How difficult is it to drop off a rental car at Naples airport?. We are coming from Amalfi coast and need to fly out of Naples airport in the afternoon. Does getting to the airport involve big traffic jams and the same issues that we would find driving in Naples itself?

Other option is to drop car in Salerno and take the train into Naples and spend the night before our departure day.
Advice appreciated.

Suzanne:

There is a lot of traffic around the Naples Airport - coming from the Amalfi Coast you won't have to drive in downtown Naples but you will have to drive on the A3 and the Tangenziale freeway, which is always packed. It is doable but you should leave yourself plenty of time. The car rental dropoff area is clearly marked and fairly easy to find.

I second the thoughts of Smoove.

The Naples airport is actually fairly small. It's easy to find and everything is well-signed. You shouldn't fret too much -- not quite a piece of cake but easier to handle than many US airports!

Speaking of this, if someone is dropping a car at the Naples airport and flying out THE NEXT DAY, is it best to stay near the airport and what IS near there as far as accommodation? Or is it best to stay in town and enjoy a trattoria in the centro and just get a taxi to the airport in the morning?

Chandi,
Not much out by the airport. I would definitely stay in town for the night. Maybe you could drop the car at the train station or another in town location.

Naples is very busy, but coming from the Amalfi coast and using the A3 and then the TANGENZIALE freeway, exiting at the right exit of CAPODICHINO Airport (or if you mistake take the other one SECONDIGLIANO), unless your flight is around 10.00 a.m. when traffic jam is frequent, don't worry too much for the traffic. Naples is like any otehr town in the world. As you are going to drop off your car in Naples airport, allow yourself 45 more minutes. So, usually it takes 1 h. 20 minutes to get there from Amalfi, as you'll have to drop your car add 45 minutes.
In case you want to stay in Naples for the night, I am sure you won't regret..... there are so many nice trattoria to eat a great Pizza in Naples, that is where I like to go: near the main train station, at 10 minutes walk there is a pizza place in Trianon square called "Da Michele". Not fancy at all,, but great. enjoy.

Traffic is one thing, but I am more concerned about the kind of driving. given how near (relatively speaking) the airport is to the city proper would I encounter the same terrifying driving patterns in the area of the airport that Naples is so famous for?

Naples airport is only 1/2 mile to the freeways. So except this distance, the traffic on the highway is like any other part of the world. Neapolitan drivers are very aggressive but you'll skip them; anyway, beacause of the fines they are receiving more and more often, the are starting to beahve as others, respecting the traffic lights and such.. Domenico

There is a hotel very close to the airport (a simple five minute walk, even with luggage!). It's called the Charming International. Very nice accomodations, friendly people. A few small restaurants in walking distance as well. I'd say that's your best bet, especially if you're leaving early the next day.