Recommend me a hotel - or even just a specific area - to stay for Mt Vesuvius trip

[BathSalt]

Hoping to do a combined beach and sightseeing trip, flying into Naples but where should we stay? Naples itself? Sorrento? Coast in between? We really would like to be on the beach if possible… Family of four.

Beaches aren’t great along that stretch. Look at Ischia or Amalfi coast but that is a day trip to Vesuvius/Pompeii etc.

Definitely not Naples if you want the beach. And Sorrento is touristy and overpriced. Are you hiring a car? You could stay in Maiori (nice beach) and drive into Pompeii, sightsee on the Amalfi Coast, etc.

Yes we will be hiring a car, so will look at Maiori thanks

I love Naples,one of my favourite places to visit.Yes there are beaches in Naples contrary to popular belief.Google and you will see.I stayed by Piazza Amadeo on my last visit in October,right by the Metro and a lovely area.

I am not a fan of Sorrento at all,not the true Italy.I lived in Milan for many years and love the hustle and bustle of big cities.

There is a place called Vico Equense, which is coastal and in between Sorrento and Pompeii. Highly recommend! We stayed in a gorgeous air bnb with the most fantastic host. There are some good travel vids of Vico on YouTube. It’s not touristy at all really but still has bars and restaurants. We are going back!

I liked Sorrento and it’s an easy base for day trips to other places. We stayed at one of the up the hill hotels which had amazing views of Vesuvius.

I love Sorrento too and also stayed in one of the hotels up the hill, the Minerva Hotel, which has THE best views of Vesuvius. Very easy to get to Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Coast etc.

@StBankwad about to post exactly the same!
we also stayed in a place with an amazing host who bought us fresh pastries every day.
my highlight was swimming in the sea with Vesuvius in the background!

There are a couple of towns along the Amalfi Coast with beaches - Positano, Atrani, Minori & Maiori.
Driving up the coast is breathtaking but a bit fraught! Over the mountains is probably quicker. Buses run along the coast to Sorrento.
I like Sorrento for its position & transport links - buses down the coast & trains to Naples, Pompeii & Herculaneum & Mt Vesuvius. It’s very touristy in the historic centre but that’s only a bit of it.