We are arriving in Naples by train and picking up a rental car.
There's a Hertz counter a few blocks away, but we are concerned about the safety of the area and the ease of getting out of the city an on the Autostrada (and then back in on our return).
Is it easier to just go on by cab/bus to the airport and rent there? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Sorry, but what are you afraid of? Being assaulted while walking around during the day? It's Naples, not Nassirya.
Keep your wallet and your phone in the front pocket, do not flash jewelry or expensive watches, don't let anyone getting too close for too long and... relax.
I'd be more worried at the idea of facing Naples' traffic while avoiding ZTL areas! Are you sure you really need a car? Where are you headed to?
I would not be concerned about safety, but I would be very concerned about driving within the city (not from the airport). I'd just go to he airport unless you feel very confident you can drive out without entering the ztl.
A few years back I did as you plan-- arriving by train and getting a car from Hertz-- I had no concern about being safe. My biggest problem was finding the office. It was my 1st time renting a car outside the US. The signage, I discovered, is very much less conspicuous than I was used to. Also discovered the office closed for for their lunch hour and had to wait ~15-20 minutes for it to re-open.
Followed my GPS out to Sorrento and eventually dropped car in Milan, so no experience getting back to that location
The most exciting ride of my life was in Naples. I effusively complimented the driver and overtipped him, as the experience was amazing. Seeing how he drove in the warren of back streets and small piazzas, however, I realized that I have nowhere near the skills necessary to drive a car in Naples. I can only compare it to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. Not for the faint of heart.
Because of this, I rented from the airport, and even though Rome's traffic is amazing, it is at least easier to understand than the traffic in Naples. I had no qualms about walking through the city, but driving is another matter. There are frequent buses to the airport; make sure you reserve the car in advance, though.
We rented a car from AutoEurope/Hertz at the Naples airport in May. Renting at the airport keeps you away from ZTL zones just in case you get lost. We took a taxi from our hotel to the airport. Rental office wasn't real easy to find so we just asked directions and walked another 1000 ft. You didn't say if you are headed south or north. We drove to Calabria. Autostrada was around the airport to the right, but we got lost (we got lost everywhere even walking). Easy turnaround to find our way. Roads were amazingly good. We did get very lost finding the airport on our return the next day which was a quite stressful. We then took a cab to our hotel next to the train station so we could go to Venice the next day, just didn't have the stamina or courage to get lost again. Hertz was very easy to work with picking up the car and returning it. Best advice I received pre-trip was have a bag of change handy for the toll roads. I drove like the little old lady that I am so hopefully no traffic tickets.
We used Naples airport. I wouldn’t drive in central Naples and i do in NYC.
So many of those renting cars in Southern Italy are heading down to the Amalfi Coast to cities like Sorrento. Such cities are more vertical than horizontal, and places to find parking is difficult. They're places easier to get to by a local train that takes you past Mt. Vesuvius. The roads have the reputation for being quite difficult.
Many people that want to tour the area have drivers that know the coastal areas take them.
What a great resource you all are! I am a Boston driver, so can go toe to toe with the best of them, but but backing down a narrow alley on a 180 incline in Sorrento chilled my appetite for following a GPS in an unknown city. I've found the Italian highways a breeze and the Autogrill an unexpected treat.
To answer your question, we are headed to Puglia.
You'll find driving in Puglia a breeze--enjoy!
headed to Puglia
Take a direct high speed train to Salerno instead of Naples and pick the car there.
In Salerno You could also transfer to a bus to Matera, both railway companies run these direct buses from Salerno station to Matera. Hertz has an office in the modern town,
When we drove to Puglia, we also rented our car in Salerno. Easy to head southeast from there (though we chose to first go to Paestum), We have also picked up a car in Naples- from the ferry terminal Hertz office. It was not difficult to get on the autostrada from there (no real city driving). If you do drive in Naples, sounds like you’ll get do fine. My husband is a former city bus driver and he has driven in Palermo with no difficulty.
Love all the comments here and concur. We just got back from Southern Italy in October. We drove in Naples and drove in Palermo. Night and Day.
We would not choose to drive in central Naples again. Palermo was a piece of cake.
If you are not used to Italian driving, getting the car at the airport sounds like the best route. The highways & autogrille are very very nice. Check to see about tolls. They are more prevalent in the north, but they are in some of the more touristy areas of the South for sure. We used our credit card for them and it always made our heart stop because it took a long time for the machine to figure out the charge and give the card back to us.
I agree with Becky. Wherever you're arriving from, you should be able to get a train that goes to Salerno. Worst case is that you'll have to change trains in Naples. I don't know how many rental agencies there are in Salerno. I rented from Europcar and the offices were about 100 m. from the train station.
