Train vs taxi/Uber/private car

There are always delays in that part of Italy, as the infrastructure has been so sadly neglected for years. Traffic is really congested, and the commuter train's schedule is more of a suggestion. The commuter train is quite cheap, but has no AC, and is fairly gritty. Plan on two hours for the trip, and late trains.
We used Aldo Limos between Naples and Sorrento, and it took two hours by this private car Service, because of traffic. I highly recommend them. We paid as part of a package deal, but I'm guessing the cost was around 150€ for two people. The Italian cars are small, so if you have more people you may need a larger vehicle, so it could be more.
So- these are the realities on the ground as were experienced them. You're probably better off using a private service and adding extra time. Good luck!

Just add on there is no Uber in Italy like it is in the states. The Uber app will just connect you to a local taxi or sometimes a transport service.
This is too long for a taxi ride you will need a point to point service - called NCC - in Italy such as the car service mentioned in the previous post.

Or take the train. Either way allow extra time in your schedule for potential delays and unforeseen events.

Have a great trip,
Tod

What time do you need to be in Naples?
The circumvesuviana train may not be the ultimate in luxury travel but is often faster than a car during commute hour traffic.

You’ll save a boatload of Euros if you take the Circumvesuviana train for €4.90 or the Campania Express for €15 from Sorrento to Naples. The first Circumvesuviana train leaves Sorrento at 5:30am and arrives at Garibaldi Station within Napoli Centrale train station at 6:41. There’s a train every 30 minutes after the first 5:30am train. NAP International Airport is just 3 miles away from Napoli Centrale train station. .
Taking the trains gives you €120-€140 Euros more to spend elsewhere.

Daytrip.com 161 euro.

1:05 drive.

The commuter train is quite cheap, but has no AC, and is fairly
gritty.

New trains are being delivered that have AC and are fairly ungritty. And even if you end up on one of the older trains, lack of AC does not sound like a huge problem in October.

I wonder if October is too late in the year for the ferry across the bay from Sorrento to Naples

October is still a long time away. My suggestion is to wait for the moment. There will be several options.

Both Trenitalia and Italo normally run bus+train combinations, with a comfortable road coach from Sorrento to Napoli Afragola several times a day. But these are not published for october yet.

Other thing I noticed:

• On www.trenitalia.com you can book directly from Sorrento to Venice. Choose "Sorrento Circumvesuviana" as origin. You can buy a through ticket Sorrento - Venezia there. And it appears they book you on the Campania Express between Sorrento and Naples. (They call it Campania Link).

That is probably a good option. Eg. 10:20 departure, arrival in Venice 17:34, with only one change in Napels.

This is my first time on Rick Steves forum and I answered the email and not here. These have been wonderful suggestions. We need to be in Naples, to make the 8:55 train. Is rush hour 7-9 am, like it is in the states? Should I give us more than 2 hrs, so we don't miss the train? Your answers are so appreciated. Thanks

Always leave earlier than you think you should when traveling. It's never worth the stress to be rushed/late.