Messina and Katakolon(Olympia)

[floridafolks]

Experienced CCers--

Do you have any thoughts on excursions in these two ports, given the fact that we arrive in the morning and leave at 2:00pm. With the short time in port is it better to take the ship's excursions? Like most ccers we prefer independent travel or small groups. I have read there is a train to get to Olympia but with the short time in port, is there time to travel via train and still see Olympia? In Messina is there time to travel by bus to Taormina? Are there plenty of taxis waiting at the ports and folks just share a ride?

[sea-explorer]

I can't help with Messina.

 

Options for Katakolon (I wouldn't risk the train, I don't think the first train gets back until sometime between 1 & 2pm) are:

 

1. Ship's excursion.

 

2. Hire a taxi at the port, there are plenty waiting at the gate.

 

3. Hire a car and drive yourselves. There is a car hire place just opposite the port gates.

 

http://www.rentacarkatakolo.gr/cars.htm

 

4. Book a driver. We used George, he was excellent. Website here:

 

http://www.taxikatakolon.gr/content/view/5/13/lang,en/

 

This is also a handy little website for Olympia where you can print off a map & a 'tour' to take with you.

 

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/clas/pathways/olympia/

[floridafolks]

I can't help with Messina.

 

Options for Katakolon (I wouldn't risk the train, I don't think the first train gets back until sometime between 1 & 2pm) are:

 

1. Ship's excursion.

 

2. Hire a taxi at the port, there are plenty waiting at the gate.

 

3. Hire a car and drive yourselves. There is a car hire place just opposite the port gates.

 

http://www.rentacarkatakolo.gr/cars.htm

 

4. Book a driver. We used George, he was excellent. Website here:

 

http://www.taxikatakolon.gr/content/view/5/13/lang,en/

 

This is also a handy little website for Olympia where you can print off a map & a 'tour' to take with you.

 

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/clas/pathways/olympia/

Thanks you so much for such great ideas. I had looked at the timetable for the train and I thought it would be pushing it. I did not want to spend the day worrying about getting back to the train on time.

Did you feel George's fee was similar to the ship's excursion costs, but with a more personal-go at the rate you please mode? How many did you have in your group with George?

[sea-explorer]

Did you feel George's fee was similar to the ship's excursion costs, but with a more personal-go at the rate you please mode? How many did you have in your group with George?

 

Yes, I would say we pretty much paid what a ship excursion would have cost us, but that was before our poor £ started to slump so badly. I'm really struggling with tours for our next trip. :(

 

There were 3 of us..there should have been four but our eldest couldn't make it at the last minute.

 

George was waiting right next to the port gate & drove us to Olympia..the entrance & picked us up there when we had finished. We couldn't go to the Museum as it was a Monday morning & it was closed. He then took us into the village where we stopped for a drink & had time to shop if we wanted. We then had a little tour to include the new ampitheatre & onto his home town..and his home where we stopped for him to pick us some fresh fruit, oranges and figs. Finally we stopped off for a short visit to the winery where my husband did a little wine tasting. He drove us back along the beach which my son loved. There is also a little duty free shop just inside the port gates where we stopped off to pick up a few things before boarding.

 

He speaks excellent English and has a folder in the car if you are looking for ideas on what to do with your time. (Most of this is on his website I think.) He will ring ahead and make appointments if necessary if there is somewhere you would like to go. I suppose he can only take 4, but if there are more of you he will find another driver to join him.

 

We were in port from 8am until 1pm if that is any help.