There is a forum from 2016 regarding the walks of Italy tour, specifically the Pompeii tour from Rome with Amalfi coast drive. Does anyone have any updated thoughts on this tour and if there is a RS current promo code? Thank you!
P.S. this is my first time on the RS travel forum. I hope I am following appropriate protocol.
Haven’t done that specific tour ( that’s a super long day)
But I believe the discount code is RS10
Thank you for your quick reply and promo code. I agree super long. Could you recommend a day/half day tour to Pompeii from Rome?
I've edited this post from the original which shared how much trouble I was having getting in touch with Walks about refunds and that my emails weren't answered.
They did finally answer, pointed me to a live chat feature, and I was able to use my credit vouchers from previously cancelled walks. The most effective way to communicate with them is to use the live chat feature at takewalks.com
My aunt and cousin took that tour the year before lockdown (2019) and enjoyed it, although it would be entirely too much lost sightseeing time riding on a bus for me: at least 3 hours each way, not including transport time around the coast.
If at all possible, I might encourage you to take trains to Pompeii, hire a guide at the site, or join a tour which starts at the excavation, such as this one ("Pompeii Walk: from Pompei") if they're running them during your stay in Rome:
Going by train versus road shaves a significant amount of "sitting" time off the journey as you can get there faster. Lots of people do it, and you'll get help here talking you through how to do it.
I'll throw this out, although I've not done it, don't know anyone personally who has, and so can't vouch for the quality. It's a bit pricey as compared to the bus tours BUT if you really want to do the scavi via escorted tour in less than a full day, it's an option.
I've booked a similar tour through The Roman Guy. https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/rome/rome-to-pompeii-day-trip?travelDate=2021-11-08&guests=2
We don't mind the bus ride or the long day. I've done similar day tours in other countries, and they ended up being among my best days. (Grand Canyon South Rim from Las Vegas, with Hoover Dam and Seligman) (Private driver to Cesky Krumlov from Prague, with stops at 2 castles (Castle Hluboka and Divci Kamen) Yes, taking the train can be faster, but sometimes it is nice to relax and not have to find one's way around and figure out what to do. I know we won't be able to see everything in Pompeii, but we're okay with seeing the highlights. My husband really, really wants to see Pompeii, and this was the easiest way for us to do this as a day trip, given that we are not staying anywhere south of Rome in our trip.
Anyway, I had this booked for May 2020. The Roman Guy ended up being unable to offer a refund, under the circumstance, with so many cancellations at once. However, they did offer a credit for this and another tour we had booked with them (Vatican), and added 25 percent to the credit. I have since rebooked the tours with them for November (fingers crossed) and am trying to decide how we want to use the extra credit we have, due to the 25%.
Thank you all for your quick advice, especially since we are leaving August 20th!
I like the idea of traveling to Pompeii and hiring a guide there. My daughter still wants to do the long day trip to include Amalfi.
Carol, I hope you get a positive resolution on your refund.
KimB
Taking an early fast train to Naples is a really good suggestion, will save you boring rides to and from
There are companies that will take you to Pompeii and Amalfi
We used this company for transfers in the area and I know they offer Pompeii/Amalfi trips
They were excellent but I don’t think you’ll get a “guided tour” of Pompeii with them, look thru their offerings
https://www.topexcursionsorrento.com/?portal_referer_id=46
Carol
That’s a shame about Walks and their recent customer service or lack thereof
I hope whatever is going on is worked out
They do some pretty great tours and are always well recommended here
We did this tour in April of 2019 with Walks of Italy. The day is very long! The bus ride is fine and the guide talks over a microphone telling stories to the group on the ride, mostly about Italian customs, what we would be seeing, etc.
We felt like we missed a lot at Pompeii being on this tour and were disappointed in that. It’s rushed and although the guide was good there just wasn’t enough time to really get to see everything we wanted. The drive up the amalfi coast is gorgeous, but again time to actually visit is very very short. It’s a very long day and we were starving and had to eat, so we missed some valuable sightseeing time because of that. Glad we got to see it but sure would have loved to have more time.
Having done the tour I wouldn’t do it again. However, if it’s your only chance I totally get it.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
We felt like we missed a lot at Pompeii being on this tour and were
disappointed in that.
This is my other issue with a lot of the Pompeii tours that also include transport: many of them are only 2 hours in length at the site itself. The scavi is HUGE, and people with a real interest in it will likely feel shorted, as did the poster above. A tour which BEGINS at the site, and which doesn't hustle you off to a bus or other transport after 2 hours, allows you to do additional exploring independently once the tour is over as long as you don't exit the confines.
Longer tours are also available, albeit likely for adjusted prices. We did it on our own from Sorrento, with a book/map purchased at the scavi entrance and some prior reading (advised). That can work although it's very, very easy to get turned around in the rabbit warren of streets and alleys. We were there over 5 hours and didn't cover it all.
A look at the map and background info on the official website will provide some idea about how large and complex the excavation is:
http://pompeiisites.org/en/pompeii-map/
http://pompeiisites.org/wp-content/uploads/mappa-agosto-2019.pdf
Guides for hire at the site:
http://pompeiisites.org/en/visiting-info/guided-tours/
Update: Walks has now replied to me with apologies for not responding to previous emails. It makes me feel a little better about them.
I followed their directions, used the "live chat" feature on their new website takewalks.com
and any issues have been resolved.
That’s good to hear
Have a great time! We have not done this particular tour, but we have used Walks of Italy several times and always been very pleased with them. We did a Viking River Cruise with some friends (not really our way of travel) and Walks of Italy is heads and shoulders above the guides used by VRC. It's like the difference between a pro baseball team and the lowest rung of minor league teams.
You've gotten some good advice. Think carefully about your goals and alternative ways to meet them. I don't know how much the tourism has rebounded in that area, but realize you'll be trying to see the Amalfi coast in one of the busiest months of the year. There'll be bumper to bumper traffic. I don't know how long your total trip will be, but every minute is precious and sitting in traffic for a large part of the day doesn't sound like a good use of what time you have.
Thank you everyone! Great input and things to consider. I’m thrilled I joined the RS travel forum. I’ve followed RS for years with great success but never opened an account. Now I feel part of this helpful and adventurous community. Grazie!!!!
