Transfer from Naples to Rome with Luggage

It is near-impossible to manage 3 suitcases on your own on a train, because one only has 2 hands. Is there any way you could travel with 2 suitcases instead? Or 2+backpack?
If not, fly to Rome - a transfer will negate any savings. How much money are we talking about here?

I totally agree with Balso, but I have seen this service recommended for those who need help managing their luggage:
https://www.trenitalia.com/en/services/luggage_transportservices.html
I have never used it so I cannot vouch for it.

Taking a quick look at suntransfers.com , it looks like the flight savings of flying to Naples vs Rome has to be at least $500, just to break even. Add in the cost/value of your time and you would have to save $1000 on airfare to make it worthwhile.

Trying to do that much luggage on a train is , umm...how to say this as nicely as possible, way far down the list of 'good ideas'. possibly just a notch above crazy.

How much cheaper is flying to Naples than to Rome?

3 suitcases?

Fly into Rome and save yourself the aggravation of moving and keep track of that much luggage.

Thanks so much for the detailed insight. Sorry I wasn't so quick to respond. I had a study group meeting last night.

This trip was going to be a 'splurge' for me. I was considering a first class flight. The difference between first class to Rome vs Naples is around $3K.

This trip is part of an MBA program so I need to be in Rome to meet with the group.

If you can afford the flight, you can definitely afford a private driver. It's that or pack less I'm afraid, as you have to be able to handle your own luggage.

That's what I was thinking and what I wanted but some of my classmates asked "Why would you hire a driver? There's a train." They said you could take luggage on the train but I was skeptical. None of them have actually been to Italy themselves. They're researching like me. I wanted to know if the logistics would be as simple as they were making it seem.

They probably travel with backpacks, lol. Two suitcases, I would do it. Three, no way!

Have you ever been on a train anywhere?
Of course you can take luggage but getting on and off by yourself with 3 suitcases is near impossible.

How long will you actually be in Italy?
They do have laundry facilities there.

They said you could take luggage on the train but I was skeptical.

To be fair, Your classmates aren't completely wrong: Both Roma Termini and Napoli Centrale are terminal stations, so you wouldn't take any stair to enter the building, leave the tracks area etc.

But there are 3 steps to board any train; I'm sure somebody will help you to get all your stuff on, but this good Samaritan should also help you along the aisles and another one should do the same when it's time to get off.

You could do it by yourself only if one of the three suitcases is a medium sized backpack and the remaining 2 have wheels. I'd also prey for the aisles to be clear of other suitcases and passengers. You'd better pick a seat near the coach door, to minimise the dragging-pushing-saying-sorry phase.

I've taken a subway. But since this is a train between two cities, I wasn't sure if this train is like a subway or more like Amtrak. I KNOW I wouldn't want to navigate a subway with luggage.

So I guess my question really should have been what kind of train is this: subway or Amtrak?

Another reason for the huge amount of luggage is I'm considering adding a week long Greek Isle cruise to the trip. The school trip is also a week, so this is an 18 day trip.

subway or Amtrak

Trenitalia or Italotreno, both shown in this video: https://youtu.be/1E5Xcs6ROug

Turn off the volume, the videos shows the inside of both trains but the guy's voice is so annoying it could curdle the milk.

It’s a very comfortable train similar to Amtrak
Maninseat61.com has photos and info

I don’t mean to be critical but most people here travel 18 days and more with just a carry on size bag or at most one 24 inch checked bag.
We’ve done 24 night trips with just 1 piece of luggage each
You don’t need a new outfit every day. You can do laundry or have it done for you at most hotels.
It’s also summer so you don’t need any heavy clothing or outerwear.

You might want to do some research on packing light and travel capsule wardrobes.
Here’s a start
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light

I think you will get tired of lugging around all that luggage. You will be able to wear many of the same outfits in Greece, since the weather will be similar. Find a laundromat in Rome before you leave and you will have clean clothes for the cruise. Some of us also wash our clothes in the hotel sink if we are in the same place for 2 or 3 nights. I do realize that some hotels frown on this.

I'm guessing you haven't done much traveling so you believe you need to take everything you own because you don't know what you will need. Correct?

So, if you can afford a first class flight, you can afford to have your hotel do your laundry. What you wear in Rome can also be worn on the Greek cruise. (You can also get laundry done on cruise ships. Well, most of them.)

Are you taking anything in those suitcases besides clothes? Can anything be shipped?

As for the train vs a driver. For three suitcases definitely take the driver. With three cases you will block the aisles while you get settled and this will cause nasty looks and a few choice comments from the Italian passengers.

And anyway, while you are struggling with two suitcases, some unforseen person, while your back is turned, may help himself to your third case.

On our last trip of 20 days, I took a small rolling backpack that weight 22 pounds that, although it's carry on size, I checked. This was clothes, toiletries, books and a picnic kit. I had a purse and a small backpack for a carry on. I consider myself to not be a light traveler. Schlepping even that much stuff on a train was more than enough. If you are staying for a lengthy program, you might want more stuff. However, I'd take the minimum and buy a nice wardrobe once I was in Italy. You might find some nice pieces that you will value for a long time. Wear one pair of shoes and buy some nice footwear in Italy. I buy scarves when I travel and they refresh any outfit. My advice is to take only what you can manage by yourself under normal circumstances. Remember, there are those people who will offer to help you but might end up helping themselves to your possessions.

It sounds as if you have a very generous budget, so this may well not apply to you, but the sort of hotels I stay in (budget level) tend to have very small rooms. It would be difficult to find a place to leave three suitcases, even closed and standing vertically.

I take summer-long trips with one suitcase that's about 24". I think I could squeeze into a 22" carry-on if I didn't have such a large quantity of pills (I'm 70 years old) plus travel notes and guidebook clippings for so many destinations.

This is all great info! Thanks!

Yes, I notoriously overpack. I'm one of those "But I don't know what I'll WANT to wear on any given day" people. I know it's not practical but I'm being honest. But I do see where I need to reign it in for this trip.

I will need business/business casual attire for the first week because we'll be visiting companies for the school portion. But it looks like I should lean towards basic black loafers everyday instead of letting my shoes (and bags and jewelry) be a 'pop of color' with my outfits. And consider recycling outfits. Same for the cruise.

Don’t get overwhelmed. Many of us here are super light packers and that’s helpful but not required. You don’t need to squeeze into one 22inch suitcase if you don’t want to. However, 3 suitcase is pretty darn unmanageable. See if you can get it to one medium suitcase and one carry on size. That should be completely manageable on trains, assuming you don’t pack bricks and can lift both. That’s 2 suitcases plus a purse or something, not 2 plus a duffel bag and 10 tote bags ;)

You can buy most anything there so if it’s not life or death and there’s not a really high chance you’ll need it, don’t bring it. Plan to have laundry done - hotels have the service for a large cost, or there are services for cheaper.

If there are clothes you won't wear during your Greek cruise, consider shipping them home.

Here's a primer, from this website, on packing:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/packing-light

Additionally, there are many videos on Youtube about packing light for women.

Think of it also as part of your MBA program. Once employed, you may have to do some business travel. You will stand out taking too much luggage when most of your colleagues will only have carry on. It can come across as disorganized and inefficient. If they all have carry on, and then have to wait for you to get your numerous checked bags, they will see it as a waste of time.

This scene from the movie "Up in the Air" sums it up:

https://youtu.be/cnNyUGhXTsw

There are no porters in train stations like there used to be in the movies. So navigating streets, getting in/out of taxis, and around the train station will be as much a hassle as getting on/off the train. People who are distracted by trying to manage their luggage make good targets for scammers and thieves.

I really appreciate all the feedback. It is super helpful.

Is your whole trip on big-brand airlines? There are lots of discount flights from, say, the UK to Naples. But those are the kinds of airlines that charge for boarding passes, luggage, and trips to the bathroom (just kidding about the last.) Also, did you price the trip home from Rome instead? ("Multi-city flight"). It might cost the same as returning home from Naples.

Remember that the high-speed train (Frecciarossa) from Naples to Rome sells tickets like an airplane-lower in advance but not changeable or refundable. They will NOT let you get on an earlier or later train.

Well if you buy in advance a BaSE fare ticket they will let you make changes up to on hour after the scheduled departure time... but why would you pay in advance the top, walk-up fare?

Congratulations on your first trip to Europe!
I went to Europe every year before the pandemic, and with one very small case, and last time only a carryon.
You will be amazed at how many outfits you can make out of a very small amount of pieces.
I have to say that I'm slightly in horrified awe of anyone who plans to travel with three suitcases.......are you moving there?

The first thing I would suggest to you is to watch as many packing videos as you can, and take notes.
Read about packing lighter, and make lists.

As far as trains go, find some videos on youtube about using Italian trains, and you will see that they are easy to use.....but...only if you have less rather than more luggage.

Listen to everyone here.....we have all started out taking far too much stuff on our travels, and learned from experience to really pare down.
You can still look very smart with way less stuff!

I will never forget the man sitting on a giant suitcase in the train station in Florence.
He had come from Australia, and was traveling by train every couple of days with this giant case.
He was sweating, grumpy and hot; and told us he was going home early as it was just too difficult to get around with this suitcase.
I don't know where you live, but Italy in summer is hot and very humid.