Naples, Italy help please

dangers

We're off to the Naples area in April of next year. Flights are booked, now to sort out the accommodation.

We're there for 5 nights and I was wondering if any of you have any recommendations as to where to stay (or not as the case may be!). There are four of us - 2 adults and 2 big teenagers. If it has an indoor swimming pool, then that's even better (outdoor pools won't be open when we go). Are there any areas of Naples that are not to be recommended?

We'll be visiting Sorrento and Pompeii amongst other places so will hire a car. If you have any must sees, then please also let me know.

However, as our flight back is at 10 in the morning, I don't want to be too far away.

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

martindow

dangers wrote: »

We'll be visiting Sorrento and Pompeii amongst other places so will hire a car. If you have any must sees, then please also let me know.

You don't need a car to go to Pompeii or Sorrento as there are frequent and cheap trains. As in most cities, a car in Naples will be a problem finding parking and I find the driving in Naples hair-raising.

I've never fathomed out when red lights need to be observed - locals sometimes stop and other times go through them.

HHarry

Agree with Martin about forgetting the car.

Sorrento can be done by train, hydrofoil or there's a direct bus from the airport. Coldn't believe how cheap the train was when we were there!

agrinnall

I've just read Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There" which contains a not-at-all complimentary section on Naples (although he did like Sorrento). It's quite old, early 1990s, but my experience in Naples 10 years later wasn't much better.

Alan_Bowen

Agreed, I would suggest you stay outside the centre of Naples altogether. Plenty of accommodation in Sorrento and regular trains to Naples (if you must) and to Pompeii

macman

Almost all the conventional 'sites' for tourists are outside of Naples. As is most of the tourist accommodation. Most visitors to the region go no nearer Naples than the airport.

zagfles

We loved Naples (read previous discussions here). It's worth going for the archelogical museum which has loads of exhibts from Pompeii/Herculaneum (you'll see lots of holes in the walls and be told "that's now in the museum in Naples"!!). And the pizza is excellent in its birthplace!

But I'd agree with the others that Sorrento's a better base - there are direct coaches from the airport to Sorrento, look up the timetable and if there isn't one early enough you could always book an airport hotel for your last night. Also agree that a car is a bad idea, the drivers are nuts, the roads are choked and the public transport is excellent.

Have a search here there's loads of previous discussions.

Fen1

The Sansevero Chapel has stunning marble sculptures.

Look up 'ossuary'; the Neapolitans love their skulls;-)


Please give yourself lots of time to go around Pompeii and Herculaneum. It might be worth hiring a guide for these sites, better than wandering around thinking 'it's a wall, it's a another wall, it's yet another ruddy wall'.

Don't even think of driving!

nickcc

agrinnall wrote: »

I've just read Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There" which contains a not-at-all complimentary section on Naples (although he did like Sorrento). It's quite old, early 1990s, but my experience in Naples 10 years later wasn't much better.

Have to agree. Make sure nothing of value is left in your suitcases if using Naples airport. We wondered why our suitcases had white chalk marks on them when we collected them on our return to the UK, our insurers informed us that it was extremely likely that valuables had been seen during pre return flight X-ray and then removed by the baggage handlers. Unfortunately locks on suitcases are no barrier to determined thieves.

peachyprice

Yes, another vote here for not staying in Naples.

It's definitely worth a visit, it's certainly an experience you won't forget and the pizza is to die for, but it's not a city for a holiday.

I would go along the coast to Sorrento, it has great transport links by train up towards Naples taking in Pompeii and Ercolano and by bus in the opposite direction towards Amalfi and Salerno. A car really isn't necessary, especially for such a short trip.

savethepandas

OH's family comes from Naples, so his comments would be avoid Spaccanapoli and the area around Piazza Garibaldi, the main train station.

His aunt has had necklaces ripped from her neck, by passing motorbikes, so I leave the jewellery at home and have never had a problem.

We find the MGallery hotel Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli a real haven after a day sight seeing in Naples. Other nice areas are Vomero and Santa Lucia.

If you do need to be near Piazza Garibaldi for a early departure, the UNA is nice, but I would avoid an evening meal in the restaurant, the food is incredibly poor by Italian standards.

Inside the Pompeii site, is an Autogrill, more commonly found at motorway service stations and surprisingly good.