I am looking at taking the train from Florence, Italy to Naples and then renting a car to drive to the Amalfi coast. Is there a particular train that you would recommend that we take and also any recommendations with regards to a rental cars.

Trains run direct every few hours between Florence and Naples - www.trenitalia.com for schedules - takes about 4 hours i think. Just buy these tickets upon arrival at Rome or Milan airport train desks - they should be little problem getting on. Or on trenitalia.com, a notoriously fickle site it seems, you can buy and usually print out tickets ahead of time - if the site is friendly to you i'd do that. Can reserve i believe at least 60 days prior maybe 90.

Thanks Bob for your information - I will visit the website.

You might want to train to Salerno rather than Naples and pick up your rental car there (from Florence you will have to change trains in either Rome or Naples). It's closer to the Amalfi coast, and you probably do not want to drive in Naples.

I second this excellent idea. You can also get direct Florence-Salerno trains but not so many so may have to change in Naples. Plus the Naples Centrale train station is in a seedy area.