Trip to Rome/Pompeii
Aug 29th, 2005, 10:24 AM
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Trip to Rome/Pompeii
I am visiting Rome in December for 4 nights. I plan to do some sightseeing in Rome and go to Pompeii for one day.
I am looking for insight into trip ideas. Here is what I have come up with so far. From FCO airport, take the train to Termini station. Book a room close to this station. Any cheap hotels close to the station??
One morning start from Termini and head to Naples airport to go to Pompeii. What's the train to take for this trip? Stay in Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento? Any cheap places there?
I am looking for insight into trip ideas. Here is what I have come up with so far. From FCO airport, take the train to Termini station. Book a room close to this station. Any cheap hotels close to the station??
One morning start from Termini and head to Naples airport to go to Pompeii. What's the train to take for this trip? Stay in Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento? Any cheap places there?
Aug 29th, 2005, 10:42 AM
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Hi E,
>One morning start from Termini and head to Naples airport to go to Pompeii. What's the train to take for this trip?<
You can do Pompeii as a daytrip, if you wish.
You take the train from Rome TE to Naples Centrale (NOT the airport).
Go downstairs to the Circumvesuviana train and take the next train to Pompei Scavi.
Train schedules and tickets are at www.trenitalia.com
>One morning start from Termini and head to Naples airport to go to Pompeii. What's the train to take for this trip?<
You can do Pompeii as a daytrip, if you wish.
You take the train from Rome TE to Naples Centrale (NOT the airport).
Go downstairs to the Circumvesuviana train and take the next train to Pompei Scavi.
Train schedules and tickets are at www.trenitalia.com
Aug 29th, 2005, 11:38 AM
#3
No critisism implied here, but I cannot understand why somebody would wish to do Pompeii as a daytrip from Rome.
Firstly because of the amount of time you could realistically spend at the site (? 3-4 hours travel each way) and secondly, because IMO, a trip to Pompeii without a trip to the archaeology museum in Naples means you miss out on at least half the story.
I suppose if it is the only possible chance you are going to get to see Pompeii, then maybe you should take it. I just feel you would be only skimming the surface of what, to me, is one of the great sites in the world.
Firstly because of the amount of time you could realistically spend at the site (? 3-4 hours travel each way) and secondly, because IMO, a trip to Pompeii without a trip to the archaeology museum in Naples means you miss out on at least half the story.
I suppose if it is the only possible chance you are going to get to see Pompeii, then maybe you should take it. I just feel you would be only skimming the surface of what, to me, is one of the great sites in the world.
Aug 29th, 2005, 07:25 PM
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Aug 29th, 2005, 07:55 PM
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With 4 nights in Rome taking a daytrip to Pompeii will be fine Emmaln IMHO. And the next time you visit this part of Italy you can plan time to visit the museum in Naples (along with enjoying some of the pizza). Having a reason to return is always good! Have a wonderful time.
Oct 28th, 2005, 11:35 AM
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I will be arriving at FCO 11/01/05 at 08:45 from US. How much time to allow for clearing customs, catching Leonardo to Rome Train Station and getting to ES line? In other words can I make reservations for 10:45 train To Naples? If I miss train are tickets worthless?
Thank you fellow Fodorites in advance.
Thank you fellow Fodorites in advance.
Oct 28th, 2005, 11:51 AM
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Hi am,
I suggest you leave 3 hrs to make the train connection if you have checked luggage.
You can buy tickets at the FCO train station when you buy your tckets to Rome TE.
There are 6 trains between 10:45 and 12:45. You needn't worry about not getting to Naples.
I suggest you leave 3 hrs to make the train connection if you have checked luggage.
You can buy tickets at the FCO train station when you buy your tckets to Rome TE.
There are 6 trains between 10:45 and 12:45. You needn't worry about not getting to Naples.
Oct 30th, 2005, 09:42 AM
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Just an idea for you -- there are bus tour companies (several of them) that go to Pompei for the day. I did that once and the guided tour of the excavations was quite good. My tour didn't include Naples (except for a quick stop to see the harbor), but some tours might -- can't quite remember. But my point is it might be worth it to you to have someone handle all the logistics, get a decent tour to the site, and return to Rome in the evening. I've also taken the train and it's not bad, but I probably wouldn't do that again unless I was going to spend a few days in that area (Amalfi). Otherwise the hassle wouldn't be worth it to me. Just my 2 cents 
Nov 17th, 2005, 07:09 AM
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I am planning on making a solo one day trip to Pompeii in March. Wondering if anyone can tell me how much an on-site guide would charge for a party of two. Are there better more feasible alternatives? Audioguide? Thanks in advance for your help.
Nov 17th, 2005, 09:56 AM
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I thought the audioguide was excellent in Pompeii. Each sight is numbered so you don't need to follow a certain route, just press the number and hear the info on the sight you are at. It was very easy to follow.
I actually prefer the audioguide because I can skip the parts I find boring and listen twice to the more interesting.
I actually prefer the audioguide because I can skip the parts I find boring and listen twice to the more interesting.
Nov 17th, 2005, 09:58 AM
#15
You can rent hand-held audio guides in Pompeii. The sites are numbered and you just enter the number of the one you want to hear. You will be required to leave an ID of some type with the rental booth.
Nov 17th, 2005, 10:01 AM
#16
jjrod - I had read up quite a bit beforehand, so had some idea of the layout, and what I wanted to see.
I thought the audioguide to be very good. The information is on several levels. As you arrive at a given area, there are discrete numbers. You punch the number into the handset to get a basic description, then it gives you the option of more details and or background information.
For major sights in the complex, such as the amphitheatre, there are basic descriptions, more detailed accounts of the activities, and readings from Pliny the Younger about the riots that followed some of the games.
I listened in to some of the guided tours, and they varied hugely in quality. Some were excellent, but many of the large coach parties were accompanied by guides far inferior to the audiotours.
I thought the audioguide to be very good. The information is on several levels. As you arrive at a given area, there are discrete numbers. You punch the number into the handset to get a basic description, then it gives you the option of more details and or background information.
For major sights in the complex, such as the amphitheatre, there are basic descriptions, more detailed accounts of the activities, and readings from Pliny the Younger about the riots that followed some of the games.
I listened in to some of the guided tours, and they varied hugely in quality. Some were excellent, but many of the large coach parties were accompanied by guides far inferior to the audiotours.
Nov 17th, 2005, 10:11 AM
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jjrod,We just returned from our first trip to Italy and spent a full day at Pompeii. We used the information in the Rick Steve's Rome 2006 book on Pompeii, the Audioguide available for rental plus the free "Brief Guide to Pompeii" found at the information area. This helped us avoid the large tour groups and see probably 61 of the 68 sites noted in the guide. We preferred being on our own, working our way around the large groups milling about and taking time to just soak in as much as we could. We expected to be there three or four hours and ended up staying until it closed, over 7 hours!!! If you can afford it and don't have much time to spend there a guide might work best for you but the audioguide is extremely detailed. Have a great trip. Deborah
Nov 17th, 2005, 10:17 AM
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I also think the audioguide is very good. It offers a 2, 4 and 6hr tour but the choice is yours to follow them or just wander around the areas and hit the sites at random.
These are detailed directions for a Rome to Pompeii daytrip that might be useful http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492
Regards, Walter
These are detailed directions for a Rome to Pompeii daytrip that might be useful http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34665492
Regards, Walter
Nov 17th, 2005, 10:23 AM
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After 6 trips to Italy and finally making it to Pompeii, I would say Go For It! It exceeded my expectations.
I agree w/ the comments about using the audioguide. More flexibility, you can skip things or listen to something more than once, go in the order YOU want, and save $! The guy's voice was not annoying, either, which is important to me.
Like an earlier poster said, combine it w/ a written guide, like Rick Steves, (his walk around Pompeii is streamlined but I found it useful) and the map you will get at the site.
I was there in June; there is a newly opened bath house when you first walk into the site. You need an extra ticket to get in there, but it is free (or was in June) so ask for it at the gate. Really nice frescoes and mosaics
I also liked the audioguide at the Forum in Rome, for the same reasons.
I agree w/ the comments about using the audioguide. More flexibility, you can skip things or listen to something more than once, go in the order YOU want, and save $! The guy's voice was not annoying, either, which is important to me.
Like an earlier poster said, combine it w/ a written guide, like Rick Steves, (his walk around Pompeii is streamlined but I found it useful) and the map you will get at the site.
I was there in June; there is a newly opened bath house when you first walk into the site. You need an extra ticket to get in there, but it is free (or was in June) so ask for it at the gate. Really nice frescoes and mosaics
I also liked the audioguide at the Forum in Rome, for the same reasons.
Nov 17th, 2005, 10:28 AM
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Walter, just jumping back into this thread to thank you for the detailed information you provided to me on getting from FCO to the ES trains in Rome. It was like following a well designed map and made a great start to our trip. Many thanks for the information you provide everyone. I didn't think it was appropriate to start a new thread to thank someone but I really wanted you to know what a great help you were. Deborah
