Our party of four adults, one family, will be in Italy, flying into Rome, for eleven days in January. We want to see Pompeii and just take a drive along the Amalfi coast before settling down for six nights in Rome. Since we are beginning our trip by renting a car to see Etruscan ruins in Lazio, and staying in Orvieto two nights (during a Jazz festival!), it looks most cost effective to just keep the car and drive south. We found a place for an overnight in Pompei, convenient and in a nice area (Hotel Forum), but RS and everyone on the Helpline here favor staying in Sorrento. If we drive, we will be arriving in Pompeii near lunchtime, so what advantage is there to driving further, probably in the dark, to Sorrento, after seeing the ruins? Will most things be closed in Sorrento in January? And since we are first-time visitors to Italy, are we foolish for driving so far at all? We looked at some tours that go to Pompeii and take a drive to Amalfi/Positano, but they seem to rush people around quite a bit. If we stay overnight, we can take our drive to the coast the next morning, and still be back in Rome that evening. Or is this all too optimistic? Should I reconsider the tour, or look at hiring a car and driver? We'd spend the money if it was really worthwhile.
Your feedback on any of this would be most welcome.
And thanks to all of you who share your experience and knowledge on this Helpline. It sure has been a terrific help to this nervous traveler!
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
695 posts
Dianne, personnaly, i would leave the car rental in Orvieto and take the train all the way to Naples, they have a train leaving Orvieto at 7:57 arriving in Naples at 11:07. Then you need to take the circumvesuviana train at Napoli Centrale, and take a 36 minutes ride to Pompéi. Tour Pompéi then again take the circumvesuaviana train to Sorrento around 35 minutes.
You could do the Amalfi/Positano drive by bus, or you could hire a private driver.
Posted by
OP
Albuquerque
16 posts
Thank you for your reply, Martine. I should have added to my post that we did consider the train, but ticket costs and the trouble of handling the luggage, made the car seem a more reasonable choice.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
In the interest of making sure you're prepared for first time driving in Italy and especially in the Naples area, I think we need to mention that many who have posted here in the past have not had good experiences driving in and around the Naples/Pompeii area.
If you want to see some of these prior posts, click here and follow the search instructions.
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
Don't drive in or around Naples, period! My neighbor here in Dallas lives full time in Italy with her Italian husband and even they hire a driver when they travel to Naples. It is a bonafide mess and you will be far more inconvenienced (not to mention a complete waste of precious vacation time) by sitting in a perpetual traffic jam than you will by traveling by train.
I think that it is an awfully long distance for you to have to pack up and move for only a one night stay, especially in January when some things may very well be closed or limited in hours of operation. This is what I propose. Do this as a day trip. Many here would recommend it. Take a very early train to Naples so that you arrive early in the morning. Arrange for a driver to pick you up and take you to Pompeii. It will take 4 hours to do it justice. Then, your driver can take you on a tour of the Amalfi peninsula, stopping along the way in Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, etc... having lunch along the way. If you Google "Amalfi Coast Limosine" there will be a large number of tour companies/drivers to choose from. Be sure to choose one that can work with you on a customized itinerary. Hiring a driver can be cost effective when split between the four of you.
Posted by
OP
Albuquerque
16 posts
Thanks, John. I think I will revisit the idea of using the train after hearing from everyone. And your suggestion for a day trip is a good one. I just wonder how much daylight we will have in January! I will check train schedules and sunrise/sunset times, too. We aren't big shoppers so a drive with a stop for lunch, maybe a few photo ops, would be sufficient. Has anyone else out there managed to do Pompeii and the Amalfi drive, with a and/driver, in one winter day?