irenez

Thank you:)

We would like to do some touring on Saturday the 8th before we board. Is it possible to drop off our luggage in the morning at port and go out to tour? I am hoping around 930? Thank you, Irene

Hello, everyone. We are going on August 8th. I cant find information anywhere, including the email they sent two weeks prior. Does anyone know what might be playing?

Thank you, Irene

Thank you, I will look into the car rental option then. We wont use it in Valletta. I am thinking we will get out, see the island, come back, drop the car and then see Valletta.

What are the recommendations for that port on that day? I am stuck and dont know what to do:(

We are docking during a religious holiday. We are a family of 5 and DIY most ports. I have not been able to find any car rentals that come up available. We are not planning to go to Rome but I was hopping to visit Orvietton and Civita Bagnoregio. I am a bit stuck now because I am not sure if I can get a car rental. What to do?

Thank you so much! Irene

Hello, everyone. We are a family of 5 stopping in Malta on Aug13th. We have been there once before and ended up hiring a taxi for the day. Since there are 5 of us, it’s a challenge to find a big enough taxi so I am considering renting a car. I would like to drive around the island, visit the glass factory, visit Mdina, find a nice beach for a swim and lunch and go back to check out Valletta ( I don’t think we saw it last time we were there). What are your thoughts/advice please?

Thank you, Irene

Thank you, Everyone. Decided to do a private tour. Thank you so much for all your advice!

Yes, Marazul. My dilemma is that all the well rated recommended companies are booked(started my search with your recommendation 2 weeks ago)..or cost prohibitive. I do have some quotes for the day at 550-700 euro but the reviews for those companies are either nonexistent or the companies are cost prohibitive(700). This is why I am trying to optimize on time/cost. Thank you for letting me know about the taxi risk, this will definitely tip the scale towards a tour guide...

Ok, these maybe be a repetitive questions, I apologize in advance and thank you all for your patience:) I am still trying to avoid a $700 day… I agree with you about the dangers of lingering and having time and traffic stress. We are usually very good DIyers but Marseille seems less user friendly as far as time management goes on such a short stop.

How about hiring a driver at port (taxi? for the day? Are there taxis that can take 5 people at port?) would that be less expensive than a guide? Then we would go going to L'Isle. From there visit a village or two. If we decide to stay there, go to Aix and back to Marseille, or try to make it back to Marseille around 2 and look for a 2 hour boat tour to Cassis from Marseille port? Stretching it? I am sure we will be planning a return trip but I never know which of the kids won’t come with us next time (esp the 20 year old). So we try to get as much out of a stop as we can while being totally flexible and willing to give some things up.

Thank you all!

Thank you for amazing advice. We may attempt to see a lot in a little time... Would you by chance know how long it might take to get to a car rental place (if there are any on Sunday). Would they allow someone in a rental car(my husband) to drive to port and pick us up? We are still considering renting a car to minimize the expense.

Thank you!

Hank, sorry about the typos before! I was hoping you would chime in. I came up with number 2 reading your contributions... How long do you think at the market? Does it make sense to spend a part of the only day in Provence there? Or smaller markets are "good enough" if we can squeeze Cassis in?

Frank! I was hoping you would chime in. I came up with number 2 reading your contributions... How long do you think at the market? Does it make sense to soend a part ofnthe inly day in Provence there? Or smaller markets are "good enough" if we can squeeze Cassis in?

Hello, everyone. We are stopping with a cruise on Sunday with 3 kids (11,13,20). I am struggling with choosing between coastline and mountain top villages/market.

I have been reading a lot about Cassis and it looks wonderful. We would also LOVE to get a taste of Provence. It does not seem like a visit to L'Lsle sur la Sorgue for its market and Cassis are possible in 8 hours. I am trying to choose the most unique (I know its hard in a day!) experience for us.

We have traveled quite a bit in Italy(Tuscany and coastline), but not so much France(Paris only).

It seems that we will not be able to rent a car since it will take too much of our time so I am looking to hire a guide.

1. Start the day in Aix en Provence and spend the afternoon in Cassis.

2. Start in L'Lsle sur la Sorgue since it will be on a Sunday and there is a market, go to Gordes, Fontaine de Vauciuse, and Roussillon, Aix?

Thank you so much for your help!

Ended up traveling to Malta last summer after a cruise and it has become my new favorite destination. Our hotel set us up with a taxi driver/guide for a couple of hours and we took in a lot. We still stay in contact to this day because I plan to go back sooner than later. Loved the Mdina.

Do you have the info for the taxi driver? do you remember the rates? We will be in Malta on Aug 13th. Been there before 5 years ago on our first European cruise when the kids were much younger. Coming back with all of them again:) All I remember is taking a tour with a taxi (5 of us Squeezed into a 5 person car plus a driver, kids were not happy). He dropped us off at a resort not far form the port with a nice pool and rocky swimming area. I remember we had to pay an entrance fee. It was a nice day. Looking to see more history this time and visit an off the beaten path beach. Advice? Thank you!

Hello, everyone. After doing a ton of research on threads, I am still undecided. We have an 10 hour stop on Sunday Aug9th. We are well traveled but had never been to Provence. Driving is not a problem but I am a bit concerned with the time we will invest getting to rental agencies and back in this particular port. What is the best most efficient way to travel so we can get the most in? Budget is a concern as well. We are a family of 5 (3 kids are 20,11,13).

Based on what have read here we would love to see:

L'Isle Sur La Sorque , Arles, Les Baux, aix. I know we wont necessarily see all of these, but based on what I have read here, they seem to be the top picks for us. We in general like less crowed less touristy places, but still with charm and history and views.

So my struggle is : spend the time, save the money and get a car and be free spirits but probably see less and get lost a couple of times (we are fine with that:)). Or save the time and spend the money and hire a guide? (who?).

Your advice is truly appreciated.

Thank you, Irene

Thank you for the leads on car rentals. What do you think about the stops and places we want to visit? We saw CT a few years go. Which villages should we revisit(cant remem the favorite one). Which one should be last? Can you make a recommendation as to where to stay that one night? to get us over for the Tuscany visit? Should we make the drive at night so we can be there in the morning ready to go? We did a great 10 day land Tuscany drive a couple of years ago, decided to cruise for the kids this year...

Hello, we are traveling on Emerald princess. I am thinking about renting a car in Genoa, visiting Cinque Terre, San miniato, San Simignano, Volterra and get back on the ship in Livirno. We have done previous cruises and land travel. We have been to Florence, Tuscuny, Siena, Luca, Pisa. We LOVED Cinque Terre and this seems like a possible overnight visit. Trying to decide if this makes sense. Will it save us travel time (wit to rent a car, get back on ship, wait to renat a car again, etc) and allow us to experience quite night time Cinque Terre before we move on to San Miniato(I am a truffle nut and really want to eat buy some truffle products)? Where should we stay?

Thank you in advance for the advice.

Irene