Hi everyone - We will be in Italy for 6 days, 7 nights in September. We are trying to figure out how to split our time. We want to see Rome, and my in-law's wanted to see the Amalfi Coast area - and Pompei. We get in on Saturday night. We were thinking of spending all day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Rome, take a train to Sorrento Wednesday morning - and maybe do a day trip to the Amalfi Coast one day and a day in Pompei, Naples the other - then head back to Rome the day before we leave. Does that sound like a good plan? Not enough time in Rome? Etc? Also - is that a good plan - to stay in Sorrento?

It's as good as any plan, better than some.
That tepid answer is because I know nothing about what you want to accomplish by going to Italy for 6 days.
I've been to Rome 3 times and the Amalfi coast once. Rome, each time for 2 days or less and I still want to go back.
So why didn't I stay longer each time? Because there were other things I imagined that I wanted more. I've wanted to drive the Amalfi coast all my adult life, did that last month and therfore had one less day in Naples (which by the way, is as interesting as Rome, maybe moreso). Don't regret that decision one bit.
My opinion, spend the whole 6 days, 7 nights in and around Naples. (Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri, Pompeii)

Do not stay in Rome twice. Bite the bullet and transfer to Sorrento on arrival day---there are various options, but I would taxi to Termini, train to Naples, and hire a private driver to Sorrento. There is a much cheaper local train line to Sorrento as well. Hire that same driver for a day trip excursion to Positano, Amalfi, and especially Ravello one of your days in Sorrento.

For some reason hotel rates are much more expensive in Rome the second leg of the trip which is why we were thinking Rome first then Sorrento then back to Rome? I know it's kind of a round about way of doing it. There are 5 adults - so not sure about hiring a driver (is the car big enough?). Do you have any recommendations for hotels in a good location in Rome? It's really difficult to figure out which area is best. We were looking at the Best WEstern Hotel La Canada but it seems like it's not very central?

What about the day/bus trips to Amalfi - would you recommend them? Or is a driver better? (Can you do Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in one day? Or is that multiple days?)

For hotels in Rome look at www.tripadvisor.com and www.venere.com. However I contact the hotel directly myself. Concentrate on hotels around the Campo dei Fiori/Piazza Navona/Pantheon/Trevi Fountain. This area is fun in itself and convenient to most of the sights. No need to waste time on the subway or bus; walking is very interesting.

Bob's suggestion is best. There are bus tours from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast, but they might not stop in all 3 towns. Pompei Scavi is an easy trip from Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana, the commuter train that also connects Sorrento with the Naples central train station. (The cheaper route mentioned by Bob.)

So you could continue on to Naples after Pompeii. But Pompeii takes several hours. Another possibility is to stop off in Naples for a few hours on your way back to Rome. Leave your bags in the luggage storage at the train station.

As a general rule -- and especially in Italy -- it's best to stay the night before your departure in your city of departure. (Strikes and other discontinuities happen.)

Finally, if you're arriving after a long overnight flight from several time zones away, you will be tired and jet-lagged the first couple days or longer. A trip to the furthest point of your trip is a good use of that first sleepy day (as long as you're not driving).

Is there any way you could fly into or out of Naples at either end of your trip?