unnecessary stress and complicating your planning by putting your priorities upside down.

Somehow I missed the toiletries issue. I applaud your willingness to give toiletries a nice vacation, but really, the advice above to take travel size items and buy more when you get there (a nice shopping experience, and you will find many familiar brands) is very sound.

You have to check your bag to fly over, anyway, so taking your stuff with you and checking the bag is not a big deal. Alitalia has a good baggage allowance. Other airlines may cost less than your train rides.

Thanks everyone for the great advice
The 'toiletries' was the checked luggage as we would have already been in Europe for 2 weeks prior to Italy. I also found that unless you were right in a city center, it wasn't as easy to buy what we needed. We only have a backpack each (NO other luggage) carry on size, and was hoping to have to avoid those purchases again traveling on route to Sorrento. Travelling with 2 teenage girls, repurchasing these items, isn't always the easiest. I will have a look at the flights for sure, as it might prove less stressful than the train options for this leg of our journey.

I was ideally looking for what Fred has provided me. Thank you for all your replies. :)

@ Tania...You're welcome. I take the Paris Est to Frankfurt Hbf route over the southerly via Stuttgart. The food court at Frankfurt Hbf is better, plus I'm used to Frankfurt Hbf. Without checking, going through Stuttgart may require more train changes, only one change via Frankfurt and you don't need to rush upon arriving at Frankfurt Hb ca 11 am.

Before proceeding to Munich you have at least 2 hours for a relaxing lunch at the Frankfurt Hbf, likewise when you get to Munich Hbf, before you take the night train at 20:10. Spend the money to put the luggage in a coin locker at Munich Hbf, then freed from the luggage, you can go through the underground passage, check it out, or go to the Karstadt dept store, (all through the underground passage) to the top floor for dinner. It closes at 19:30. If my night train departs at 20:10, I would be on the platform by 19:30 heading to the reserved coach.

I've done your route in 2015, similar, if not exactly, day, going from Paris Est via Frankfurt and Munich to Vienna. Because of train delays, cancellations, transferring, etc. the entire duration took two extra hours.

acraven - FYI, the Euronight from Paris to Milan (and Venice) is the same as the Thello that OP mentioned. Thello is a "private" operator that took over that route a few years ago.

There are also direct Milan-Naples Italian night trains, with no better reputation than the Thello.

But I certainly would fly. And I've found carry-on sized toiletries to be adequate for several weeks of travel, in conjunction with those provided by hotels.

Thanks, Laura.

I was confused about why anyone would prefer a 22-1/2 hour routing through Munich that costs essentially an entire day to a 16-hour trip through Milan that allows a full day of sightseeing time in Paris before departure, but if it's an issue of train comfort, I guess I understand. Certainly, being bounced off a night train at 6 AM isn't a good start to the day.

Re: Toiletries.

I think for most people the heavily-used items would be shampoo, conditioner and lotion (though young folks probably are not heavy users of the latter). Hotels virtually always provide shampoo, but people with challenging hair might need their own. If they need to wash their hair really frequently it would be worth trying out solid shampoo at home to see if it was workable. Lush carries solid shampoo, and it can also be bought online. One bar could be shared by all the travelers.

Conditioner isn't provided by most budget hotels, which is where I stay, so I have a bar of solid conditioner from Dirty Diva Soaps on Etsy. The size of about half a tennis ball (4 oz. by volume), it was far lighter than a bottle of liquid and I used it almost daily for three months on my chin-length hair, returning with close to half the bar left. Again, one bar could be shared.

I imagine there are solid lotion-substitutes, and even some budget hotels provide a little bottle, so you might get by taking just one small travel-size bottle from home and using what you find in your hotels. I have a medicinal product I need to use, so I take my own. I always find I've used far less than expected, so I'm gradually reducing the quantity I head out with. It's worth noting how much of such a product you use at home over the period of time you plan to travel and taking just that amount plus about 10%.