Doing Med ports on Own questions

[CubCatsK&D]

If you buy a BIRG ticket for the train, you can use it all day for all metros and buses. I only costs about 9 euros and you don't have to wait in line anywhere else. Make sure you validate -date stamp it at the yellow machines.

Yeah, the info we had on the BIRG at the time only mentioned the metro, so we weren't sure about the buses (and since it was only a euro just got another bus ticket). But I believe you are correct and that it is good for everything. It's the best deal going.

 

[jokicha]

Yeah, the info we had on the BIRG at the time only mentioned the metro, so we weren't sure about the buses (and since it was only a euro just got another bus ticket). But I believe you are correct and that it is good for everything. It's the best deal going.

We used it on all three, bus, metro and train.

 

[JeanieP]

Does anyone have friends that took a taxi to Mondello Beach, just a couple of miles outside of Palermo? It looks like it is a popular place to go in the summer, and I did find bus route information, but would rather just take a taxi, if possible. DCL is charging an obscene amount of money to just go to the beach , and I just cannot imagine that the taxi ride from Palermo to a few miles away (Mondello is Palermo's main beach) would cost anything over 40 Euros, if that.

I would greatly appreciate any information, even if it is on folks' general experience with the taxis in Palermo. thanks!

 

[Shercara]

Does anyone have friends that took a taxi to Mondello Beach, just a couple of miles outside of Palermo? It looks like it is a popular place to go in the summer, and I did find bus route information, but would rather just take a taxi, if possible. DCL is charging an obscene amount of money to just go to the beach , and I just cannot imagine that the taxi ride from Palermo to a few miles away (Mondello is Palermo's main beach) would cost anything over 40 Euros, if that.

I would greatly appreciate any information, even if it is on folks' general experience with the taxis in Palermo. thanks!

Would love to hear this answer too!

Thanks,
Sherri

 

[grizbuzz]

Just got back from the June 6-16 cruise and I'll try to post a trip report later, but thought I'd give input here to start...

First of all, let me say the trip was wonderful and exceeded my expectations! We traveled with two small children and did most excursions on our own. With a 2 and 4 year old, we took the approach "less is more" when it came to seeing things. When excursions got too long, it wasn't too much fun for anyone.

Here are some highlights:

Palermo: We did the Mondello Beach tour with Disney in the morning and really enjoyed it. I had tried to get information on taking our own transportation and never did find it. In addition to getting ground transportation, you get access to private area of the beach with chairs, plus a free gelato. Glad I did the tour.

Naples: We took the hydrofoil over to Capri, which was super easy. Just walked a few hundred yards from ship to hydrofoil and purchased tickets at a ticket booth. I think it was 15 euros each way for adults and small kids were free. Capri was beautiful and we took the funicular up the hill (which was very inexpensive).

Olbia: Again, here we did a Disney excursion, as I couldn't find much info on self excursions. Took the Train to Galluria. It was a beautiful bus ride and train ride and we even made a brief stop on Costa Smeralda on way home. Probably a bit too much bus and training for our active 2 year old. I think spending the day on the beach would have worked better for us.

La Spezia: Loved this port!! We took a 10 euro taxi ride from port to train station and then bought round trip tickets to Monderosso in Cinque Terre for about 10 euros (for both adults round trip) at train station. It was an easy trip. We made a stop at just one of the Cinque Terre towns, but I'd recommend doing a bit of research and stopping at a couple (or more). BEAUTIFUL, friendly people, great food. Definitely easier/less expensive than going to Pisa or Florence and very beautiful.

Marseilles: We took the free shuttle into Old Port and just walked around. Honestly, it was a bit trafficky and noisy for us at Old Port. Probably our least favorite stop. There were lots of nice restaurants there, but I'd do a little more research next time and figure out how to get to a more relaxing and beautiful spot next time. Shopping and restaurants with two little ones isn't too much fun. Though we did find a merry go round right there in the center of Old Port which they enjoyed.

Villefranche: Wonderful port! Easy tender into town and a beautiful beach and lovely shops and restaurants right there! Train station an easy ten minute walk. We took a short train ride to Monte Carlo and walked around and then returned back to Villefranche where we spent a couple hours on the beach and then had crepes at one of the restaurants in Villefranche. Train also went to Nice and Cannes, but we just went to Monte Carlo.

Citavecchia: I had purchased train tickets online for us to do a self tour to Rome. But we were tired this day and decided to just stay on the ship, as I've been to Rome before, my husband needed some rest and the kids wanted to stay on the ship. Ended up being a wonderfully relaxing day. And I got a full refund online for the train tickets.

Barcelona: We got in on an overnight train from Paris the morning of June 16 and ended up just going to the terminal at 9am. I had intended to get out to Barcelona to see some sights that day, but didn't make it.

If you have any questions, let me know.

 

[jackson190]

We are really torn between these two areas. We are considering taking the train to Florence and doing it ourselves but the ride is long and my family may have had their fill of museums at that point. Was the train easy to take to Cinque Terre? Was there plenty to explore?

 

[grizbuzz]

We are really torn between these two areas. We are considering taking the train to Florence and doing it ourselves but the ride is long and my family may have had their fill of museums at that point. Was the train easy to take to Cinque Terre? Was there plenty to explore?

We found it very easy to do the train...just got a round trip ticket to Monterosso from the self service kiosk at the La Spezia train station. And the trains came quite regularly. Only thing I'd say, is make sure to pay attention to the difference between the regional trains that stop at every stop in Cinque Terre and the express/Intercity ones that went from Monterosso straight to La Spezia. If you want to stop at several towns in Cinque Terre, go for the regional/older trains.

Helpful info on Cinque Terre here:
http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/

 

[arbitrage]

We found it very easy to do the train...just got a round trip ticket to Monterosso from the self service kiosk at the La Spezia train station. And the trains came quite regularly. Only thing I'd say, is make sure to pay attention to the difference between the regional trains that stop at every stop in Cinque Terre and the express/Intercity ones that went from Monterosso straight to La Spezia. If you want to stop at several towns in Cinque Terre, go for the regional/older trains.

Helpful info on Cinque Terre here:
http://www.cinqueterreonline.com/

We want to make it to Vernazza for the market in the morning, but still be able to at least see pisa. Do you think we would have time to do a couple of hours in Cinque Terre and still catch a train to Pisa in the afternooon, or would that be cutting it too close.

 

[vegs1]

Hi Grizzbuzz...thank you for the info! When you did the train from Villefranche to Monaco, was there a stop to go to Eze on the way or do you know if that would be by bus?
We are planning to go Villefranche-Eze-Monaco and then return directly to Villefranche and were wondering how much time we'd likely be spending in each place. What sights did you see in Monaco and did you find it easy to get in town there?

Thanks for the help!

 

[scrapycruiser]

Grizbuzz...another Cinque Terre question...Did you try any of the local foods ? What did you like ? What about shopping ?

 

[grizbuzz]

Hi Grizzbuzz...thank you for the info! When you did the train from Villefranche to Monaco, was there a stop to go to Eze on the way or do you know if that would be by bus?
We are planning to go Villefranche-Eze-Monaco and then return directly to Villefranche and were wondering how much time we'd likely be spending in each place. What sights did you see in Monaco and did you find it easy to get in town there?

Thanks for the help!

Yes, there was a stop to go to Eze on the way to Monte Carlo, as well as Beaulieu Sur Mer. Eze was about 10 minutes from Villefranche and Monte Carlo was about another 10 minutes.

We just walked around Monte Carlo (with stroller) from the train station -- checking out the yachts at the harbor and then the casino. Since the last tender around 11:30pm at night, I'd think you could easily do Eze, Monte Carlo and Villefranche.

 

[grizbuzz]

We want to make it to Vernazza for the market in the morning, but still be able to at least see pisa. Do you think we would have time to do a couple of hours in Cinque Terre and still catch a train to Pisa in the afternooon, or would that be cutting it too close.

That sounds like a lot to me, but may be possible. You might check out the TrenItalia website for schedules
http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index2.html

Remember, that you must tender in La Spezia. They had lines in the morning for tendering and required that passengers get passes to get off the ship. By the time we left the ship around 11am, passes were no longer required. But I'd leave yourself sometime to get on and off ship. Also remember that Rome is the day before La Spezia...and that's a real busy sight seeing day.

We didn't stop at Vernazza, but it looked beautiful from the train.

In terms of restaurants, there were wonderful seafood restaurants...we had lunch in Monterosso and it was some of the best food we had in Europe the whole trip. And shopping was good, too .

 

[vegs1]

Yes, there was a stop to go to Eze on the way to Monte Carlo, as well as Beaulieu Sur Mer. Eze was about 10 minutes from Villefranche and Monte Carlo was about another 10 minutes.

We just walked around Monte Carlo (with stroller) from the train station -- checking out the yachts at the harbor and then the casino. Since the last tender around 11:30pm at night, I'd think you could easily do Eze, Monte Carlo and Villefranche.

Thanks for the speedy response grizbuzz. It's greatly appreciated. I believe we'll be able to do them all...and possibly go the other way to Nice too instead of a pricey shore excursion. Thanks for the help.

 

[JeanieP]

Hi Grizzbuzz,

Did you enjoy Mondello beach? I am thinking of changing my excursion from Selinunte & Marinella to Mondello Beach. Was the beach nice, sandy and swimable? Was there a restroom? I only ask because we will have DS (4) and DD (6) with us and I want to make sure they enjoy the beach that day. Your thoughts appreciated!

 

[grizbuzz]

Hi Grizzbuzz,

Did you enjoy Mondello beach? I am thinking of changing my excursion from Selinunte & Marinella to Mondello Beach. Was the beach nice, sandy and swimable? Was there a restroom? I only ask because we will have DS (4) and DD (6) with us and I want to make sure they enjoy the beach that day. Your thoughts appreciated!

My boys (ages 2 and 4) enjoyed the beach a lot. It was swimable (not too warm, but refreshing), sand was nice and there were outdoor showers and I think a restroom there. It was a nice relaxing morning for our first excursion of the cruise.

Pictures of beach at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Grinold/MondelloBeachSicily

 

[funnybunny921]

For La Spezia

1. Again how far was the train station from the ship?
2. Would you suggest just taking the train to Piza and doing the tower on your own?
3. did anyone take the train over to cinqueterre instead of going to Florence??

thanks

we did cinque terre and la spezia. don't over look how nice that port town is. Cinque Terre is beautiful like with every stop i just wish we had more time to see more of it. by then though we were already tired from much of the instensive ports.... after our day in rome it was nice to sleep in a little and go have lunch in town and then make are way to cinque terrre for the afternoon.

 

[funnybunny921]

We are really torn between these two areas. We are considering taking the train to Florence and doing it ourselves but the ride is long and my family may have had their fill of museums at that point. Was the train easy to take to Cinque Terre? Was there plenty to explore?

also there is a tourism office that sells cinque terre tickets. these are for the train and the park walk and the museums. If you are up for a walk you can walk the first tow to the second in under 30 min and really enjoy some of the cliffs and sea.... then you can always catch the train back if you don't feel like walking back. there are a lot of sairs in many of these towns though usually you can follow the road as there aren't many cars. we spent time in Riomaggiore and went to the top of the old castle/lookout it was well worht the climb.

I just want to point out that there is a difference between buying the train ticket and buying the pass as you won't be allowed to walk on the park walks with out the pass and i would want you to have to pay twice

 

[arbitrage]

Great info thanks. We are going to do cinque Terre in the am as there is a market that day and then do the pisa tour possible in the afternoon

also there is a tourism office that sells cinque terre tickets. these are for the train and the park walk and the museums. If you are up for a walk you can walk the first tow to the second in under 30 min and really enjoy some of the cliffs and sea.... then you can always catch the train back if you don't feel like walking back. there are a lot of sairs in many of these towns though usually you can follow the road as there aren't many cars. we spent time in Riomaggiore and went to the top of the old castle/lookout it was well worht the climb.

I just want to point out that there is a difference between buying the train ticket and buying the pass as you won't be allowed to walk on the park walks with out the pass and i would want you to have to pay twice

 

[dlgrn3]

Hi
Thanks for all the great information! You have no idea how much it has helped me out! I would love to get the contact information on your driver Antonio in Naples...do you think he can accommodate 9 people? We are going on the August 8th cruise, and I am sure I will have tons more questions if you dont mind?

 

[jokicha]

I've been looking for the contact info that I had mentioned before on Antonio, our taxi driver in Naples. I guess I had put it in a "really safe" place that even I couldn't find it

Here it is...just as he wrote it for us.

Antonio - Taxi driver in Napoli (Naples)
+39 3385 643 176
+39 3201 472 507

email address is ADEBIASE05@yahoo.it

If I knew how to post pics, I would post one of him. Any suggestions?

Good luck and get ready for a fun ride, he is not only fun but will play italian music as well as some frank sinatra. His cab can only accommodate 7.

If you do book with him, please send me a PM so that I can give you info on us--to let him who sent you.