We are a group of four and want to do a one day trip from Rome to Pompeii and back. We would like to hire a van and driver who would also serve as an excellent tour guide. Can anyone recommend a specific tour company and/or private guide who does this for a reasonable price?

ttt ??????

I recently contacted Giovanni through tourofitaly.com for car service on the Amalfi coast this August. You might check out the web site. I found out about him through a post from weadles on this thread: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34440303

I see that my previous post was mentioned. We have taken two trips to Pompeii with Giovanni. He is a driver only, but is able to recommend excellent tour guides. We have been very pleased with his recommendations on both of our visits, most recently this past July.

Giovanni drives a new minivan, and is a very good and charming driver!

Hope you have a great time!

Weadles, I just received an email back from Giovanni. He quoted me 150 euros for car service from Salerno (we will drop off our rental car here) to our hotel in Positano. This seems incredibly high! My hotel quoted me 100 euros for a taxi, so I guess I will go with them, or else take the ferry. It also seems a lot for him since there is a 6 hour tour of the Amalfi Coast listed on his web site for 150 euros!

Hi aw,

I suggest that you take the ferry if you can. It is a very nice ride and you get a very different view of the AC.

I think we will, Ira. My husband thinks it will be more fun, anyway. I was worried about the logistics getting our luggage there and then from the ferry to our hotel, but I know we'll manage fine. We always do!

awbaker,

That does seem high! I'm surprised. If it matters, you may be able to negotiate a better rate with him by telling him what you found through the hotel. Anyway, hope you have a great trip.

awbaker,

I know you've already decided, but it occurred to me overnight that Giovanni's prices are probably high for this trip since it's really out of his territory, which is the Amalfi Coast and environs. Salerno, I'm guessing, is at least about an hour and a half out of Sorrento. Too, I think there may be a tax levied on drivers who work out of their area.

Hi awbaker,

>I was worried about the logistics getting our luggage there and then from the ferry to our hotel, but I know we'll manage fine.<

Go out the main entrance of the Salerno train station, cross the plaza and keep walking SW on Via C. Mauro. Cross the big stree to Pzza della Concordia and you will see the ferry dock.

It's a less than 10 min walk.

I suggest that you call your hotel about porter service from the ferry landing to the hotel. Positano is pretty steep.

Thanks, Ira! Would you happen to know if the AutoEurope location is near the train station? If you don't, we can always ask directions from AutoEurope once we get there.

When you are all done chatting about your luggage and the train station - - I hope I get a few more responses to my posted question.

I believe we were giving you information, Dorgal. Or at least I attempted to give you information. There is absolutely no reason for you to be rude. Not only that, but every post we added to your thread brought your question to the top so that others, who may have additional information, will see it. Our "chatting" did not prevent anyone from responding to your post.

When we were in Positano 3 years ago we had Marcello Maresca,
http://www.seesorrento.com/chi_sono_eng.html
pick us up at Naples train station and drove us to Positano. The following days he took us all over the Amalfi Coast, I have to say he made our visit very enjoyable..
I found him on another travel site, the girl who recommended him raved about him.. I so do I. I have recommended him to at least 10 friends and they all said he was reasonable and has a very nice personality..

I think limoservicerome.com offers day trips on their website. Many of us use them for Rome airport transfers.