We only have 3 nights, 2 full days in Ravello. One day is definetely for Pompeii.

I'm torn between booking a guide ahead of time for a Pompeii tour, or I have heard that the guides that are right there at Pompeii are actually pretty good? It would be nice for us to be able to choose which day to go to Pompeii, rather than having a set day.

Anyone have experience with the Tour Guides right at the site?

Thanks for the help!

We used a guide at the site and had an excellent experience. I believe the guides work with about 10 people but there were only 5 in the group that we were with.

Thanks mamcalice

I read that they are "accredited" that they will have a "badge"?

There will be 6 of us, I wonder if we could request a private tour.

Do you mind if I ask what you paid?

The guides who wait at the entrance are licensed by Pompeii's operators and IME are pretty good. We've used this type of guide a couple of times and had very good experiences with them. Just make sure that the one you choose speaks good English.

If you want a private guide for only 6 people they may ask for more - if there are others they can;t take for that reason - but it makes sense to me. If there are a number of guides waiting they may be willing to do it for the price of 6 people.

Just be aware that the site has no shade and can get incredibly hot - so get there when it opens and be sure to bring water with you to stay hydrated. Plan on no more than 3 or 4 hours (the site could take all day) unless you have a lot of stamina.

We also waited and used a guide at the site; it worked very well, small group and a very interesting guide. Since there was a transport strike the morning of the day we went to Pompeii it was probably just as well since we had to switch our plans to the afternoon, when the strike ended.

I'm going strictly from memory, but we had six people, and I think we paid a total of about 100 euros.

We liked our guide. He took his time and explained a lot. I have heard some people say they weren't so satisfied with theirs.

The audio guide tour available at the excavation is actually very good, and while it isn't personal allows you to move at your own pace and see what you want. Not just the main attractions.

I would hesitate using the site's audio guide as it is the size of a 1990s brick cellphone, it is hard to hear the commentary or find the markers. If you follow the audio guide map you'll be led to houses and sights that have been closed or come up against blocked roads.

A compromise is a downloaded audio tour that you can actually hear and plugged in to a device that fits in your pocket.

The Pompeii guides are good but yes definitely speak to some and listen to their English - some are better than others.

I know we want a tour guide, rather than audio guides. It looks like we should plan on around 100 euros?

Are only "accredited" guides permitted outside the site?

Also, any difference in visiting on a Sunday or Monday?

If you pass any where near Pompeii on your way to Ravello, consider stopping then. It's a long day trip from Ravello with traffic.

We did a private tour, arranged by the driver who took us on our tour of Amalfi coast. He was very good. We paid 100 euros.

Marija ~ we'll be driving from Rome to Ravello, that would make for too long of a day to stop on the way. Last time we stayed in Ravello we drove to Pompei, it was around an hour, not bad.

We paid 10 euro per person for a 90-minute group tour, arranged upon arrival. Good enough if you ahve a cursory interest, although for more detail I would book ahead or go armed with the name of a few recommended guides.

I put some info in this report, but from 2008; see entry of May 9:



http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-naples.cfm

The audio guide may be the size of a 1990's cell phone, but it gave me information any where I wanted to go. If you want to go outside the regular tour path it is worth its 11 E. I spent a lovely lunch time in the necropolis next to the arena that the tours never go to. You have to decide how much time and what you want to see. I enjoyed my quite time looking at the new vineyards and orchards which I would have never known about had I stuck with a tour guide. You have to decide what you want to see.

Well hey, I'm glad that gigantic device helped you Dianne60030.

However if one does not feel the need to juggle a 2kg brick with 'audio' that is less than audible, then download a podcast which will cost you about a dollar compared to the 11 euro for the audio guide.

Also, the Pompeii audio guide needs to be returned to the Marina Gate ticket office. This is inconvenient if you want to exit via the Villa of Mysteries exit or the Amphitheatre exit as there are no facilities to return your audio guide at these points. You also need to pick up your ID which they require in order to rent the devices and can only do this from your original entry point - Marina Gate.

I dislike this audio guide as it is restrictive in terms of its content and its restrictions for return as I outlined above.

We were there a few weeks ago. The ladies in the Tourist Info office in Via Roma were great, loaned us a book and for a few euros we hired those electronic guides that you hang around your neck and we found that was all we needed.

Two other thinks:

1 Watch out for pickpockets
2 Fantastic gelato just a few doors along from tourist info office

Have a great time.

Hi Wrenwood

My husband and I were in Rome in Sept last year and pre-booked a private Pompeii tour with Tours Pompeii - http://www.tourspompei.com/index.php?lang=en#_=_

Our tour guide was Claudia and it was great. We paid 150 euro and felt it was worth it. Claudia was very knowledgeable and took as to a few places away from the crowds.

It was extremely hot so make sure you cover up and take plenty of water.

Thanks
Rellie.

Thanks all, does anyone think there will be a difference between going Sunday or Monday?