Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D'ell Etna

Richard10002

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Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

A warning for anyone who might come here.... South of messina, North of Catania, Sicily.

Dont get me wrong... it's a nice marina, reasonably priced, (it would seem so based on other experiences), nice toilets/showers, resturant, help with mooring etc. so I'm not suggesting that the marina be avoided.

As I had to get janet to the airport in Catania, we enquired about car hire and were referred to an outfit with an office on the quay called Yacht Services - they seem to arrange laundry, car hire, tours, cleaning, and everything.

Called at the office and asked the woman behind the desk how much to hire a car the next day - 86 euros per day. also asked how much for a taxi to the airport - 86 euros??? I suggested that we would try and find a cheaper option like the train, and she said that if we changed our minds she would probably be able to arrange a car.

gave it a bit of thought and decided it would be worth having a car to do a bit of sightseeing and shopping etc..

Called in the next morning, asked if there was a car available - "No Chance" she said, like she was surprised I'd asked. When I reminded her of what she had said the night before, she smiled and took my number and said she would let me know if anything came in.... wasnt holding my breath for a result on this one.

Couldnt find the station, and tourist information is about as useful as a chocolate log, ("have a look through the leaflets and see what you can find wa all I got). So off I went back to ask Yacht Services if she could help with a taxi - yes she could. 25 euros to the station which I paid.

Minibus came this morning, drove us about 10 minutes up the road to the station, (what I now know is less than a mile which we could have walked... in fact I walked back after dropping janet off), and that was that. 2.50 euros on the train to Catania, then 20 euros for quite a taxi ride to the airport.

I used her because I was running out of options.... I discovered that she is the only car hire service in town, and I hadnt been able to find any other taxi services, wasnt sure where the station was, so she had us a bit by the short and curlies, and probably knew it.

So be warned - if you use Yacht Services in Marina Porto D'ell Etna, it would seem that they have no qualms about messing you about and ripping you off. If you need what they have on offer, so be it. i guess i did, and I paid for it.... but they wont be getting any more of my money... not that they will care I'm sure.

To find the station which is Giarre/Riposto, turn right out of marina to a little green with a map, and turn left just before the green. Then go up the hill along a dead straight road until you reach the level crossing. The station is on the right over the crossing.

If you keep going up the hill, you are in Giarre, which is much bigger and much nicer than Riposto.

Hope this helps someone in the future.

Cheers

Richard
 

savageseadog

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Re: Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

There is of course a very well known dubious organisation operating in those parts. I'm not saying that the company you dealt with is part of it but often businesses have to operate withing the norms prevalent in the area (or else!)
 

jimbaerselman

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Re: Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

I don't think this entrepeneurial approach to making a quick buck is confined to Riposto. I'd say that a good 20% of the places you go to will bring you into contact with people who will find ways to make you pay for information in one way or another throughout Italy.

Different percentages in different countries of course, but this does apply everywhere.

Taxi drivers are the classic robbers . . . many a sad Brit has been charged a fortune in Athens for a very short ride. And Rome. And Palermo. And London.
 

Richard10002

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Re: Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

[ QUOTE ]
There is of course a very well known dubious organisation operating in those parts. I'm not saying that the company you dealt with is part of it but often businesses have to operate withing the norms prevalent in the area (or else!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Crossed my mind - and the main reason I havent kicked up a stink, but felt it worth a warning to others.
 

mandlmaunder

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Re: Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

Never make an offer that can be refused.
Always part of the fun of arriving in a new area is to find the relivent services that you require , we reckon on 3-5 days to find the best/cheapest , and that applies throughout the world, our expenses get less the longer we are in an area .

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
 

Richard10002

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Re: Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

Tend to agree with the 3-5 days to get to grips with a place. If you stay longer, you also keep finding better/cheaper alternatives for most things.

I shouldnt have quibbled about the car .... I think that was the point where she got me by the short and curlies.

The thing I dont understand is what does it achieve? I've got laundry to do, (which I will now do by hand), may have fancied a trip up Etna, and so on. Now I wont set foot inside her door again - very short sighted way to make 20 euros
 

damon

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Re: Ripped Off in Riposto - Marina Porto D\'ell Etna

Some little snot tried to rob us just down the road in Siracusa, in the car-park by the port. I'd clocked him first and almost had to run the bugger over in the hire car he was so determined.

Taormina was much nicer and less skuzzy.
 
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