We are going to be in Rome in early July. Then 4 nights in Positano and then to Capri for 2 nights then Sorrento for 1 night then back to Rome.Would like to tour the Amalfi coast,Pompei,Ravello,Vietri.etc.. Do you think it best to train from Rome to Naples,hire a driver to get us to Positano... then another driver to tour the Amalfi?this seems very costly.. or perhaps drive form Rome to Positano and drive the coast ourselves. Is the drive really that difficult??? your comments would be appreciated.

Rent a car. It's not all that bad. A bit hair-raising, but nothing that you'll not look back on with relish...and some boasting to the neighbors.

If you do rent a car just watch out for the Paris taxi drivers that are out to rob and rape you......be careful.

Dear Marko,<BR>We just got back from Italy and visited your same spots. We decided to drive, picked up the car outside of Rome at the airport. We had no probem driving to Positano; but the drive to Amalfi and Ravello was TEDIOUS. Lots of stops behind buses trying to make the turns. I imagine it would be even worse in July. If you do choose to drive to Positano I would definitely take the boat to Amalfi and the bus to Ravello. I believe a driver from the Naples train station to Positano would be between $100 and $200. Also if you choose to drive you'd better factor in the cost of parking on the Amalfi coast and make sure your hotel has parking. It's a beautiful spot, have a great trip.

I personally would NOT DRIVE!!!!! But lots of people do it, claim to enjoy it, and live to tell about it.

We already had the car and so we drove as part of a long summer trip. We thought it was no problem, and the drive was spectacular. The problem we had was the day we left our car in Positano and took public transport (a boat) to Amalfi. The wind kicked up, all return boats were cancelled and we got stuck in Amalfi for hours. We missed several busses because we were unwilling to push our way onto the ones for which at least three times the number of people who would fit were already lined up. Late in the day, we finally pushed our way onto one and rode standing up on the bus trip back. I would not plan on public transportation. We regretted not driving ourselves that day.