Are you asking for day trip information for your arrival day?

The more information you offer the better the responses.

Are you planning on doing both Vesuvius and Pompeii in 1 day? It will be a long day.

Tips for Pompeii are dependent on the time of of year and ages of the group. I would not take young children or very mature adults and would not go in the hot weather (July-August). Wear lace up shoes and bring water. If you go on a sunny day cover up and bring hats/umbrellas.

The Circumvesuviana train takes you from Sorrento to Pompeii Scavi (get the train for Pompeii Scavi to go to the ruins) in about 30 minutes. Trains leave frequently.

If you need other information then you will need to be specific.

If you are arriving at noon you would have time for a quick snack and an abbreviated visit to Pompeii - by train - depending on what time of year- and how early Pompeii closes.

Don;t see how you can possibly see both in one afternoon.

We have used Sorrento as a home base and toured some different areas. I traveled with my mother and daughter, both with some mobility issues and so one day I hired a private guide and driver. We toured Pompeii and also Amalfi and up into Ravello. We used Romeinlimo and had such a fantastic day. I'm not sure what your budget is, but I will say it was worth every penny and also a highlight of the trip spending the day with a local that lived right in old town Sorrento. Good luck! I wish I was going back. Oh, you can also read their reviews on the Trip Advisor under the Rome forum. Even though they do many many tours out of the Naples area. I will say I'm not a fan of the Circumvesuviana train. But that's just me

"I will say I'm not a fan of the Circumvesuviana train. But that's just me." Parisbound1

You are certainly not alone in that. But it is convenient, failing a private car and driver.

We will be in Sorrento March 18th, arriving at our hotel at noon... I was hoping we could do both Pompeii and Vesuvius that day... the 12 of us range in age from 25 to 58... no mobility issues... just want to see as much as we can and hoping we could fit that in once we arrive in Sorrento.. we will be arriving by car from Naples train station...which now I am thinking we could have our driver take our bags to our hotel and we could start the excursion from there...I think we arrive at the train station at 10:15 am... hmmmm...

Won't you be tired or is your arrival in Naples not your first day?

Starting from your hotel or from Naples? Your comment was confusing.

I haven't done Vesuvius so I don't know what is involved or how much time it will take but you really only have enough time to do one or the other. The last time in Pompeii I spent 5 hours (the previous time, 3 hours). The site closes at 5:00 in March.

Yes, you could send your bags on but have your driver drop you at Pompeii rather than take the Circumvesviana. You could also have your driver stop at Pompeii and wait while you see the ruins, then on to Sorrento as Pompeii is between Naples and Sorrento. Not sure what you mean by "do" Vesuvius.

I am sorry for my inadequate posing of questions... we will be in Rome for 3 nights, train to Naples, private transfer to hotel in Sorrento for 3 nights... one of our travelers wanted to see Vesuvius and walk up to it (?!) so that is all I think we are "doing" there... having the driver drop us off at Pompeii makes great sense.. I read they have a shuttle to/from Vesuvius... then take the train back to Sorrento...
I love this forum... I have been to Pompeii once before and spent almost 3 hours... I was hoping to spend more time there this go around... Vesuvius is open until 3.. now we should go there 1st... oh goodness...

We are doing the exact same thing next month but in the opposite direction. After 4 nights in Sorrento I've hired a car and driver to take us to Pompeii on our way to Rome. There are six of us, and I've decided to hire him to take us all the way to our apt. in Rome. It is a bit more expensive than doing all this by public transportation, but not that much more considering how much easier it will be, particularly with the luggage. Since there are six of us, we can divide the cost by six so really not that bad. With 12 of you, you will probably need two vehicles, but may still be worth it. I think it is going to make a long day bearable!

I don't think you can do both in the same day. although I too am unclear as to what you want to "Do" at Vesuvius. We've visited the Bay of Naples several times and have yet to do more than look at Vesuvius from afar--and no desire to do more. Instead of Vesuvius, I recommend either the Naples National Archaeological Museum that has artifacts removed from Pompeii, Herculaneum, and others of the many, many archaeological sites around the Bay of Naples--Greek as well as Roman--or Herculaneum which, although it "died" the same day as Pompeii, is very different.

As adrienne indicated above, Pompeii will require a lot of time. If your driver can get you to your hotel by noon or so--Naples traffic is terrible, even by Italian standards--and it is not too hot, then you can take the train back to Pompeii Scavi--takes about half an hour. Or have your driver drop you at Pompeii, which will give you quite a bit more time to see it and then take train on to Sorrento, or have your driver wait. Unless you have a trust issue with the driver, I'd opt for the former.

Regarding the path to Vesuvius:

"Everyone has to walk up the last 500m steeply uphill. That includes busloads of German pensioners which on busy days will congest the path and give up half the way. Closed-in strong shoes are essential, as the path is dust and loose rock." Wikitravel

Mmm, sounds like fun.

<< one of our travelers wanted to see Vesuvius and walk up to it >>

Do you mean walk up Vesuvius? If you do mean "walk up to it" how do you know where the mountain starts? And what's the point of that?

You can see Vesuvius from the Pompeii site.

You are the victim of the illusion of instantaneous travel. Trying to do an arrival in Sorrento, a train to Pompeii, tour Pompeii, and go up to Vesuvius, all starting at noon is impossible. How long will it take to unload and check in at the hotel? Yes, the train takes only a half hour Sorrento to Pompeii, but you could wait another half hour for the train, it's a few minutes to get to the ticket line, and then you probably want to see the place. Not really easy going without Vesuvius, and what if it's raining? Oh, will you want lunch?

OK, so you stop at Pompeii on the way to Sorrento. You could do a shortish Pompeii afternoon after a quick lunch, and then head to Sorrento for check-in. Disappoint the 1/12 of your group on Vesuvius completely and short-change the whole dozen with a rush job at Pompeii.

Or, do it as a whole day with an early start on a later day, when you can do Pompeii and Vesuvius, or my preference, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Whenever you do Pompeii, wear your strong walking shoes. 2000 year old streets are not the easiest surfaces.