hitherandyon
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Posts posted by hitherandyon
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Quilting - you seem to have it all in order and it sounds wonderful!! Let me know how it all went. Would not worry too much
about the tender. I believe when we left they were calling it tender #6. It takes about 15 minutes to get to land. Have a great
and safe trip.
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Welcome home! I can't believe you've already gone and come home!!
I've driven in Ireland, England, and Wales, so I'm just thrilled they drive on the right side of the road in France! I figure I can navigate a right roundabout a lot easier than a left! LOL. Thanks for the warning on the parking garage in Saint Paul de Vence! We have that situation (pay at other places than the exit) at a number of our parking garages but I don't know that I would have looked for that in France so I appreciate the heads-up!
About what time were you able to get off the ship? I posted a thread about getting tender tickets when you board in Rome instead of Barcelona and I'm feeling relatively good that I should be able to get an early letter.
I wonder if it will be as busy the end of September as you experienced. How did you know it was busy in Vence if you didn't go there? Or are you saying you went there, couldn't find parking, and decided to leave?
Did you fill the tank before you returned the car and, if so, any issues finding a petrol station? This may be a funny question, but we don't have self-serve gas in my state so it's rare I ever pump gas...do the pumps work essentially the way they do in the U.S. or will I be confused since I don't do it often?
Happy to hear any more tips you might have!
Thanks!
We were on the NCL Epic and I reserved a tender on the iConciege app for them, I think on the third day out.
At that time I was reserved on #3, it would have left between 7:15-7:30; grandkids were having a tough time
that day, so we actually left later at 8:30 and with the help of a taxi arrived at Sixt (not the one at the train station)
at 9 AM. Coming back to get the tender took FOREVER, we were in line around 4-4:15 and it took an hour of slow moving lines & relentless sun to get on-board. We started in Barcelona, so Cannes was our 4th stop.
We drove through Vence on the way to Tourettes-sur-loup, tried to park, and couldn't find anything. BTW St. Paul has
a lot of stores, but not "my kind of thing", still fun though. In Tourettes-sur-loup there is a parking lot that you have to
"line up" to get in and wait until someone goes so you can get in. It is very convenient, and the wait wasn't long at all.
Tried to get into La Barbacane but it was booked for the whole afternoon - food looked SO GOOD. It is right by the
parking lot and I'd make reservations for sure if going there.
I gassed (or does one say Dieseled) up off of A8 (toll road) on the way back which seemed the easiest. It was a
SHELL station, same pumping as USA, used our credit card. Just drove an off ramp to it, and got back on, easy.
Nozzles are different for petro (gas)/Diesel.
Do you have plans for Mallorca? We had a wonderful experience with a taxi driver that drove us to Valldemossa,
Herimatage of Valldermossa, Son Morroig, Deia, Soller, and Port de Soller. Picked us up at the pier and we were
back in time to board. website http://taxitrippalma.com/index.html sacovablava@hotmail.com really nice guy,
never faltered when asked questions. It was a perfect day!! Daughter and grandkids went cliff diving and they
were thrilled - picked them up at the ship too, and had them back in time. Can say enough nice things about
Sebastian. I told him what I wanted to do and he made up the route for a price. I would have stayed in Valldermossa
longer, shops were my kind of thing, not overly crowded, and lovely place slower pace.
I did all DIY with train trips and ticketing venues, did not have any problems at all and I liked the adventure, so did
the kids. Everyday I'd take my daily paper-clipped packet out and away we went. It was way too hot in Pompeii,
and 2.5 hours for the kids was an hour more than needed because of the heat...it wears on you. For some reason
Pisa did not appeal to me - so we skipped it and stayed in Florence. Took taxi to train station, then taxi (too hot to
walk) to Museo Di Palazzo Davanzati (highly recommend), walked over the Pointe Vecchio bridge to Pitti Palace
where there is tons to see. Also did a side trip to Basillica di Santa Spiritto (beautiful). Make sure you have something
to wrap over your shoulder and knees (some churches are strict with the policy, some not). Then we took the train back
to Livorno.
Rome we hooked up with WithLocals.com and a delightful young woman did a private walking tour for 4 of us seeing
what we asked to see. She was wonderful and I'd recommend this site. In the afternoon it was off to the Underground
Colosseum - even with tickets it is a hassle. Had to trade tickets for underground at another place (what a waste of time
because the regular Colosseum tickets they emailed me). You have to have both tickets. I liked and didn't like the
Underground. While it was interesting, it went way too fast - but the view from the Third Ring - well, you just have
to be there, extrodinary.
Naples - took a ferry to Sorrento, stayed in Sorrento a little longer than necessary, you see 10-15 shops and they
just repeat. Food good, coffee super. Train station convenient, only 2 blocks away from main square. Campania
Express train (A/C and nice train) to Pompeii, then same train back from Pompeii to Naples, another taxi to
port.
Sorry I skipped around our ports cause they are not in order. We will never undertake an August cruise in Europe
again - way too many people and the heat awful, we were walking like snails just to make the effort.
I hope I didn't break any rules going off subject and putting in URL addresses.
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Just got back from cruise and renting a car from Sext in Cannes. Well, I was nervous to begin with and SO glad I had
GPS guiding me, plus my navigator daughter helping me. I lost count of the number of roundabouts, and take a right and
quick left turns. WOW. Should I tell you about getting stuck at the gate trying to figure out how to get out of a parking
garage in Saint Paul de Vence? That was memorable! At least 8 cars behind me - but all patient and no one got out
and yelled at me! But they did have to back up so I could find a parking space again and pay the machine near the elevator
up by the shops. YIKES. Roads are not that wide in many places and there is no place to turn off to the side.
I did get the hang of it and yes, did leave at 3 and so glad we did. It was a hole lot of traffic we ran into for such a short drive
of maybe 25 miles.
Saint Paul was very, very busy even at 10:00 am, Tourrettes Sur Loup was quaint and beautiful and not so busy. We decided
to not visit Vence as it was very crowded and hard to find a parking space. Tried to have lunch at La Barbacane but they were
totally booked up and went to another place I can't find the name for and it was good. At the bakery we bought 2 loaves of
bread and ate it in the car on the way back...yum!
Thanks to all that gave me all the good tips!!
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No, what I meant was be careful not to fill your petrol tank with diesel or vice versa!!:D
Ahhhhhhh, of course! Most cars have a narrower opening for Diesel, correct? I am assuming the same in
France. Anyway, I'll be sure to watch that!!
Je vous remercie
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So now that I have the car and know I'll be in St. Paul and Tourrettes - how about some ideas of where to stop to eat. I know that's a loaded question - so many places probably to choose from, and one person's idea of a great restaurant is another's not great restaurant. It will be for lunch only of course. And I need to be aware of dining time and sightseeing time. We are an adventuresome lot, doesn't matter if it's huge or tiny...give us some great bread, atmosphere, something local. Kids have been introduced to some mighty fine meals....they won't be a cheap date!! LOL
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Quilting-Cruiser: "When I originally mapped it, Google Maps had me going the same route to and from , so I tried to put in a couple extra villages so it would map me different ways to Tourrettes-sur-Loup and back to Cannes. But, apparently I didn't do it correctly so the links really help! "
Hint when using Google Maps - if you want to plot a different route than the 2-3 they give you with accompanying "5 minutes slower"....then just put your courser on the Blue line of the route, hold it, and move it to the route you'd like to see. You may need
to move the Blue line in several spots in order to complete.
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We spend (and have spent ) our summer holidays in France, driving from the UK for the last 40 odd years. We would always use the Michelin maps rather than any other. In the past it was paper maps, but now we use www.viamichelin.com
It gives you toll charges, likely delays and the choice of route - whether you want shortest (but not necessarily quickest!), scenic, fastest (not necessarily scenic!!) and how much you would pay for diesel or petrol.
Oh, and be careful -some rentals in France use diesel, not petrol
In France what is the difference (pitfalls) in renting a Diesel instead of Petrol car? Hard to find fuel, use more fuel?
Or something else. All I wanted for sure is an Automatic. My husband gave me whiplash in Italy!! Been a long time
for manual transmission driving. Considering where we are going and back I can't imagine that we'd use that much
fuel anyway - but will be sure to fill up before bringing back. Is there a favorite place to fill up just before Cannes?
Can't thank everyone enough for the super tips. :cool:
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Many years ago, I think on the Dawn, my daughter asked if she could have blackened chicken, the waiter looked confused. She said just ask the chef, thinking they would know. You guessed it, she got a completely charred burned to a crisp inedible chicken breast. Same cruise she asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich from the kids menu...there was maybe a teaspoon of peanut butter and an equal amount if jelly.
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What time is the earliest tender that you can sign up for when in the Cannes port? When can you sign up?
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Bonjour, Quilting,
That doesn't make sense. Use this search:
Go from Cannes to St Paul first for two reasons: It is less crowded in the morning and you get "the view" going up there on the D2 from Cagnes-sur-Mer. Then go to Tourrettes.
If you are adventurous, you can return from Tourrettes through the countryside and Mougins:
Or return through Vence as suggested in the first search. You will be coming back on the opposite side of the valley from the route you took up to St Paul.
Since you are going at the end of september you will not have to deal with the crowds or traffic as you would in august. It is a great time to go. You don't say what time you have to get back to the ship, but you could even go to Gourdon if you have a really long day in port:
Would these routes be best for me on the August trip? Though I'd love to drive the coast, I can see it would be heavy with traffic, but then again, many others think that way and the other roads are just as crowded. No matter what, sadly we'll have to be on our way by 3, like you said.
Looks like I'll have to carry a big watch and bull horn for my group....hate to be saying "we gotta go" too many times, when all I want to do is sit and take in the atmosphere.
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Tracking a few days to see how the traffic is like, is good advice and I'll check into it, thanks Marazul!
Jayne - looks like we will be taking the same trip....thinking of the same questions too.
When we get back I'll be sure to tell you how it went. So anxious and excited. Pictures of the places
are beautiful and serene. Hope other tourists and vacationers let me have some of the road, and a
place to sit and enjoy!
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We did plan to go to the farthest point first and quickest, then make our way back at our leisure (lol). Thank you all for your combined
wisdom's on making this trip. Sure to get back much earlier. It was mentioned that August 18 would be the busiest, why is that - is something going on? When we are in our other ports we have decided to DIY. I am liking the challenge. Any ideas of places to see in Palma de Mallorca? We have been to Mallorca before and want to venture out to see more of the island - towns. Ship in at 1 PM out at 8 PM.
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Hello all, this thread came just in time. Husband and I are taking our daughter and granddaughters (12/16) on the NCL Epic cruise and will be in Cannes August 18th. We have been kicking around renting a car and driving to St Paul and Vence....and now I am looking into the other two cities of Gourdon and Tourettes-sur-Loup. Too much to choose from and I already know the day will be short. I understand the last tender for the Epic is 5:30, so would want the car back no later than 5 PM.
Quilting-Cruiser - where did you rent your car? Did you use Mistral? I am thinking of Sixt - but ideally would want a car close to the port.
We are in are early 70's, and though I know we will walk a lot, I want to keep it at a minimum.
I am both scared and excited driving in France. I'll have to start holding onto euro coins for the tolls.
Thanks all for all the wonderful information!
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Yes, you can upgrade your coverage. When we were on the Jade Transatlantic in 2016 I upgraded to unlimited internet and was given $125 in credit for the 250 minutes.
Did you upgrade on-board the ship, or call reservations to change? I called reservations and they
said they could not change it through them.
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Thanks - great feedback much appreciated 👍..3 weeks and counting can't wait !!:cool:
You must be on same time as us...have 2 granddaughters 12/16. Are your kids girls? This cruise will be a total surprise for ours. Spending 3 nights in Barcelona before the 8/13 embark. We went on this same cruise/ship June 2015....fun and huge ship.
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Staying in 12070 on the May 31st sailing out of Barcelona. Please keep me informed about this cabin and how you liked/didn't like it. It's fairly close
to the elevators and stairs - hope not too noisy....looks to be a good cabin.
Epic looks like fun ship....I may even try the slide!
Looking forward to your post when you return.
Cannes Rental Car Questions
in France Ports
Posted
Please come back and let us know how it went!