Pompeii Ruins & Wine Tasting with Lunch on Vesuvius with Private Transfer

We did not get what we paid for!

The tour ticket information indicated with admission there was a two hour tour included. We were dropped off near the entrance and told to either purchase the audio guide or hire a private tour guide. In addition, we were supposed to have admission to Vesuvius national Park included and the Parco Archaeologico di Ercolano. The driver did not have information that these two stops were included in our package. To our operator verified that it was in our tour and that the driver had different information. The driver was unable to confirm with Viator and take us to those locations. Upon returning to our hotel, I contacted Viator and they indicated they would look into a refund or partial refund since we did not get to go to two the locations where we had admissions paid for. About two hours later I received an email from Viator that said they could not help. This tour was $640 for two people. It was not worth it. We would’ve been better off taking a guided tour with a larger group.

Response from the operator: We are truly sorry to read this review, especially because it contains several inaccurate and misleading statements. After thoroughly reviewing the booking details and speaking with both the assigned driver and Viator, we can confirm that the tour you selected only included round-trip transportation to Pompeii (without a guide) and a wine tasting with lunch at our family-run winery. That was clearly stated in the tour description at the time of booking. There is indeed an extended version of this experience that includes a stop at Mount Vesuvius, but that is a different product altogether and comes at a different price point. Unfortunately, it seems you confused the two and assumed services that were never included in your package. This was also confirmed by Viator’s customer service team, which is why your refund request was not granted. We understand that misunderstandings can happen, especially when travelers are excited and quickly booking multiple experiences—but it's unfair to leave a negative review as retaliation when the error stems from not carefully reading the tour description. Our team always strives to provide clear and transparent information, and we are proud of the hundreds of positive reviews we've received from travelers who do take the time to review what's included. It’s unfortunate when we become the target of unfounded criticism due to a customer’s oversight. We remain available for any clarification, and we truly hope future travelers will take the time to read carefully before booking, to avoid disappointment and misunderstandings.

via Viator

Nice day in Pompeii area

The tour is run by the winery and they have private drivers take you to the various sites and you tell him when to pick you up. The driver did not speak English and we realized after being dropped off that we did not have his contact information to adjust our pick up time. However, he was always prompt and waited for us where he said he would be and we had no trouble at all. The Vesuvius hike is steep but short. I would say moderate difficulty. The views were beautiful since it was a clear sunny day. The tour company was flexible in adjusting our start time to start an hour later. The winery lunch was a great way for us to end the day.

via Viator

Lovely Day in Pompeii with wine

Pompeii was so interesting! We took the guided tour which was great. The guide could have been more enthusiastic, but I’m sure repeating yourself over and over gets boring. Then our driver took us to the winery, Cantina Del Vesuvius. That was an outstanding experience! Great wines, great views and great staff!

via Viator

Read the whole description...guides not provided and neither is entrance to the sites.

Again, a very expensive tour, so I will try to help you decide if it is worth it for you. We started our day at Herculaneum, which is on the opposite side of Vesuvius to Pompeii. It opens half an hour earlier than Pompeii. We were dismayed to shell out another 18 euros each to enter the park. The ruins here are MUCH better preserved than Pompeii, with many mosaics and frescoes remaining intact. We had 2 hours here, which was adequate. We watched documentaries on YouTube to orient ourselves and save another 150 euros not having to hire a guide. Then off to Pompeii to shell out another entrance fee. The area you can explore now is so vast that you cannot see it in one day. Again, we researched the points of interest for us and saw them. We made the most of our time there, but you are likely to feel that you want more. Again, YouTube was informative and saved us from another exorbitant guide fee. Then it was off to the Cantina Del Vesuvius for lunch and wine tasting. The description of this experience is pretty flowery in the outline...everything happens at just one place. You are greeted with a glass of white, get a brief tour of the vineyard and wine-making area, then are seated for lunch. While it isn't a restaurant, they serve a wonderful antipasto board, followed by spaghetti and dessert, accompanied by their own olive oil. You get the other 4 wine tastings during the meal. The service was excellent. Please note though that this is your last stop. Unfortunately, Vesuvius was clouded over so we didn't get a view of it, nor the islands off the coast. What ultimately made me give this a 5 star rating was Alfonso -- he is AWESOME. Very knowledgeable about all things in the region, he gives you an impassioned discourse on many topics as you are driving between places. He even contacted us the day before to verify everything. All in all, a wonderful but very expensive tour.

via Viator

Perfect day trip

Pompeii was amazing, highly recommend getting a guide to show you around site. The winery is in a gorgeous location and lunch was enjoyable.

via Tripadvisor