I'm not sure what might be going on with the following situation for a daytrip to Pompeii and then to Herculaneum: We are meeting our guide at Pompeii. We planned to ride the train to meet our guide for the tour and then use the train to transfer to the Herculaneum site with the guide seems like a cost-effective solution to the transfer between sites.... then we'd ride it back to Sorrento. That was the plan, anyway, UNTIL I emailed our guide... While the guide finally agreed to use the train to transfer between Pompeii and Herculaneum, it was a bit of an ordeal. Very insistant in recommending we hire a driver for the entire day for 300 Euro. The guide would arrange the driver, was the offer. (Interesting to note that the guide cited the reason we should have a driver was that the "locals and natives" use the train to leave the city and go to the beaches and the train would be "crowded".... Also cited the train "has no A/C, and is unpredictable due to strikes." (Our guide is VERY highly recommended by Rickand many other people. Maybe the guide doesn't like trains...or "natives" or thinks 300 Euros is petty cash...or ??) Would really appreciate some input on this...we've never been there and maybe there is a very good reason why we SHOULD hire the driver for the entire day...or, at least to make the transfer between Pompeii and Herculaneum with the guide? (I did contact a Sorrento driving service Rick recommends and talked with them about arranging a driver for the transfer between Pompeii and Herculaneum. They told me we should all use the train...and that is what their clients do with the guides the driving service has arranged. They said they'd be happy to provide the driver for the short ride at 70 Euro but didn't recommend it.)
Thanks
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
I used the Circumvesuviana to tour Pompeii and Herculaneum from Sorrento, and it worked well. The train was convenient, and there was no incremental cost because I had purchased the Campania ArteCard. There's about a 15 minute walk each way between the Circumvesuviana station and the Herculaneum entrance - slightly uphill on the way back.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Thanks, Frank. I really can't see why we would need a driver that day. Seems like the train will work just fine to transfer between the two sites. Just was kind of odd on the part of the guide...
Posted by
Denver
53 posts
At a rate of 300 euros, there is no way I would hire a driver. Plus, traffic in Naples was insane. We were on a cruise, and almost all the ship's-tour buses were late because they were caught in traffic. We used the train. Yes, it was crowded. We stood the whole way back. For 5 euros per person round trip between Naples and Pompeii, it was fine.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9420 posts
Cheryl, I would research another guide. There are lots of good ones. I would not care if Rick recommends him or not, Rick is not the end all in travel advice. I would not take kindly to a guide insisting I hire a driver he knows at a cost of 300 euros. Maybe Rick recommending him has gone to his head? There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Circumvesuviana and this just sounds really shady to me.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Thanks. That's how I'm feeling...something isn't quite right. That driver would be sitting around for at least 5 hours while we are touring the sites...the only "driving" we need is the transfer between sites...and I can't think why the train wouldn't work just fine. I'm just baffled at the guide's attitude given the host of happy people who've used this person's services...
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
I smell something fishy. Here's a question: do you really need a guide at all? Lots of us visit these places with nothing more than the trusty book with the blue cover. I have before (taking the train) and it was easy. Depends on your personal preferences/preferred travel style, I guess, but I cannot think of a single reason to either hire a guide or take a car anywhere near there. The train and the book work just fine. Hope that helps.
Posted by
point pleasant beach, nj, usa
646 posts
Returned from Sorrento recently. We used the train exclusively to get to Pompei and Naples. Not a problem at all. Didn't spend the money on the guide. Had Rick's book and rented an audioguide which worked out well. I wouldn't waste my money on a guide and I certainly wouldn't hire a driver for 300 euro.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Canada
40 posts
Definitely something to think about, whether a guide is needed. This person indicates ability to take us into areas with limited access--why, I'm not sure. Same thing at the Museum. Might be I'd better ask just what those areas are.
Thanks.