Rome, Positano, Tuscany logistics- Help!

I wouldn’t drive.

1. Take the fast train from Rome to Salerno. Catch the ferry from Salerno to Positano. It’s just a fabulous way to,see the Amalfi Coast. Just select your train departure to coincide when the ferry leaves. I would personally get up early and catch the first train out, and get on the ferry before noon. It’s a 90 minute ferry ride.

https://www.travelmar.it/en/

On the website there are 2 Salerno’s to choose from, I don’t remember which is the correct one. If you choose this option, someone here will know.

I also had a plan B, in case the ferry wasn’t running due to weather. I had it figured out which bus to just take from Salerno to Positano.

1. I would then take a private driver from Positano to Pompeii as early as possible in the morning. I believe there are places you can store your luggage for a fee at the train station. After touring Pompeii, take the fast train to Tuscany.

2. I would stay in Rome the night before. You’ll need to be at the airport 2 to 3 hours before departure. You’ll be glad to relax this last evening with one more aperitif!

This is awesome advice, thank you so much!

Should we stay near the Rome airport the night before our flight or drive back early morning from wherever we are staying?

DEFINITELY be in Rome the night before

Only if you are arriving at Roma Fiumicino airport before noon, I would consider going straight to Positano. That would include taking the Leonardo Express from Fiumicino to Roma Termini train station, then taking the Freccia train 70 minutes to Naples.

At this point I would highly recommend having a private driver--usually can be set up through your Positano hotel or B&B--meet you as you disembark the train at Naples Centrale and drive you directly to Positano, about 90 minutes. It won't be cheap (probably around 100 euro) but believe me, it is well worth not having to navigate the eccentricities of public travel on the Amalfi Coast. Also, this way you don't burn the last night in Rome for no reason other than to be close to the airport. Every day counts. You will be jetlagged but this is fairly simple travel as long as you know what you're doing through research, and you could still get there late afternoon.

Leaving Positano, start early. I recommend a taxi to Naples Centrale, then a Freccia train (2 hr 50 min) to Florence Santa Maria Novella station, because even if you aren't staying there, it's a hub. If you want to rent a car from there, fine. Otherwise, there are trains and buses that could get you to Siena or Lucca in just over 1 hour.

Finally, getting back to Roma is through Florence SMN station, because the express train from Florence to Roma only takes 90 minutes, a few times a day. Then you're there for the remainder of your trip.

Enjoy your planning!

You are not factoring in travel time. For instance, if you take public transportation from Positano to Siena, it's around 11 hours with all the changes you have to make. You are burning up an entire day just traveling.

When you say Rome, 4 nights, does that include arrival day? That means you really have three days for Rome. 2 nights Positano is one day Positano. It's 5 hours from Rome, which means that between checking out, traveling and checking in, you've burned pretty much an entire day.

I also don't think you have a good feel for how big Italy is. You don't have a lot of time. Personally, I'd do either Rome and points south or Rome and points north, not both.

Finally, I'd stay near or at FCO the day of departure. They recommend being at the airport 3 hours before your flight, which means you need to be there around 8:00.

The FCO Hilton is adjacent to the terminals, easy.