CooperMurphy

We'll be taking a cruise this May and will be stopping in Katakolon, Greece. I'm looking for transportation only (no tour) to see Olympia. We'd prefer some not to rent a car, take a cab or ride the train since its iffy if it will be running in May. Is there some sort of reliable private bus company that does transportation only from the port to Olympia? I was looking at Katakolon-Express (http://www.katakolon-express.com/) but it looks like they're either out of business or are so unreliable that I don't want to risk it.

Heimdall

Are you worried that the link isn't working? I got a 404 error message when clicking on your link, but then tried typing in http://www.katakolon-express.com myself and it worked for me. I don't understand, though, because they both look the same.

CooperMurphy

Heimdall, let me clarify regarding the reliability. The site works fine, but there have been a few reviews out there where the company doesn't respond to calls or emails and even a few of buses not showing up. Other reviews have stated that they had no issues with the company.

Heimdall

Yes, I read some mixed reviews on Cruise Critic, which may be where you saw them too. If you don't get the help you need here on Fodor's, suggest you start a new thread on Cruise Critic.

Katakolon

Hello Fodor's,
Not only is katakolon-express.com alive they are expanding rapidly. Most recently updating their website to 'responsive' meaning it will display correctly on all devices.

On the contact page they say that if you don't receive a reply within 24 hours then the email address you entered was incorrect!

@ Heindall
Your link in post #1 is http://www.katakolon-express.com/) it has the right bracket which shows a "not found" page on their website you can still navigate from there though.

See you in Katakolon maybe,
Best

Heimdall

Hi Katakolon,

It was CooperMurphy's post that had the right bracket, and mine that showed the correct link. I'm glad to hear that Katakolon Express is alive and well! ;-)

Katakolon

Ooops sorry Heindall of course you're correct.

nfldbeothuk

Just thought I'd resurrect this for anyone going to/stopping at Katakolon. The Katakolon Express was dead as the proverbial doornail when we arrived (after booking online) at the beginning of October. No indication of a bus/ sign/ employee. I tried to reach their number or email without success, and never did get a reply to the email I sent.

We paid E10 to a business on the main street and took their bus, but it only gave us 2 hours on site (enough for the site, but not for the museum also, and the museum is wonderful). So I took the train (I think 1:10 pm) back to Katakolon for an extra E5.

However, we did see a bus at Olympia with Katakolon Express on it--no idea where they were hiding at the port.

boom_boom

We're just back from Katakolon and used taxikatakolon.gr with Takis as our driver. Not a tour,but he gave us an overview en route from the port to the site then took us a nice little locals restaurant near his home town. Pretty sure we were the only tourists there.

travelerjan

boom_boom, your information will be immensely more helpful to planners if you share what this taxi service cost you. As you may/may not know, such services do not provide escorted tours within museums/ancient sites because they are not allowed or qualified to do so -- the drivers are not trained & licensed tour guides. They are transportation, and their fees should be assessed on that basis. If it's reasonable for private transportation, great!

geetika

Yes boom_boom, please give us details of what you paid, how long you stayed, etc. nfldbeothuk, I read somewhere that Katakolon Express is no longer allowed into the port area, so they wait for clients outside, some people said they'd received emails to this effect. We'll be in Katakolon next June and I've been following various threads on the topic, still not sure what we'll do. Another option would be to rent a car.

Melinan

Geetika, i just returned from my cruise trip in Katakolon and my opinion is to rent a car. Avis is located just few meters from the port. i booked a car from them (www.katakolo-rentacar.com) following my friends' advice who were there last year and they were very pleased from Avis services.
when walking in the port, taxi drivers will speak to you, they also have a lady-barker (which I personally found it very unattractive) trying to get you into a taxi. prices will vary, depends how long you want to stay to Olympia and where else you want to go.
fortunatelly gor us, we had a nice automatic car waiting for us outside AVIS office. we drove to Olympia and on the way back we visited Agios Andreas beach and Mercury winery (both recomended by AVIS staff). The winery was very impressive. As for Agios Andreas beach, although the weather was not good for swimming, we enjoyed our Greek coffee in a nice anfitheatric cafeteria with amazing seaview.
can't even imagine how much would all that cost with a taxi.
we had an easy and smooth driving to Olympia. AVIS staff gave us maps, directions and all the details we needed, their English were just excellent.

geetika

Thanks Melinan, how long did the whole tour take and how much was the car rental? We are on a 7 night cruise with no sea days, so we were planning Katakolon being our least port intensive day. Did you go to Corfu too, have booked a car with driver/ guide for 5-6 hours for 200 euros, we're four so that works out quite reasonable I thought.

Melinan

Geetika unfortunately Corfu was not on our cruise schedule.
in Olympia you will need around 2 1/2 hours both for the ruins and the museum. the car was automatic and cost 50 euros, but you can find manual if you prefer for less. just go to www.katakolo-rentacar.com and choose "half day tariff rates preview", it's for cruise passengers and you will see the prices and the types of the cars AVIS offer. i think they offer car with driver as well, not sure, better to sent an e-mail and ask them.

geetika

Thanks Melinan