I am looking for transport advice, what is the best way to get from Florence to Praiano? This travel is taking place in late September. From what I have read the best way would be taking the train form Florence to Rome, switching trains in Rome and heading to Naples once in Naples taking a bus to the coast. If this is way off or people have better suggestions (i.e. renting a car in Rome which is where we will head after our trip to the coast) please share it will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Train, you can do Rome to Salerno instead of Napoli and then ferry to Priano.

We stayed in Sorrento so we took the Florence-Rome to Napoli train and then the Circumversuviana train to Sorrento and then taxi to the Hotel. The Orange and Blue (EVA) buses run from the Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento.
You can also get to Sorrento and take taxi or bus to Marina Piccola and take the Ferry to Priano if it's before 18:00 pm.

Another route would be to take train Rome to Napoli and taxi to the Napoli port and Ferry to Priano, it will stop first in Sorrento then to Priano.

I avoided renting cars in Italy, we only took trains and buses and managed to get everywhere with no problems.
You have several combinations it will all depend on what train you take from Florence to Rome as Ferries run until 18:00 pm, buses until pass midnight.

I forgot to add if you are faint of heart I would avoid taking a bus from Sorrento to Priano, the bus ride is hairy to say the least. I'm afraid of heights and just seeing how fast that bus made it from sea level to 500 meters and managed to turn on such close curves with other cars coming the other direction and our tail (we were seated on the last row) hanging outside the road was too much as I could see us free falling ending up swimming down the cliff with the tiny little yates

The blue buses to Priano area is the Massa Lubrense or Amalfi Coast.

Pookymimi thank you for the info. I do believe (and maybe I am wrong) that the Ferry's do not run in late September/early October, do you know otherwis? I have heard of the scary bus ride and would prefer avoiding car rental. So it sounds like train from Florence to Rome to Salerno might be better then train from Florence to Rome to Napoli to Sorrento. Ending with a taxi or bus to Praiano. It will be quite a day I am certain.

I suggest a better solution. Train to Naples and then hire a private driver to Praiano. The ferry does not even stop in Praiano during high season. We just spent a week in Praiano and the smartest thing we did was to hire drivers to and from Naples.

Hiring a private driver may be a good option, for my budget was out of the question. Buses would be the safest option if your budget doesn't permit otherwise, I don't know the schedule of the ferries, but I believe I kept an schedule buried in one of my suitcases, so I will double check.

This website is very helpful has the ferries and buses schedules. As Bob says ferries may not stop in Priano, I wasn't there so I would go with what he says.

http://www.amalficoastweb.com/praian...s_ferries.html

Bobthenavigator....how much was the private driver (if you don't mind revealing)? I would love to hear how you liked Praiano and any suggestions of places you liked (we are hoping to SCUBA dive once while there).
pookymimi thank you for the link I will check it out and also for checking the schedule.

The driver was 100E to the airport from Praiano. The options were just not attractive as we are in our 70s.
We stayed in an apartment---see Casa Candice on the summerinitaly.com site. We ate at 4 places in town--our favorite was Le Brace, but we also liked the Hotel Smeraldo.

Praiano is really spread out--it stretches along the coast for about 3 miles. We stayed in the Vettica Maggiore area near the San Gennaro church. The main marina is a long way down the coast from there.

The driver was 100E to the airport from Praiano. The options were just not attractive as we are in our 70s.
We stayed in an apartment---see Casa Candice on the summerinitaly.com site. We ate at 4 places in town--our favorite was Le Brace, but we also liked the Hotel Smeraldo.

Praiano is really spread out--it stretches along the coast for about 3 miles. We stayed in the Vettica Maggiore area near the San Gennaro church. The main marina is a long way down the coast from there.

Oooops---sorry !
Here are some pics that may help.
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4481

The owner of the apt we rented http://www.vrbo.com/266131 suggests we take the train to Salerno and the Sita bus to Praiano according to the the website the room is 20 steps from the main road SS163 to Amalfi/Sorrento and 200 mt to the beach? Fingers crossed it is nice as there are no reviews but it was reasonbly priced and the pictures look nice (I like reviews). Thank you for the pictures it looks beautiful and if you and Susan are in there 70's 70 is looking fabulous (23 years away for me hope to look that great). Did you use the SITA as your main transportation while there? Also thank you for the recommendations.

Let me know how the apartment is once back!
I'm planning on heading back to Amalfi next July and I believe we will stay in Amalfi instead of Sorrento this time.

Did you use the SITA as your main transportation while there? "

The SITA buses are the Blue buses that I sent you in the link with schedules, the EVA buses are the Orange buses, both lines do the Amalfi Coast. The buses should be outside the train station in Salerno, just ask anybody when out where the SITA bus fermatta is, not sure if you speak Italian but if you need help just ask.

We took the buses everywhere in Sorrento and Amalfi, the bus cards are about 3.40 euros each and you just validate it inside the machine in the bus, and can reuse it during a certain time, I believe 3 hrs. You can buy them almost in every kiosk or tabaqueria not in the bus, you may be able to pay in the bus though, we never did.

Yes,we did use the SITA busses for day trips, but found them to be some hassle. I agree that Salerno may be a good option if you use public transport, but no reason to go that far if you use a driver. The apt. looks nice but location is always the key. Ask the owner to give you exact location thta you can then go to on Goggle Maps site. Find out distance to grocery, ATM, local ristornates, and the SITA bus stops. There are 2 stops in Praiano, but the town is very strung out along the road--location will be key.

Thank you both for your assistance and suggests they will be put to good use. Will let you know about the apartment upon our return!