Hello all,

Been lurking and reading for a long time. Im leaving to Sorrento and Rome for a vacation in a week for my first trip to italy. I have everything figured out except for the transportation from naples to the hotel and food.

We arrive at 9:30pm on a saturday.

Based on my reading the last circumvesuviana train leaves for sorrento at 11:30pm. That would also require we take a cab to the train station and deal with the late night train station crowd. and on the back end of that i would have to deal with getting to our hotel from the train station (way too far to walk) at a late hour..

I dont believe I can get a bus at that hour on that day.

Staying that night in Naples (or anywhere else) is not an option.

Im half tempted to just get a driver (90euro) and stop worrying and hope I figure out the public transport in the morning after a solid night of sleep.

Also, Looking for restaurant options (lunch/dinner) for the following cities/places:

paestum - have only seen one recommendation and its not all that close to the ruins.

pompeii - I have read about Vi Caterina

naples - ? definitely going for the local pizza of course..

herculaneum - ?

im not scared of authentic, down home stuff. Im willing to take a chance on local restaurants that dont cater to tourists, even though i speak no italian.. & eating something i have no idea what it is as long as i can trust the establishment to make something good and charge me a fair price .. part of the adventure i think.. (politeness is a must though)

also, is it suicide to rent a scooter to take to paestum? the price is okay, but i know the reputation of the amalfi coast.. but it will be in late oct.. so less crowded = safer?

Oh, and we'll also be carrying a lot of photography equipment if that makes any difference (im a photographer) so, a nod to personal safety is a good idea too eventhough it will all be incognito and securely on a person at all times.

You should be able to get a local bus from the airport to Naples Garibaldi for a few euro. Keep an eye on your belongings in the train station as Naples seems to attract lots of pickpockets. Here's the bus schedule from the airport's website.
http://www.portal.gesac.it/portal/pa...OPORTO/Autobus

Where is your hotel in Sorrento. There will be taxis lined up at the station and most hotels aren't far.

What do you want to know about Herculaneum? I was there last month, but I'm not sure what you are asking.

The good places that I know of in Paestum are not those adjacent to the ruins. Are you willing to travel a short distance from the ruins to the eating place? There are places to eat at the site but I did not try any of these.

In Naples, the two places that seem to vie for the title of "best pizza" are Sorbillo and Di Matteo; both of these are in the historic core on Via dei Tribunali.

In Pompeii, the classic place is Il Principe. It is not inexpensive:

http://www.ilprincipe.com/


Here is my recent report with some info on eating in the area, including a SlowFood place we liked in Naples.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35128776

Realize that this is a tourist-heavy area and all of the good places to eat may have some tourists, including domestic tourists...you can find some fabulous eating but you have to do some research, or ask questions, as you are doing.

For the best "authentic" food on the A/C, head for the village of Cetara. You will not find many foreign tourists but you will find amazing food.

sorry, the city list was an attempt to get some recommendations on restuarants.. so, something in Ercolano would be cool for my daytrip there.

Thanks for the link. Much appreciated.

the hotel is in saint agnolo (sp?) not far, but too far to walk.

With you plane arriving at 9:30pm, I suggest you hire a driver to take you to Sorrento. I would not want to take the train/circumvesuviana that late at night. Because of the hour, a driver may cost more than 90 euro though.

Avoid the scooter unless you are a very experienced rider.

Have fun!

Sant'Agnello is one stop on the commuter train before you get to Sorrento. You might not make the last train. It depends on how long it takes to get your luggage, get to Termini, get Circumvesuviana tickets and to the train. My search shows the last train at 22:43.
http://www.vesuviana.it/

My brain having been on overload, mixed up the city names, the hotel is actually in "Sant'Agata sui due Golfi" which is further past sorrento..

ekscrunchy, am i willing to go a short distance away from paestum? yes, as long as its reasonable. Thank you for the recommendations on the restaurants and the link to your report. I realize its a tourist area. I have no problem with eating with tourists whether local or not. It just seems to me you would get less .. hmm.. authentic food with the 'tourist menu' (as they have in other countries) than you would with the places regulars eat. I could be wrong, of course. again thanks

zoecat: thanks for your thoughts on the scooter. Ive gotten a few quotes for the driver and they are between 80E-120E

kybourbon, thanks again for your helpful links