Vintage Van Experience: Tour and Transfer to Mt. Vesuvius

Just do it yourself

It wasn’t a ‘vintage’ minivan, it was a standard midsize (dirty) tour bus, with no seat belts. Communication and confirmation prior was lacking, the guide was practically mute, we got to Vesuvius and were then told to ‘find a guide at the bar’, we didn’t want to get off the bus after the walk to taste lava juice and were made to feel very uncomfortable. Expected much more e.g any information about the history of the volcano? Pointing at statues and lava isn’t guiding. Should have just taken the shuttle bus from Ercolano.

Response from the operator: we are sorry for the disappointment you felt during your experience, and we sincerely apologize. However, we would like to reiterate some essential points that you have made, you said that it was not a vintage bus, it was built in 2000, with 25 years on its shoulders it is considered a vintage bus, you said that it does not have seat belts, being a vintage bus it did not have them at the time of its construction, and therefore it reports as a fear its originality, you said that the bus was dirty, now I do not know what you found dirty, the fact remains that the vehicle had just left the garage, the day and the weather were terrible, with rain from the Sahara sand in those days, and it is possible that some kicks on the carpet were evident. On board you found the driver and he was not your guide, if during the journey he indicated something, he did it out of his sense of welcome and concern for your travel experience, indicating to you what was simply possible for him to do, since, I repeat, he was not the guide. The Volcanological Guide who accompanies you works for the Vesuvius National Park, they are the only ones authorized to work at the crater, therefore they work for the park and accompany all those who purchase the entrance ticket, you had included this in our package and we have therefore provided it to you. The package also included a stop for tasting typical local products, it is mentioned in the description, but you did not want to live this experience, you have uselessly withdrawn from an experience that could have enriched you further, but free to do so. I also want to point out that we have not been able to get in touch with you, you have not even responded to our messages on the chat and much less to your contact details.. however we want to give you our personal advice: we believe in the value of our territory and we know well what it is worth, try to immerse yourself more in the local fabric and come out of the shell of knowing everything, perhaps you could discover much more and enrich your travel experience. good life

via Viator

awful experience

It was a terrible tour/transfer. 1. the minivan was extremely old (made in 70s) and obviously in a very bad shape. 2. On the way back the driver went first all the way to the Naples airport to drop off 2 other tourists, which was a very long drive in the opposite direction. 3. It was supposed to be a 3.5 hours tour, but we were given too little time to enjoy the volcano while most of the time was spent in that ridiculously old car.

Response from the operator: YOU MADE TWO REVIEWS FOR THE SAME TOUR, YOU ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND AFTER ENJOYING ALL OUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT YOU ASKED FOR A REFUND, IT IS UNFAIR SO, WHEN YOU SAW THE VEHICLE YOU DID NOT GET ON BOARD, YOU DID NOT ACTIVATE THE SERVICE AND YOU TOOK A FULL REFUND.. not all donuts come out with a hole... I'm sorry to read your comment, but you should have at least read the announcement of the package you purchased, if you had done so you would have read that that tour, which is the one you booked, is actually organized with the vintage shuttle, which then you did not like or do not like the idea, you should have chosen another package but we performed everything you had in the package as always, and from those who like it we get a 5 star review, and from those who do not read like you we get one one.. but that's okay, readers will appreciate the genuineness of our work. thanks anyway

via Tripadvisor

awful tour

It was a terrible tour. 1. the minivan was extremely old (made in 70s) and obviously in a very bad shape. 2. On the way back the driver went first all the way to the Naples airport to drop off 2 other tourists, which was a very long drive in the opposite direction. 3. It was supposed to be a 3.5 hours tour, but we were given too little time to enjoy the volcano while most of the time was spent in that ridiculously old car.

Response from the operator: AND WITH THIS YOU HAVE MADE THREE REVIEWS FOR THE SAME TOUR, YOU ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND AFTER ENJOYING ALL OUR SERVICE AND SUPPORT YOU ASKED FOR A REFUND, IT IS UNFAIR SO, WHEN YOU SAW THE VEHICLE YOU DID NOT GET ON BOARD, YOU DID NOT ACTIVATE THE SERVICE AND YOU TOOK A FULL REFUND.. not all donuts come out with a hole... I'm sorry to read your comment, but you should have at least read the announcement of the package you purchased, if you had done so you would have read that that tour, which is the one you booked, is actually organized with the vintage shuttle, which then you did not like or do not like the idea, you should have chosen another package but we have performed everything you had in the package as always, and from those who like it we get a 5 star review, and from those who do not law like you we take one.. but it's ok all the same, readers will appreciate the genuineness of our work. thanks anyway

via Viator

We had a great time. The...

We had a great time. The tour operator is very communicative! I definitely recommend this to everyone!

via Viator

Ropey old banger, rather than vintage classic 😂

I only booked this trip as it was a 'standalone' visit to Vesuvius, rather than the usual Pompeii/Vesuvius combo. That would have been too much in one day and with a 14 year old in our family. We got the train to the tour operator's office and, rather than the vintage van promised, had an old battered Iveco minibus as our transport 😂😂. It was only us onboard and was fine. Our driver didn't speak English, but was friendly and played us an English language tour CD as we approached the site 🤣😂. Dropped us off at a Vesuvius and picked us up afterwards, on time. We wandered around on our own and utilised the guide on site for some background info. We could have stopped at the local Limoncello place en route, but didn't want to. It wouldn't be for everyone, but suited our purpose.

via Tripadvisor