Hello! I will be traveling with 3 family members in October to Rome. We plan on spending part of our time in Positano and we would like to stop at Pompeii on our way there. The options we have discussed are: 1. Taking the A-train to Naples and get a driver that would take us from Naples to Pompeii, wait with our bags in the car and then take us on to Positano. (On average, how much would this cost?) 2. Rent a car from Rome and drive ourselves. (Can we park in Pompeii, can we park in Positano? Cost to park?) 3. Take the train to Naples and a bus to Pompeii and a bus to Positano. (What do we do with our bags?) 4. Are there any other options we should consider? Thanks so much!
You can take the high-speed Trenitalia train to Napoli Centrale from Roma Termini. Then, go down the escalator to the Circumvesuviana train to the Pompei-Scavi stop. At the Pompei ruins, there is a staffed left luggage facility as you enter. After your visit there, continue on the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. At Sorrento, take the SITA bus to Positano. I believe that there are two stops in Positano so you will have to make sure which one you want. As a second choice, you might be able to take the ferry to Positano from Sorrento.
Larry's suggestion is the best and cheapest. The train and driver option would be the easiest and probably the most expensive. I think the drive from Rome to Naples/Pompeii/Positano would be too nerve-wracking to contemplate. Also the problem of what to do with the car in Positano - it is a very pedestrian-centric town and parking is somewhere outside the town. May be easier to go straight to Positano and then go to Pompeii during your stay there.....
You might want to check out "Your Tour in Italy" at http://www.yourtourinitaly.com/joomla/. We used them last year for 8 of us (family of 4 adult couples). They'll do customized pick up/ off and tours too. I made reservations on line a few months before ou trip. They're marvelous. They picked us up at our hotel in Rome, drove us to Pompeii, set up a 2 hour tour for us, then drove us to the MOST magnificent "fattoria" (restaurant) above Positano for an unforgettable lunch. Then drove 4 of us to our Sorrento hotel, took the other 4 to Naples for their overnight. Next day took those Naples 4 back to their Rome hotel. Fabulous! A bit pricey but we split the costs 4 ways. Can't say enough good things about them.
A direct private transfer for 3 people from Naples train station to a Positano hotel would likely cost at least 100 euro. With a multi-hour stop at Pompeii, it would definitely cost more.