hi Lisa, also check for flight from Izmir to ankara, instead of Kayseri. If there is major time savings, you may decide to rent car at Ankara airport to drive to Capadocia. It is a simple drive, because you do not have to enter Ankara at all.
Just take the Kirikkale road rather than the Aksaray road (starts towards Samsun at junction some miles after airport towards Ankara, wher you enter the ring road (motorway). it will be about 140 kilometers through Kirikale and |kirsehir to Nevsehir.

i do not know of any hotels very close to Izmir airport, but many major city airports do have hotels and this one may have one as well. (I still think you can easily return to selcuk the evening before, and not rush early in the morning from Pamukkale.)

by the way, i hate to disillusion you but I am a Mr., although my wife Eser and I have been sharing all our travels for the 31 years we have been married. If you have time, you can check a travel blog we made two years ago:
www.eserahmetcelebilerblackseatrip1.blogspot.com (also 2, 3, and 4 )

ahmet

Hi otherchelebi:

Yes, I know that you are a Mr.! :) You refered earlier to your wife's photography, which is lovely, and that's why I called it "Mrs. Chelebi's photography". Thank you for sharing this with us and congratulations on 31 years of marriage.

I shall also look into your suggestion of flying to Ankara. I do have time and will enjoy the research as I go along.

All the best!