Monte Carlo HOHO Bus

[2ptu/000]

Has anyone used the HOHO bus in Monte Carlo recently? I've read that it difficult to get back on once you are off due to overcrowding.

 

Does the bus stop at the port? Is this the best way to see Monte Carlo on our own? My husband isn't a good walker.

[angelina46]

we were recently in monte carlo and the ho ho bus was ovecrowded,we saw long queues everywhere. a much cheaper and better option is the no.6.bus. you get on just near the port,at the first bus stop you see. buy a 2euro day ticket,it goes all round monte carlo,just get on and off where you like.bus drivers all seemed to understand enough english.

angelina46

[KirkNC]

We just used the public bus system, clean and cheap (1€ a ride).

[2ptu/000]

Thanks KirkNC and Angelina46

[agabbymama]

Has anyone used the HOHO bus in Monte Carlo recently? I've read that it difficult to get back on once you are off due to overcrowding.

 

Does the bus stop at the port? Is this the best way to see Monte Carlo on our own? My husband isn't a good walker.

 

Be very careful in Monte Carlo. We are two older ladies with mobility issues, we started walking (because there was not one bus nor one taxi) but after 2 hours never made it to the top. Returned to the ship for lunch & a nap, missing Monte Carlo. At 4:00 pm we went back to a small souvenir kiosk on the pier to buy something from Monte Carlo, only to be told there is an elevator to the top. But our all aboard time was 4:30 so we never got to see anything. Be sure to go into the port building and ask at information about transportation and the elevator.

 

Monte Carlo was our first port, and really put the fear into us that we were not going to have a good cruise, but thankfully that was the worst mishap of our 21 day trip.

[2ptu/000]

Yes, Thanks, Eleanor. We are seniors too and just getting to the various levels seems intimidating. Maybe we need to break down and do a ships excursion. My husband can't walk uphill or long distances and gets "excited" if I don't know precisely where I am going. I've looked at Tom's port guides and my brain hurts just thinking aout it.

[Hlitner]

Be very careful in Monte Carlo. We are two older ladies with mobility issues, we started walking (because there was not one bus nor one taxi) but after 2 hours never made it to the top. Returned to the ship for lunch & a nap, missing Monte Carlo. At 4:00 pm we went back to a small souvenir kiosk on the pier to buy something from Monte Carlo, only to be told there is an elevator to the top. But our all aboard time was 4:30 so we never got to see anything. Be sure to go into the port building and ask at information about transportation and the elevator.

 

Monte Carlo was our first port, and really put the fear into us that we were not going to have a good cruise, but thankfully that was the worst mishap of our 21 day trip.

 

Sounds like a real bummer! But your post really points out what we have been preaching for many years which is that folks intending to do their own thing (go off independently) need to do their pre-cruise homework. We do think that MC is a tough port for those with mobility issues as much of the town is on slopes.

 

Hank

[KirkNC]

Sounds like a real bummer! But your post really points out what we have been preaching for many years which is that folks intending to do their own thing (go off independently) need to do their pre-cruise homework. We do think that MC is a tough port for those with mobility issues as much of the town is on slopes.

 

Hank

 

I agree, if you properly plan things out MC is not hard to get around. The bus stop is about 5 minutes from where the tender drops you off and the buses come on a schedule that is about every 15 - 20 minutes.

[2ptu/000]

OK, if I use the public bus system. Will it be easy to find the bus stop from where the tender drops you off? Is there more than one bus? How will I know which stops to get off?

[Hlitner]

Just have to add that most ships calling at Monte Carlo do now dock...not tender. But there are still a few ships that will tender because there is another ship taking up most of the pier or perhaps the ship is too large to dock.

 

Hank

[KirkNC]

OK, if I use the public bus system. Will it be easy to find the bus stop from where the tender drops you off? Is there more than one bus? How will I know which stops to get off?

 

Yes it is very easy to find the stop but a little preplanning is required. here is a link to a map of stops and routes:

 

http://www.cam.mc/documents/1298472237.pdf

 

and the main bus web site:

 

http://www.cam.mc/informations-pratiques.php?lang=en

 

This explains what you might want to know about tickets etc.

 

Not sure where you want to go but you probably want to start at the Princess Stephanie stop, bus routes 1 & 2 will take you to the "rock" and casino. A great place to visit is the Exotic Garden (bus 2 takes you there but it does require some walking around the garden).

 

When at a stop as a bus approaches it will have a large lite route number above the drivers window, you can't miss it. Buses run pretty frequently but does vary based on time of day.

[2ptu/000]

Thanks, Kirk, very helpful.