We (spouse and I) were planning to take the train to Naples after 3 days in Rome, see the Archeological Museum, stay overnite, then rent a car and visit Pompeii on the way to the Amalfi Coast. But we have to catch an early flight home from Naples, so I am considering hitting it after the Amalfi Coast, and stay the one nite before our flight (not really interested in 2 nights in Naples). In this case I can either take an early train to Naples from Rome, pick up a rental car at the station, and then head to Pompeii. Or I could pick up the rental car in Rome and drive straight to Pompeii.

I'd appreciate your advice.

You start Day 1 in Rome, have only two nights and one full day, and have an early flight from Naples on Day 3. You want to see the Archeology Museum, Pompeii and (some of) the Amalfi Coast. That's really tight.

Rather than renting a car, I'd hire a driver to meet your train from Rome and take you to your lodging on the Amalfi Coast. You'll have most of the afternoon and evening to explore the town and perhaps another one nearby. The next morning, have a driver pick you up and drop you at Pompeii. Check your luggage and see the ruins. Watch the time, because you'll want to hop on the Circumvesuviana light rail line to Naples (30 minutes), cab to your hotel, drop luggage and get to the Archeology Museum at least 60-90 minutes before it closes (7:30, I think, and closed Tuesdays).

Sorry, I was not clear. Its a nine day trip.

original plan:
Day 1: arrive Rome
Day 2-4: Rome
Day 5: Naples, stay overnite
Day 6: rent car, travel to Pompeii, overnite Amalfi.
Day 7-8: Amalfi
Day 9: return to Naples, stay overnite
Day 10: depart early AM

new plan:

Day 5: rent car (Naples or Rome?), travel to Pompeii, overnite Amalfi.
Day 6-8: Amalfi
Day 9: return to Naples, see Museum, stay overnite
Day 10: depart early AM

All other things being equal and assuming day 9 is not a Tuesday (when the Archeological Museum in Naples is closed, as Jean noted), I think the second of these two options is better as it cuts out an extra hotel move.

That's what I was thinking (and day 9 is a Saturday). Thoughts about "new" day 5? AM train to Naples and rent car at station? Or rent in Rome and drive to Pompeii.

Any particular readon you want to go out to Amalfi, rather than staying in Sorrento, or even Positano, both closer to Pompei?

You plan to rent a car , drive to Pompeii, then drive to Amalfi if i am understanding right.Have you driven that coast road before? What time of year will it be? What is the sunset time? Do you plan to spend all day in Pompeii, or just a few hours? The reason i ask is not to be nosy, but jsut so you'll be aware of the drive time and long route required to reach Amalfi from Pompeii.
Unlss tehre is partiular raon yo want to stay in Amalfi, i'd say Sorrento might be a more convenient choice, even as an overnight stop after seeing Pomp[eii, before heading out to the Amalfi Coast.

BTW, on recent trip, we stayed overnight at an airport hotel (literally across the road fro the terminal) before an early morning flight out. Bliss!1 I am a convert to the convenience of that plan...so yes, find a decent hotel VERY close to Naples airport, return your rental car, then settle in and get a nice r and r before the early a.m. flight.

The unclosed "when" of this may determine what's seasonally practicable, but - if you don't mind someone who lives in the area chiming in - how about...

Day 5... Direct train Rome/Salerno, then ferry to Amalfi (various[*] - decreasing in frequency, thru' to end of October)

Days 6-8... Explore or beach - hire a car only if ferries and buses not to your liking
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370

Day 9... Saturday - driver to take you to Pompei and drop you there. Stash luggage at the site's facility. Afterwards, train to Naples, taxi to decent hotel in city, visit Nat Arch museum. Meal down at Borgo Marinaro

Day 10 - early taxi to airport

For me that eliminates the drive, almost a week's car hire - and leaving luggage in the trunk on a car park at Pompei!

You've not said how long you want at the site, but there's a range of timed and themed itineraries shown here...
http://www.pompeiviva.it/pv/en/mappa...rsi_pompei.htm

And, in case it's of interest, the very popular night-time 'Lune di Pompei' event started again recently...
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic..._Campania.html

Perhaps some of that may appeal?

Peter

PS - Naples is a whole lot nicer than I get the impression you're imagining...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/mainlynaples

... as, by the way, is much of the rest of Campania!
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

....................
[*] Various - decreasing in frequency, thru' to end of October - but probably these people:

http://www.coopsantandrea.com/eng/se...ervizi_eng.asp

They use a quay that's only a shortish walk from Salerno's train station, then it's a gorgeous journey along the coast, 35 minutes and €7...

Calinurse: From the descriptions I think we would like Amalfi Coast alot, and I don't mind driving windy roads. But your point is well-taken that I would not want to rush Pompeii. Maybe we should spend that night at Vietri sul Mare, and proceed further up the coast the next day.

Re staying at airport hotel - I have also done this happily, but hotels around Naples airport get decidedly mixed reviews (mainly due to the neighborhood). But it is still a possibility: Drop the rental car at the airport on Day 9, leave luggage at airport hotel, spend the day and evening in Naples, and return late to the hotel to sleep.

Peter: I am delighted to have your input; thanks for the links. Trip will be last week of September. I think we will like Naples just fine, not trying to be fussy, but we'll be spending 4 nights in Rome, so I'd like to spend most other nights away from a city.

As for spending more time in Campania, it sounds lovely. Unfortunately, I still have to work. However, I am recently in touch with a Nigerian gentleman who apparently wants me to manage $42,000,000 for him, so that problem may be solved.

Any advice on Day 5 car rental? AM train to Naples and rent car at station? Or rent in Rome and drive to Pompeii?

Here's a great Naples hotel in a GREAT neighborhood. Staying here will ensure you'll see some of the best of the city just walking to/from your hotel (and will change your perception of the city and it's charms).

http://www.decumani.com/

I don't know an awful lot about car hire in Naples since we've lived on nearby Ischia for 8 years, but haven't driven in that time!

Instead we've explored much of Campania using public transport - and certainly wouldn't use a car on the AC, another of the reasons for my alternative itinerary for your stay in Amalfi.

But Hertz, for instance, say they've seven agencies in or near the city - including one that's very near the station:

Address: Via G. Ricciardi 5 - Naples (Napoli) - Italy
Telephone: 081 206228 (add your Italy code to the front of that!)

Hours of Operation: Mo-Fr 0800-1300 1400-1900, Sa 0800-1200, Su closed

(As an aside, we've taxied through that street many times, and I'm not 100% sure that their actual pick-up point is there?)

Unsurprisingly, for the website, you can start here... http://www.hertz.com/

Google shows an Italian firm - MaggioreRent - as also having an office nearby...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/125321537

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

As for trains, you should find there's a selection rather like this ('grabbed' back in February) for coming down to Naples...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132196214

....or this for Salerno...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/135029569
(The Frecce gateway, used for that second one, is a handy way to spot the advance-purchase Mini discount fares!)

This is Vietri sul Mare - a surprisingly pleasant and unaffected little town...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/vietri

....although Salerno is well worth a look as well:
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/salerno33

And if you do have that one night in Naples, you'll have caught us up at a single stroke!

Peter

Here's another suggestion which was given to me before our trip to Rome - take the Marozzi bus from Rome directly to Pompeii. We did this last month and it was so much easier than the trains. The bus left from the Tiburtina bus station and it was one of those huge comfy coaches. There was luggage storage underneath. It left at 7 am, made a 15 minute stop along the autoroute - lots of food choices - and arrived just by the Pompeii entrance at 10 o'clock. I've read there is luggage storage at Pompeii, which you would want to verify, but we were thrilled with going this way.

I don't know about going south from there, but I'm sure it could easily be figured out. I got the bus suggestion when I was considering driving or taking the train from Rome to Pompeii, but one thing was for sure: there was consensus on not renting a car in Rome or Naples because of the traffic.

I LOVE these non-rental-car option ideas from Peter, Kwren, etc..
Napoli, here i come (next time in the area). Thx Bardo, for the hotel rec.)All we saw of it in June was the train station (with a rude Hudson News agent selling tix) and teh airport, which was surprisingly light, bright, and airy.

What a great way to get there(there= the entire area, not just Pompeii) from Rome! Kwren. I am guessing ng you can book for only one-way? Heck,you could get on the local train from the Pompeii entrance and be in Sorrento in 30 minutes!

LOL Dr Beier re the gentleman you met. May it be a profitable venture!!

p.s. DrB, i meant Amalfi TOWN, not Amalfi COAST, when i asked the question. Apologies for misunderstanding. Sorrento is "just around the corner" from the actual Amalfi Coast and its towns

The bus continued down the coast after letting us off at Pompeii, we were the only ones who got off at Pompeii. There was also a bus which went back to Rome later in the day. We didn't take that one as we went to Naples after Pompeii and then took the train back to Rome that night, but I'm guessing it originated in the south, just the reverse trip.

As I recall, there was only one bus in each direction each day, but is sure was an easy ride, comfy too! Pompeii was the first stop. We booked online and could have booked a round trip if we had wanted to. Also, we booked about 2 weeks in advance and got the first four reservations, but when we got on the bus, it was about full so it is pretty popular.