Andrea

We're planning a day trip from Rome to Pompeii (and Herculaneum - long day, I know, but we REALLY want to see both & after a long debate, we decided 1 day). We'll be there on October 2. <BR> <BR>I DESPERATELY want a professional, knowledgeable guide. I've seen numerous posts on this board stating that there are numerous guides available at the entrance to the site, but I've also seen a few posts saying that not all are particularly knowledgeable or accurate, and one poster said that there weren't ANY English speaking guides when she was there. <BR> <BR>I really, really, really want a great guide. It seems like the only way to be assured of one is to book a private tour FROM ROME, which one poster listed as costing over $600 US. <BR> <BR>I am familiar with the idea of places where there are "always" guides available - I had to reassure my good friend 100 times that she would save 75% if she just showed up in Chiang Mai to book an elephant tour on the spot - I promised her that she would be able to find a tour upon arrival. <BR> <BR>So, any advice?? Will there be a guide? Any other way to do this (pre-booking from an agency based in Naples, for example)? <BR> <BR>Thanks for any tips.

Ed

There &gt;&gt;will&lt;&lt; be a guide. <BR> <BR>Just like there &gt;&gt;will&lt;&lt; be vultures fighting the jackals when gazelle is killed. <BR> <BR>In both cases, it's the law of the jungle. <BR> <BR>A knowledgeable guide? No way to assure that. But it's likely you'll be entertained. <BR> <BR>Hiring one in Rome? Unlikely that any guide in Rome would have the license necessary to guide within Pompeii. (Strict regulations in Italy re guides ... not to assure knowledge, just to assure there aren't too many to lower the pay of those who have been doing it longer.) <BR> <BR>twenj

Wendy

We had an amazing guide, an older man named "Alfonse" who was sitting along with other guides at the entrance of Pompeii. He really made Pompeii come alive for us. Apparently, he works with a tour company, as do the others, but sorry to say, I don't have the name.

Nancy

Wendy, <BR> <BR>Do you recall what the price was for the guide? We are thinking of going there on a Sunday afternoon (in October) after the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Did you go to the museum? And if so, would you recommend touring the museum before Pompeii? Thank you for any help.

Linda

I've been to Pompeii numerous times, and there were always guides outside, waiting for my money. I believe the one time I used one I paid about $40 for about 1.5 hours, but that was a number of years ago. <BR> <BR>Nancy, I highly recommend you do the museum after seeing the ruins. The exhibits will be much more meaningful if you can picture them in the environment in which they were found. I made the mistake the first time of doing the museum first. Later I visited Pompeii, then later returned to the museum. That time the exhibits made more "sense" and I remembered them better.