Hi everyone,
Looking forward to a 15 day trip at the end of May. We'll be in Venice, Florence, and Tuscany, and Rome before our last few days in Positano, then plan to fly back to the US from Naples. Plans are made for everything except travel from Rome to Positano. We're debating between the freedom and privacy of a car (plus the fun of driving), and the cost saving, and probably more convenient, of a bus or train. Any suggestions? thoughts? experiences? Thanks

I would suggest taking the train from Rome to Naples, then hire a driver to take you to Positano.

This is what I will be doing in October. But then I am not at all interested in driving in Italy, I'm on vacation, let someone else do it

I had fun driving in Umbria (actually from FCO to our villa in Umbria, then all over southern and parts of eastern Umbria). It truly was fun (mostly), not so much the autostrada (although it wasn't bad it wasn't particularly fun) but rather from one small town to another - getting a little lost with your friends when you're not on a tight schedule is fun - there's alway a little wine and cheese at the end of the road.

On the other hand, we took the train from Orvieto to Rome to Naples and then a private driver to Positano and on a day trip touring Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Driving there would not have been "fun" for me, and I would not have been able to enjoy the views of anything other than the road and the other cars and buses.

But .... to each his own.

KC

Hi All

usually i take taxi from roma to positano.
book the car with www.sorrentoprivatedriver.com
they are professional people

Francy Logan U.S Maryland

What were you going to do with the car in Positano? Park it? At what cost? Or use it for a day trip to Pompeii or Vietri Sul Mar or Ravello?

Toward the end of May you will start running into a lot of crowds in the Amalfi, which means sharing the one road in the area with a lot of tour buses.

Also, I love to drive in Italy but driving between Rome and Naples is just a drag, and driving anywhere around Naples is a nightmare. Not everybody enjoys driving the Amalfi Drive, and the driver doesn't see much.

If you are daytripping to Pompeii or Vietri sul Mare, having a car begeins to be worth the cost and hassle. If you are planning on daytrips to Capri, you don't need a car. For a daytrip to Ravello, just call a taxi.

Unless you want to go to Pompeii, I recommend train to Naples and arranging for a driver to meet your train and drive you to Positano.

Francy,

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Also, if you are going to claim that you are from the US, please brush up your English.

Hi jn,

For almost the same price as a rental car, I would train to Naples and hire a driver from the train station to Positano and from Positano to Naples airport.

As noted, the drive from Rome to Positano is not "fun"; it will be hard to find parking; and the Coast Road will be subject to traffic jams.

Thank you all for your input. We checked out prices for rental cars and found that it will be less costly than the train option. Despite the warnings of the wonderfully experienced travellers on this site, my fiance is convinced that car is the way to go. I'm looking forward to the unbearable traffic and the joy of getting lost. It should be a genuine Italian experience. Easy for me to say, but I'll be in the passenger seat.

Hi there,

I have to agree with everyone on the driving although it sounds like you have your mind made up. If you do change your mind please consider benvenutolimos.com Sitting back and enjoying the scenery on the Almalfi coast is the way to go. Not the stress of tricky roads and crazy drivers Good luck and keep us all posted on what you do!

We also disregarded the advice to train from Rome to Praiano, because of the cost for 4 of us and the convenience. The drive back and forth was just fine, and the Amalfi Coast road was hair-raising fun. But, if we go again, we will take the bus in and around Positano, Amalfi, etc. Even in March, the crowds were awful. In fact, we drove to Sorrento for a day trip to Capri and never did make it because the parking was just impossible. Next time we would definitely take the bus. Enjoy!

Hi J,

>We checked out prices for rental cars and found that it will be less costly than the train option. <

Two 2cl seats on the ES* to Naples cost 44E. The train and bus to Positano will be about another 15E.

Where did you find a car rental that you can drop off in Positano for less than 60E?

The drive from Naples to Positano is breathtaking and I would def. recommend that. But be careful as the roads are curvy. It is one of the most memorable experiances in Italy. We rented a car in Rome and drove south, but there is really nothing out of the ordinary between Rome and Naples..its after Naples that the scenary changes.
Serge

I would be surprised if the car was cheaper with gas etc...
Having said that we would never take anything but the car. My husband is also one of those who think driving in Italy is fun and relaxing. He is usally driving around DC. I agree though that the drive between Rome and Naples isn't the prettiest drive, I would think you would take the Autostrada most of the time.
If he wants to drive, get a car in Tuscany, drive it around and then to Rome. That is much more beautiful for you and fun (if thats his thing) for him.
-Katie

Ira, we got a really good deal on car rental. At carrentalexpress.com, seems to be a representative for caritaly.com, we are renting a "compact" (similar to a Ford focus) for three days from Florence to Rome(we'll be in Tuscany during that time) and then again for another three days from Rome and dropping off at the Naples airport. Cost for each 3 day rental, including zero-deductible insurance, was $132.00 total (not per day), additional driver included. The only problem is that we are tied to it because you have to pay in full in advance. If you or anyone else knows about this company (good or bad) we'd love some feedback before we leave.
--Jill