Sorrento and Napoli

A high percent (about 90%?) of travelers on this forum see Pompeii and Capri as day trips from Sorrento and avoid sleeping in Naples. There are reasons why they make that decision.

Here's Rick's opinion on sleeping in the area within a few blocks of the Naples train station:

"The area can feel unnerving, especially after dark."

And you will have a child with you.

A few travelers, here, have reported no problem sleeping in Naples.

Another reason for staying in Sorrento, apart from it being one of my favourite places, is that Capri is nearer to Sorrento than Naples and Pompeii is about the same distance from both. So there is no advantage to staying in Naples in terms of ease of travel. Check out Venere.com and TripAdvisor for suitable hotels and B&B etc, there are over 100 for you to choose from!

Hi Sue,

I would recommend staying in Sorrento. I personally have not been to Naples...but from what I have seen in reviews is it's not the safest or cleanest place.

Sorrento is really great...plus it's near Pompeii (approx. 45min train ride) and the Harbor in Sorrento has frequest boat rides to get to Capri.

My husband and I stayed at Ulisse Deluxe Hostel (http://www.ulissedeluxe.com/index_english.htm). It is really like a 4star hotel (Rick Steves also recommends this in his Italy book). The prices are very reasonable and the place is very clean. The rooms were huge (with marble floors) and had a TV/Fridge etc. They had a breakfast Buffet that you could pay extra for. And it's in a great location.

Have a great trip!

This past April from Rome, we also bypassed Naples, and just headed straight to Sorrento. Also stayed at Ulisse in Sorrento. Nice hotel with good prices, about a 10 min walk from the train station in Sorrento. Capri was a day trip for us, as was the Amafi Coast on the Sita bus with visits to Positano, Amalfi, & Ravello. I'd recomend maybe hitting Pompeii on your way back to Rome, rather than a day trip from Sorrento. Suppose to be able to store luggage at the Pompeii gates.

Sorrento is lovely, a nice destination unto itself. I see no reason to pick Naples over Sorrento.

Sue,

I haven't found Naples too "dangerous" but there are certainly areas that are best avoided at night (Spanish Quarter, area around station?). I stayed near Piazza del Plebiscito on my last visit and had no safety concerns at all, even carrying expensive Camera gear. Perhaps this was because of the Police presence in that area (which can be seen on the street view). The Van seemed to be there permanently!

If your primary goal is to visit Pompeii and Capri, Sorrento would be the perfect base! When you arrive at Napoli Centrale, you'll need to transfer to the Circumvesuviana for the trip to Sorrento (watch your valuables). You'll also use that for the trip to Pompeii (details in the Guidebook).

For the trip to Capri, have a look at This site. If you're planning to stay there for the day be sure to note the time of the last boat so that you don't get "stranded".

One important note about Capri - if you're taking the last boat back to Sorrento, the Funicular leading from the town back to Marina Grande can be VERY busy in the late afternoon. Either get an early start so that you're at the dock in time OR you might take one of the open-top Taxis (that's what I did - quite an enjoyable ride).

One Hotel you might consider in Sorrento is This One. It's somewhat of a "Rick Steves Classic", very comfortable but not fancy. The owners are wonderful, and they'll be able to help you with sightseeing details. They have a beautiful rooftop terrace and share a beach with the Hotel next door. You can walk to the station from there, although it's a bit of a hike. It's right next to another Hotel, La Tonnarella. It's a bit more pricey, but you might consider having one dinner there as the view from their dining room is INCREDIBLE.

If you're interested in another restaurant suggestion for Sorrento, post another note.

I agree with everything everyone has said so far, but I would recommend staying at La Tonnarella. We've stayed there 3 times because we like it so much. Definitely a step up from Hotel Desiree, but it all depends on your budget.