Staying in the Sorrento, Pompeii area for cheap but decent places

Sorrento region is outstanding and staying in Sorrento itself is more convenient, safe and very enjoyable day and night. There are hostels if u are are on a tight budget but there are places that are reasonable imo. Check il nido in sorrento, i will post more when I recall the names.
Book as early as poss as this area is very popular yr round.

Note that the author of the article was not visiting the Amalfi Coast or Capri, both of which are easier to access (and to get an early start) from Sorrento. There are no ferries from Pompeii. You only need one hotel or hostel that fits your budget and I'd look for it in Sorrento.

I have also stayed a night in a rather sketchy, cheap camping cabin near the entrance to Pompei Scavi, but I did not enjoy that experience. One reason being that there were only screens in the windows, not glass.

Circumvesuviana trains do run pretty early and late but some tourists would like to minimize the number of times they use that busy commuter service, as well as it adds a few euros to any trip to/from/beyond Sorrento.

Given your plans in the Sorrento area, I suggest you stay in Sorrento. Much better as a hub for your other destinations.

I too can recommend Hotel Il Nido---https://ilnido.it/, from personal experience.

Trying to do Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day is a bit ambitious. Doing the Pompeii site needs 4-5 hours ( to do it justice). And it likely it will be rather warm so by the time you are done with Pompeii you may not want/enjoy going up a dusty hot trail on the mountain.
If you want to see a volcano up close, Mt St Helens is just up the road.

The article is accurate, but sloppily composed. It does not clearly distinguish between Circumvesuviana line train stations and Trenitalia (long-distance national rail) stations. It also does not make sufficiently clear that "Pompeii" can mean both Pompeii Scavi (the ancient city, excavated and with three turnstile paid entrances) and a modern city that may well (I haven't stayed there) be an attractive place to stay.

I have often noted that Sorrento is a bit of a purpose-built resort town, but it has a spectacular location on a cliff (if only one beach, but that's one more beach than Pompeii has.) I doubt that modern Pompeii has very much charm, either. But Sorrento is better located for the vast number of people who want to make a Daytrip to the Amalfi Coast. And it's really close to places like Sant' Agata sui Dui Golfi, which are trivial daytrips. (I mention Sant' Agata because it has a wonderful downhill walk back to Sorrento, for those with good knees and legs.)

The article is written (my opinion) from the viewpoint of a backpacker who has to save every penny possible. But there are vast numbers of penny-pinching sun-seeking Brits who stay in group-tour hotels just outside Sorrento, with a shuttle bus (not for me!) into town. The real issue with Sorrento is not the price, it's that it books up six to nine months in advance. So those who can't plan well in advance find it (although it's not actually so ... ) an expensive town. They have to take the places that still have rooms when they finally get around to booking.

Note that the ferry marina is a long walk and a 2 Euro elevator, or a substantial (if cheap) bus ride from the Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento.

OP Vijay, download a Circumvesuviana schedule. It does NOT run late at night. If you care about Sorrento and Capri, you should NOT stay in Pompeii.

Ok. Thanks for all the advise. Will stay in Sorrento and try to book in advance as soon as I have booked my plane tickets. Also read in Rick Steve's book that the Circumvesuviana train has lot of ruffians later at night and that just won't work for me with my kid.

TIA,
VIjay

You should post this in the Italy forum.