Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast

Gary,
Recommend you combine Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day, or just see Pompeii then move on to Sorrento for the rest of the day. You need to find a way to see Ravello at some point while you're on the coast. You can get a bus there from Amalfi, or if you have any mountain goat in you, you can hike from Amalfi to Ravello (it's ridiculously strenous, and the bus is probably equally scenic). For the last day, you might want to go to Paestum, then take the train from Salerno back to Rome, bypassing Naples. Capri is beautiful, but unless you really get off the beaten path, it can be frustrating, especially if you're going during peak tourism season. Instead you might just want to wander around Sorrento or Positano and save yourself the headache of fighting the Capri crowds.
Ciao,
Meredith

I'd definitely schedule a day for Sorrento itself. We love being there. They also have the double decker Hop-on Hop-off bus there now, which is very enjoyable.

We enjoyed all the other places as well, but not Capri. Not worth the time and money, imo.

We didn't like Capri because...the marina where you arrive is crowded, confusing, dirty, chaotic, tourist junk stores. Have to buy tickets and wait in line to take funicular...there is no real town when you arrive...just some high end stores and nothing much else to do. A couple restaurants, cafes and gelato. We just didn't enjoy it...

I just think there are much more enjoyable places to go and things to do, especially if your time is limited.

You should include a stop in Positano and a day trip to Capri.

I am hearing mixed reviews about Capri - pros and cons?

Capri: Why wouldn't you hop the ferry to Capri???
I was there just last week and it was outstanding..
Take the around the island tour for certain..
Take the chairlift up to the summit of Monte Solaro and hike back down to Piazza Vittoria in the town of Anacapri..... Just stay out of the high end stores..

Here is my take on Hotel Nice Sorrento.

Pros:
It is a great location, right next to the train station and where the buses stop.
It is Cheap.
Alfonso tries hard to be a good host.

Cons:
The bath room had exposed electrical wiring and the floor trap flooded with every shower.

Balcony Rooms facing the street at night are LOUD, LOUD, LOUD.

Not much of a Continental Breakfast.
The Roof Top patio shown in the Hotel pictures wasn't being used when we were there in 2006.

There is no view of the sea from the Hotel.

Would we stay there again?
Probably not, if we could find something a little more expensive with a better view.

A Sneaky Transportation Link.
Ricks map on Page 484 "Italy 2004" shows the two rail systems in the area. One is the Circumvesuviana and the other is the Main Line Trenitalia. The respective Pompeii stops of these two trains are relatively close together, about 1.8 Kilometers. Its an easy, flat walk between the two, or you could take the city bus. I wish had known about this link before going there. It would have altered our planning.

You might also consider a day trip to one of the two close islands. Ischia, or Procida

We spent 4 days on Ischia and found it wonderful. Check out this link:

http://www.italyguides.it/us/campania/isle_of_ischia/ischia_italy.htm

Prochida is smaller, and just as beautiful.

Catch hydrofoil from main port in Napoli. Here is another link:

http://www.ischiaonline.it/page.php?pag=TRAS02&sez=MOVIME&langiol=EN&mysty=blue

Don't overlook the tip of the pennisula! Rent a car and take a nice drive to Termini. Be sure and take a picnic lunch.