Taking a bus from Minori to Pompeii (Piaza Porta Marina Inferiore) with luggage that I would like to store then taking a train to Naples later in the day. Are the bus and train station in the same location in Pompeii (near Pompeii Scavi)? Is there luggage storage available there? Do I need to make a reservation for luggage storage? Which train can I take from Pompeii Scavi to Naples (which is the most direct route) Thank you!
The Pompeii scavi website will tell you just about everything you need to know.
https://pompeiisites.org/en/
Are the bus and train station in the same location?
No. The train station (Villa dei Misteri) for the Circumvesuviana commuter train station is near near the Porta Marina entrance but it's a short-ish walk from the Piaza Porta Marina Inferiore (Piazza Esedra) entrance. You might want to go immediately to either the Villa dei Misteri train station or the Porta Marina scavi entrance to check your luggage as you'll be departing from the Villa dei Misteri station.
Is there luggage storage available there?
Yes, there is luggage storage at all of the entrances but see above.
https://pompeiisites.org/en/visiting-info/visitor-services/
Do I need to make a reservation for luggage storage?
No, and I don't believe that's even possible.
Which train can I take from Pompeii Scavi to Naples
Buy a ticket (they're cheap) at the Villa dei Misteri station across from the Porta Marina entrance, validate it, and get on the next train going to Naples. The Circumvesuviana runs. frequently; see a schedule here:
The Circumvesuviana Napoli Garibaldi station is connected to Naples main train station (Napoli Centrale). The Circumvesuviana is a battered, unlovely thing with no creature comforts but it gets the job done. Keep a tight hand on your valuables as you should on any form of basic public transit in Italy. :O)
This will show you the exact walk, and provide an example of how to do this research for other parts of your trip:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mZ59Frcyq5ZqcJXt6
We did not use the luggage storage, but walked by the attended counter where it was provided. Many posters on this newsboard have used this storage, and all have good reports on it. The ticket booths and luggage storage are almost directly across the street from the Circumvesuviana (commuter train) stop that runs from Naples to Sorrento. I have read that this train station is so busy that it has its own luggage storage, but that is seldom mentioned in posts here. I have never bought a train ticket at this location, but if you have to buy it at a newsstand or snack shop, you will need to Validate it in a machine on the departure platform before the train comes in. In the event that the rail company is selling tickets, they might have the date on them, and be too big to insert in the Validator. (?)
Just so you are not confused by the signage, the name of the train stop conflates two "gates" to the ancient site, "Pompeii Scavi-Villa Misteri". The latter gate, Villa de Misteri, does not have full tourist facilities, and is often "exit-only". Porta Marina, opposite the train station is the main entrance for coastal visitors.
Pompeii has a cafeteria style hot food cafe inside the ruins, so it is not necessary to load up on food and water before entering, unless you are ready to. I think I remember a drinking fountain indoors, near the bathrooms in that cafe. Our visit was long ago, but I'll bet there are "water bottle fillers" by now, at Pompeii Scavi. Naturally, there are lines for the food counter.
Thank you Kathy and Tim!