Train/High Speed Rail prices

wiggly,

There's no way you'll be taking a high speed (or any other) train to Positano, as it's not served by a rail line. The best solution is travel from Florence to Naples via high speed train, switch to the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento and then take a Bus or Taxi from there to Positano.

An easier (but more expensive solution) would be to hire a private driver from the station in Naples to Positano. The reason I'm suggesting a private driver is that the Circumvesuviana has somewhat of a "reputation" as a haven for pickpockets and scammers (have a look at the recent thread in the "Tourist Scams" section of this forum for one example).

In terms of prices, that will depend on whether you want to buy your tickets when you arrive in Italy, or buy them online in advance. Note that tickets for the fast trains are specific to train, date and departure time, so you MUST be willing to commit to a specific departure. If you board a different train than the one listed on your ticket, you'll be subject to hefty fines which will be collected on the spot (those start at about €50 PP).

If you buy the cheapest Super Economy tickets, they're non-refundable and non-changeable once purchased. You can check prices on the Trenitalia website and book tickets either there or using www.captaintrain.com (I prefer the latter website as it's very user friendly).

You can also travel from Florence to Naples on the competing Italo Treno high speed trains. Check their website for information.

To give you an example of the prices, there are currently Super Economy tickets listed from Firenze S.M. Novella to Napoli Centrale at €39.80 PP. Travel time is about 2H:50M. Prices for the trip from Naples to Positano will depend on which mode of transport you choose. There are private drivers listed in the guidebook, such as the Monetti Taxi which is seen on some of Rick's TV shows.

Thank you Ken. Do you have a ballpark figure on what this would cost?

Wiggly,

Additional information added to my first reply.

You can buy a Freccia (high speed) ticket from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Salerno, then it's a ferry or two buses to Positano; but this will avoid the always crowded and sometimes overstuffed Circumvesuviana, although there is some backtracking in terms of distance.

Wiggly, You can look up train prices here, Trenitalia.com. While they will not be selling tickets for March yet, simply plug in dates about 120 days out to see the maximum discounts. You can then plan to buy those tickets in November. Note the discounted tickets are non-refundable.

Florence S.M.N. station to Salerno Centrale is 3.5-4 hours on the Freccia train. Last year--March in fact--it cost us 33 Euro apiece, bought 60 days in advance. Then you'd have to take a bus (ferries aren't running in March) from the adjacent station to Amalfi, then change to the Positano bus. One hour each leg, I imagine no more than 10 Euro in total apiece. As Zoe states, a little out of the way to get there, but an economical and fun adventure no doubt, especially if you sit on the driver side of the bus!

My husband and I travelled by train from Rome to Cinque Terre, Venice, Pescara on the Adriatic Coast, Salerno and back to Rome over the course of three weeks. I purchased tickets online about two months in advance, thereby locking in dates and times. The total cost for all that travel for two people was $343. Hecka deal! We had no problems with train travel - it is wonderful and fun!

Wiggly, if you are asking about the price of a taxi or car service from Naples to Positano, that would likely be about €100, give or take. Maybe someone who has done that recently will chime in here. There are major advantages, as a car can take you and your baggage directly to, or very near, your lodging in Positano, in less time than the connecting public transportation you would need. Otherwise you and your bags will need to go down to the Circumvesuviana trains, wait to the next one and load on, then ride the train through various stops to Sorrento, then wait for and take the bus to Positano, then make your way to your lodging, which might be at some distance, up or down a hill. I know that taxis in Sorrento are notoriously expensive. I was traveling alone, but a taxi from Naples to my hotel door in Sorrento was one of the best "splurges" of that trip. Within 90 minutes of leaving Naples, I was out onto the streets of Sorrento.