My wife and I plan a mid-April trip to Italy. We plan to rent a rental car after flying into Rome, but we have several questions:

1. Once we head toward the coast from Rome, where should we stay for one night along the coast? We would like to visit Pompei if this helps. I'm torn between Sorrento, Naples and Positano.

2. After leaving one of the above, how do we get the car on the Isle of Capri and what is the cost? Or, can the car be left on the docks at a secured site?
We only plan to be on Capri for two days. Will appreciate any other suggestions, especially accommodation recommendations from other recent visitors! Thanks...

Do you need the car for any other part of your trip that you haven't told us about? I'm wondering why you are renting a car if you are only driving to the Pompeii area and then going to Capri. I wouldn't want to drive around Naples completely awake, let alone jet-lagged. If you don't need the car later, it would be simpler to fly into Naples, stay there one night, see Pompeii and then take the hydrofoil to Capri. You can't bring a rental car to Capri as only residents can obtain the permit necessary to have a car on the island. You don't need one there anyway.

If you do want to drive, I'd stay in Sorrento. I'd feel more comfortable leaving the car there than I would Naples and it is easy to get to Pompeii and Capri from Sorrento. Positano is too far just to spend a night there, especially if you want to see Pompeii. Parking there is difficult and expensive.

IMO I would rent the car after your Capri visit - I don't think having a car there would be to any advantage - it's easy to get around without one and I would think parking and driving would be a hassel. We stayed in Sept. at the Hotel Mamela and thought it was very nice - convenient yet quiet location, lovely views, very helpful staff. I think it's mid-priced for Capri, maybe April is cheaper than Sept. One meal that we really enjoyed was at the Villa Bruhnella (sp?). Not sure it was typical regional cuisine, although there were definate touches. I had salmon with a pepper, vodka, cream sauce and it was just wonderful! If the weather is agreeable be sure to try the chair lift up on Anacapri. Have a wonderful trip!

I'm with the others in saying, forget the driving unless you're Mario Andretti! Driving the Amalfi coast is only for those with nerves of steel. Imagine a narrow twisty two lane road with no shoulders, sheer cliff about 30 meters down to the water and rock wall on the other. Bad enough normally, but fill it with lunatic Italian drivers and then think about if you really want to do it!

Also, stay in Sorrento. It's a beautiful town, great for wandering around at night. Avoid Naples at all costs as it's ugly, dirty, and not safe. There is nothing worth seeing in Naples!

On Capri there is no need for a car, just take your walking shoes and enjoy getting lost in the winding streets and being startled by amazing views. I'm glad you've built in 2 days for it.

Also, if you have time to do up Mount Vesuvius. Very cool to stand on the top and look down on Pompeii and Herculenium.

Have a good time - I think the Amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful spots on earth!

Thanks for your quick response, Grinisa! I'm driving because our flight arrives in Rome at 11:30 a.m. and we are putting three or four days on the front end of a week-long timeshare trip in Rome. (We will have to head back to Rome after being in the Capri area)...My wife would like to spend a couple of nights on Capri and I figured we could spend the first night near Pompeii...Also, I've been told that a night tour of Pompeii might be more impressive than a day trip. What would you do if you were me?

I am also considering taking the train from Rome to the Pompeii area, but my thinking is they I may not want to hassle with the luggage and having to double back to inner-Rome from the airport in order to catch a train.--Also, we enjoy the driving by car and being able to stop if we see something special.

What would you do if you were in my shoes? I still have an open mind to the journey via train if you think that's best...Then, it's back to reality in the USA...Thanks, Cal

On the last leg of our trip, we will also be headed toward Venice (by air) after our week-long stay in Rome.

Thanks, Cal

So Cal, you don't need the car for the weeklong stay in Rome, and you are flying to Venice after that--I still don't see why you need the car in the beginning. It is just more hassle than it's worth. If I were you, I'd fly into Venice. This connecting flight (USA-FCO-Naples)may not cost any more than USA-FCO, or at most a few dollars more. Then I'd splurge for a night in a nice hotel in Naples (Excelsior or similar) relax and head to Pompeii in the afternoon/evening. The Excelsior is very close to the boat terminal to Capri so in the morning, you may have time for a quick walking tour of Naples or even a visit to the Archeological Museum which has an outstanding collection. After Capri, take a cab from the hydrofoil dock to the train station and take a train to Rome. You will save money this way and won't be paying two days worth of car rental on a car that is sitting in a Sorrento parking lot while you worry about it.

Ugh. Sorry, I meant of course, fly into Naples!

Thanks! I have already secured my airline tickets (which, believe it or not, were tough to get that time of the year)...However, I may call Delta and see if I can divert my arrival to Naples, rather than Rome...If this is not possible, would I be wise to take the train from Rome to Naples?

We are looking for a romantic experience for two nights (on Capri), and a little history for one at Pompeii.

Yes, I would still take a train to Naples even if I couldn't change the flight. Why pay for a rental car that you aren't using for two days? Plus the parking fees and the worry about the car while you are on Capri. Take the airport shuttle to Termini and then a train to Naples. They leave frequently and the regular trains aren't that much slower than the Eurostar if you happen to miss that one.

Do you know anything about taking a train from Rome to Naples? Is there a shuttle bus that will take you to the train, or will I have to take a taxi into Rome? Cal

There is probably an airport bus that goes into central Rome, possibly Termini station, but the best way is to take the express train from the airport direct to Termini. There you will have to change trains to get on one going to Naples. You could also take a cab from the airport to Termini for around 40-50 Euro. The train costs about 9 Euro.

The train it is! Thanks for all your advice...Cal