We should be in Italy a month from today, we start with about 13 nights in Sicily, to include Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa/Ortygia and Catania. This will be our third visit and we're happy with the time we have there. From Catania we take the train/ferry to Sorrento or Salerno (TBD), then ferry again to Atrani for four nights. Next to Naples, where we again have four nights.

Though we've been to this area 3-4 times in the past we never stayed in Naples, so we're looking forward to the trip. This time our main focus will be to revisit Pompeii and the Archeological Museum. We also want to do a pizza making class, but more about cooking later.

For Naples I want to get the 3 day Campania Artecard that includes transport and free entrance to the first two sites. At 32 euros I think this is a no-brainer, just the Pompeii and the museum entrances will cover 30 euros, plus the Circumvesuviano train. Am I right, or do you suggest otherwise? If so, what? I can buy the Artecard ahead of my trip, but does it need to be activated? Or is this done automatically the first time it is used? We would like a guide for Pompeii, do I have to book in advance or can I find someone at the entrance? And which one first, the museum or site, I find conflicting opinions.

Re cooking classes, any suggestions for pizza making in Naples and pasta in/near Amalfi? Our Airbnb host has some suggestions, there's even someone who can come home to teach us how to prepare a three course meal, But we enjoy the interaction with other participants and would prefer a slightly larger group, not just us. I am sure some of you Fodorites must have taken cooking classes and look forward to your suggestions.

Now to Athens. We have 4 nights there at the end of our trip, which will include a private tour to Delphi one day. I know it'll make for a long day and ideally we should stay overnight, but unfortunately this won't be possible with our schedule. I am thinking of booking one of the taxi tours which offer a Mercedes 7 seater van, we will get a guide at the entrance to the site. I think this should work.

Should I book a guide in advance for the Acropolis/Parthenon or can I find someone at the entrance? We will be three for the Italy part and six in Greece as we meet up with the rest of our family on arrival in Athens.

Sorry for this long post, I seem to have been rambling. But please do critique my plans, your comments and tips are always a huge help in planning any vacation. And this will be our first trip to Europe since March 2020! Thanks in advance!

Moderator, please remove the tag for Albania, not able to do so myself. Thanks

If you are interested in a small group tour to Delphi, check out the Athens-Walks Tour Company. They get outstanding reviews for their Athens tours, and all their tours include a licensed guide who will accompany you at the site. They seem to do the tours to Delphi only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that may not fit in with your timetable. They have a Chat Line on their website.
https://www.athens-walks.com/tour-it...p-from-athens/

Thanks Heimdall, will check it out, I too have heard good things about Athens Walks.

Another question about rental cars, I contacted Athens Car Rental and their prices are reasonable. But they want to put a €600 freeze on my cc when I pick up the vehicle. Is this normal, I don’t remember this from previous trips, though not in Greece.

KarenWoo and yestravel, did ACR ask you for the same? Thanks!

i don’t recall if they did. It’s not an issue for us if that is the case. Lots of rental car companies do that. 600€ is a small deposit. Usually they just put a hold on your cr card

A credit card hold is completely normal. I assume you realize that for your group of 6 a sedan won't do... you'll need a minivan.

On my most recent trip to Athens I was with a friend who knew pretty much zero about ancient Greece. We went to the Acropolis on free entry day so on a whim took up a guide's offer. I thought I knew a fair bit but she was worth every cent of the 10 euros PP we paid.

I would book a guide for the Acropolis/ Parthenon in advance. I don’t remember seeing guides outside on any of our trips there. Check with Kostas at Athens-Walks.com to see if he does them or knows a good guide to recommend.

Yes, Athens-Walks does Acropolis tours, along with many other tours in Athens. I met Kostas over dinner with mutual friends when he was just starting the Athens-Walks company. I’m happy to say the company is a huge success, and has received many awards, along with 5* reviews from his clients.
https://www.athens-walks.com/

Thanks yestravel, I know a hold is placed on your cc quite often, a couple of the agencies I rented from in Paris did the same thing. As you say €600 isn’t a huge sum.

ParisAmsterdam, we’ll be four for the Nafplio stay, so a regular car will be fine. My nephew and girlfriend will spend a couple of nights around Meteora and want to do some hiking. We meet at Athens airport to go to Santorini and there I’m renting two cars, easier to navigate, we can also split up to do different things. We usually try and get together at dinner, though again not every evening!

HappyTrvl and Heimdall, have reached out to Athens Walks. We’ll definitely do the Acropolis with them, waiting to see what they offer for Delphi.

Thanks again all, much appreciated!