I heard that when arriving in Naples...
 

one should have a driver scheduled to meet you at the train station to drive you to Positano. Otherwise, many people will try to scam...like take you 50 feet for $10. Anyone know of how I can arrange a driver? Thanks for any thoughts.

www.sorrentolimo.com
Best of luck
Fluffy

Ask your hotel for their suggestion.

Hi

Try a text search on "Limo and Naples".

Also see http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34433115

e-mail [email protected]
They have 2 drivers (father and son). WE used their services last year and father (Guiseppe) met us at the naples train station in his white Mercedes. He also drove us back from Positano to NAP. He is not going to scam you.

We've ben to Naples on 3 different occasions and used taxis several times on each trip. We were never scammed or treated unfairly. We found the people in Naples to be honest, sincere, proud, and fun loving.
So now maybe you can say that you heard
that when arriving in Naples...........
Forget about the negative stereotypes
("many people") and go back to watching
the Sopranos

What do the posters above think the trip should cost?

Hi Aleta,

A limo from Naples to Positano is about 80 - 100 E.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. They are very much appreciated.

I've had no problem with legal taxis in Naples. But the train station itself has alot of scam artists in it. Be rude, don't talk too or except help from *anyone for anything* even if they look like a station employee (blue smock).
The most common scam seems to be pointing a tourist who doesn't ask for help btw to a ticket window, their train, platform etc. And then demanding money for their assistance and getting nasty if they don't pay up.
In 3 trips to Naples I've always stayed nearby the station. So I was in there at least twice a day or more for the metro, Circumvesuviana, tickets, info, ATM, etc. I've been approached & hassled by these crooks and have watched them approach and hassle others.
Just a "heads-up":).
Regards, Walter

Thank you Walter for that head's up. I'm sure your comments will come to mind as I'm walking through the station. (will try not to look too lost!) HA.

Hi happygypsy, I've got a story to share with you from my brief visit this past May.

Before the 3 of us made our way to the official taxi stand at the Naples Train Station, we only encountered 2 of the pre-warned unofficial taxi solicitors who were easy enough to bypass. So after we got into an "official" cab, I was relieved after the long ride from Rome and having made it through the infamous Naples station without a hitch. Uh oh, I relaxed too soon...

Driver: Where going?
Me: Molo Beverello
Driver: Where taking boat?
Me: Sorrento
Driver: No boat to Sorrento. I take you there.
Me: STOP! We'll just take the Circumvesuviana.
Driver: [Didn't stop and continued to drive] We go to Beverello. Maybe boat run to Sorrento. We go check with controller.

Driver: You know the boat charge 30€ each. I take you to Sorrento. Only 50€ each person. OK?
Me: [Knowing that a hydrofoil ride should only cost around 10€ each]
No thank you. I have never been on a boat before [a lie] and really wanted to experience it.
Driver: OK. Boat maybe not run. I take you Sorrento instead. Only 30€ each. Same price. OK?
Me: No thank you.
[This sort of conversation would carry on continuously for the duration of the trip]
By this time, I was thinking that it might prove out to be a good deal because my eyes were burning seeing the meter rising at the rate of one euro per block. I cringed every time we came to a crowded intersection.
Driver: When you come back to Naples? I can drive you and show you around. Give tour. Take you shopping. Only 100 €. I take you to Galleria Umberto...some good restaurant...
Me: No thank you. We go straight to Rome [another lie...but I couldn't think of any other polite way to reject his solicitations]

Finally, at the end of this 15-20 min ride, which felt more like being confined in an auto dealership for 3 hours with a car salesman, I didn't care that the fare was over 20€, I just wanted to get the heck out of there! I was only too happy when we got to the ticket locale, where we found the hydrofoils to Sorrento running and only 9.75€ each. Now I was ready to relax.

On our return to the Naples, my wife had another taxi driver partially rip her off. In going from the station to the airport, the cab driver constantly asked my wife when her flight was. She said in two hours and that she had to get to the airport soon. The driver kept turning into small streets and stating he was trying to avoid the traffic on the major streets. My wife was getting tired of this so when he asked when the flight was once more, she stated sternly "in less than one hour, and I have to get there right NOW!" Well, the driver then headed for a major street, which wasn't crowded at all, and got to the airport shortly thereafter. My wife estimates it would have taken 10-15mins more and plenty more euros if she allowed the cab driver to continue with his scheme.

In our only two encounters with "offical" tax drivers in Naples, we were lucky enough to have caught the only two unscrupulous drivers in the entire city. Chalk it up as a learning experience, and we were fortunate that those were the only episodes during our entire trip where someone tried to rip us off.

I've got to say though that everyone else we encountered in Naples, including workers at the train station and its busy citizens, were very helpful whenever we requested directions or info. I really liked the vibrant city and am looking forward to revisiting someday, but I'm planning to fully interrogate a taxi driver before I step in next time!

Thanks bluefan for sharing that "taxing" taxi story..I'll be ready for any schemes that may come my way!

I second the recommendation for Giovanni and Giancarlo Gargiulo. We just used them for the second time a few weeks ago. They can be reached via e-mail at:tourofitaly.com, or by cell phone at:
Giovanni (dad) :3387306576
Giancarlo (son)3335226029

They both speak English, and drive air conditioned Mercedes or a minivan, depending on your luggage. I actually found them here on the forum, and have sent many other friends there way, all of whom have been very pleased.

Buon viaggio!

Thank you Weadles for seconding the recommendation. Since we do not know what train we will be taking yet, I can't tell Giovanni & son when to pick us up. But I will email them with a date and see if they are at least available that day. Actually, I might just call them from Italy, since I am already leaving Tomorrow! Molte Grazie!