Rome Airport to Positano

The usual advice here would be train to Rome Termini; train to Naples; Switch to commuter train from Naples to Sorrento (Cicumvesuviana)and then bus to Positano.

But if you're looking to "hire someone to carry our luggage down", these travel options won't work for you. They require you to handle your own luggage up and down stairs and onto trains and buses. If that is an issue, look for a private driver.

Oops, I don't think I was clear. We can handle our luggage between planes, trains and buses, I read that Positano is really steep and that there are porters who can help with your luggage.

I think that connecting through SALERNO is a LITTLE better than through Naples (for travel from Rome to Positano) for the following reasons:

1. The connection in Naples to either the Circumvesuviana commuter train (underground at Napoli Centrale) or to the Metro del Mare hydrofoil at Beverello Dock (2 kilometers, requires taking a taxi or figuring out the city bus lines) is more stressful (for some) than the connection in Salerno to either the SITA bus directly outside the train station, or the ferry boat departing from the Concordia Dock (400 yards from train station, walkable in 6 minutes).

(NOTE: Now that there supposedly are brand new escalators to the underground Circumvesuviana track, the connection between trains at Napoli Centrale should be much easier than it was in the past, when you had to use the stairs.)

1. Both the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento and the Sorrento/Positano SITA bus could be extremely crowded. The Circumvesuviana train is also apt to attract pickpockets. By contrast, the SITA bus to Amalfi is likely to be less crowded. HOWEVER, the SITA bus from Amalfi to Positano could well be very crowded. That's why taking the ferry boat out of CONCORDIA (not Manfredi) Dock in Salerno is preferable during the peak summer season (it's also twice as fast as the SITA bus).

NOTE that the boat schedules from Concordia Dock to Amalfi/Positano are somewhat limited, and they operate only from April through October. At other times of the year, there is the handy SITA bus from the Salerno train station to Amalfi (3.60 Euros), with an onward connection to Positano(additional 3.60 Euros, or 7.20 Euro full-day ticket).

NOTE: The Manfredi dock is clear across town, near the old Jolly Hotel and 2 kilometers from the Salerno train station. Metro del Mare and Alicost depart from the Manfredi Dock. Cooperativa Sant'Andrea departs from the Concordia Dock. The boat ticket from Concordia Dock to Positano is 10 Euros; 6 Euros to Amalfi.

This is what I would do:

1. Airport train FCO to Roma Termini: 14 Euros and 32 minutes; departures every 30 minutes.

2. Ferrovie dello Stato train to SALERNO (Not Naples)

3. Walk 400 yards to Concordia Dock in Salerno

4. Cooperativa Sant'Andrea ferry boat to Positano

5. Porter service from Positano Port to hotel

There is an Intercity (IC) train at 11:27 from Roma Termini arriving at 14:16 in Salerno (23.50 Euros in second class). The destination of this train is Palermo/Siracusa. All-reserved seats. Air conditioned. You have three hours (adequate in most cases) to catch this train after your plane arrival.

There is a ferry boat at 15:30 from Salerno Concordia Dock to Positano (70 mins., 10 Euros).

You have ample time for this connection (the next boat departs at 17:10). You buy the boat ticket from the kiosk at the end of the Pier at the Concordia Dock.

NOTE: This ferry departs from the convenient Concordia Dock (400 yards from Salerno train station). DON'T confuse this with the inconvenient Manfredi Dock, clear across town two kilometers from the Salerno train station. Metro del Mare and Alicost depart from the Manfredi dock.

NOTE: If the ferry boat is cancelled because of bad sea conditions, you can always take the SITA bus to Amalfi/connect to SITA bus to Positano. The bus departs at 14:30 and 15:30 from DIRECTLY outside the Salerno train station. Buy the 24-hr. ticket (7.20 Euros) at the newsstand inside the station. The two buses take 75+45 minutes (plus connection time in Amalfi).

www.ferroviedellostato.it

www.coopsantandrea.it (Boats Salerno/Positano)

http://www.coopsantandrea.com/it/servizidilinea/servizi_b.asp?id=4

www.sitabus.it (buses along the Amalfi Coast

http://www.sitabus.it/sitabus/campania/orarioCAMPANIA/QUADROXV.pdf

www.metrodelmare.net (Hydrofoils Naples/Positano)

www.vesuviana.it (Circumvesuviana trains Naples/Sorrento)

It is not really difficult to transition from the Naples main train station downstairs to Circumvesuviana train. Yes the Circumvesuviana train can be quite crowded as it is the local train from naples to Sorrento. And yes, you might want to keep an eye on your luggage.

That being said, the only great reason to go to Salerno is to take the ferry. They are not all that frequent but it is a treat if you can time it right. If the ferry is not there, you will have to take a SITA bus to Amalfi and then transfer to the SITA bus that goes from Amalfi to Sorrento. You get off at Positano.

Either way is fine. Just a lot of transportation switching.

Another alternative is the bus from Rome Tiburtina train station to Sorrento. Two limitations. First, you have to get to the Rome Tiburtina train station and go across the street to the bus station area. You can easily do this from Rome Termini on the underground Metro Line B. Second, it only seems to run once daily departing at 2:00pm.

If you are with a 4-6 person group, you could arrange private transportation from FCO to at least Sorrento and possibly Positano.

During the summer, there is also a DIRECT Marozzi bus from Rome Tiburtina to POSITANO, but it departs Rome only at 7:00 a.m., making it feasible only for people who have overnighted in Rome.

There are also afternoon buses from Rome Tiburtina to SORRENTO by both Marozzi and Curreri. In Sorrento, you can connect to the regular SITA bus to Positano.

The previous postings reflect the fact that there are MANY different ways to travel between Rome and Positano, ALL of which require transportation changes/connections (some fewer, others more).

www.marozzivt.it

www.curreriviaggi.it

HINT #1: Staying on the Amalfi Coast for at least three days: consider purchasing the 3-day UNICO COSTIERA ticket for 18 Euros. You get unlimited rides on all SITA buses between Salerno and Sorrento, including Ravello. (NOT valid on ferry boats or hydrofoils).

HINT#2: Staying at least three day and also going to Paestum or Pompei or Naples? Consider buying instead the UNICO CAMPANIA 3T Tourist ticket for 20 Euros. It's valid for the entire Campania region on all SITA buses, Trenitalia regionale trains, Circumvesuviana trains, Naples city buses and funiculars, Mt. Vesuvius buses, Sorrento city buses, and more. (It also covers everything which is covered by the UNICO COSTIERA tickets).

Remember:

Amalfi Coast only: UNICO COSTIERA (45-min, 90-min, 1-day or 3-day tickets)

Amalfi Coast and surrounding areas for 3+ days: UNICO CAMPANIA 3T Tourist Ticket.

UNICO CAMPANIA also sells one-way and 1-day tickets

All the suggestions above are good. I'll just throw in that we've done the Positano - Salerno ferry as suggested by GAC and it might win on the fun factor. The hydrofoil ride along the Amalfi coast is great.

Salerno is a much smaller and more manageable city than Naples.

If you're staying at one of Rick's recommended hotels along Via Colombo, then use the 2nd bus stop in Positano. The 1st stop is at the top of town, but the 2nd stop is near the intersection of Via Colombo and the main road. It's a fairly flat walk from the bus stop to the Via Colombo hotels (i.e. no stairs).