Rome & Pompeii with kids- how?

[1wokeuplikethis]

I’m a package holiday queen and seemingly useless at booking separate flights/hotels.

we are looking at going to Rome in the Easter holidays (probably NOT actual Easter weekend) with 2 kids. Ideally want to fly to Rome, stay there a couple of nights then get the train to pompeii and stay there a couple of nights and then fly back from Naples.

But I’m struggling hugely with the logistics, can anyone help! Anyone who’s done this, how did you organise?

I looked on skyscanner for flights but they all have stops making the journey 6+hrs, we need direct flights back to the same uk airport we depart from.

im useless at this. Any advice on how to go about booking would be greatly appreciated

Your original plan sounds great, it will be much less scary than you think. I have done trips like that in Italy before, into Pisa and out of Milan. We did separate trips to Rome and Naples though. Your flight iptions really depends on which airport you are trying to fly from. When booking one-way flights Jet2 often charge a huge premium, a one-way flights can be almost the same price as a return, so I would rule them out. Ryanair and easyJet have a much better pricing structure. Naples is probably your sticking point as there are less flight options you have direct flights to Manchester, Edinburgh and Gatwick with EasyJet. Direct flights to Edinburgh, Manchester, Luton and Stansted with Ryanair.
There are lots of airports in Rome, all these UK airports will have Rome flights. Tell us where you are flying from and I can tell you your options.

We went to Rome a few years ago. We stayed at the Eurocamp just outside the city and public transport was great into town. The camp had a pool, shop and restaurant.
We did do Pompeii in a day but we hired a car for the holiday so drove down. Definitely didn’t see it all but did see a lot and had a great day.
We also didn’t get direct flights we stopped in Brussels both ways.

we did this although not in one day. Flew into Rome and got the train to Naples, from Naples you can get a train which takes about an hour and goes direct to Pompeii. The train from Rome is quick but just to note we got stuck outside the station for 2 hours 🙈. could you do an overnight in Naples? I loved it there and pizza is amazing.

I'd the kids are very young/in buggies, don't bother with Pompeii. it's massive, no shade, wobbly cobbles and (for them) boring.

It's fascinating as an older child or adult.

Sounds great. Just filter the flights on Skyscanner so you only see the direct flights. We got the train to Pompei from Naples and just bought the train at the station. No need to book in advance.
The man in seat 61 website is very useful for information about train lines and stations in Europe.

Also you can book trains in Europe on trainline App, it’s really easy. If you do go to Pompeii I’d definitely bet a guide, ours was great and we’d have missed so much if we hadn’t got him.

Start with flightmapper.net - you can then see what flights there are from your local airports to Rome and Naples, then go to Skyscanner to see the actual dates, times and prices and to book the flights.

We did both Sorrento and Rome in one trip. Flew to Naples, got a driver to meet us there and went straight to Sorrento where we visited Vesuvius, Pompeii and Capri.
Easy enough to get the train to Naples and a high speed one to Rome.

If you're just picking one destination I would say Rome is always amazing. I didn't like Sorrento as a town that much, but it was a great base for visiting things.

On skyscanner you just select the direct button for direct flights. Or another way to find who flies to which destination is go on your airport site and they usually have a page with that information.

Archaeological Park of Herculaneum Can be done on the local trains from Rome, as can Sperlonga Villa Di Tiberio. Will be a long day but rewarding. Breakfast in Vatican is worth the additional costs and early start as you gain early entrance to the museum.

I am doing this trip next month. Fly to Rome, two nights there, train to Naples, three nights there, day trip to Pompeii from Naples, train back to Rome airport and fly out from there.

Easter is a super busy time in Rome but this year it will be insane due to Jubilee. Italian authorities have changed the self check-in rules for Air bnb, for eg, to ensure that all passports are checked upon arrival.

Tbh I'd go another time to Rome. It's a gorgeous city but your experience of it will be very different this time.

Herculaneum is more completely preserved and less crowded but Pompei has the famous vistas that you won’t forget. The train leaves you at the entrance to Pompeii- at ercole there’s a short walk but taxis are available
The trains are great and it’s a shortish trip from Rome but I’d stay in Naples / sorrento rather than a day trip from Rome. If you stay in Naples get the train from porta nolana - it’s the main station for the circumvesuviana train You’ll see the ticket office then go down some stairs to the platform.
If no one has mentioned it - its a jubilee year and Italy will be packed and more expensive

I’ve just noticed you have 4 days . I’d just pick either Pompei or Herculaneum . Leave something to come back for
There is so much variety in the Naples area - the archeological museum in Naples is renowned - but there’s nothing like the actual excavation sites .

Oh I see everyone is warning you about the jubilee ! It’s only once every 25 years so it’s special but Rome in particular will be packed .

Rome needs more than 2 nights under any circumstances - but Easter in the Jubilee year will be insane, and personally I'd avoid it and visit another time.

I'd do the full four nights in the Naples/Sorrento area - still lots to see and do, and will be far less crazy than Rome this year.

But if you must visit Rome this time, there is a direct flight filter on Skyscanner, if you've selected that and no flights are coming up, then they don't have any from the airport you've chosen. You can also choose to look at multi-city options on Skyscanner, so flying in to Rome and out of Naples.

yes you can easily do 4 nights in the Naples area. You could do half Roman ruins and half on the islands or in Naples itself .

I can steer you in the direction of airlines if you let me know what your preferred airport is.

Rome is better but not that many airports have direct flights to Naples which will make things a bit harder

Tia is such great advice I’m trying to take it all in. I think that Rome this Easter is a no-go so forget that but still interested in ways to see Pompei and heculeum (spelt wrong I know).

we might switch to going in Feb half term instead of Easter though. Which then puts Rome back on the agenda. I’m going round in circles!

@sonjadog your experience sounds much like what I wish to do- who did you book with/how/when did you go?

ideally we’d like to fly from Birmingham. Manchester if we really had to (better price or flight times etc)

Wizz from Gatwick to/from Rome, hotels booked on Booking.com. The train we will get when we get there, or possibly book a few days before online. I think we will probably prebook Pompeii, but I haven't looked into that. The train Naples-Pompeii we will probably just buy the ticket for at the station.

A quick look online suggests that Ryanair do direct flights from Manchester, and Jet2 direct flights from Birmingham.

How old are your children?

OP has already said @fanaticalfairy .

I did this 2 Easter's ago with 2 dc.

Pompeii takes a whole day & has limited food onsite - take a picnic.

Trains in Italy are excellent- you can book online in advance if you like.

I wouldn’t go to Rome this year unless you are Catholic and care about the Jubilee

DH and I did Pompeii as a day trip from Rome when we went, but this was before having kids. While it was fantastic I remember it being extremely exhausting, as we were there in June during hot weather and we got lost trying to find the way out (ironically we refused to buy the €5 map at the beginning!). There is little shade and the cobblestones will hurt your feet if not in suitable shoes.

Not sure I would have had a good time with kids, unless they are used to an all day excursion! It's a lot of walking.

I was in Naples for Easter last year and it was fine. I would avoid Rome at Easter in any year to be honest.

So arrange to be in Naples over Easter and go to Rome before or after (preferably after as there'll be less "build up" but I don't know when the school holidays fall).