Travel from Sorrento to Venice on a Saturday, June 30th

There is a mini fare for the June 30 train of 58 euros, departing Napoli 14:50 and arriving Venice at 20:03. It is 39 for Napoli to Rome and 19 for Rome to Venice. But you would have to add the cost of getting to Napoli. You might want to actually look at the rental car option. Despite what Rick says, rental agencies at airports are often open late on Saturdays and on Sunday. Perhaps you could return the car at the Venice airport.

Unless you can get a MINI fare on Trenitalia (some are as low as 9 Euro right now), I guess it makes sense to fly. You won't save much if any time though by the time you figure in the time you have to be at the airport early, the flight itself, and the time and cost of taking an airport bus into Venice. The train takes you right into Venice where you can then get a Vaporetto to whereever you have to go. I don't know anything about renting cars in Italy so I had not heard about them being closed on the weekends. I have heard that some companies require you to drop off the cars at the same place that you rented them which would do you no good at all.

I have discovered, in planning our trip, which includes Sorrento, that it's not an easy destination to or from a lot of other Italian cities. "Best" may not be all that wonderful. Usually, there is no dropoff charge within Italy; however, we found that to drop our car in S. made the rental twice as much as to drop at the Naples airport. Also, the bit about the rental places' closing times is true for S., but not for the airport. My guess is that you'd also be able to drop the car at Marco Polo airport on Sunday. Additionally, Trenitalia does not serve S.; you have to take another form of transport to Naples and get the train there. With 5 people, some form of private connection to Naples might be a good idea. Have you checked with your hotel to see about the feasibility of that? Anyway, whatever mode you choose, you're going to have to get to Naples first.
Buon viaggio, despite this particular hassle.

You're looking at at least a five hour train ride just from Naples, not including the Circumvesuviana. That puts it right on the usual suggested rule of "Train if less than six hours; Fly if more." On the plus side for the train, the Mini fare could be just 39 euros a person. Is there anyway you can rearrange your itinerary? Perhaps stay in Rome in between the two?

I looked at routing you through Salerno, but it's no better. There's a bus trip of almost 3 hours, then a train to Rome, and a change to Venice. Takes about 12 hours total, and costs about €100 for the trains alone, plus the bus fare. Fly, or change your itinerary. Michael's suggestion to stop in rome in between is good, or perhaps somewhere in Umbria.

OK, I checked and Hertz will let you do that one-way rental, picking up at Hotel Ascot in Sorrento and returning that evening at Marco Polo airport at Venice. Price quote was 204euros for a Ford Mondeo, and that seems to include the drop fee but you should confirm that. You'll have to add gas and tolls, but it would be a lot simpler than the trains.

Thanks to everyone who responded! All five of us appreciate your input. We are still considering the train and possibly renting a car. I just read, though, that the drive is 81/2 hours! Will let everyone know what we decide.

My wife and I took a car from Positano (you from Sorrento) to the train station and then train to Venice. Nice ride. We did Eurostar and changed trains with a slight layover in Rome. Relaxing and nice scenery so we were totally relaxed when we arrived. Then relaxed more in Venice of course.