I'm getting itchy feet, don't think I can't wait til our Oct. bike trip to be on the move.
My son has a 3-day weekend coming up; I'm thinking of taking a lightening-quick trip to Naples/Pompei and back. We would leave Friday, Sept 11, hang out at the beach and see the ruins, and return late Sun Sept 13 so he could have Monday to reenter and get ready for school the next day.
Is this a good idea? Where am I going to find the best deals?

p.s. traveling from Jena, our airports are LEJ, MUC, FRA and Dresden

The combination of beach and Pompeii might be tricky. I know there are places to swim along the Amalfi Coast, but not sure whether they would count as beaches.

To the South of Naples might mean going down as far as Paestum/Agropli - which then leaves you some distance from Naples.

There are certainly beaches on Ischia, but again, theat leaves you with the problem of getting to Pompeii and Naples.

Yeah, I can't see how beaches go with ruins. Pompeii requires ample time of strolling or it's not worth the time.
We felt we needed more time there. More time in Naples also.

Ozarksbill [email protected]

Willitt, not sure what you mean by nonbeach places to swim. I'm not into sunbathing but love to bodysurf & play in waves-- as long as they don't crash into waves.
Ozarksbill, what were your favorite kidfriendly thing in Naples? I'd been thinking of it as an airport& dinner, with 1 day at the sea & 1 @ Pompie; would I wind up sorry I'd missed so much?

The (German, very German) travel agent I spoke with was literally confused by the idea of flying somewhere just for 1 wkend

I think it might be possible. Stay in Naples, to minimize travel time. Spend Saturday on a day trip to Capri and get in beach time at Marina Piccola. Sunday morning visit Pompeii. Store luggage at the train station, depart Pompeii for the airport.

I'm having trouble finding airfare low enough to do this on Sept 14 and am now thinking of doing it over his springtime 3-day weekend. When is the water warm enough for swimming at Capri?

Hmmm...kid friendly thing in Naples? You should know I'm an old guy and my three kids are long grown. I think of Naples as a busy city with congested traffic. Our purpose on a tour from Sorrento was to visit the excellent Archeological Museum after having been to Pompeii because so much displayed came from there. Actually Fodors guidebook says "Naples is a difficult place for the casual tourist to like." There is a wonderful overlook of the Bay of Naples atop a hill I believe called The Postcard. Coming back into the city we walked through Piazza Plebiscito which is a vast square next to the palace. And then to Galleria Umberto, a glass roofed turn-of-the-century arcade the kids might like. Lunch was in an open air restaurant on the bay.

Ozarksbill [email protected]

there are definitely beaches around Sorrento and even closer, Vico Equense. Probably very combinable with Pompeii, via the Circumvesuviana (30 min away) or a rental car, and there is good food, in the area as well at hiking, other excavations, vesuvius and a visit in to Naples. More than you could fit into your long weekend for sure.

there are definitely beaches around Sorrento and even closer, Vico Equense. Probably very combinable with Pompeii, via the Circumvesuviana (30 min away) or a rental car, and there is good food, in the area as well at hiking, other excavations, vesuvius and a visit in to Naples. More than you could fit into your long weekend for sure.

Thanks for the good advice. I found that, as expected, last minute airfares were too high for us, but I'm filing this all away for a 3-day weekend (or perhaps longer vacation) in the future. I will definitely use the info on cheaper travel search engines and the alternate Leipzig airport too.
Thanks, everyone!