Hi,

I'm planning a trip to Rome with my 9-year-old-son and we wanted to take a day trip to Pompeii. I know the general consensus is to get oneself to Pompeii via fast train and commuter rail and then hire a guide from there. I can do that, BUT I was looking for alternatives. I know it will be a long day and I want to avoid the stress and challenges of travel, especially since all of the planning and logistics will fall on me alone.

I found a guide who will pick us up at the station in Naples, but the rates for her services and a driver are, of course, very expensive. I think she quoted 650 euros for a 6-7 hour tour with a driver. The tour would include the archeological museum in Naples or a visit to Hercanuleum.

The other option I found was an all day trip from Rome (small van) that includes Pompeii and Positano. That trip is enticing because all of the transportation is included and I would get a peek at Positano. I know its a lot of driving time, but if it's scenic or interesting, my son and I wouldn't mind.

Has anyone ever done the Pompeii day trip from Rome with a stop on the Amalfi coast? What are your thoughts?

I have been looking for an all day tour from Rome that spends more time in Pompeii or Naples or Hercanuleum instead of going to Positano, but I haven't found one.

Thanks for your help!

>>> I found a guide who will pick us up at the station in Naples, but the rates for her services and a driver are, of course, very expensive.
What you are finding out is that you are up against massive rush rush cruise tourists who would be willing to pay to visit Pompeii during the port stop.

Positano visit would add many hours to your itinerary. It would probably need to add tremendous value to your trip make this detour worthwhile.

Doing Pompeii as a day trip from Rome is trivial and is really not that difficult. The only part you need to reserve ahead is the Rome-Napoli round trip train if you care to get hold of the discount tickets. The rest are pay as you go.

Adding Napoli Archaeological museum and pizza in Napoli if you care, is not that difficult either. If you want to eat pizza at any of the popular places, you need to be there at the opening time. The museum houses best of the Pompeii artifacts. Thieir mosaic collection is splendid. Adding Herculaneum as a third stop is harder as both Pompeii and Herculaneum close in the evening.

Whether you need a guide or not in the first place depends on how much pre-work you care to do on your own. If you have done your own study, you can focus only on places you care to spend time. I have done online study before the latest visit. I thought the guided tour I had to do afterwards because I was traveling with someone else was superficial and skipped many key features of each house we visited.

If you do fast train to Naples on your own be sure to book tickets as soon as possible- at www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.com, two competing rail systems using same stations and tracks and similar trains so take whatever is cheapest; that is for discounted tickets - full fare readily available once in Rome but discounted tickets are sold in limited numbers. The commuter CircumVesuviana train is yes a commuter train you just buy tickets for at the station - no reserved seating. Stops at both Ercolo (for Herculaneum) and Pompeii-Scavi for a station right at the ruins entrance. www.seat61.com has tons of great didactic advice on booking your own discounted ticket online - general info Italian trains - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

So easily done on own and if get discounted tickets very cheap - can hire guide at entrance. Yes you and son read up on in advance.

There fuides available atthe entrance to Pompeii.

I have been to all the places you mention multiple times. 650 euro to pick you up in Naples is really crazy, IMHO! It is not unreasonable for the person offering the tour, for their time, but You will already be taking the train from Rome to Naples. The local train to Pompeii is under the main station, is very easy to find, cheap and direct to the stop in Pompeii. It would be silly to have a guide meet you there to get in a car.

Anyway, at that price, it would cost much less and you would be better off losing a night of your hotel cost in Rome and spending a night in Naples. Take a late train to Naples, in time for dinner or pizza. You would be more rested and could then have a full day the next day to do things and return to Rome very late.

Also, very, very important. if you are going in Summer, if you spent the night in Naples, you could get to Pompeii in the morning before it is so hot.

I love Herculaneum, even more than Pompeii, but would not try to do both the same day unless your son is extremely interested. If you did Pompeii very early for a few hours, you could do something else in the afternoon, depending on ferries and times, and take a very late train back to Rome.

In Summer, I would never travel by car or bus along the coast. I have a couple of ideas, but will check to see possibilities and post later.

When is your trip?

I love Herculaneum, even more than Pompeii, but would not try to do both the same day unless your son is extremely interested>

I did find Herculaneum to be much smaller and compact - a big hole in the ground so would not take much time - get really early start from Rome or stay yes the night in Naples, a very unique and interesting city.

Consider a revised itinerary. Fly into Rome, tour there. Train to Naples, hotel there. Tour Pompeii, Herculaneum, Archeological Museum, eat pizzas. I would recommend the museum after Pompeii/Herculaneum. Fly home from Naples, probably changing planes at Rome (open jaw ticket). Naples also has its own sites for touring, as well as ferries to all sorts of places along the coast and to Capri.

This general plan may fit you, depending on when you are going and how long you have. And no guide or gold-plated car service needed.

I agree with AJ above -- if at all possible, arrange for a couple of days in Naples rather than a day trip from Rome. People do it. People like it. Not for me, though, and maybe not for you.

We did a Pompeii and Positano van tour and loved it. Stress free and inexpensive. It would be a long day, but well worth it. Your son could sleep on the way home. This was an excellent tour and highly recommend this company for any tours in Rome or the vicinity. Hilaria was our guide and deftly discussed the brothels at Pompeii, which wouldn't embarrass your son. https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-to...ours-from-rome

Also, I failed the mention, the scenery is absolutely spectacular on the coast.

Italo for awhile now has been offering a combined train & bus offer for Pompeii

https://www.italotreno.it/en/destina...table/italobus

Hardest part is the booking site. Book Termini from the train side. Then select Pompeii from the bus side on the TO selector. Bus side is the far right of the selection list.

You'll likely find it easier than having to book multiple tickets . The station they use most people find easier.

The only problem is the train leaves Rome just before 8am IIRC

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Thank you, Centex. That is the one we were looking at.

Thank you, all, for your responses. I am still on the fence, but will keep all of your suggestions in mind.

Two more questions...

We will be traveling the 3rd week of March. Is this a busy time? (Easter is on April 21 this year.)

A couple of people have warned me about traveling in Naples alone - both on the trains and in the city. Should this be a concern? Mostly they warned about purse snatchers and petty thieves. I have traveled to other cities with high crime rates and know to be vigilant, but these people made Naples sound like it was in a class of its own.

I'm with centex and others who suggest a tour. Let someone else do all the schlepping for driving, entry fees and guiding the tour.

March is still less busy but that is shifting as more folks retire and can travel throughout the year.

When DH and I went from Sicily to Sorrento, almost every person we met warned us about the Naples train station. When we finally arrived, there were more police than travelers! Someone can confirm that but I'd say normal vigilance would be fine.

Naples is no more crime infested than say Rome - I actually fell down in front of train station when stepped in a pothole whilst licking gelato - was dazed and confused for several minutes - my backpack on street - people only came to help and helped me to a bench and into train station medical center. And spending a few days there did not feel any more unsafe than Rome or any European tourist town where pick pockets and such are always a problem. If you are vigilant you will be safe. Be leery of anyone coming up to you, etc.

Seconded. We were in Naples this past October and it definitely didn't feel any less safe than Rome. Plus, the people seemed much less jaded about tourists and were extremely helpful.

I spent 5 nights in Naples in September. I had read all the warnings about pickpockets there. I'm sure there are plenty of pickpockets in Naples, but I'm a woman travelling alone and never felt threatened or unsafe. Sure, you should take the usual precautions (don't keep your valuables in accessible places), but I don't think you need to be paranoic about it. I loved Naples!

We were there the second week in March 2016. It wasn't very busy; be prepared for possible wet, cool weather.

A tour like centex described would appeal to me. I'd happily spend a long day that way.

We spent two nights in Naples and neither of us liked it. We were pretty quiet while we were there but afterwards agreed we were not fans. We spent the first night before catching the ferry to Capri. We spent the second night after spending a day on the Amalfi coast with a private driver, before taking the train to Rome. I wanted to see the Veiled Christ, and am glad I did, but have no desire to return to Naples. I would love to return to every other location we visited in Italy.

The private driver was LoveItaly's recommendation from years ago and he was delightful. If you want to take the train to Naples and have him pick you up for a tour, I'll share his information if you are interested.

But my choice, if staying in Rome, would be a van tour as centrex described. Easy, no worries, and letting someone else navigate and do the driving is very appealing.

A suggestion...... Stay in Rome and go to Ostia Antica instead.