Eurostar in Italy/Cruise in Greece

Cedes · Jun 26th, 2008, 03:09 AM

I'm going to Italy/Greece next week and I'm trying to figure out this train thing. It looks like it's just the Eurostar that runs from Rome to Venice, which is the route I'll be needing. Everything I've read says that you have to have a reservation for the Eurostar - does this mean you need to book it online or with a travel agent in advance or does it just mean you need to buy a ticket at the station before you go?

Also, I'm going on a cruise from Venice through parts of Greece and Croatia. The friend I'm going with doesn't want to bother with any of the paid excursions because he's overly confident we can wing it and not encounter any problems.

Has anyone done this same kind of trip and found that it was easy to get from the docks to historical sites and places of interest without assistance from the ship? I will kill him if he causes me to miss the Acropolis and/or the boat.

Babi · Jun 26th, 2008, 07:57 AM

Hi Cedes!

1. About the eurostar Rome-Venice. You can either book it online, either try at the station when you arrive. But in this second case, the risk is that you won't find the seats. Expecially during week ends. Anyways in the 1st class you should be able to find the seats.

2. I've been in Greece years ago. And I remember that you can find several travel agencies and people able to organize the excursions for you on the islands, but I think also from the docks.

Hope it helps, just my 2 cents.
Enjoy your trip! And be prepared to a very HOT weather!

Cedes · Jun 26th, 2008, 10:35 PM

Babi I'm so excited to see that you're actually in Italy! That makes your advice all the more wonderful.

We will be taking the train from Rome to Venice on Friday. I think our plane gets in really early, before 8 a.m. so on the plus side we have more time to figure this stuff out. I was hesitant to book online because there have been so many delays/cancellations/etc on flights (at least here in the U.S.) that I would hate it if we were delayed considerably and then missed the train we had reservations for & lost the money. :/ I've read that the Termini station isn't all too pleasant so will it be an uncomfortable layover if we were to be there for 3-4 hours?

Did you enjoy Greece? I'm really worried about the language barrier thing.. I don't speak Greek and I don't want to insult anyone which is why I originally thought that doing excursions through the ship (Royal Caribbean) would be a better idea than trying to make a go of it on our own.

esiders · Jun 27th, 2008, 09:45 AM

Termini is like any other train station...they are never built in the "best" part of town and can be a haven for pickpockets and other shady people. But if you are stuck there for 3-4 hours, store your bags at the Left Luggage depot and go explore Rome. You can walk to the Forum (and Colosseum), Spanish steps and Via Condotti, Trevi fountain.

Just make sure you get back to the station in time to pick up your luggage and get on the train!

ringing_phone · Jun 27th, 2008, 02:56 PM

I'm not familiar with Eurostar, but I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Greece.

You will be fine if you speak English. Many of the locals (and all touristy places) speak English.

Where in Greece are you going?

I thought it was easy enough to navigate around Greece without having everything planned out in advance. The metro in Athens is quite good. You can take the metro from Piraeus (the port in Athens) into downtown Athens, and there is a stop for the Acropolis. You can always ask locals for directions, or pop into a store and ask someone who works there. I found the locals to be very friendly and willing to help!

Tella · Jun 28th, 2008, 05:39 PM

Hi Cedes, I strongly suggest you to NOT stay at Termini station. It is dangerous, and every time I get there I have a very bad feeling... I am italian, and I have been there several times!! If you must stay there and wait for the train to Venice, you'd better stay in a bar, the most dangerous places are the streets around the station, but it is a bad place also inside, I do not want to frighten you, but believe me, pay attention!!!!! If you have time, you may take a taxi and visit the Colosseum and the Foro Romano (Roman Forum??!!), consider that from the Termini station is about a 20 minutes walking, so with a taxi you can be there in 5 minutes. It's worth going even if you can't go through, just a look of it is magic, if you've never been there. As for the tickets, I think you can ask and have any assistance either at the Rome airport or at Termini, this is the web site - english version-in any case (you can book and print the ticket, or have any info):http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html. Have a nice trip!!

Babi · Jun 30th, 2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cedes

Babi I'm so excited to see that you're actually in Italy! That makes your advice all the more wonderful.

We will be taking the train from Rome to Venice on Friday. I think our plane gets in really early, before 8 a.m. so on the plus side we have more time to figure this stuff out. I was hesitant to book online because there have been so many delays/cancellations/etc on flights (at least here in the U.S.) that I would hate it if we were delayed considerably and then missed the train we had reservations for & lost the money. :/ I've read that the Termini station isn't all too pleasant so will it be an uncomfortable layover if we were to be there for 3-4 hours?

Did you enjoy Greece? I'm really worried about the language barrier thing.. I don't speak Greek and I don't want to insult anyone which is why I originally thought that doing excursions through the ship (Royal Caribbean) would be a better idea than trying to make a go of it on our own.

Don't worry: english is normally spoken in Greece.
About termini station..yes, it's not the most beautiful and safest place in the world, but you can put the luggage in the depot and relax in a bar for a couple of hours or take a taxi and have a short sightseeing

CYPRUS · Jun 30th, 2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringing_phone

I'm not familiar with Eurostar, but I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Greece.

You will be fine if you speak English. Many of the locals (and all touristy places) speak English.

Where in Greece are you going?

I thought it was easy enough to navigate around Greece without having everything planned out in advance. The metro in Athens is quite good. You can take the metro from Piraeus (the port in Athens) into downtown Athens, and there is a stop for the Acropolis. You can always ask locals for directions, or pop into a store and ask someone who works there. I found the locals to be very friendly and willing to help!

True Greeks are helpful but then again, if you are only going to be in Athens I suggest booking a walking tour that would talk you through Akropolis , Parthenon , Lycabettus and all the important things to see in Athens and you. I am positive you can do it online. If you are not really interested in history then metro is fine. The Greek island are super easy to walk around and see the important staff and the locals will helpful. Feel free to pm me for Athens. Another thing is that taxis are cheap in Athens as well compared to most parts of Europe. I have been to Athens literally more than 50 times and used the metro once. But from the port maybe you could take the metro or tram to the centre and once there take a taxi

Cedes · Jul 1st, 2008, 12:40 AM

Thanks everyone. :)

I'm leaving tomorrow and I'm still stressed because I don't like going to areas where I don't speak/understand the language. I feel like it's one of those unfair snobby American tourist things to do. :(

In Greece I will be stopping at Piraeus (Athens?) and Mykonos, and then Split in Croatia. For those of you who have used the public transportation systems in Italy and Greece do they usually display information in English as well as Italian/Greek? Or is there a place where you can get a map with all of the information in English?

Cyprus *anything* you want to tell me about Athens would be great. In fact, I will take any information anyone can share, lol.

CYPRUS · Jul 2nd, 2008, 01:19 PM

I have sent this as a pm as well but I though someone else might be interested. This is what I suggest as a tourist who has been many times in Athens:

I suggest you visit the following places in Athens:

Plaka- there are some ancient ruins and the best taverns in Athens with meze and most of them especially at night have live music. Look around as there are many so don't pick quickly
Parthenon- Akropolis- Lycabettus
Kolonaki area- it is near Lycabettus- the best and most exlusive are in Athens. Nice cafes, good restaurants and most of the famous shops
Syntagma square- high street shops at Ermou road and it is very near to Plaka, you can walk. Also galleries etc and nice buildings
Asteras Glyfadas beach that is really near to Piraus, this is the summer Athens..there is a complex with restaurants and cafes at the beach. I suggest BABAE that is a cafe- restaurant.

Jun 26th, 2008, 03:09 AM	#1
Cedes lol Location: it's tropical	Eurostar in Italy/Cruise in Greece I'm going to Italy/Greece next week and I'm trying to figure out this train thing. It looks like it's just the Eurostar that runs from Rome to Venice, which is the route I'll be needing. Everything I've read says that you have to have a reservation for the Eurostar - does this mean you need to book it online or with a travel agent in advance or does it just mean you need to buy a ticket at the station before you go? Also, I'm going on a cruise from Venice through parts of Greece and Croatia. The friend I'm going with doesn't want to bother with any of the paid excursions because he's overly confident we can wing it and not encounter any problems. Has anyone done this same kind of trip and found that it was easy to get from the docks to historical sites and places of interest without assistance from the ship? I will kill him if he causes me to miss the Acropolis and/or the boat.

Jun 26th, 2008, 07:57 AM	#2
Babi Member Location: Italy	Hi Cedes! 1. About the eurostar Rome-Venice. You can either book it online, either try at the station when you arrive. But in this second case, the risk is that you won't find the seats. Expecially during week ends. Anyways in the 1st class you should be able to find the seats. 2. I've been in Greece years ago. And I remember that you can find several travel agencies and people able to organize the excursions for you on the islands, but I think also from the docks. Hope it helps, just my 2 cents. Enjoy your trip! And be prepared to a very HOT weather! __________________ On the hunt for my first Work (07 mogano, vert foncé, sienna or plomb!) PM me if you see one

Jun 27th, 2008, 09:45 AM	#4
esiders Fairy BagMomma Location: northern NJ	Termini is like any other train station...they are never built in the "best" part of town and can be a haven for pickpockets and other shady people. But if you are stuck there for 3-4 hours, store your bags at the Left Luggage depot and go explore Rome. You can walk to the Forum (and Colosseum), Spanish steps and Via Condotti, Trevi fountain. Just make sure you get back to the station in time to pick up your luggage and get on the train! __________________ "She's so anally retentive she wouldn't sit down for fear of sucking up the furniture." --- Patsy Stone

Jul 2nd, 2008, 01:19 PM	#10
CYPRUS More Chanel Please! Location: CYPRUS	I have sent this as a pm as well but I though someone else might be interested. This is what I suggest as a tourist who has been many times in Athens: I suggest you visit the following places in Athens: Plaka- there are some ancient ruins and the best taverns in Athens with meze and most of them especially at night have live music. Look around as there are many so don't pick quickly Parthenon- Akropolis- Lycabettus Kolonaki area- it is near Lycabettus- the best and most exlusive are in Athens. Nice cafes, good restaurants and most of the famous shops Syntagma square- high street shops at Ermou road and it is very near to Plaka, you can walk. Also galleries etc and nice buildings Asteras Glyfadas beach that is really near to Piraus, this is the summer Athens..there is a complex with restaurants and cafes at the beach. I suggest BABAE that is a cafe- restaurant. __________________

Jun 26th, 2008, 10:35 PM	#3
Cedes lol Location: it's tropical	Babi I'm so excited to see that you're actually in Italy! That makes your advice all the more wonderful. We will be taking the train from Rome to Venice on Friday. I think our plane gets in really early, before 8 a.m. so on the plus side we have more time to figure this stuff out. I was hesitant to book online because there have been so many delays/cancellations/etc on flights (at least here in the U.S.) that I would hate it if we were delayed considerably and then missed the train we had reservations for & lost the money. :/ I've read that the Termini station isn't all too pleasant so will it be an uncomfortable layover if we were to be there for 3-4 hours? Did you enjoy Greece? I'm really worried about the language barrier thing.. I don't speak Greek and I don't want to insult anyone which is why I originally thought that doing excursions through the ship (Royal Caribbean) would be a better idea than trying to make a go of it on our own.

Jun 27th, 2008, 02:56 PM	#5
ringing_phone Member	I'm not familiar with Eurostar, but I just returned from a 2 week vacation in Greece. You will be fine if you speak English. Many of the locals (and all touristy places) speak English. Where in Greece are you going? I thought it was easy enough to navigate around Greece without having everything planned out in advance. The metro in Athens is quite good. You can take the metro from Piraeus (the port in Athens) into downtown Athens, and there is a stop for the Acropolis. You can always ask locals for directions, or pop into a store and ask someone who works there. I found the locals to be very friendly and willing to help!

Jun 28th, 2008, 05:39 PM	#6
Tella Member	Hi Cedes, I strongly suggest you to NOT stay at Termini station. It is dangerous, and every time I get there I have a very bad feeling... I am italian, and I have been there several times!! If you must stay there and wait for the train to Venice, you'd better stay in a bar, the most dangerous places are the streets around the station, but it is a bad place also inside, I do not want to frighten you, but believe me, pay attention!!!!! If you have time, you may take a taxi and visit the Colosseum and the Foro Romano (Roman Forum??!!), consider that from the Termini station is about a 20 minutes walking, so with a taxi you can be there in 5 minutes. It's worth going even if you can't go through, just a look of it is magic, if you've never been there. As for the tickets, I think you can ask and have any assistance either at the Rome airport or at Termini, this is the web site - english version-in any case (you can book and print the ticket, or have any info):http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html. Have a nice trip!!

Jul 1st, 2008, 12:40 AM	#9
Cedes lol Location: it's tropical	Thanks everyone. :) I'm leaving tomorrow and I'm still stressed because I don't like going to areas where I don't speak/understand the language. I feel like it's one of those unfair snobby American tourist things to do. :( In Greece I will be stopping at Piraeus (Athens?) and Mykonos, and then Split in Croatia. For those of you who have used the public transportation systems in Italy and Greece do they usually display information in English as well as Italian/Greek? Or is there a place where you can get a map with all of the information in English? Cyprus anything you want to tell me about Athens would be great. In fact, I will take any information anyone can share, lol.