Italy - Day trip to Pompeii

I'm planning a day trip to Pompeii from Rome and would appreciate any insights or suggestions.

I booked airport transfers with Rome Shuttle Limousine based on the reviews in another thread and saw that they also do tours to Pompeii and elsewhere.
Has anyone used them for a tour?
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/en/pompei-napoli.php

We did this about 18 months ago. Did not use any official tours, just took the train from Rome to Naples, then the smaller commuter train to Pompei. The ruins of Pompeii are just a short walk from the train station. It was not difficult to do in a day. We started fairly early but were back by dinnertime.

We did this about 18 months ago. Did not use any official tours, just took the train from Rome to Naples, then the smaller commuter train to Pompei. The ruins of Pompeii are just a short walk from the train station. It was not difficult to do in a day. We started fairly early but were back by dinnertime.

+1

If you catch the faster Rome-Naples-Rome trains, this is not a hard day trip from Rome. The commuter train from Naples to Pompei is the circumVesuvio.
You can hire a guide at the ruins if you wish.

We will probably be renting a car and would like to drive to Pompeii. Is parking easy to find? How much is it?

I am an experienced driver with a GPS. When I tried to drive to Pompeii...I went crazy. Never found it. Decided to take the local train which has a stop just feet to Pompeii entrance. My advice...take the train both ways.

I am an experienced driver with a GPS. When I tried to drive to Pompeii...I went crazy. Never found it. Decided to take the local train which has a stop just feet to Pompeii entrance. My advice...take the train both ways.

Thank you.

Just did this in May, we took the fast EuroStar train got to Naples and easily changed to the local train. You will need to buy a seperate ticket in Naples. I think it was around 3 EUR each way. Two stops have Pompei in the name you want Pompei Scavi (sp) Entrance will be right outside of the train station, just past the vendors.

If you finish early you can take the same train to Sorento (about 30 minute from Pompei) for a nice meal before heading back to Rome.

I drove from FCO to Pompeii and had no trouble finding it. No GPS (at least I don't remember having it).

We stayed overnight in the town and visited Pompeii in the afternoon and the next day. Could have spent more time there.

+1

If you catch the faster Rome-Naples-Rome trains, this is not a hard day trip from Rome. The commuter train from Naples to Pompei is the circumVesuvio.
You can hire a guide at the ruins if you wish.

went late last Oct , took the slow train (on my way back to Rome the train never pulled in so they put us onto the fast train) had more then enough time taking teh slow train.

You geta map when you enter every so often I would tag along and listen to aguide in english when I came across them but basically wandered around by myself had aGreat time.

anyone heading over should do a search on FT and they will find more then they need detailing exactly how to get there by the trains, thats how I managed to do it

If you only want to hit Pompei, train is better.
If you want to seize the opportunity for some other stops or short trips outside Naples, eg at Reggia di Caserta (http://www.google.com.mt/search?q=reggia+di+caserta&hl=it&prmd=ivnscm&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UjQSTublDY7FswaquKDbDg&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=677) on the way to Naples or a visit to the Costiera, definetely better if you manage to avoid interreg/local transport and get a car, otherwise it takes ages.
In case you want to spend some hours in Naples, eg for a dinner, still the winner is the train - better if HS.

There are a lot of information regarding Pompeii online if you have time to read about it before you go. There are tour guides at the entrance for hire if you want one.

The Naples train station is a very busy place, a bit of communication challenges if speaks no Italian. So know what ticket you want and know the schedule helps a lot. IIRC, the Eurostar has first class and second class, and they may put you into the next train even though there is an earlier one but leaving soon...