Naples - where to stay, where is safe?

A few people mentioned Rohan on thread "what do you wear to travel in". Check out rohan.co.uk. Most of their stuff has concealed pockets, can be washed and dried quickly and is light to pack. We like it because we usually only travel with hand luggage. We are off to Sicily in October. I personally wouldn't bother with alarms. Sometimes if I feel it's a bit iffy I take sim out of phone & keep it separately, and sim is password locked (not just phone). Mostly people we've met on our travels are friendly and helpful, and it does help being older I think.

Lazigirl what other thread? Interested in the info about Rohan clothing. Could you post the link to the discussion, please? We are going to look at what we have carefully before deciding what safety stuff to take. Has anyone felt the need to take a personal alarm or is that just completely pointless?

Thanks, Lazigirl, that's the only other option I could see. It would be doable,but maybe a bit of a faff for just a short break. We'll see.

Maggiem. It's easy to get flight to Malaga from local airports then train to Seville - takes about 2.30 hrs I think, and you can buy train tickets before you go.

I've got a fancy to go to Seville too. I've been looking for flights but can only find direct ones from London. If anyone knows different I'd be grateful if they'd let me know!

Jings you will just love Seville am sure, we did. Amazing cathedral and Alcazar, gardens, people and flamenco. Just don't engage with gypsies thrusting bunches of thyme in your face and trying to tell your fortune. Saw lots of tourists being intimidated and ripped off like this. We carry a false wallet in case of robbery with old credit cards and small amount of money, but never had to use it. As has been said on another thread, also fans of Rohan clothing with concealed pockets for phone and money. Means you don't have to carry handbag. If you are sensible then life is too short to start stressing about what might happen - think the best of people, BUT keep a look out for shabby elderly Brit lady!!!

It's seems the usual thing for taxis from airport to city centres to have a set fare, stipulated by the authorities. Can't believe Naples is any different.

Going to Seville in the autumn. Glad to you found it to be ok lazigirl.

I'm glad I don't see these direful warnings before I go off on my city breaks with DD.

Is Vienna ok? Have all the Harry Limes been successfully dealt with?

We vwent to Sorrento about 4 years ago and visited Naples twice. We went on the ferry once and on the train another time. At no time did we feel at all unsafe. Staff in cafes were lovely, the museum was amazing(stuff from Pompeii) Sure, it was dirty in places, but it was very interesting. We had a lovely simple lunch in a cafe in a side street but otherwise didn't stray to far from the main streets. Don't wear flashy jewellery, keep your purse safe and you should be fine. If you go to Herculaneum, be warned. Don't take a taxi from the station, it's only a 10 minute walk to the ruins! We didn't go on any prebooked excursions at all and went everywhere on public transport, including Amalfi and Vesuvuiio. Our Italian is pretty minimal but we mnaged very well. Good luck

I stayed here at the Villa Manino when I spent a couple of days working in Naples last year. Very clean, very central, very friendly, and I felt perfectly safe as a woman on my own, obviously taking all the usual precautions in an Italian city. I walked to the rail station and took the train to Pompeii etc. Don't be put off, just go for it.

OMG. This thread is a real frightener for any Gransnet travelers. It's always wise to take precautions ie don't carry a handbag, wads of cash etc. BUT what is the worse thing that can happen?? I would rather experience a place warts and all when travelling, rather than the touristy, overcrowded honey spots. Be careful but just go for it and live a little. Even if you are scammed you can dine out on it for many a long day! We travelled for weeks on a budget, independently on public transport round Spain and were terrified after warnings about Seville. In the end we stayed in a local, central B&B and the only person who tried to scam us was an elderly down at heel British woman.....

EEEK, Lupin, I'm now going to order a large roll of barbed wire to wrap round myself as the train pulls into Napoli....!

Seriously though....we have booked a lovely looking hotel on the seafront in a nice area (we hope). I've started looking into stuff like personal alarm, various locks, fasteners etc to help deter bag-dippers( though I realise that nothing will deter the determined thief!) I will also bring my old school whistle. You never know!
The hotel proprietor recommended using their collection service which is pricey but worth it: they will meet our train and take us to the hotel.

We will be very vigilant - but we always are when we go into London, or to any big city. I wear my bag cross-body and keep a tight hold on the zip till we're out of the station but it's always on my mind. Nothing is ever completely safe.

If you must stay in Naples be extremely vigilant. Heed all the warnings. When Italians themselves warn you not to go - then avoid it. Stay along the coast somewhere and ferry to it if you must.
We went and used public transport - the airport bus and that trainline that goes around the coast - and a very nice Italian chap warned us of all the tricks and scams to look out for. The taxi drivers at the bus and train stations are predatory and you need to be careful about some rogues loading your luggage and then quickly driving off with it without you. At the station a group of youths seemed to try and herd my younger daughter onto the stairs between the escalators and were homing in on her backpack when someone shouted at them and they ran off.Having said that I've been pick pocketed at Waterloo.
I would so love to visit that museum in Naples to see the exhibits from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Have been to the two latter three times now and would love to go again. Don't let anything put you off that - just take plenty of water if it's hot.

we stayed near Sorrento a couple of years ago, had a day trip to Naples by train, walked from the station to the museum, stopped in a local cafe, very friendly and helpful, along by the market, went to the museum then strolled around, had a revolting lunch in a vegetarian cafe. It was an interesting city, we felt pretty safe, it wasn't exceptionally dirty. You get a massive pickpocket problem in all Italian tourist cities, and I would always be careful about handbags, wallets and valuables when on holiday (or in London for that matter). Pompeii was amazing, in fact everywhere we visited was lovely (Herculaneum, Capri, Positano, Sorrento). Have a great holiday.

I must admit DH wasn't very happy in Naples, he was always expecting me to get mugged. I thought it was fun. DS had asked me to find him some fake D&G sunglasses. I had a look round the market but couldn't find D&G. I asked one of the traders if he had any and he said "Come with me , I know someone who is selling genuine fake Dolce and Gabbana!" Well you can't say fairer than that

Hi Rowantree, My late husband and I holidayed in Naples a few years ago. I can recommend Pompeii, and Herculaneum is, in a way, even better. The museum in Naples is a must too but do be careful. There are lots of very rough people around - often Eastern Europeans living rough - and I caught somebody trying to steal from my handbag as I walked around the town while my husband had quite a lot of money taken. So if you do go, enjoy the sights but be very careful with your property and beware of pickpockets!

We were mugged in Naples. I would also suggest staying in Sorrento - it is beautiful and transport links are good.

Wish I'd known to do Pompeii back to front!

If you haven't already booked a hotel in Naples I think Sorrento is a better bet, though hotels there may be a bit more expensive. You can get a train from Sorrento to Pompeii and Herculaneum. Haven't been to Herculaneum but Pompeii is amazing. Also, you can get the ferry across to Capri.

Starbecklass that's brilliant - thank you for the tips! I'll look up the book and the Anthony Peregrine article :-)

casawan we have visited Barcelona a few years ago, just for the day, by train, from where we were staying. We were nervous because of its reputation but we took sensible precautions and never had any trouble. It was difficult to fit in everything we wanted to see but I would certainly return there.

lolarabbit you had your post cloned too...

Ooooh, Deedaa, it sounds amazing - and the museum is on our 'must-do' list. I'm also insisting on both Pompeii and Herculaneum, but Vesuvius will probably have to be mothballed for lack of time - and OH isn't keen on the idea anyway. I'm looking forward to the whole trip, trying not to worry too much about it - not keen on excessive heat (hence the October timing) and I get anxious about being unwell away from home - but if I don't go to places like this we will miss a lot and I don't want to stay boringly inside my safe comfort zone. There's so much to see in the world - we're limited in some ways as OH doesn't fly, but even so, there are enough places to visit if we are lucky enough and while we're fit and healthy enough to go. The problem will be finding the time for everything - not to mention the money (blowing the children's inheritance)!

Well we spent 4 or 5 days in Naples about 12 years ago and survived. We stayed in a very cheap hotel near the station. The room we were given was filthy but we complained and were given a much cleaner one. There was no restaurant in the hotel so we had breakfats at the nearest bar. Not a problem, it's what the Italians do. And there was a lovely pasticciera just round the corner.I don't know what went on in the hotel but the manager could frequently be seen handing cash over to men who came wandering in.

The museum in Naples is a must, full of stuff you've only seen in books - and all the pornographic stuff from Pompeii. The street (forgotten the name) where they sell figures for Christmas cribs is fascinating and of course the pizzas are the best in the world. The coffee is wonderful, they say it's the volcanic water that makes the difference.

It's a quick train ride to Pompeii or Herculaneum. If you aren't up to a lot of walking I would go to Herculaneum. The state of preservation is marvellous. You feel you could just move into some of the villas.

You should have a wonderful time, just don't worry about so much that you spoil the trip before you've even got there. Takes the same sensible precautions as you would anywhere and ask yourself if you would be so worried about visiting Barcelona, because the car / credit card scams mentioned here, plus pick-pocketing, mugging and a huge variety of other scams are endemic there, and in many other places too. Naples is edgy and fun, can be dirty, but has some fabulous hotels and restaurants. It's an experience to be enjoyed not avoided.