The Circumvesuviana will take 70 minutes from Sorrento to Naples and cost about 3-4E per person.

You might consider taking the train from Rome to Salerno and picking your car up there. That would eliminate the Circumvesuviana between Naples and Sorrento. Also you could return your car to Salerno and book the train from there to Venice. I think most connections from the Amalfi coast to Venice will go through Rome Termini. To tell the stops your train makes on Trenitalia, click on the number on the right side (1,2,3,4,etc) and on the next screen, click on the train number (this will be 3-4 numbers such as 348 or 7765). All the stops or changes this train makes will be listed.

annimal,

I think checking out kybourbon's suggestion is good to see if they work with your dates and timing.

kybourbon & nessundorma - thanks for the suggestion of training into Salerno and renting the car from there. I looked online and unfortunately the rental car companies in Salerno are closed on the Sunday we arrive.

I'm beginning to wonder if you should rent the car in Rome. How does that strike you?

nessundorma - I'm checking out the car rental options, picking up at the Termini on our last day in Rome and dropping it off at the Naples airport several days later (after our visit to the Amalfi Coast) so we can catch our flight from Naples to Venice.

Has anyone driven from Rome to the Amalfi coast via Naples? Just not sure what to expect, but it's probably fine. If we're crazy enough to drive the AC, then I hope driving out of Rome and into Naples should be less daunting?? Anyone with experience?

Hi ann,

>Why are some departure/arrival destinations listed in red and some in blue?

The stations in Red are intermediate stops. You stay on the train.

>Which type of train do you suggest? I was thinking of the Eurostar, ...

Take the ES* trains when available. They run on time.

((I))

annimal,

I've never done, but you might consider posting a new thread with just that qusetion, or asking over on the Slow Travel website, which has a couple of people who pride themselves on their knowledge of Italian roads.

For routes and times - www.mappy.com

If you get the car at the Rome airport, you would just get on the autostrada and head to Sorrento. You wouldn't go into Naples on the way.

Well it looks like it works out to be easier for us to pick up the rental car in Rome on our way out. Then we have it throughout the AC and will return it to the drop off location at the Naples airport which makes it really convenient as we are now going to fly from Naples to Venice.

I really appreciate everyone's help. This really works out a big kink in our travel plans. As for the rest of my itinerary, it sounds like I should just purchase tickets for sights & tours when I get there and likewise for the train rides. I'll make dinner reservations a few days in advance. Looks like I just need to pull up some maps, some train schedule and ferry schedules. Thanks again!

Have fun!