My wife and I are planning the details of our October honeymoon trip (16 nights) to Italy. She's never been; I lived there for 2 1/2 years back in the seventies and have visited twice since then.

She wants to see a little of non-tourist Italy. I'd like to take a side trip to see the village near Bari where I spent more than a year, 30 years ago. We will probably stay 2 or 3 days before heading up north.

The fastest train from Rome takes about 4 1/2 hours, the plane 1 1/4 (plus travel to the airport, check-in etc. There is very little price difference between the plane and a first class seat on the ES train. Maybe we would save two hours. I just don't remember whehter the train ride is particularly scenic? Your thoughts? Thanks.

While the train route is not scenic, it makes little sense, in my opinion, to take the plane, UNLESS you were CONNECTING at Fiumicino Airport from an inbound transcontinental, European or domestic Italian flight.

Following up with what GAC said...

I was just at the airport of Bari this weekend - while it's nice, remember that the best thing about train stations in Italy is that they are in the middle of everything, and no check-in deadlines or picking up baggage! You will have to take a taxi-shuttle-cab to the airports to/from city centers, plus check-in time and retrieving baggage.

Your three hours "saved" will disappear quickly.

Flight: 10am
Departure from hotel (in city center): 8am or earlier for a 1 hour trip to airport to make 40 minutes prior check-in
Check-in: Before 9:15 am
Arrival: 11.30am
Baggage: 12pm (I actually received my bags after 1 hour on Sunday)
Shuttle to city center...1pm?

So 8-1 doesn't seem that much better! (And it's optimistic!)

I say go with the train. Fast and like the others have said, it puts you right in the center.

I have taken that train before and remember it as quite nice, maybe nothing spectacular but pleasant nonetheless.

I am sure you will have a great time, how special to go back to a place like that! I love Puglia myself. And happy honeymoon!

Also, consider that unless one of you needs extra space, ther eis no substantial difference between first and second class. The only difference is that the seats are a couple of inches larger and you can have a bit of extra leg room. For the rest, first and second offer exactly the same service.

Thank you all for your insights.

It is looking more and more like it will be the train to Bari. If we decide that our next stop will be Venice, then the plane from Bari might make more sense time-wise. Plus, the water taxi from the airport is pretty unique.

Another vote for the train.
Consider the time it would take to go from the city center of Rome to the airport, the check-in and the likes.

Once in Bari, I don't know if you wanna rent a car. Otherwise you should wait for a bus to the city center (train station) or tale a taxi. You didn't say what town are you going to but it is reachable by train it would be much more convenient to be already at the train station!

I would probably drive if you will be getting a car anyway(as I have found car rentals much cheaper from Rome Airports than Naples or Bari and more automatics!)...but if not, then another vote for the train.

I'm sure you do know already though...but getting anywhere AROUND Bari by train is VERY slow and frustrating...so I would be sure to look into the local bus scheduales for the towns you want to visit before you leave if you won't have a car :-)

I went from Rome to Lecce, past Bari along the way. I did it by rental car from Termini. The "escape from Rome" to the beltway aka Grande Raccordo Anularee was pretty easy and the rest of the drive was all Autostrade. I looked at the train and flying but decided to do the road trip because the train took a lot longer and the plane did too, when you count the time at the airports. The most important fact was that the trains and planes left late in the day and got me there after dark. But, the rental car left whenever I wanted it to. The car also gave me the option to stop at hill towns like Candela just over the mountains leading down to Bari. I explored Puglia by car and it worked just fine. I saw no easy way to see the Salentine or the trulli, other than by car, but others may know more.