Sorrento-Tuscany Questions

Welcome! Have you been to Italy before?

Train from AC to Florence and rent a car there. Most rental cars have a surcharge to drop off a car at a different location.

Perhaps you mistyped your question about a driver, but Pompeii is the opposite direction from the Amalfi Coast. You cannot do both in one day.

Check Mondo Tours for both an AC tour (all day) and a Pompeii trip (all day). They do shared tours, which can reduce the cost. A train from Sorrento to Pompeii probably makes better sense. We were in Sorrento last April, did a Mondo van tour for the AC, traffic and crowds were definitely a thing. Look also at boat tours, for a different (and possibly better) perspective.

Keep in mind that the traffic is generally terrible along the coast - narrow winding roads, lots of traffic - so plan on any driving excursion, and your shuttle to the hotel, to take longer than anticipated.

Where in Tuscany are you staying?

To DougMac: This is my first time to Italy. Thanks for the tip about surcharges for dropping the rental car off in a different city. We will take the train up to Florence and rent from there.

To TheOrinaryRebecca: Yes, Pompeii is a separate day. Then we have two other separate full days for the AC and possibly Capri. I’ll check out Mondo tours. What we want most is to minimize time in transport and maximize time sightseeing.

To ChristineH: We are waiting to find out if a friend-of-a-friend has availability in her AirBnB in Tuscany. To be honest, I don’t even know where it is! In Tuscany we hope to visit some hilltop towns at a very relaxed pace. It’s not quantity but quality we are looking for. Possibly check out CT as well. I’m definitely open to suggestions for things to do/see - I really haven’t researched this much yet. (And, yes, I know it’s the 11th hour! Yikes)

I'm very curious- in Naples, you have found a hotel shuttle to Sorrento? As moving about the area is so arduous , I'm curious about who you are using.
I agree with above, skip the driving tour if the AC, as it's a nine-hour day and you're in the vehicle for about half that time. See the coast via a boat ride. There is no minimizing transport time in the AC. Getting around is time-consuming and requires patience.
We were in the area May, 2023, and used Aldo Limos. They were very professional and prompt, and Christina, in the office, is a Brit, so email communication was easy. They accepted USD at a fair rate, we received a receipt, and had a package deal.
We didn't used the private driver for Pompeii, but they quoted us 100 euros each way from Sorrento.
Shoulder season in the AC doesn't really exist anymore, so April and May are very crowded. Those masses are sleeping somewhere. Book accomations asap!
Have a great trip, but be prepared for the crowds and congestion Naples onward south. There's no escaping. Safe travels!

What we want most is to minimize time in transport and maximize time
sightseeing.

That won't happen on the Amalfi Coast. It takes time no matter the mode of transportation. We did a driving tour last April with Mondo Tours, and in a 9 hour tour, 4.5 were in the vehicle. On another day we took a ferry to Amalfi and then a bus to Minori and walked the Path of the Lemons to Maiori, then a bus back to Amalfi. That pretty much ate up the day and we took a ferry back to Sorrento.

We much preferred Capri which is a half hour ferry from Sorrento and just as beautiful This gave us a full 8 hour day to see the sites. If you plan properly you can beat or avoid the crowds for most of the day.

To be honest, I don’t even know where it is! In Tuscany we hope to visit some hilltop towns at a very relaxed pace. It’s not quantity but quality we are looking for.

Well remember 4 nights in Tuscany is just three days. Have you calculated in travel time from one location to the other? Every move eats up 1/2 day minimum and as much as a full day. You need to do a detailed itinerary, including travel down to departure and arrival times.

We spent 7 days at an agriturismo in Tuscany. A relaxed pace would be one hill town per day. You could do Castellina and Radda in one day, they are small. We did San Gimignano and Volterra in a day, but we left Greve very early and didn't get back until 8:30 that night. I would have wanted to have at least a day at each to see all I wanted to see. We devoted an entire day to Siena and it would take at least three days to begin to do it at a relaxed pace.

Once you find out where your accomadtiond are let us know as there may be a better place to pick up car

Chiusi is usually a better option if you are staying in the southern part of Tuscany-the Val d’Orcia region
No need to drive in and out of Florence

We always use AutoEurope.com for our rentals and even though it may indicate a drop off fee may be charged we have never paid one

All drivers will need an IDP which you can get at your local AAA
Do your homework on driving in Italy!

@Pat, there is a "shuttle" bus service from Naples airport to Sorrento. Not necessarily a hotel shuttle, regular-size bus that arrives/departs from the train station in Sorrento. We used it last spring - and it took 2-3 times as long as advertised to get to the airport. Many people missed their flights. And for the OP - this is important when planning. It's simply not an area where your transportation will be efficient. The shuttle bus will probably be late. The trains might get delayed/cancelled. The drives to Pompeii and Amalfi will be crowded and slow (and maybe your tour van will break down, ask me how I know). Even the ferries to Capri might get adjusted due to weather. Trust me - ALL of that happened on our trip last April. Be prepared to roll with it!

@Rebecca, your tour van broke down? 😱
You gave a great description of moving around in the AC area- there is no quick and efficient mode.
I wish I had been prepared for the realities on the ground before our May, 2023 trip!
Safe travels!

To Pat: We are staying at B&B Syrentum and they will arrange the shuttle or private car. They said “The shared shuttle costs € 30 per person and departures from the airport is at specifics time (09:00-10:30-12:30-14:30-16:30-18:00-20:00). During the trip it will stop to drop off other travelers. The private transfer costs € 140 for 2 people . In both cases you would meet the driver at the airport and he will drop you off as near as possible to our place, just 2 mins of walking distance.”

To Allan: I was referring to Tuscany when I said I want to maximize sightseeing and minimize travel. I get that the AC is congested and travel will take more time than we’d like. What you did when you went to Amalfi is similar to our plans - public ferry between Sorrento/Amalfi/Maiori. Based on what everyone has said, there is no better way to do it. Half a day in a car on clogged twisting roads sounds horrible! We plan to do one full day on Capri as well.

To ChristineH: I already have my IDP. As soon as I know where we’re staying, I’ll message you. Thank you!!

To TheOrindaryRebecca: Thanks for the reality check getting to/from the airport and to/from Pompeii. Better to know this ahead of time, plan for the worst and hope for the best!