Naples - where to stay, where is safe?

DD and I stayed in Sorrento a few years ago in a family run hotel. It was lovely and very friendly. There was (at the time) a direct train to Pompeii that stopped right outside, very easy. I've never looked round Naples but DH and I have friends that visit quite often and say it is really interesting with lots to see!

Thanks all- interesting as we may go next year.

Rowantree- out of interest where will you be staying in Sicily?

Haven't stayed at Naples but stayed in a lovely hotel The Belaire in Sorrento. Small hotel all rooms have sea view. Food service and cleanliness good. Within walking distance to town. Did our own visit to Pompeii and used local bus/ferry for Capri, Amalfi coast .

Two female friends of mine, not spring chickens, stayed a couple of nights in Naples when travelling round Italy by train. They found a B and B on Internet, and said was spotlessly clean, nice people and cheap. Naples unimpressive - piles of rubbish everywhere - but they had no problems at all. Pompeii was scruffy, crowded and over run with stray dogs apparently.

We flew to Naples but didn't stay there. We stayed on the Amalfi coast at Maiori. We visited Sorrento, Positano, Herculaneum, Pompei, Amalfi town, Ravello and all the usual places. All extremely beautiful. It was quite a few years ago though.

Can't comment on hotels because we were in our motohome.
They say "See Naples and die" We joked: See Naples and your dying to leave.
It was so dirty and 'grim' looking. But as your only there to visit Pompeii all the above is irrelevant.

I'd second staying in Sorrento, unless you must stay in Naples. It is easy to get to Naples to site see. Sorrento is lovely, relaxing and yet lively at the same time, with lots of history to delve into.

Sorento was perfectly safe and there were plenty of excursions to Naples, Vesuvius, Capri, Amalfi, etc.

Rowantree I recommend looking at the Monastery stays website
www.monasterystays.com/
It isn't as awful as it sounds, these are buildings that are now used as accommodation for visitors. I stayed in one in Venice-really good value, a beautiful building, not 5 star but clean and comfortable and really well located. The company are very helpful and send instructions on how to get there just before you travel. I'm sure if you asked they will tell you where is safe. I stayed just outside Sorrento when I went to Pompeii. Enjoy.

WE went to Sorento a few years ago and were warned to be very careful if we visited Naples -- so we didn't.