Chios Greece

[j&l cruisers]

Has anyone been to the island of Chios? We will be there in early October ( 8 hours) and do not want to take the ship tour. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thinking of renting renting a car for the day to visit the south end of the island- Mesta, Olympi, Pyrgi etc.

[maryann ns]

Do a search on this site for Chios and you will see some information. Renting a car seems to be a popular option and it is what I think we will be doing in November.

[2irisheyes]

I've been researching for Chios but haven't had too much luck. The Nea Moni Monastery looks interesting - in the middle of the island but it doesn't look as if public transport (bus) goes right there. The Chios office website didn't have an email contact address and doesn't appear to be open on Saturdays from October which the day of the week we'll be there. I'll keep researching.

[maryann ns]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=19792019&highlight=chios#post19792019

post 152 describes a great tour

[2irisheyes]

The Chios office website should have read The Chios tourist office website for those who aren't mind-readers.

[Susan-M]

We rented a car from Chandris last October and drove to Nea Moni, then west along the scenic coast to the mastic towns of Mesta, Olympi, Pirgi and then to the black pebble beach of Emborios.

Chandris was very easy to work with ... they brought the car to the port in the morning and we dropped it off there when we were finished, and at 25 euros for the day, including insurance, it's a bargain. We probably had a standard (will have to ask DH since he did all the driving) so if you need an automatic, be sure to specify that. The ship docks along a street that parallels the port .... they block the section of the street off where the ship is and that's where we picked up/dropped off our car. At the end of the day they asked us to just park the car and leave it, so we didn't have to wait to meet someone from the rental agency when we returned.

http://www.chandrisrentacar.gr/

http://www.chiosnet.gr/tourism/himap.htm

[Marie-Claude]

Hi Susan-M!!

Renting a car may be our only option other than ship tours as I have contacted several tour companies and all have replied that they don't offer tour in November...

I was hesitant to rent a car as I would assume, all road signage would be in Greek?? I was afraid it might be difficult to find our ways? Can you tell me how you guys managed with that??

Thanks, as always!!
MC

[Susan-M]

Hi Marie-Claude,

We found it easy to navigate the roads. Chios was busy because it was 'morning rush hour' but we were out of the city in 5 minutes. Took one wrong turn going to Nea Moni, but realized it immediately. We were able to decipher the names of the towns on the road signs and since there aren't a lot of roads (we did the southern half of the island) and traffic is very light other than in Chios, it was easy to drive on the island. Parking was never a problem. The mastic towns are a maze (intentionally built that way to confuse the enemies) ...when you walk through the streets, you feel like you should be leaving a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way back. :)

Coming back into Chios from the south was easy ... the road along the shore brought us right to the ship, so we didn't get into the busy shopping/business district.

[j&l cruisers]

Just booked a car ( automatic) through Chandris for 30 euro. From the posts it sounds like an exciting and fun time on the island. Thanks to all!:D

[Susan-M]

Just booked a car ( automatic) through Chandris for 30 euro. From the posts it sounds like an exciting and fun time on the island. Thanks to all!:D

Great .. hope you enjoy it as much as we did! If you are going to Nea Moni (wonderful views from up there!) you can head west to the coast ... the drive south along the west coast (to Lithios & further south) was the most scenic part that we drove on ... although some hills and hairpin turns. As mentioned previously though, very light traffic.

Marie-Claude, another thought after posting above ... during our day we often crossed paths with a few others on our ship who had hired a taxi at the port. I'm not sure of the cost, or whether you would want to leave it to chance, but with November being low tourist season and hopefully a few extra cabs available, you might be able to arrange for a reasonable half day tour once there.

[Marie-Claude]

Marie-Claude, another thought after posting above ... during our day we often crossed paths with a few others on our ship who had hired a taxi at the port. I'm not sure of the cost, or whether you would want to leave it to chance, but with November being low tourist season and hopefully a few extra cabs available, you might be able to arrange for a reasonable half day tour once there.

I received the quote for Chandris for 30€... but in talking with my Mom, with whom I'm travelling, she wasn't too keen on the idea of renting a car as I would have to do all the driving and may not enjoy the day as much...

Taxis might be a great way to do this... Thanks for the tip!
If anyone has done this, I would be curious to know how much would a taxi tour be - I'm sure it'll be cheaper than ship tours... they are asking 75$ per person for a 1/2 day tour!!!

Thanks again for your suggestions!
MC

[littledee85]

I received the quote for Chandris for 30€... but in talking with my Mom, with whom I'm travelling, she wasn't too keen on the idea of renting a car as I would have to do all the driving and may not enjoy the day as much...

Taxis might be a great way to do this... Thanks for the tip!
If anyone has done this, I would be curious to know how much would a taxi tour be - I'm sure it'll be cheaper than ship tours... they are asking 75$ per person for a 1/2 day tour!!!

Thanks again for your suggestions!
MC

Hello MC,

We will be visiting this port in November of this year. I was just wondering how you made out last year as far as taking a taxi for a local tour or did you go with the ship's tour? Any suggestions would help.

Thanks.

Debbie

[maryann ns]

I was there last November. Two groups of us rented vans and went north to Nea Moni (very interesting mosaics), then south along the west coast (beautiful) and then to the mastic villages. We wandered around and had lunch in a small town square. I think it was in Mesta.

We rented from Enterprise which has an office half a block from where the ship docked on the main street. I gather that Chandris, which also rents cars, will deliver to the ship, so either option is easy.

We had plenty of time to do this trip. We came back to Chios early enough to have time to stroll the waterfront, do some shopping, have a drink and go to the Internet cafe.

[Marie-Claude]

Hello MC,
We will be visiting this port in November of this year. I was just wondering how you made out last year as far as taking a taxi for a local tour or did you go with the ship's tour? Any suggestions would help.
Thanks. Debbie

Hi Debbie,

As you can read, Maryann ns had better luck than us! She was on the cruise following ours and made it to Chios - we didn't!!! The winds were too strong and after waiting for about an hour in front of the island, the captain announced we would have to skip this port. You do all this planning, debating, booking, and then Mother Nature decides for you otherwise!!!
So I can't help you, but by the good description Maryann gave you, it seems like renting a car would be a very good option!

Good luck!

MC

[littledee85]

I was there last November. Two groups of us rented vans and went north to Nea Moni (very interesting mosaics), then south along the west coast (beautiful) and then to the mastic villages. We wandered around and had lunch in a small town square. I think it was in Mesta.

We rented from Enterprise which has an office half a block from where the ship docked on the main street. I gather that Chandris, which also rents cars, will deliver to the ship, so either option is easy.

We had plenty of time to do this trip. We came back to Chios early enough to have time to stroll the waterfront, do some shopping, have a drink and go to the Internet cafe.


Hi Maryann ns,

Did you have to reserve your car in advance or were you able to rent it on the spot? Also did you have to have any special paperwork as far as drivers license?

Thanks for your help.

Debbie

[littledee85]

Hi Debbie,

As you can read, Maryann ns had better luck than us! She was on the cruise following ours and made it to Chios - we didn't!!! The winds were too strong and after waiting for about an hour in front of the island, the captain announced we would have to skip this port. You do all this planning, debating, booking, and then Mother Nature decides for you otherwise!!!
So I can't help you, but by the good description Maryann gave you, it seems like renting a car would be a very good option!

Good luck!

MC

Hi MC, this is one of the problems we are considering. A tour guide which I have contacted has a pretty good tour of the port, but wants 100% payment upfront. If we are unable to dock there then we would be out the money, so that is why we are exploring other options.

Thanks again.

Debbie

[littledee85]

[quote=maryann ns;25690620]I was there last November. Two groups of us rented vans and went north to Nea Moni (very interesting mosaics), then south along the west coast (beautiful) and then to the mastic villages. We wandered around and had lunch in a small town square. I think it was in Mesta.

We rented from Enterprise which has an office half a block from where the ship docked on the main street. I gather that Chandris, which also rents cars, will deliver to the ship, so either option is easy.


Hi Maryann ns,

Did you have to reserve your car in advance or were you able to rent it on the spot? Also did you have to have any special paperwork as far as drivers license?

Thanks for your help.

Debbie

[maryann ns]

We reserved it in advance which saved some time on the paperwork. We had international driver's licences, but they did not ask for them as far as I remember.

A couple came in behind us without a reservation and they had to wait for us, but I think they had a car for them.

I think I erred saying it was Enterprise. It was Europcar. http://www.europcar.com/car-rental-GREECE-CHIOS.html On the map it appears like their office (26 AIGAIOU AVENUE) is not on the main street, but I can assure you their office is half a block from where the ship docks.

[littledee85]

We reserved it in advance which saved some time on the paperwork. We had international driver's licences, but they did not ask for them as far as I remember.

A couple came in behind us without a reservation and they had to wait for us, but I think they had a car for them.

I think I erred saying it was Enterprise. It was Europcar. http://www.europcar.com/car-rental-GREECE-CHIOS.html On the map it appears like their office (26 AIGAIOU AVENUE) is not on the main street, but I can assure you their office is half a block from where the ship docks.


Thank you!