Donna82

Hi guys,
We are staying in Sant'Agnello (outside Sorrento) as a base in mid August and plan a trip to Pompeii on one of the days.
I know it's approx half an hour on train from Sant'Agnello so I intended on getting there ourselves and downloading some guides beforehand to listen to as we go around, however I am now wondering should we hire a guide? If so how much would it be? Can I arrange to just meet one at the site (I don't want to be arranging and paying fro pick-up from hotel when the train is handy and cheap) I have read some people on here saying they regret not getting a guide?

Also are we best to go very early before it gets very hot or would late afternoon be better?
Is Vesuvius a must? Did many of you do it on the same day?

vincenzo32951

I vote yes on hiring a guide.

I suppose you could do a lot of research yourself and do a self-guided tour, but a good guide can make the experience more interesting. We hired one, and it went well. Sorry, I can't remember what we paid. There are licensed guides at the site. Your hotel might be able to recommend one, so that you could have one reserved that you would just meet at the entrance.

It's going to be hot, and Pompeii is pretty much out in the open, with little shade and few resting spots. I think late afternoon would still be hot, so I guess early a.m. is better. Bring water.

Haven't visited Vesuvius, so I can't comment.

MiamiBeachMomma

We loved the guide we used for Pompeii - we arranged it in advance via email and met her at the train.
Fiorella
Her website... www.vesuviusvspompeii.com
Her email ... [email protected]
130 euros was the fee in Dec 2010. We visited in winter and the weather was perfect and we had the site pretty much to ourselves. Summer could be a whole different ballgame...

mamcalice

By all means, hire a guide. We hired our guide right at the ticket booth and he was absolutely great. The guides at Pompeii normally take about 8-10 people in a group.

It will be very hot and, as noted above, there is very little shade. Go as early as possible. A hat, sunscreen and plenty of water are needed.

You get a great view of Vesuvius from all around the Gulf of Naples so we didn't feel a visit was necessary as we saw it from our hotel balcony and everywhere else.

kybourbon

Guides have to be licensed for Pompeii. Prices vary, but you can generally join a group forming outside the entrance (not expensive like the one mentioned above which was more a private guide, not a group). You can also rent the audio guide from Pompeii for 7€ - Porto Marina entrance only). The sites are numbered and you just punch in the number so you don't really have to follow a specific route. The tourist office and website used to list routes by how much time you wanted to tour (2 hour, 4 hour, etc.).

annw

Yes get a guide. We regret not doing so.

Bring water.

Wear sun protection.

It's wonderful!

socaltraveler

We also joined a group formed by a licensed guide outside Pompeii, and were very glad we did. He was a wealth of information, and as we were not planning to be there for several hours, think we made a good decision.

blakejared

We didn't have a guide but I'm sure it would have added to the experience and it can save walking around to the wrong place since the site is so large and tiring in the hot sun.

Vesuvius on the same day is too rushed.

Rubicund

There's no need to book a guide in advance and pay a higher price. Licenced guides are available at the entrance and will put a group together. Wer've done Pompeii both with and without a guide and with is much better, regardless of the reading you do in advance.

It's a steep climb up a dusty path to the summit of Vesuvius, but IMO it's well worth it. You only get the feel of the sheer size of it from the top and the views are great. We did Vesuvius and Herculaneum on one day, Pompeii on another.

Percy

Plain and simple...YES!!

kja

I did not think a guide was necessary at Pompeii, although I had done a fair amount of reading in advance. I thought the audio guide quite good. And at least when I was there, back in 2007, there were docents roaming all around who were happy to tell people about things for free - but most people ignored them because they were listening to the guides they had hired.

Flame123

Two years ago, we (2 couples) hired a guide in advance for a 3 hour visit to Pompeii and after a short break, took the train with her for the short trip to Herculaneum for another guided tour there. Absolutely fabulous and very recommended. Pompeii is VERY large and it makes sense to go with someone who will know where to take you.

Our guide was a lovely and beautiful lady (we all thought she looked a bit like Sophia Loren but that is just an aside!!), she was fun to be with, knew answers to all our questions, made our visit special and memorable and I would not hesitate to recommend her to everyone!!

Here are her details :
Lucia Pompeii Guide

Sorrento (Italy)

Mobile ; +39 3384202154

[email protected]

www.luciapompeiiguide.com

I cannot remember the exact price but I do remember that we felt it was money VERY well spent.

Donna82

Thanks -all very helpful, any idea how much it is to join the tour groups? Hopefully there will be one when we arrive!