I am a solo traveller visiting Pompeii in March. I am wanting to know the best method of travel, associated costs and the possibility of accomodation and tours whilst there. Please help.

CBWA, your question is a really popular question on this board. All you need do is type "Pompeii" into the search box and you'll come up with enough posts to make you wish you never thought of Pompeii.

If you want maximum time in Pompeii, you can stay right on the doorstep. We stayed at the Motel Villa de Misteri, about 5 minutes walk from the entrance to Pompeii and also the station. The emphasis is on simple here, the motel is often used by archeologists but it is cheap, clean, comfortable and very convenient for Pompeii. See:

http://www.villadeimisteri.it/

As one of the archaeologists who stayed at the Villa dei Misteri, I agree, it is easily accessible from the site. And we definitely enjoyed the family run atmosphere. One word of note, some of us stayed in the rooms surrounding the pool which did not have ac (they supplied fans. Others stayed in the newer hotel which was still being renovated while we were there. It was nicer but noisier, take your pick!

what about the hotel Forum do you know anything about it? it is on the south-east of the excavation??

CBWA - If you want to do it as a day-trip from Rome there are several options:

There are several companies which run bus tours from Rome to Pompei
- Vastours, Appianline, Carrani, Greenline, American Express ...

VASTOURS (Tour 13)
www.romeguide.it/vastours/

CARRANI (Tour 13)
http://www.italyguide.com/TURISMO/ca...italiabis.html

APPIAN (Tour 14)
http://www.italyguide.com/TURISMO/ap...ur_italia.html

GREENLINE (Tour15)
(excludes Sorrento)
www.romeguide.it/greenline/greenline_eng.htm


They usually include a cameo factory visit and lunch en route, - you don't get to Pompei till after lunch.
Some also include a short 30 mins. stop in Sorrento before returning to Rome.

A common problem with these tours is that they don't allow enough time at Pompei (- usually only about 2 hours).
It's all a bit rushed IMO, and not cheap - most charge approx. €100]

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Alternatively you can do it rather more cheaply by public transport.

TRAIN

- If you go by TRAIN, with an early start you can be at Pompei by 10.00 or soon after.
Take the train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, then the Circumvesuviana Sorrento train to POMPEI SCAVI.
[At Napoli Centrale, follow the signs downstairs for the 'Circumvesuviana']

For timetables see:
www.trenitalia.it (Rome-Naples trains)
www.massalubrense.it/circum.htm (Circumvesuviana)

You could also visit Sorrento after Pompei - it's only 30 mins by train.

BUS

- There are SHUTTLE BUSES from Rome in high season run by MAROZZI (approx. €29) and by ENJOY ROME (€45-55)
www.marozzivt.it/HomePage.htm
www.enjoyrome.com/shuttle_tour/pompeii.html

The MAROZZI Rome-Pompei-Sorrento shuttle service runs in summer, leaving Rome at 07.00(- deps. from outside Tiburtina station), arriving Pompei about 10.00.

The return Marozzi bus leaves Sorrento approx. 18.00 and Pompei approx. 18.45, arriving Rome about 21.30.

The ENJOY ROME Pompei shuttle returns to Rome earlier - for details see the above link.

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Hope this helps ...

Steve

Steve:
If you take the train or a shuttle there from Rome for a day trip, is it possible to sign up for a tour once you are there? Do they have an easily accessible tourism office? Boy the guided tours from Rome sure are pricey! Ouch. Over $500 for the four of us. I'm tempted to just wing it. I don't know. What do you think? Thanks!

Train from Rome and hire a private guide once in Pompeii, they all stand by the ticket booth and they are well worth the rate (approx $30/hr). DO NOT go on one of those packages tours where they will take you to Pompeii for three hours and a cameo factory for 4.

Viajero:
Yeah, that sounds more reasonable. (What the hell is a cameo factory - doesn't sound good!!!)That is exactly what I was wondering...If it was easy to find a guide once you're there. Will June be super busy? Thanks.

>What the hell is a cameo factory ...<

A place where they manufacture cameos.

"A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like.
Note: Most cameos are carved in a material which has layers of different colors, such stones as the onyx and sardonyx, and various kinds of shells, being used".

We took the Greenline tour in March 2004 and thought it was much easier than a train, etc. The stop at the cameo factory (kind of interesting, by the way) was only 20 minutes, tops, and was more of a restroom break than anything. We spent at least 3 hours in Pompeii, and with 2 kids, it was enough to get a good appreciation of the place.

euroenvy, we stayed at the Hotel Forum a couple of years ago and thought it was a great value. Nice rooms, very pleasant. I can't remember the side of the scavi, but it was not at all far. In fact we have been happy with all the hotels on that chain in Italy - starts with an "n" but embarrassingly am not able to remember the chain. Noveau? Hmm. Cluster of small top 3 stars level hotels.