Richard10002
Well-known member
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
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