We plan to take the train or bus from Rome, in November, and do a day-tour of Pompeii. I'm wondering if we should simply rent the audio tour when we get there, or start looking for a private guide. Any recommendations or insights (in addition to take lots of water and wear comfortable shoes!) would be much appreciated.

We hired a guide (Luigi) at the gate several years ago. He was very good and personable.

I always seem to have lots of questions to ask, so to me, a guide is always preferable to an audio tour.

Byrd

I can't comment on the audio guide but we used a guide service that was around 10 euro each and was very good. They will be gathering at the entrance so no need to search. Have fun, Pompeii is a great experience.

>>>(in addition to take lots of water<<<

There are plenty of places to refill your water bottles in Pompeii. No need to lug extra water, just a bottle.

If you get an audio guide, the sites are numbered so you just enter the number of what you want to hear about it. You will need to leave an ID at the rental counter.

If you get a guide there, make sure the person you are talking to is the guide. Sometimes people pay and the person recruiting a group is not the actual guide. They end up with someone difficult to understand.

You can also d/l Rick Steves audio guide free from ITunes.

just27,

On my last trip I visited Pompeii for the second time. A guide approached me and offered his services, but when I asked how long his tour was, he answered 2 hours. I replied that I intended to spend at least 4 hours and he raised his eyebrows! So, I guess using a guide depends on your level of interest and stamina.

I used the audio guide and was happy with the amount of information it gave me. I specifically went to the sites I can not seen on the first trip.

There is a not too bad cafeteria inside Pompeii.

Buon viaggio!

A guide is wonderful -- they are all very professional and have good stories to make the place come alive for you. I like that personal touch. You can supplement the tour with RS stuff (or many other available apps if you have a smart phone or iPod) if you have more time to spend there...

Pompeii is one of the few places I really appreciated having a guide. However last fall when we were in Ostia Antica, we were happy to use Rick Steves' app on my iPad. We'd done Pompeii with the private guide on a previous trip, and have studied more about Ancient Rome in the intervening years.

Great information, very helpful. Thx, all. I like to get my head around a possible scenerio, before arriving ... though, rarely is anything related to travel like you've imagined! Good to know we can find a personal guide outside the site. And, happy to hear that I don't have to arrive at Pompeii with a half gallon of water in my day bag!

uhoh, you mentioned both your iPod and your iPad. I can't find a Rick Steves Ostia Antica app for the iPad ... typo?

I would do a little research mainly on the timeline of the eruption (after lunch BANG-Breakfast everyone is dead) and what actually hit Pompeii during that timeframe and its affects.
And how the inhabitants who stayed behind died and how (many from roof collapses).

Also a brief history of Pompeii esp from the 62AD earthquake to the weeks and days before the eruption.

And then rent the audioguide and visit the sites at your own pace.

A guide on a 2hr tour will hopefully have these facts and relate them in an interesting manor also perhaps show you something you would have normally missed.

*But* if he relates personal stories of some people during the eruption, that will be just fictional storytelling for entertainment (and tip) value.
Except for Pliny the Elder/Younger from a distance.

There are no personal stories from survivors only myths and legends, the most famous is the rich woman and her Gladiator lover often cited by reliable sources.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_...ths-about.html www.arlindo-correia.com/040504.html
Regards, Walter

p.s It was always thought that the weak pyroclaustic surge that hit Pompeii mainly killed the last survivors by ash suffocation vs heat (~200F IIRC).
But a recent computer model shows the ash was minimum and the heat was intense (300C ~575F) and killed them instantly.

Can I high ack with a question. We were thinking of going to Pompeii for a day trip from Rome. We have 2 kids 9 & 13. What is the best way to get there and back with kids?

It is a good trip from Rome. The best way is probably with a driver. However, you can take an early train to Naples and from there, take the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii. It stops at the ruins about a 5 minute walk from the entrance.

We used a guide at the ticket counter. The tour was about 2 hours, the guide was very well informed, spoke excellent English and was very engaging, answering lots of questions. There were 8 people in our group - a good size. After the tour we spent additional time walking around the site.

November is a good time to visit - it can be very hot in the warmer months and there is little or no shade.

thecliffes...You can get there by train. The station is very near the entrance.

just27....We have been there twice and IMO use the guide. They are all there at the entrance and not very expensive. For the information yoou will get, I think it is well worth the money. Have fun!

The Rick Steves guide is part of his Rome guide, as OA is a very easy daytrip from Rome.

>>>uhoh, you mentioned both your iPod and your iPad. I can't find a Rick Steves Ostia Antica app for the iPad ... typo?<<<

#'s 15 & 16 on the Itunes list. Click the podcast link (Rick Steves' Rome Audio Tours) on #2.
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/trave..._downloads.htm

If you go by yourself, beware that the Circumvesuviana train has multiple routes. You must take the Sorrento line, which has a stop at Pompeii Scavi, not the others that stop at Pompeii (modern city).