June 9 - June 12: Pompeii,Capri,Amalfi Coast

OK, so I don't know much because I have never been to Italy, but we are planning our first trip for July, and our plans are similar. We are flying into Rome, out of Naples. We are staying in Rome for 4 nights, Florence for 3, and Sorrento for 4. From Florence, we are taking a train to Naples, where a driver will pick us up for a stop in Pompeii on our way to Sorrento. I believe you'll have to train to Naples if you plan to visit Pompeii. There are detailed instructions in Rick Steves' guide book as how to navigate getting to Pompeii and Sorrento from the Naples train station. We decided to stay in Sorrento as a base for all that we want to do in that region. I wish we could have flown into Italy via Florence, because logistically that would have made more sense, However, there were no good options.

Rick covers the logistics of visiting that area very well. You really need his guide to Italy.

I'm going to make my first trip to Pompeii sometime in the next month, so I'm not speaking from experience, but I've read often here that you can store bags at Pompeii.

I would base in Sorrento, which is lovely on it's own. I would also do the journey from Rome to Sorrento by Train, which will stop in Naples where you switch trains to Sorrento. That journey, between travel, getting to your hotel, exploring and dinner is a full day on it's own. You an take the train from Sorrento to Pompeii and then there are lot's of options from Bus to Ferry from Sorrento to get to your other destinations. I would not change hotels.
You can use the website Rome-to-Rio to plug in your Rome to Sorrento Journey and explore the train option, then use the official Trenitalia website to book your tickets.

In April, we're staying in the region for the first time so my opinion is like the others above and based on what I've learned and not what I know. We're be there for 2 weeks and decided to stay in Sorrento only and make all day-trips from there.

We had thought about a few days in Positano or Amalfi but decided a change of hotels wasn't what we wanted this trip. I am curious what the responses from others will be that have had luggage with them on the Sita bus.

The Pompeii website says you can leave backpacks in the cloakroom free of charge but it doesn't say if it is secure. I've been to Italy twice and one thing I've learned is never to assume.

In the RS Guidebook, Mondo tours are recommended, as they offer RS folks special very reasonable prices on shared tours in the area.
I suggest you order your RS guidebook asap!
Have a great trip with your daughter!

Looks like you’ll only have 3 nights in the area?
If that’s the case I would not change location, just stay in Sorrento.
Take a look at Mondo Guides shared tours.

If you have more time and do change to Amalfi for 2 nights you can ferry to Salerno and catch fast train to Florence from there

Recent thread on Mondo Guides- gets excellent reviews and very affordable
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/amalfi-coast-mondo-guide-shared-tours

There is baggage storage at Pompeii Scavi station and at the Pompeii site as well

Rome to Napoli Centrale via fast train ( Trenitalia or ItaloTreno) then you will transfer to Circumvesuviana- to Sorrento- cannot be booked in advance

More info here
https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule

I have not used it myself, but the Pompeii excavation's bag check counter is mentioned at least twice a month on this newsboard, and NO ONE has ever had the slightest problem with it. Others use a bag check at the Circumvesuviana station right across the street from Pompeii. This is a non-issue. The issue might be whether 2-4 hours at a huge site like Pompeii are enough for you. Pompeii, unlike Herculaneum, has a snack bar inside. But the heat and the sun are punishing in June. You will have trouble keeping going for over 2 hours if it's a nice day.

It is getting VERY LATE to book rooms in this area. You need six or more choices on your list before you start booking. It's going to be tough. You may wish to research how far the Amalfi room is from the public road or the bus stops.

I need suggestions that help us spend the least time on public transport (can't afford a driver).

Really important comment just above. Every day we left our hotel in Sorrento (in MAY), there were more people waiting for the bus to Positano/Amalfi than would fit on the next half-hourly departure. The bus leaves with every square inch occupied. (Luggage goes below, like a Greyhound.) It's really cheap, but the traffic (one lane each way, curves and rock incursions) is really slow.

The Circumvesuviana train is really hard to take with luggage. Lots of budget travelers do, but it's much more crowded than ANY subway system in the US, even at RUSH HOUR. There is not a square inch, and no luggage racks for anything larger than a briefcase. Really, racks like a bus, which won't even take a full briefcase! We took the Circumvesuviana (and no accordionist could get to us to ask for money!) but we could barely hold a corner or our bag, and without blocking the door or passage. Do not blow off this report. Use the Search box top center to read more.

You need to download the ferry schedules, but you can take a (maybe smaller boat and longer ride) ferry to Capri from Amalfi if it works out that way, I THINK.

Three nights are ambitious for covering this area, especially without a car and driver. We hired a car and driver for 8 hours to SHOW US Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello FROM Sorrento. That was what we wanted, but I read that you want more. You will have to decide if that is the best use of your time and money. I can't decide for you.

You CANNOT "take a train from the AC to Florence." You can cram onto a SITA bus and return to Sorrento and take the Circumvesuviana to Naples for a train to Florence. Or you can take a (different) SITA bus to Salerno and probably get on a one-seat ride to Florence. Note that the faster (Frecciarossa) trains have discount tickets in advance that are non-changeable, non-refundable.

Alternative to the Circumvesuviana is the Campania Express-tourist train- useful if timing works out. Can be booked in advance

https://www.positano.com/en/campania-express-train-schedule

It sounds like you are traveling with backpacks so the Circumvesuviana shouldn’t be a huge issue.
Many many tourists travel on the Circumvesuviana without incident every day.

As I mentioned above the ferry from Amalfi to Salerno is the nicest way to depart from the AC
The views along that route are fantastic
The ferry port is about 10 min walk slightly uphill to the Salerno station
Salerno station is small and easy to navigate

Only issue to be aware of is that ferries don’t run in inclement weather so you’ll want a back up plan (bus)
The Amalfi to Salerno route is major with larger boats and ports so cancellations due to weather are not frequent.

But I will repeat, if you only have 3 nights stay in Sorrento and day trip to AC-Amalfi and Ravello and I’d budget for the Mondo Guide tour.

Want to spend June 9th - 12th visiting Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi and Ravello before heading to Florence.

Are you spending 3 nights or 4 nights?

Right, I'm curious as well just how many nights you have? Arriving in the region on the 9th and departing the region on the 12th (3 nights) or staying through the 12th and heading to Florence on the 13th (4 nights, which would be better, IMHO).

If it's the latter schedule, I'd head out of Rome early on the 9th via fast train to Naples, and change to the Circumvesuviana commuter there to get to Pompeii. Store your backpacks either at the train station or at the scavi itself: either option is perfectly 'safe'. After exploring the scavi, either with a tour or on your own, get back on the same train onward to its terminus in Sorrento. It's a battered, unlovely thing with no creature comforts but it's cheap, gets the job done, and many thousands of tourists and locals use it every year. It will be easy if you are just traveling with backpacks and not, say, large wheeled suitcases. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of your day just walking about Sorrento.

On the 10th, catch a ferry to Capri and spend the day before returning to your hotel. It's a short trip of 20 minutes or so from Sorrento.

On the 11th, take late morning ferry to Amalfi, check in and explore a bit.

On the 12th, take the bus up to Ravello, explore, and head back to Amalfi for the night.

On the 13th, catch a ferry (or SITA bus) to Salerno, head to the train station and get on a fast train to Florence. Buy tickets in advance for best prices.

Explore ferry schedules here, understanding that the site will update closer to spring when the AC boats becomes fully operational and there will be more earlier/later routes (the ferries don't operate after dark.)

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/ferry-schedule

Current Circumvesuviana schedules:
https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule

Napoli Garibaldi is the station for the Circ, and is attached to Napoli Centrale: the station you'd be arriving at by Trenitalia and Italo 'fast' trains from Rome. The station you'd get off at for Pompeii is Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri.

Current SITA bus schedules for the region:
https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/sorrento-to-positano-bus-schedule

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Thank you so much to all who took their time to reply. I am considering each piece of advice! As for how many nights we will be spending, 2 or 3, the answer is I just I don't know just yet. I'm waiting on a friend we'll be meeting later in the trip to give me her date of arrival. That determines the length of time we can in Pompeii/Capri/AC.

As for how many nights we will be spending, 2 or 3....

2 nights = 1 full day; not nearly enough for everything on your list. You need at least 3 nights to do Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi and Ravello, and even that's a bit of a squeeze.

Sorry, I meant to say I was unsure if we'll be staying 2 or 3 DAYS (making it 3 or 4 nights). And now, after reading everyone's advice, I will definitely stay a minimum of 3 day, 4 nights. Thank you! I've also decided, per Letizia's advice, I will not try to see Pompeii on the same day as traveling from Rome and then on to Sorrento. And I now realize that trying to coordinate with someone who hasn't even made their plane reservations is probably not smart; my daughter and I will make plans that make the best sense for what we want to do, and if my friend can catch up with us at some point, all the better.
Thank you again everyone for your insight and help!!!