Was planning on doing the itinerary RS lists in the Rome book... looks like the earliest train leaves Roma Termini @ 7:35. Is the day trip easy to do on your own, or is it more worthwhile to go through a tour company from Rome that handles all the details?
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you're capable of purchasing a train ticket and finding a seat on the train and make a connection in Naples then I would suggest you do it on your own - that's about all of the "details" that there are.
Posted by
OP
Maryland
41 posts
Thanks... is it necessary to buy the train tickets in advance? ie, do those early trains from Rome to Naples sell out or fill up quickly? For obvious reasons, Id want to start the day as early as possible, so would want to make sure I have a ticket. I could buy in advance and commit to a day/time, but if thats really not necessary, Id prefer a bit of flexibility regarding the day we go.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11834 posts
If you are sure of your plans, buy a ticket as soon as they are available for purchase. You can save a lot of money as long as you are certain you will use the tix. You can only buy Rome to Naples, though. The Circumvesuviana is not a reserved train.
I would recommend a guide for Pompeii, to make the best use of your time,. We loved Gaetano Manfredi , a Rick Steves pick.
Posted by
Fontainebleau, France
893 posts
I was prepared to do the trip on my own, but then I got a proposal from a tour guide to have a van come pick us up at the door of our apartment and take us there, the Amalfi coast and back to our apartment in Rome. If you want easy - it doesn't get any easier than that! We were a group of 7, so the price was very competitive with just doing it on our own. No stress about missing a train, or going to the wrong track, etc. I've taken the train many times in Italy, and it really is an easy thing to do, but this was incredibly easy!