private day tours from Rome to Amalfi

A tour from Rome to "Amalfi" Coast in a day involves riding a bus, or train/bus combo for 7 hours. If by bus, there is a rest stop each way, making the total time in transit even longer

To have a 'great experience' of the coast, a day trip from Rome is not the way to do it.

Not surprised the reviews are 'hit and miss'. Just a lot of time in transit vs the time being there

I wouldn’t recommend but if you must
Look for one that has you take fast train to Naples then picks up there
That will cut out a lot of the time in transit

I know there are companies that offer this as they’ve been mentioned here

Use forum search to find that info
Filter by Type:Forum Posts
And
Date: within last 2 years

Not sure why above poster believes it “would be dark by the time you got there”
It’s a 3-4 hour drive Rome to Amalfi ( town)
I suppose if you left Rome past 6 pm it would be dark ( sunset at about 9 thru the summer)but why would you do that?

It would be a very long day and iI wouldn’t advise it but if you are game this is what I would do: take very early fast train from Rome to Salerno (about 1 1/2 hrs) then ferry to Amalfi or Positano. No guide needed. Good guide book will have all info you need. These are very small villages.

A possible DIY
Fast train Rome to Salerno
Catch a ferry there- port is 10 min walk from station
Ferry to Amalfi town - change here to ferry to Positano
Visit Positano, have lunch here, allow 2 hours in this town including lunch
ferry back to Amalfi town
Get off and visit Amalfi, have a gelato, visit the Duomo
Ferry back to Salerno to catch fast train to Rome

I still wouldn’t do this and you’ll have to figure out the timing but it is possible
The problem is that inclement weather can and vey well might cancel the ferries, (especially to Positano) so you would have to rely on the bus ( expect SRO)

We used this company for transfers in the area and I know they offer customized trips/ tours as well
See what they can do for you - best plan probably pick up in Salerno

www.topexcursionsorrento.com

The views of the towns are best FROM the water

I'll have to pile on with the rest here and advise saving the Amalfi for when you can give it the time it deserves to explore and enjoy it. Absolutely avoid the bus tours as while it certainly wouldn't be dark by the time you got to the coast, you'd spend many valuable hours on the road that could better be used for sightseeing in, or at least closer to, Rome. As already pointed out, you can't plan ahead for weather either.

If you must do it, then IMHO Christine's plan for train to Salerno, etc. etc. is workable although I personally wouldn't do it either. You could tweak it a little by taking a ferry from Salerno to Positano, then work your way back with another to Amalfi, and another from Amalfi to Salerno. There are SITA buses too although they can be overloaded during the busy season and lines for them can be long.

Ferry schedules:
https://www.positano.com/en/t/salerno/positano

There is also a Rick Steve's shared Mondo tour from Salerno (includes Pompeii) but it's all via land transport versus any leg by ferry. If either of you suffer from motion sickness, preventative measures are advised.

https://www.sharedtours.com

The key factor here is that the driving time (in a limo or otherwise) is roughly 3 hours one way to Naples, while the train time (just to Naples, not all the way to the AC) is about 1 hour (higher fare Frecciarossa service.) Aside from the loooong day, it's not very luxurious to sit in a car for 8 hours for a fleeting glimpse of the AC.

We did not go to the AC until our fifth trip to Italy. And we simply took a one-day runout from Sorrento, still over 30 minutes away, using a car and driver for 8 hours. I should note that the Sorrento-based driver knew the area, but was not a certified guide, and did not have fluent English, just serviceable. But we knew what we were buying.

A day trip from Rome doesn’t work, but this may. The night before take a late train to from Rome to Salerno and spend the night in an affordable hotel (don’t check out of your Rome hotel). Take the 8am ferry to Positano. Spend about 6 hours in Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. At about 4pm return to Salerno and take the train back to Rome. You would get the great coastal views from the ferry and a good amount of time in the towns.