Driving around Amalfi coast - based out of Positano

Looks good, but flying out of Napoli will probably mean a connection in Roma or Milano, so you may as well drive back to Roma and drop the car at the airport, or return the car in Napoli and take the train back to Roma. The train will take less time (1.25 hours) than waiting for your connection at FCO or MXP.

Positano (and Sorrento) book up fast. You should choose your hotel now, or you will have your sixth choice. Parking is virtually nonexistent in Positano, so if you insist on driving yourselves, you need a hotel room that includes a private parking space. You can expect annoying delays as busses attempt to round sharp curves (blocking) the two-lane road that is the only way in and out of Positano. I'm not talking about a few curves and poor guardrails that mean nothing to guys with driving gloves and curved-heel driving shoes made from unborn calves leather ... I'm talking about rush-hour like congestion on a road that's already slow-moving.

Have you made some travel time estimates? It's quite a long ride from Florence to Naples. I would certainly not rent a car inside the city of Naples. And there is little to gain by driving from Naples as far as Sorrento. Since it is "beyond" your coastal plans, and because you don't express any interest in the city of Naples, perhaps you should take the Trenitalia to Salerno and drive from there to Positano. That, unlike from Naples to Sorrento, would be a scenic drive.

I would choose Venice over the AC for a first trip to Italy, but that's entirely up to you. For travel time on a very short transatlantic trip, it would make even more sense to do Rome-Florence-Tuscany. (I haven't been to Cinque Terre yet, but it could be said to pair better with Florence than does the Amalfi Coast. It doesn't pair with Venice well.) It is always a long hike out of Positano, but since you're not flying that day, you have it right. You might reflect on whether you want to waste potential tour time staying at an airport hotel, or fly out late enough to sleep in downtown Rome that night. (Not arguing either way. It's just that many people staying in Positano don't realize how "remote" it is.) There has been a direct flight from Naples to NYC, but I've never heard of the airline.

For planning purposes, it's helpful not to use a term like "3 days". Starting with an itinerary line like "Toronto-Rome (1-night)" puts you on the road to really counting out the trip, and not imagining more touring time on the ground than you will actually have. You are completely losing a "day" between Florence and Positano, for example.

trisha,

A few important points to note regarding driving in Italy.....

It's important to note that each driver listed on the rental form must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. (so you must carry both). These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any CAA/AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which may be provided by the issuing office).

You may also want to have a look at some of the posts on the forum concerning the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato (limited traffic) areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many Italian towns & cities (especially Florence!). Some of these are enforced by automated cameras and some by local police. Each pass through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket and visitors often don’t know of these violations until several months after they’ve returned home. In addition to the actual fines, renters will also be charged by the rental agencies for providing information to the authorities. You may find this website helpful - http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/traffic_cameras_speeding.htm . There are also speed cameras, including the devious Traffic Tutor system, fines for driving in Bus lanes, etc. When booking your hotel in Positano, you might enquire on what parking options will be available.

If you haven't booked your flights yet, you might consider flying inbound to Florence and then continuing south to Rome and then Naples & Positano (slightly more efficient). If you're flying with Air Canada they do have a connection into Florence with a connection in Frankfurt using their code share partner (Lufthansa as I recall). I haven't checked on the outbound connections from Naples, but there should be flights available (probably again with a connection in FRA). If not it's easy to take the train to Rome and connect with your flight home from there.

I agree, Venice would be a better fit & easier to travel. If you're stuck on AC, have you considered hiring a driver to get you from Naples train station & back instead of renting a car? The traffic around that station is horrendous and parking in Positano is extremely limited.
We stayed in a villa in Positano just above Arienzo beach operated by Eden Roc hotel which came with a parking spot. Walked into town to catch the ferry to Capri & Amalfi-Ravello & took the Sita bus to Sorrento.

If Rome is your departure point, I would leave Rome for last.
- Arrive Rome. Upon landing take a train to Florence (there are 2 to 4 trains per hour available till late at night. 2h journey)
-,if you can find a flight directly to Florence, even better. FLR has flights from/to CDG (AirFrance), FRA and MUC (Lufthansa), AMS (KLM), ZRH (Swiss), DUS (Air Berlin), just to name the most important airlines. Nearby Bologna (BLQ) also has flights from London LHR (British Air). Pisa (PSA) has one flight from LHR with BA, if the time works for you (Both Pisa and Bologna airports are about one hour from Florence via train.
- Florence: 3 days
- Train to Salerno (south of Naples). Rent car. Drive to Positano. Make sure you ask hotel about parking arrangements on premises or with affiliated garage.
- After your Positano stay, drive to Rome. Return the car in the city upon arrival. Take taxi from rental car office to hotel.
- Rome 3 or 4 days.
- Fly home ( take taxi from hotel in city center to airport-30 min taxi ride)

I left you basic itinerary unchanged. I am not passing judgement on the wisdom of choosing the Amalfi Coast over Venice or the Cinque Terre or Sicily or the Dolomites or the lakes or Puglia or Sardinia or the Republic of San Marino or Poggibonsi (I don't know why the name Poggibonsi sounds funny to most Italians). This is your trip, the time you have is very limited, the choice of the places you visit should be yours, not ours.

I agree with Roberto about saving Rome for last if you plan to fly out of Rome. It will save you much time and easy trip to FCO from Rome. I would also consider not renting a car. You could train to Salerno from Florence and Ferry or bus to Positano. Use public transport may be easier. You could also consider staying in Sorrento instead of Positano as it would be more convenient for your day trips. Train from Florence to Naples and private driver to Sorrento.

Here's what I'm learning as I plan my first trip to Salerno and the AC. Positano is overall the most expensive place to stay. It's hard to find parking anywhere in the area (Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, etc) and it's usually expensive. If you take the bus, you can then walk down through each town and return by ferry (I'm going when the ferries aren't running, sigh). There are car rental agencies in Salerno and good train connections to Naples, Rome and Florence.

Thanks everyone for great the tips. We're definitely reconsidering our plan now, especially the order of or itinerary.

FYI Zoe, our upcoming return flight on Lufthansa in March out of Napoli Capodichino connects in Frankfort, then on to Chicago. And two years ago, again out of Naples on Lufthansa, connected in Munich.

Thanks, Jay, I was thinking of the Delta partners. The Frankfurt connection would make sense.

I agree with Roberto. We always travel to our furthest destination on the day that we arrive in Europe. Usually you land early in the day and can't check into the hotel that early, so it makes sense to use that time to travel.

If you do rent a car to see the Amalfi Coast I would look for a car rental location that does not result in having to drive through Naples. The drivers in Naples are special. Traffic lights and road rules are guidelines that only the timid (and there are none) would obey. If you do have to drive through Naples you will find the coast road a piece of cake.