Pompeii Vesuvius and other classics

Kez100

We would like to spend our family holiday next year in Italy, including Pompeii, Vesuvius and any other recommended classics.

We have two children who will be 13 and 15, a budget of £4k (exc food) or up to £6k if it includes food/excursions. We have up to a maximum of three weeks free in August. We have never been to Italy before so are open completely to advice.

Open to any type of holiday accommodation - self catering, hotel or cruise.

All advice is very welcome

Bronnie

I went in June, so don't know about peak time and depends what kind of holiday you want, but public transport is very good there and a budget flights to Naples very reasonable. Taxis generally recommended to be avoided as very expensive.

I had a lovely week there and it surpassed my expectations completely. I would spend more of my budget really getting out and about and on enjoying the food, which was quite delicious , rather than overspending on the class of hotel personally.

Sorrento itself is quite busy and will be very hot in August. There is a lot of accomodation on the hillside going out of town. At the end of a busy day's sightseeing, you will appreciate the breathe of fresh air you get a little higher up. A lot of the hotels just out of town have excellent free every-hour shuttlebus services to and from town, you really don't need a car all the time as you can easily access buses, trains and boats from Sorrento.

Have you considered villa accomodation through Owners Direct or similar?

martindow

Naples divides opinions as a place to stay - some love it others detest it. Sorrento is very nice and there is a good and cheap train service between the two servicing Pompeii and a connecting bus from one of the stations going up to Vesuvius. Agree with Bronnie the heat is stifling in August.

Red_dog_Sam

Sorrento is a good base for:
Vesuvius
Pompeii
Herculaneum
Capri

The Circumvesuviana train line runs back and forth between Naples and Sorrento so for just a few Euros you can get to Pompeii and Ercolano where the Roman ruins are just a short walk from the station. At Ercolano you can also get a minibus from the street outside the station exit to Vesuvius which goes so far up then you can walk up to the crater. These easy DIY options save loads on pre-arranged trips. From Sorrento you can take a boat to Capri - if you go there, visit the chair lift which takes you up to the top of the island for some fantastic views.
Another good trip out would be the "Amalfi drive" - but a coach trip is less nerve wracking than driving this precipitous route.
Can't beat the traditional stone baked pizzas over there either. You can find some helpful contributors on tripadvisor forums for Sorrento too.

Kez100

Thanks everyone.

Yes, we would use Owners Direct. We have used that site for property before - Cyprus in 04 and last year for France.

Stifling heat. I know but I don't know what else we can do. My daughters GCSE's mean Easter holiday revision classes and revision at half term in the spring. I cannot get Christmas off of work. I won't take the children out of school. I think we will have to accept the heat and go for the accommodation higher up where there is more 'air'

Ohhh, and Italian. I can get by in French - will knowing how that language works (and an Italian dictionary) help me?

Bronnie

Kez100 wrote: »

Ohhh, and Italian. I can get by in French - will knowing how that language works (and an Italian dictionary) help me?

It's nice to try and I always do the " hello, goodbye, thanks how are you" stuff in the local language, but you'll get away easily with English most of the time! I don't think you can do Italian in a timid English way, I think you've got to act it as you speak, which is quite fun!!

The ferry terminal offices in Sorrento are a little confusing at first and quite busy. At one of the desks there was an older English woman holding everyone up, while she painstakingly and fairly unsuccessfully tried to explain what she wanted in school girl Italian reinforced with hand gestures and mime. The Italian guy behind the desk eventually pulled himself up from his slouch over the counter, raised an eyebrow languidly and said, " Signora, speak ENGLISH pleeaassee!"

I think Ischia is worth a trip too especially if you've got time to maybe even spend a couple of days there. There are sandy beaches ( and not so many of those in the Sorrento area) and I think thermal bath spa parks, which you and your daughter might like, where you go into the park, then partake of the thermal pools and generally sunbathe and laze around the place! I ran out of time and couldn't fit this in but would be a nice relaxing day between the hectic hot excursions!

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/campania/lrh_ischia.htm




As has been said, lots on tripadvisor!