Driving from Rome to Sorrento
 

We wii be staying two nights in Sorento in middle august. We are a family of 4,with teo children age 8 and 10. We are contemplating insted of the train route to drive from rome to sorento with some stops at Pompeii and vesuvio. We will then drive from Sorento to Naples airport for our way home.

Once we park at the hotel I don't plan on driving much but figured we will avoid the multiple train and public transfers. Train to Naples, then hopping on the local train to Sorrento, then bus to our hotel. And if we stop in Pompeii then there is another stop lugging our luggage.

I have driven in Europe before and traffic chaos does not bother me. Honestly, I get more stressed with carrying the luggage between trains and train stations then driving a nice European car and stopping when we feel like for coffee or ice cream.

How much of traffic delay will happen on Saturday morning making this drive from rome to Sorrento?

where are you going after Sorrento? it's a difficult journey to take just for the sake of 2 nights [which means only one whole day] in Sorrento.

BTW, we were in a group which was driven in 2 taxis from Naples airport to Sorrento on a Sunday in February 2013; it took 1 ½ hours and featured a row between the driver of our taxi and the other which nearly came to blows. I can't imagine that driving from Rome to Sorrento on a Saturday in the middle of August is going to be any better and it will definitely be longer and hotter.

I've driven it and if all you want to do is get to Sorrento and then to the airport I'd take the train.

I've never experienced traffic chaos anywhere like around Napoli, and I've driven in a lot of chaotic traffic.

You can easily take the train back to Pompeii, leaving your baggage at the hotel; we had a car and drove to Pompeii and back, but it would have been much quicker and easier to take the train. We drove the Amalfi Coast so liked having the car, but if all you are going to do is arrive at Sorrento and then depart, I'd definitely take the train. And I'm not a big fan of rail travel in general.

Second the train.
Bullet train from Rome to Naples will be an adventure for your kids in itself.

I'd recommend visiting Pompeii on your return from Sorrento to Naples. Station is steps away from the ruins and they have a very good bag check right at the station.

On last day, leave early to avoid the heat->visit ruins->back to Naples to catch your flight.

I'm not going to try to convince you one way or another, but the drive from Rome to Sorrento isn't bad at all. I've done it twice.

>>>Train to Naples, then hopping on the local train to Sorrento, then bus to our hotel.<<<<

Why would you bus to your hotel? That doesn't make sense. You would train from Rome to Naples, go downstairs in the Naples train station and catch the Cicumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi (about 30 minutes travel time). The Pompeii Scavi train stop is halfway between Naples and Sorrento. The entrance to the ruins is right across the street from Pompeii Scavi train station. There is free luggage storage at the ruins. After sightseeing, you would retrieve your luggage and hop back on the train to Sorrento (another 30 minutes).

To reach the Naples airport, you would catch the local shuttle bus from Sorrento to the airport (unless your flight leaves crazy early).

http://www.curreriviaggi.it/autoline...EE_CURRERI.pdf

Isn't there a direct bus from Rome to Sorrento? No changes, no shlepping bags.

Going back to what Annhig said, that is a long trip to have only one day in Sorrento, "especially in the middle of August" when you are just roasting there.

I would never, ever want to stop in Pompeii in the middle of the day in August with two kids!

I would also not take the Sita bus along the Amalfi Coast, too hot and crowded in Summer.

Getting everybody packed, fed and back to the airport from Sorrento on the same day as the flight is a pain. Consider getting a driver if you continue with this plan.

I assume you have flights already booked, and perhaps even hotels, so may have little flexibility. What time is your flight out of Naples?

You could just stay in Naples. Get a hotel with a pool. Check in. Relax, etc. Late in the afternoon, go to Pompeii for a couple of hours.

The next day, take a ferry to Capri. I don't like it as a day trip, and it will be hot, but it could be fun. Or, take the train to Sorrento and a boat down the Amalfi coast.

I am trying to think of better options. Perhaps others will have some good ideas.

oh, I see, I missed the bit about driving back to Naples airport after they have spent [just] 2 nights in Sorrento.

>>I would never, ever want to stop in Pompeii in the middle of the day in August with two kids! <<

me too, sassafras. The last time I went to Pompeii I found it quite hot and it was February! I agree that I would stay in Naples, in a nice air-conditioned hotel with a swimming pool, do a late afternoon trip to Pompeii, and the next day get a boat to Capri.