Getting from Airport to Hotel?

[rodjung]

We plan to pack carry-ons for our upcoming flight to Athens and being budget travelers we'd like to use public transit whenever possible. Our Gate One Travel documents suggest we could take the Metro to Syntagma Square and transfer to Omonia Square, Metaxaurgiou (the closest stop to our Stanley Hotel location), at a cost of 8 euros per person. They estimate the taxi ride to cost "about 30 euros."

I've also noted somewhere that riders must now must board a bus from the airport to reach a metro station. I'd like to hear detailed suggestions from recent travelers on best way to reach Athens from the airport.

Similarly, we need suggestions for getting back to the airport from Pireaus at the end of the cruise. Will there be sufficient taxis lined up for the crowd coming off the cruise and how much does it cost? How long would it take to get back to the airport using public transit and how much would that cost? EasyCruise Life will disembark between 7-9 am, as I understand it. We have to catch a 11:30 am flight on 9/13.

[sirwired]

There is an express bus from Pireaus Metro direct to the airport. I think it takes about an hour and it is quite cheap. (I don't remember the fare off the top of my head. It is more than the 0,50 Euro for a basic bus ride.)

While the ship "officially" disembarks at 9AM, you can leave any time after the ship arrives in Pireaus; a day early, if you so wished... I certainly wouldn't try to make an 11AM flight leaving the ship at 9AM.

SirWired

[helios57]

Hello again!
As stated in the previous post the easiest and cheapest way from the airport to Piraeus is the express bus.This costs 3.40 euros and you should allow 1hour and 20 minutes for the journey.We used this in July.
You say,however,that you want to get to your hotel.Your best bet, in that case,is to use the metro.This is also very easy and inexpensive. This will cost 6 euros per person or 10 euros for a ticket for 2.
You don't need a bus to get to the metro from the airport.The metro station is 5 minutes from the airport concourse and clearly indicated.Do remember to buy your tickets before boarding and validate them in the machines at the
platform entrance.
For your return journey I strongly recommend that you arrange at reception for a taxi to pick you up at about 7.00 am ,when the ship docks,
and get back to the airport that way.I wouldn't want to risk using public transport.You need to bear in mind that Gate 11,where Easycruise Life is berthed,is nearly a mile away from the bus and metro station!I don't know exactly the cost of a taxi but 40 euros should cover it.Considering the time of your flight,in my view,this would be money well spent.
Have a great holiday!

[sirwired]

Whoops! I stand corrected about the arrival time... I thought all the cruises arrived in Athens the day before. I guess not.

As far as taking public transit goes... I would trust it to get me to the airport on time, but to each their own. Certainly leave as soon as you can after the ship docks.

SirWired

[helios57]

:) Hi
I've just realised I know the location of your hotel(although I've not stayed
there)
To get there from the airport,using the metro,you first take the Blue line to Syntagma then change to the Red line going north(final destination Ag.Antonios)The train will stop at Panepistimio,then Omonia and the next stop is the one you want, Metaxourghio. The Stanley Hotel is just a stone's throw away.
To get from the hotel to Piraeus you take the Red line back to Omonia where you change to the Green line going south to the final destination,Piraeus.
It's very straightforward.The trains run at least every 15 minutes.
Just watch out for pickpockets.One of them once got his hand in my bag but withdrew it on realising he'd been spotted!
The Greek metro system and public transport in general is quite efficient.It puts our transport system in Britain to shame(though that's not hard!)
All the best

[mayerh2]

Hi Rod,

I am intending to leave the ship @ 7 Am and take mass transit (probably the metro) to the airport. My plane leaves a little after noon. Last year when I was in Copenhagen and took mass transit to the airport, we arrived before all of the cruise passengers. Also, with respect to the Stanley Hotel, you can look them up on the internet and see the best way to get to them. Additionally, Gate1 tells you in their travel documents how to get there. I am attaching a link to tripadvisor.com regarding port to airport transporation.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189400-i194-k445760-l2658902-Transfer_time_Piraeus_to_airport-Athens_Attica.html#2658902

Best,

H-

[rodjung]

Hello again!
As stated in the previous post the easiest and cheapest way from the airport to Piraeus is the express bus.This costs 3.40 euros and you should allow 1hour and 20 minutes for the journey.We used this in July.
You say,however,that you want to get to your hotel.Your best bet, in that case,is to use the metro.This is also very easy and inexpensive. This will cost 6 euros per person or 10 euros for a ticket for 2.
You don't need a bus to get to the metro from the airport.The metro station is 5 minutes from the airport concourse and clearly indicated.Do remember to buy your tickets before boarding and validate them in the machines at the
platform entrance.
For your return journey I strongly recommend that you arrange at reception for a taxi to pick you up at about 7.00 am ,when the ship docks,
and get back to the airport that way.I wouldn't want to risk using public transport.You need to bear in mind that Gate 11,where Easycruise Life is berthed,is nearly a mile away from the bus and metro station!I don't know exactly the cost of a taxi but 40 euros should cover it.Considering the time of your flight,in my view,this would be money well spent.
Have a great holiday!

When you say "...arrange at reception for a taxi...," do you mean the reception on the easyCruise Life ship? Will they arrange for a taxi to meet me at the port?

:)I want to thank everyone who responded for the helpful Athens transportation information. Incidentally, I do have both easyCruise's and Gate 1's directions for getting to the port and to the hotel. My main concerns are getting to the airport in time for our flight home and the fact that I had read something to the effect that the airport metro stop may be out-of-service and only buses would be operating to/from the airport. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate where I read that. :confused:

[helios57]

Hi
I know nothing about the airport metro link being out of use but if that's the case the express bus,previously mentioned,is not a problem.You actually have 2 options; x95 direct to Syntagma or x94 to Ethniki Amyna where you change onto the metro(Blue line) to Syntagma.
I did mean for you to ask about a taxi at reception on the ship.However,I
haven't done this myself.Perhaps someone can confirm if this is possible?
On reflection,bearing in mind that you won't have check-in luggage,I suppose getting to the airport by public transport is do-able,as others have said.
I'm a bit too cautious,perhaps,and like to be there good and early!
Anyway,enjoy your trip.Perhaps you can let us know how you get on?
Cheers:)

[rodjung]

Important: Bad News about the Airport Metro: The word out today from the Athens Metro is that sometime during or after the summer of 2008 the metro line between Monastiraki and the airport will be closed so that they can complete the new Agia Paraskevis station. That means if you want to get into Athens you need to take the Proastiakos-Suburban Railway to Nerantziotissa and take the old Metro Green Line to Omonia and Monastiraki (or switch at Omonia for the red line to Syntagma and Acropolis stations). You can also take the 94 bus from the airport to Ethniki Amyna and from there take the #3 line. Yes, It does make it more difficult but its an inconvenience we have to put up with for the next 8 months or so. (Take a taxi) The Good News is that it was supposed to be closed in March but they changed it to May and then to July so maybe they will change it again and it will be running when you arrive. But it is good to be prepared in case they actually do close it. My own special comment on this is why not close it after the tourist season instead of waiting until the busiest part of the summer to inconvenience thousands of people? And why hasn't EOT (Greek National Tourist Organization) raised hell about the stupidity of this plan? Most Greeks know the answer to this but if it makes you as angry as it does me why not e-mail them and ask them yourself. Maybe if enough people contact them they will gather the courage to intervene.(As of 6/17/2008 the metro people say that the construction has been delayed again until after the summer)


I found this above notice on Matt Barrett's Guide to Greece. I'd be interested in learning any updated information about the Airport Metro stop.

[mayerh2]

Hi Rod,

According to this linkd on tripadvisor the Metro service has not been interupted yet.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189400-i194-k2203076-X94_bus_to_Metro_Line_3-Athens_Attica.html

Best

H-

[rodjung]

Hi Rod,

According to this linkd on tripadvisor the Metro service has not been interupted yet.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189400-i194-k2203076-X94_bus_to_Metro_Line_3-Athens_Attica.html

Best

H-

Thanks for tracking that down, Heather, looks like we'll be OK using the airport metro line during September.

[GreedyGreen]

I emailed the metro company in Greece ('info@ametro.gr') just to check the state of play on the link from airport to Pireaus and recieved this reply:

"The operation of line 3 is not being interrupted yet and therefore the Metro does run all the way to/from the airport.
According to the time schedule of the constructor, Line 3 suspension is expected to start in October 2008.
Information about journeys, timetable and tickets you can view in the website (www.amel.gr (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/www.amel.gr))."

So if you're off in September (Like we are) there should be no problem with the metro