We will be in Naples 4 Jan./12 Jan. We will rent a car for excursions. How difficult to drive from Naples airport to Parkers Hotel. How difficult to drive to Pompeii. This is 3rd trip to Italy. We always rent an Opal Caterra, are good drivers. However we have been advised to arrange for a driver. And to not drive in Naples. How difficult is it to get in and out of Naples by car, at night? We are 69 yrs & 66 yrs, live in So. CA and therefore are no strangers to bizarre traffic. Advice gratefully accepted.

Hello <BR> <BR>Driving around Naples would not be something I would want to do. However, if you are a confidant driver and good navigator it is doable. Having experience with southern Cal. roads and traffic will certainly help. <BR> <BR>If cost is not a factor, then hire a driver. For most people, I would recommend taking a cab from the airport to the hotel, and taking the regional train (Circumvesuviana) from Naples to Pompeii - both for ease and for saving money. <BR> <BR>Howard

Nancy: <BR> <BR>Don't do it! Driving in Naples is unlike anything in the U.S (or in Italy for that matter). Parker's is in a part of town that is difficult to reach, and a car within the town is useless. Streets are unmarked and one way, and drivers ignore red lights, stop signs etc and squeeze three lanes of traffic into one. I'm from Atlanta where traffic is like LA, but driving in Naples is like driving the bumper cars at the fair. I only did it by following my brother around who lives there and knows where he is going. Trying to navigate at night there is an invitation to get hopelessly lost. Take Howard's advice and use cabs (the fare from the airport should be less than $20) and the train system to get around town, and the train and ferries to get to outer places and islands. My parents stayed at Parkers last year and loved it. <BR> <BR>Buon Viaggio! <BR> <BR>Dan

Wife & I have lived in Long Beach so we know crazy LA drivers. Best advice we ever had was not to get a car in Italy. After 4 days in Naples we realized what good advice it was. Trains are great to use, efficient and go everywhere.

I WOULD rent a car in Italy! The bus and train system is good, but you have to schedule your plans around their schedule. What we did in Naples, is park our car at the main train station. Then we took a cab everywhere we needed to go in Naples. There is a guarded parking lot right next to the train station. Make sure that you use an "official" taxi, with a meter. The cab drivers in Naples are known for taking advantage of tourists. I would definately recomend NOT driving in Naples. It is probably the worst driving experience you will ever have. Invision a two lane road that is packed with four lanes of cars, pedestrians walking everywhere, noone obeying the stop lights.....it's basically pure driving chaos! But it is really fun to watch as a passanger! <BR> <BR>With regards to driving to Pompeii, that is an easy drive from where you would pick up your car at the airport. The Amalfi Coast is an nice drive, not as chaotic as Naples. <BR> <BR>Carey