Ride to Greece / Family Holiday ?

[dibdob69]

I am considering next year riding down through France, Switzerland, Italy then getting a ferry from southern Italy to the Greek island of Kefalonia where i hope to meet my wife and kids who have flown out from the UK for a weeks family holiday, Spend the week with them, Then riding back again on my own.

Has anyone done this and what advice could they give me ?

Some people say that it you get the overnight ferry from Italy to Greece you need a cabin, Why would this be ?

Would any other GSer,s be interested in joining me for the ride there and back ?

 

[andyfrizzle]

We are taking a leisurely ride down to Greece ourselves, later this year, taking the 'long' ferry from Venice (Italy) to Patras (Greece). We are visiting friends, and have previously used the ferries (both Greek domestic and international).
There is normally no requirement to book an overnight cabin, you can normally just find an unreserved seat and sleep overnight in it (or wherever you can find a free space on the floor). On previous travels on Greek domestic ferries, the seating areas soon fill up with locals who have paid the lowest available walk on fares. There is quite a bit of variation in ferry prices, depending where you are departing from, and the time of year. Also have a good look around for special deals. eg. Minoan Lines currently give a good discount (20%) if you are an AA/Arc member, bearing in mind that you can currently join the AA for only £28. Unfortunately they don't sail to Kefalonia!
Have a look at http://www.ferries.gr/ and search through the page for 'Cephalonia' to find the companies that serve that island.

 

[ScoobySnack]

Hi Dibdob,

I'm doing more-or-less this route in a month's time only not leisurely unfortunately... France, Switzerland, over the Alps via the Gotthard Pass, then picking my other half up off a flight to Milan before getting the boat Ancona - Igoumenitsa for a week touring Western Greece.

Haven't paid for the ferry yet but we plan to splash out on a cabin for the two of us each way. When you offset the cost against the hotel we won't need to stay in it's not *too* bad

If I learn anything about what to do or to avoid I can report back when we're home in Sept -

Regards,

Simon.

 

[dibdob69]

Hi Dibdob,

I'm doing more-or-less this route in a month's time only not leisurely unfortunately... France, Switzerland, over the Alps via the Gotthard Pass, then picking my other half up off a flight to Milan before getting the boat Ancona - Igoumenitsa for a week touring Western Greece.

Haven't paid for the ferry yet but we plan to splash out on a cabin for the two of us each way. When you offset the cost against the hotel we won't need to stay in it's not *too* bad

If I learn anything about what to do or to avoid I can report back when we're home in Sept -

Regards,

Simon.

Cheers Simon, Please let me know how you get on , Mark

 

[Morticia]

I am considering next year riding down through France, Switzerland, Italy then getting a ferry from southern Italy to the Greek island of Kefalonia where i hope to meet my wife and kids who have flown out from the UK for a weeks family holiday, Spend the week with them, Then riding back again on my own.

Has anyone done this and what advice could they give me ?

Some people say that it you get the overnight ferry from Italy to Greece you need a cabin, Why would this be ?

Would any other GSer,s be interested in joining me for the ride there and back ?

You are doing exactly what Gomez and I are going to do next year. We have just come back from Kefalonia a stunning island and one you won't want to leave. The roads are very twisty and not too wide...they arn't the best kept roads but everyone seems to get round ok...

If you get to Skala there is a bar on the corner opposite the church on the main road Dennis and his wife are very friendly Greeks and they put the bike racing on if you ask them. They keep the beer glasses in the freezer too.

I am dead jealous as I would move there tomorrow.

Safe journey
Morticia

 

[ScoobySnack]

Back from Greece now

Hi dibdob,

I'm back from my fortnight trip to Greece now. I did indeed go France, Switzerland, Italy, boat to Igoumenitsa; then we spent two days on the mainland before heading to Corfu and Paxos. There's a lot to see on this route, I thoroughly recommend it!

Did you have any particular questions I could help with?

Regards,

Simon.

 

[ScoobySnack]

Oops, I mean Mark!

 

[Kritou]

Have just done this trip. The 450 mile ride down the A14 from Northern Italy to Brindisi was a pain - heavy traffic and tailbacks plus pig ignorant male drivers attempting to force you from the fast lane at 130kph - on the way back heavy rain made it even more miserable and dangerous. The ferry from Venice or Ancona to Ignoumenitsa or Patras is the only way to go

We had cabins and am very glad we booked them in view of the ride before and after the ferry and lack of quiet spaces to stretch out and sleep - so take a sleeping bag and pillow if you do decide to sleep rough

In Italy use the A21/A26 - this is a quiet scenic motorway compared with the frenetic A1/A4 past Milan