We are looking for a good hotel close to Pompeii for a family of five. Also, a tour or private guide for Pompeii that would be more geared toward our 3 teenage daughters. Suggestions would be appreciated!

I'm not familiar with hotels in the immediate Pompei area (which is not to say there aren't any), but you will find more choices in Sorrento or Naples which are only 30 minutes away (in opposite directions) on the cheap and easy Circumvesuviana commuter train. If you pick Naples, you can go to the archeological museum where most of the treasures found at Pompei are on display. If you pick Sorrento, you'll find lots of shopping and restaurants in a small, walkable town.

You can hire a private guide at the main entry gate to Pompei.

We stayed at the Villa dei Misteri - a 5 minute walk from one of the entrances to Pompeii:

http://www.villadeimisteri.it/

The accommodation can best be described as simple - but it was comfortable, clean, cheap and very convenient.

Hi CM,

I, also, suggest staying in Naples or Sorrento.

When you get to Pompeii, you will find licensed guides who will quote you a price for a private tour or put you in with a larger group.

You can explain your needs to them.

We stayed at the Hotel Amleto. It was a nice hotel - good price, helpful staff, clean, good breakfast selection. We picked it because it's got great reviews on tripadvisor. It is within walking distance of the train station and one of the gates of the ruins. It is also right beside the town square. We ate at a very quaint outdoor pizza place which seemed very popular with families. The only drawback was we had a room facing the street and it was a bit noisy with traffic noise until after midnight. While visiting the ruins, we opted for the audio tour, you can take your own time and see what you'd like to see. People do stand around the gates and ask if you need a guide, but we were a little leery of them.