Pompeii by train or car?

Old Jul 12th, 2010, 05:45 AM
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Pompeii by train or car?

We'll be leaving Tuscany by car to go to Rome and getting rid of the car once we check in to our apt. (In the past, we've arrived in Paris and gotten rid of the car after check-in and it worked really well for us). I came up with an idea and I'm sure people can give me the pros and cons.

I was thinking that instead of going directly to Rome, we could continue on to Pompeii since we'll already have the car (I know it will be hot but the kids have voted!), stay in a hotel near the entrance - I came up with Hotel Forum if anyone has comments on that - and get an early start the next day while the day is cooler, heading back to Rome later that day. We won't have to deal with trains or a tour this way, will spend one less night in Rome, and can concentrate on Rome once we arrive.

If this is a good idea, how long should we plan to stay at the site to get a good feel for it (I don't think my family will want to see every single thing), what time should we leave Pompeii (I'm looking at being there on a Saturday or Sunday so I'm assuming no rush hour into Rome) to get to Rome at a reasonable time to check into the apt, and how long a drive back to Rome is it? It seems like this would save us time and money. Comments please!
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:09 AM
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I like the idea, especially if Hotel Forum has good reviews on Tripadvisor and has a pool.

You need to make sure your apartment in Rome is not located in a ZTL area or someplace where it will defeat your plan to unload at the apartment. If it is, check out the cost of dropping off your car at Ciampino airport and getting a taxi into the center of Rome.

I have often heard there is good pizza at the Zi Caterina in Pompeii. You might want to compare the pizza of that region with the pizza of Rome and vote your fave.

http://www.zicaterinapompei.it/ristoranteen.aspx

Pompeii is a huge site, and you are wise to go early in the morning. I think you should just identify the sights within it you'd most like to see, and quit before exhaustion sets in. Perhaps others have experience with hiring a guide at the entrance, or an audio tour. It's possible your kids may want to go up to Vesuvius. Take lots of water and sunscreen wherever you go in the area.

One more thought: if you arrive in Pompeii sooner than expected, and have lots of energy, or it is raining (does happen!), you could take the train into Napoli and go to the archeological museum.
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:27 AM
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The audioguide is very good and you get a map with it, showing suggested itineraries of 2, 4 or 6 hours. We spent 7 hours there (2 months ago) and barely scratched the surface !
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:32 AM
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Hi zeppole! WHat is a ZTL zone and how do I know if the apt is in one?

Hotel Forum has good reviews, although I didn't read them all - I liked the free parking and being across from the entrance. I'll research more before I book.

I had read about Zi Caterina and topped another post to ask about it! Perfect for dinner the night we arrive and it's near the hotel as an added bonus. It's a plan! Thanks for mentioning it.

I never thought of going up to Vesuvius! Can you tell me anything about doing that? I'm not sure if we'll have enough time to do that - you probably know I'm already wondering about the time factor for CT by now - but it could be something we just have to do while we are there. We will know how interested we are in volcanoes in about 2 weeks - we leave for Montserrat in the Caribbean this weekend and will be there for 10 days (so you won't see any posts from me for a while ). It's the island off the coast of Antigua and it has the live volcano which prevents anyone from going on the lower 2/3 of the island. In 1997 the capital city, airport and golf course were covered unexpectedly with ash and now there is one hotel left on the island. That leaves about 13 square miles to explore...or we'll just sit in our gorgeous villa called Montserrat Breezes and swim in our pool looking at the ocean and watching the sunset. Ahhhhhhhhh!
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:35 AM
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7 hours!!! Might be too hot for that and while I think I'd like to do that, the attention span of the other members of the family (who shall remain nameless) might not make that! Audioguide would be good - at least 3 of us really like those. Thanks for the info.
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:47 AM
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My advice is to wait until you've had your volcano experience to make up your mind, and I hope the group can come to some consensus about it. It is of course not far at all from Pompeii -- sadly for the now-extinct Pompeiians -- but you do have to drive a winding switchback road to get to a parking lot, and from there you walk rather steeply uphill to the rim. In addition to considering the heat factor, if anybody in your party is subject to motion sickness, the drive up and down can be queasy inducing.

Before you drive in Italy, you need to read up on "ZTL" -- limited traffic zones. Some Italian cities and small towns have them (I don't know where you are going) and only Italian drivers with special passes may drive inside them. If you car license is spotted by police or a surveillance camera driving in that zone, the police will send a stiff fine to your rental company, and they will automatically charge it to the credit car you used to rent the car.

If you have rented an apartment in historic Rome, it may be located in an area inaccessible to non-resident traffic. You should consult with your landlord about driving to the apartment in general, not only about the possibility of a ZTL. He or she may advise against it for other reasons.
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:49 AM
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In that case the 2 hour itinerary should suit. We were really pleased we got the audioguides and could go at our own pace, we would not have enjoyed having a guide so much. And there is a cafe inside where you can have a break or just get a drink or an icecream if you need to.
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 06:57 AM
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>

I don't either...yet!!!

Thanks so much for the info on the ZTL - I certainly don't need to write about that in my trip report! Would it be better to stay out of the historic center where (I assume) there is more public transportation? Actually that sounds like it would be an entire post and debate! Glad you like my driving to Pompeii idea - I can come up with a good one now and then.

caroline - I think we'll do the 2 or maybe 4 hour! I'll look up what might be the most interesting and decide based on that. Good info. Thanks
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 07:00 AM
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Here is a not to helpful comment. Our daughter could have stayed at Pompeii for seven hours although it was incredibly hot. The two boys had had it after three hours.

At Vesuvius, our two boys could have stayed for seven hours while our daughter had had it after 40 minutes. So who knows? By the way my sister in law (54) could not make the climb up to the top of Vesuvius. I am guessing you are in reasonable shape.
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 07:06 AM
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It is better to stay INSIDE the historic center of Rome. I don't think you'd find any disagreement on that. You will want to be within VERY easy reach of the sights in August, and enjoy the ambience of historic Rome.

If your landlord advises against pulling up to the door of the apartment, then take your car to the most convenient rental office, drop it off there and get a taxi to take you as close as the taxi can get to the apartment. (They can drive in ZTL areas even if you can't.)

Since you say you may be arriving in Rome on a Sunday, you need to pay attention the opening hours of rental offices. It is possible the only ones open continuously during the day are at Rome's airports (or maybe the train station too.)
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 07:48 AM
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>>>the police will send a stiff fine to your rental company, and they will automatically charge it to the credit car you used to rent the car.
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 09:55 AM
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Pompeii is huge (it's a whole town) and yuo easily spend the entire day and not see everythng. I would pick out the key sights you want to see (don't let the kids go in the adults only places with the naughty murals)and just see what else you pass on the way.

Some of the things I found most fascinating:

The large stepping stones in the middoe of the streets - so chariot/cart wheels could pass through but people walk without stepping in the ick at the bottom.

The house with the Beware of dog sign

The bakeries

The amphitheater
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 10:04 AM
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kwrens,

It appears you haven't picked out a Tuscan stay yet, and it occurs to me to suggest that you consider the area of the Maremma that makes it easy to go to natural hot springs or rivers or the beach, plus visit some very unusual Etruscan towns. This area is around the town of Manciano and Saturnia, or by Magiano in Toscana, and there a lots of agriturismos in that area on the web.

Most older tourists without kids head for the wine country to experience "Tuscany," It is scenic (so is the Maremma, but less developed with farms) and there are nice places to stay around with pools everywhere in Tuscany, but often the towns hold limited interest for kids (and it is HOT in August.)

I don't know the rest of your itinerary, but if you end up bypassing le Cinque Terre, you might find that by staying in the Maremma, you could get is some nice hikes, some beach time, maybe even a trip to an island, sitting in some natural hot springs, and some Etruscan tomb exploration. And you would be well-positioned to head off to Pompeii.

If you do google searches and feel like you still don't know enough, I believe there are a couple of posters on the Slow Travel website who know a lot about the Maremma, and they could answer questions.

ky,

thanks for the correct particulars!
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Old Jul 12th, 2010, 11:45 AM
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Thanks z - It's occurred to me about what you're saying about the kids, but everything in Switzerland will be geared towrads them, as will a lot of Rome, so we figured they have to suck it up in Tuscany. That being said, I WAS thinking of a beach day and finding a few things for them, so I'll definitely check out this area as you suggest. I've been seeing posts about the Maremma but hadn't gotten around to figuring out where it was so, as usual, your posts are very helpful!
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Old Jul 13th, 2010, 01:51 PM
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Hi Zeppole! I don't know if you saw my other post about traffic, but I thought I'd ask you here in case you hadn't.
My idea to drive to Pompeii coincides with the mad rush south of every German and Italian going on vacation apparently! Is there a major traffic jam mainly on that weekend (Friday July 30 - Sun Aug 1 and maybe a month later at the end of vacation) or is it a major problem throughout the summer? If we were to either go to Italy a week earlier or a week later, would that avoid the traffic jam problem? If we were to go to Pompeii Thursday July 29 instead of that Friday would that help? Should we abandon the driving idea? I haven't booked a flight yet and can change our tentative dates, but since we're looking at Tuscany for a week, it seems that we have to book a place from Saturday to Saturday (we were going to leave a day early to allow enough time in Rome.)

What would any smart local do to avoid the traffic but who still wanted to drive? If it would be terrible most of the time, I suppose we could take the train, but then I have to figure out transferring in Naples and where the train station is relative to the excavation site. Alternatively, we could just take a day trip by train from Rome for a day or take a tour.

Thanks for all your help - I'm sure this will be figured out in due time!
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Old Jul 13th, 2010, 02:07 PM
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I'm sorry, but I live in north Italy and -- like the weather -- the traffic is local.

Trains will be crowded in August as well as highways.

Italy is all about going with the flow -- I don't mean to sound corny -- but poll the family to make a choice:

Either we get on trains to avoid the traffic -- meaning, we haul our luggage through hot train stations but can plan to get there on time or we take a day trip from Rome and arrive at Pompeii at the heat of the day.

or

We get into an air-conditioned car and take our chances -- but no whining if we end up eating at the Auto Grille and not unpacking until 10pm. But if it works out okay, we can swim before we go to bed.
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Old Jul 13th, 2010, 05:16 PM
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We're having fish instead of chicken the first night in Montserrat because of a family vote so I'm with you zeppole!
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Old Jul 14th, 2010, 02:35 AM
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We were most impressed by the House of the Mysteries so I'd recommend making sure you include that. It's some distance from the entrance and was very quiet when we went - I assume a lot of tour guides don't want to take people that far.
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Old Jul 14th, 2010, 03:09 AM
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Hi kwren,

I've visited Pompeii by train in Feb, an it's about 40 minutes. It wasn't very crowded, we had seats and we enjoyed some local Italian songs too!

I don't know about car, but do take time to see the site - a whole day should be sufficient. Don't forget to take the audio guide from the entrance. Here are some more tips & a lot of photos:

http://trippydoo.com/trip/m1mihai/pompei/
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