Help me plan this Italian holiday please - Naples and surrounds.

[Celeriacacaca]

We will fly into Naples and I imagine will have 2-3 days there to visit Pompeii/Mt Vesuvius. Then we have 3 nights which I'm not sure where we are best to spend them - somewhere on the Amalfi coast (or two places?). If you've been to this area, where would you advise please? (This is for DH, myself and two teenagers who're pretty tolerant of sightseeing etc). After that we're planning to go to Ischia for 5-6 nights so, again, any recommendations on areas to stay on the island would be helpful.

@AllideasAndNoAction I first visited Capri on a school trip and I thought it was wonderful. Had never been anywhere like it. Less busy back then. Went 12 years ago - hell. Said never again, then my parents desperate to see it and took them a few years ago. We all agreed never again!

I’ve never knowingly seen a prostitute in Naples. I’ve not seen any gangs either I’ve spent about 3 weeks there over a few separate trips. Yes there are hustlers near the train station. Homeless people- mainly migrants. But I don’t spend any time near the train station. I tend to get a taxi to/ from the station. Station itself is very nice and not dangerous. Just keep your wits about you and plan your journey in detail beforehand so you don’t look like a confused tourist! Trenitalia online booking is great. Yes there are impoverished beggars in the historic centre, but no more than Athens etc. The vast majority are normal Italians going about daily life. Some well dressed, students, office workers, working class people. Much like London. I wouldn’t walk around the Spanish quarter after dark if i didn’t know where I was going. But would in daytime. There’s a restaurant I know in there I like and I head straight to it. The route is busy and I’ve never felt unsafe.

OP - if you ever feel unsafe in Naples just jump in a taxi. It’s cheap enough. I’ve felt unsafe in London but not jumped in a taxi because the cost is prohibitive. Study a map, do you research on areas you should be careful and enjoy Naples.

From the comments on here you’d think it was a war zone! So much hysteria over an interesting and pretty city!

We went to Sorrento this summer and it was lovely. Went to both Herculaneum and Pompei and Herculaneum was definitely better, if you can pay extra for the tour guide there as they take you round and really give you a great feel for the place and tell you loads more information than you would normally find for yourself.
We were a bit concerned that we were told the volcano had been rumbling a lot lately, I had always assumed it was dead!

@Daisypod yes Vesuvius is due an eruption and has been for a long time now. Don’t worry - there will be ample warning as it’s closely monitored. Agree Sorrento is pretty and a good base for Herculaneum and Pompeii. I can see why visitors like it especially if you get a good package deal. It’s not on the Amalfi coast and doesn’t have a beach so I think there are better places to stay if seeing the Amalfi coast is your priority.

Naples is on Italy’s invisible cities tonight at 8pm - catch up on iPlayer!

@AllideasAndNoAction
🙄

See Naples and die.

Or die of boredom in Sorrento

I wrote a long reply last night and then lost it!

I love Naples. I've been twice and can't wait to go again. There is so much to do and see. It is just so alive.

Highlights include the museum (seriously world class) , the amphitheatre in pozzuoli, The Fontanelle cemetery(never seen anything like it) , underground Naples, and the palace at Caserta.

There are some amazing art galleries some of which we have yet to visit. Google Caravaggio Naples and you should get some addresses.

We never felt unsafe there. The first-time we went we stayed opposite the main station with no problems whatsoever. The second time we stayed down near the castle in an airbnb. (Was good but can't recommend because the bar below played very load music until 4am)

Have an amazing time.

And take a look at the travel forum on trip advisor and read some of the trip reports -its a mine of information www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187785-i421-k7882577-Post_your_Naples_trip_reports_here-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html

Thanks FrenchFancy, that TA thread is brilliant!

Had a read of the report. Ah Nenella! One of my favourite restaurants- crazy place and food at silly prices!

You are in for a treat whatever you do. We went for two weeks rented a place in nerano which is the tip of the peninsula overlooking Capri. It's a tiny seaside place but easy to get to all of the Amalfi coast. We did have a car and although it is a hairy but spectacular drive we didn't find it too scary as the traffic is so so slow!, Capri beautiful but very crowded I hated the blue grotto we hired a boat for the day and the man " driving" the boat warned us to give it a miss but we wouldn't be told. Very aggressive men policing the entrance an altogether grim experience for me.
I must say I found sorry to a bit soulless and geared towards tourists in a grim way but it is scenic. Naples only spent the day - very atmospheric - there was quite a big gang of us so didn't feel threatened in any way but it's definitely a working city.
We also travelled down the coast to Santa Maria de castelabate near paestrum this was by far the best part of the holiday. Scenery people food bee gees tribute band one evening in the town square such fun for the young people.

I didn't like Sorrento much. Yes, it's beautiful, but it's SO crowded and busy, and everywhere we went, people just spoke English to us straight away, gave us English menus etc. Part of going abroad for me is trying to practice my Italian/French/whatever, and figuring out menus and so on. And it was so SO crowded.

What I did really like on that holiday was Pompeii, and even more, Herculaneum (quieter than Pompeii) - most definitely worth seeing both. I also loved Capri - we did a day trip on a boat from Sorrento and a circular boat trip round the island, and that was just gorgeous.