First time independantly

[Liz]

Seeing as we went independantly for the first time this year I thought I'd let you know how we got on for those who may be contemplating it

......It was a piece of cake ;D ;D

It all went really well ..the flight from Manchester was at 9.10 ( actually left at about 9.30 so we arrived at Rhodes at 3.30 local time , took about 20 mins to get our bags and then we waited in the taxi queue for about another 15 mins , there was a bit of reluctance to take us to Kamiros ( I suppose because its a long way back 'empty' ) OH didn't ask the driver to come back for us as instructed and that was a mistake he paid for later

As we arrived at Kamiros the 5 o'clock ferry was about to leave so we jumped on that and arrived at Halki at about 6.15
The lady we had booked with ( Sofia ) was waiting for us with her mother and their car to transfer us to the villa

..it was pretty much the same on the return journey except we stopped at Kamiros for some lunch before going to the airport -we asked someone on Halki to ring for a taxi to meet us ..and here is the sting ....he charged us 45 Euros , a tad steep for a 32 Euro journey which we were quite prepared to give him 40E ........The moral of the story is book your taxi to come back on the way out !
But all in all it went well ..the only problem I could forsee would be if the incoming flight was delayed ...in which case we would have to rent a room somewhere for the night ..or if the boat couldn't do the crossing on the right day , but I would think the tour operators would know about that and you could follow suit with whatever they did .
But all in all I found it very stress free and its a lovely feeling to walk out the airport past all those reps with their boards and buses

[rodandjackie]

Liz, for those who have 'agonised' - in the nicest possible way - about the idependent route that is very helpful; the last two lines of text are very meaningful ! Yes, a very nice feeling indeed. Rod

[Liz]

Try it R & J ..honestly it was easy ..The only thing I would do different would be to ......
a) book the return taxi on the way out

b) try and get an earlier return flight ..ours was 4.30 ..so although we stopped at KS for lunch till about 1pm there was still a bit of hanging around at the airport

ooh and c) don't be brainwashed into thinking you can only travel on a wednesday ( we were ) alot of the accomodation is flexible on changeover day .

[fatcat]

Very easy for us as well, on the way out Nissia (Lynn) organised us a taxi - it was waiting for us.
On the way back at the port, we had a very nice relaxing 2 hours at the taverna, the taxi turned up exactly on time and straight to the airport - no hanging around at the airport for us....... oooohhhh nooooooooooo

Will use a taxi next time, without a doubt.

[fatcat]

Sept 7, 2008 10:25:28 GMT Liz said:

Tryalthough we stopped at KS for lunch till about 1pm there was still a bit of hanging around at the airport

Really - we were there until 1.30pm, we were at the end by the play area 4 adults and an ankle biter..........

;D

[fatcat]

Sept 17, 2008 13:55:10 GMT fatcat said:

Sept 7, 2008 10:25:28 GMT Liz said:

Tryalthough we stopped at KS for lunch till about 1pm there was still a bit of hanging around at the airport

Really - we were there until 1.30pm, we were at the end by the play area 4 adults and an ankle biter..........

[Liz]

Fatcat we were there a week earlier than you ..we came home on 3rd September

[fatcat]

I did know that but for somer eason my fingers overtook my brain and typed on regardless.

Oh well, thats another sign of getting abit older

[Liz]

Sept 18, 2008 6:51:22 GMT fatcat said:

my fingers overtook my brain and typed on regardless.

Twice !! ;D ;D ;D

[muriman]

Liz, ref taxi arrangements, I would only add that for anyone likely to want to spend more than a short time at KS on the return journey (eg those with latish afternoon flights), it's not necessary to pre-book a taxi - the people at the taverna will phone for one, for a small charge for the phone call. This is usually cheaper than pre-booking, especially if a taxi is in the area (I think they have mobile phone or radio contact). I suggest allowing 30-45 minutes spare time in case there isn't one nearby.

[Liz]

Muriman ..I would do that next time ..we just worried this time as OH thought we would be stranded ( I'd love to be stranded at KS ) but we live and learn

[bluebird]

Muriman .. Which taverna did you get to phone for you? This year in early August we had a bit of a problem - the first taverna up from the port (on the right) did not have any taxi phone numbers. We got the airport number from a driver picking up another group but the taverna couldn't get through, nor could the taxi driver, nor could he radio through. In the end another driver phoned a cousin who came and fetched us - 45 euros, as has been mentioned elsewhere but we were too relieved to care.

[carol]

Hi Bluebird, welcome to the board, hope this is of some help, the taxi driver that took us from the airport to Kamiros Scala told us to go to the big taverna up the slope on the left and that they would ring for a taxi for us on our return, our driver was related to the owner of the taverna and obviously does a lot of trips out to KS they called him out of the line of taxis especially to take us. Alternatively I know some of the tavernas in Halki will prebook a taxi to be waiting for you when the boat docks ;D

[bluebird]

Thanks Carol - I just wish it wasn't 11 months before I can make use of the information.

[muriman]

Bluebird - it was the taverna on the right which I think is called Loukas - but I must admit when we last did this (ie ask them to phone for a taxi) it was 2 years ago and things may have changed. Last year we went into the taverna for a snack and after a while a taxi appeared to drop off some people, I nabbed the driver as he was about to leave and he was happy to wait about half an hour while we finished our snack; this year instead of travelling independently we were on the TC transfer. Your information and Carol's advice about the big taverna (on the left going up from the harbour) is useful; I agree one can get a bit nervous at the prospect of being stranded at KS!