I'm confused.

> will we have enough time to get to the airport on Tuesday morning, or should we plan to be in Naples by Monday so we aren't exhausted

Personally, I hate trying to fly out of a city if I haven't reached it the day before. It has nothing to do with exhaustion. I just think there is WAY too much that can go wrong to rely on getting to the airport on time.

> Also not sure where to make our base as we don't like to move around a lot and will already have these 2 places. Is Sorrento the most logical, central place?

I think you are asking where, in addition to Naples and Paestum, you should stay. If so, that depends (I think) on what you want to do while in the area and how long you plan to say in Naples. Assuming the weather is on your side, I would think you could visit Capri from Naples or Sorrento or Positano or Amalfi. My impression (which could be wrong) is that people who choose to base in Sorrento are doing so because they want to use it as a base for the entire region. If you want to spend a few days in Naples and are looking for a place from which to explore the Amalfi Coast in particular, Amalfi or Positano or Minori could be reasonable bases depending on your interests.

While in Paestum, do consider visiting its museum, which has some very unusual pieces.

Enjoy!

Guess my original post was a bit confusing and I apologize. kja, you are correct. We don't really want to stay in Naples any longer than necessary.....arrive and go directly someplace, and be back to stay one night before departure. Is 1 night in Capri sufficient or should we stay for 2? We just don't like to move too often. Possibility now:
6 nights someplace
2 nights Capri (?)
2 nights Paestum
1 night Naples
Thanks for your input!

I would start in Capri. It's fairly easy to reach from the airport if your flight is arriving early enough to get a ferry. Take the Alibus from the airport to the port.

2 nights Capri
6 nights coast
2 Paestum
1 night Naples

I assume you will be picking up a car (you would need it to get to Paestum as public transport would not be easy). I would take a ferry from Capri to Sorrento and pick up the car. If ferries are running from Capri to Salerno at that time (not sure they will be), they might be an option for picking up the car.

> you would need it to get to Paestum as public transport would not be easy

There is a train to Paestum that you can get from Salerno (which, IMHO, is vastly underrated and worthy of a visit in its own right). You can get to Salerno by ferry (weather permitting) or bus.

Thanks for the ideas Kybourbon and kja...we don't want to rent a car.

While there is a train to the Paestum area, it's not all that close and would be a trek (with luggage!). It's a tiny station (really just a stop) and no services (not even a ticket window). The bus (CTSP)drops you closer to the ruins and sort of meanders through the area before heading back to Salerno. It might get you close to your hotel, but not if it's near the beach.

How close is your hotel to the ruins? There is only an agriturismo about 1/2 miles from the ruins. Most hotels are further away (beach area).

> While there is a train to the Paestum area, it's not all that close and would be a trek (with luggage!)

I was assuming that the OP could arrange to leave luggage in Salerno. If not, kybourbon highlights some issues that are well worth considering!

Both Capri and Sorrento make for awkward starting places when going to Paestum, thanks to the peculiarities of the train times.

These are from Naples that Saturday, and all stop at Salerno along the way...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/148804276/original

You'd have an easier trip if heading from Salerno or thereabouts - a city that's certainly worth a visit whilst in the area....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/salerno33

... but you'd perhaps find that neighbouring Vietri sul Mare feels more like a vacation?

The town has the only rail station on the Amalfi Coast - on a rail line with which you can (rather slowly!) get to Pompei and Naples - or indeed Salerno, in the other direction!

Photos: http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/vietri

But maybe wind back a step, for an idea of how the area looks...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370

..................

If you're still interested in Ischia, maybe try these....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia

... with several Aprils covered in this "Spring Collection"!

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/springisch

And if it's not too much like madness, you might consider coming over to Ischia first (plentiful connections from Naples), to move on to Capri (direct hydrofoil from here each morning, less than an hour) and then go to Vietri for a day or two - prior to a very easy run to Paestum.

Three places, eight nights, and connections that aren't too bad in April... hardly a DXpedition, I'd say?

Peter