We are taking our grandson (13) on a Tauck Bridge Tour which begins in Rome in early April. We want to take him to Pompeii before picking up the tour in Rome on 4/6/07. Need help figuring out how much time to allow for this. We have been told that a day trip is too tiring after an overnight flight from U.S. to Rome. What is the best way to travel from Rome to Pompeii? Any hotel advice? We think one full day at Pompeii will work. Would you recommend a guide?

Hi Har - Pompeii is a full day-trip from Rome, whether by public transport or by tour bus.

There are several companies which run bus tours from Rome to Pompei
- Vastours, Appianline, Carrani, Greenline, American Express ...

VASTOURS (Tour 13)
http://www.romeguide.it/vastours/

CARRANI (Tour 13)
http://www.carrani.com/gb/viaggi/tour13.htm

APPIAN (Tour 14)
http://www.appianline.it/italy2004/fuldayro.htm

GREENLINE (Tour15)
http://www.romeguide.it/greenline/greenline_eng.htm


A common problem with these tours is that for most people they don't allow enough time at Pompei - usually only about 2 hours.

They usually include a cameo factory visit and lunch en route - and you don't get to Pompeii till after lunch.
Some also include a short 30 mins. stop in Sorrento before returning to Rome.

It's all a bit rushed IMO - and not cheap; most charge approx. €100

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Alternatively you can do it rather more cheaply by public transport.

TRAIN

- If you go by TRAIN, with an early start you can be at Pompei by 10.00 or soon after.
Take the train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale, then the Circumvesuviana train to POMPEI SCAVI.
For timetables see:
www.trenitalia.it (Rome-Naples trains)
www.massalubrense.it/circum.htm (Circumvesuviana)

[You could include Sorrento too - it's only 30 mins by train from Pompei].

BUS

- There are SHUTTLE BUSES from Rome in high season run by MAROZZI (approx. €29) and by ENJOY ROME (€45-55)
www.marozzivt.it/HomePage.htm
www.enjoyrome.com/shuttle_tour/pompeii.html

The MAROZZI Rome-Pompei-Sorrento shuttle service runs in summer, leaving Rome at 07.00(- deps. from outside Tiburtina station), arriving Pompei about 10.00.

The return Marozzi bus usually leaves Sorrento approx. 18.00 and Pompei approx. 18.45, arriving Rome about 21.30.

The ENJOY ROME Pompei shuttle returns to Rome earlier - for details see the above link.

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Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thanks, Steve, for all the information you sent. I am sure it will answer all our questions in planning this side trip.

These directions will walk you thru a do-it-yourself daytrip.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492

Steve_James:
Could I 'cut & paste' your post and tack it on my Rome to Pompeii Daytrip post?

It would give them those other options if they didn't want to go it alone by train.

Also is that www.marozzi... URL correct?
It doesn't work for me. I found one of their URLs in a google search but had problems downloading it but that was probably on my end with WebTv.

Thanks...Regards, Walter

Hi Walter - Yes - of course Paste away ...

The Marozzi website http://www.marozzivt.it/
- has been playing up for awhile, unfortunately

Their problem, not yours ... Sorry - I should have re-checked it before posting.

Have a nice day

Steve