Hi! We are planning a trip to Italy from May 28th to June 7th, going to Florence, Rome and Naples (Sorrento/Amalfi). We are looking for a good airport transfer company in Florence and Naples, as well as recommendations for travel between each city, and potentially someone to help with bags or take us on small tours. We prefer to travel by ourselves but would love a "concierge" of sorts that could be accessible should we need help with something. I worked with someone similar to this in Greece and they were so helpful getting us into local restaurants, helping us with travel in between cities, etc. If you have any recommendations, please drop them below!
Posted by
Washington DC
28247 posts
I can't help with recommendations for the type of service you seek, but I want to be sure you realize that traveling by anything other than a Freccia train will mean a lot of extra travel time for two segments of your trip:
Florence > Rome
Distance: about 170 miles
By car: 2:59 (Via Michelin estimate)
By train: 1:30 to 1:50
Rome > Naples
Distance: about 130 miles
By car: 2:25 (ViaMichelin estimate)
By train: 1:02 to 1:12
There are no fast trains from Naples down to Sorrento and Amalfi, so a private driver is a popular choice there, for those comfortable paying for one.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
Take the trains.
If you fly to/from Rome, take the train from the airport to Florence (possible train change at Roma Termini or Roma Tiburtina, Rome's main stations). Do so right after landing. There are trains to Florence every 30 min. and you'll be there in half the time it takes by car (from the Rome airport to Florence is just over 2hours and 15min, including a possible change at the aforementioned main stations).
After Florence, go to Naples by train (3 hours by train, again half the time it takes if you drive). At Naples you can take a commuter train to Sorrento (about 1 hour) or hire a private car driver (for about 100 euro).
Lastly, assuming you fly back home from Rome, go to Rome from Sorrento. Do the reverse you did to get there. Commuter train or private driver to Naples, then high speed train to Rome (70 min journey from Napoli Central).
Spend your final trip days in Rome, then take a taxi to the airport on the day of departure.
You can find a concierge or help at any hotel desk.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1721 posts
Writing this lines from an Italo train traveling at 260 km/h (and in a straight line, as we are in the tunnels between Bologna and Florence). The general speed limit for cars is 130 km/h. - But on trains you have to manage your own luggage, maybe a tranfers service will help you; but for a much higher price and travel time.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for your suggestions! It sounds like trains are definitely the way to go.