I will be traving to italy end of sept. Have my hotel reservations but haven't made arrangements for getting place to place. Going from Rome to Positano, then to Montalcino then to florence. It looks like train travel is the way to go. Has anyone used a driver for going place to place? An if so, did it cost a FORTUNE? Thanks for any advise.

Hiring a driver from Rome to Positano will cost about 400€. It would be more than that for Positano to Montalcino. Your itinerary doesn't seem very efficient. Can you change it? Post your itinerary with number of days in each place.

Rome, Positano, Montalcino, Florence - you could use a combination of train & bus. I agree w/ kybourbon - if you post your specific itinerary we can help with transportation from point to point.

Positano to Montalcino will be the most difficult unless you have a car of your own. Once in Montalcino you'll very limited to see the surrounding area of Tuscany if you don't have a car.

If possible, I'd consider renting a car in Positano (or Sorrento or Naples) and dropping it off at Florence airport.

J62 gives good advice, but for the most part, trains and busses here are quite easy. Private transfers are terrific, but they do cost money, so if budget's a concern you may want to avoid that.

Yes, a fortune !
You want trains for most of this but not in Tuscany--you want a car in Montalcino. I would train as far Chiusi or Siena to get the car and keep it for your stay in Tuscany.

Thanks for the advice. Here's the itinarary. 9-30 to 10-3 in Rome. 10-3 to 10-5 in Positano 10-5 to 10-7 at a vineyard in Montalcino, 10-7 to 10-10 in Florence.

Your tough leg is from Positano. I would bus to Sorrento and get your car there to drive to Montalcino. Otherwise, you are talking multiple public transports--a real challenge. Look at Autoeurope and Kemwel.