We leave for Athens in a week. After a few days, we will be traveling to Hydra by ferry. We plan to take a taxi from our center city hotel to Pireaus. I found a service on line welcomepickups. Online, you can reserve the taxi for a designated time to come to the hotel. The quoted total was 27 Euros for 2 passengers with 3 pieces of luggage. The price sounded fine, but I wondered if anyone has any experience using this service? Or any other suggestions would also be welcomed.
Posted by
Carmel, CA, USA
2456 posts
I don’t know that service., but the cost seems reasonable. Or, it is generally easy to just ask your hotel counter staff to arrange a taxi. That way, if there is no taxi waiting for you at the appointed time, the hotel staff can follow up.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta
10 posts
Thanks. That sounds like the better plan. We are staying at the Electra Palace so I feel certain they can arrange for a taxi.
Posted by
Arcadia, CA
584 posts
I used welcome pickups last September from the airport to my downtown hotel. It was great. The driver was very helpful and pleasant and I would highly recommend them. As far as the price, I can't tell you about that. Sometimes it's just a cost of your vacation to make it easy on yourself. I'm using welcome pickups this year in Spain! Have a great trip!
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1419 posts
I’ve used Welcome from the airport several times in Greece in the last couple of years and have always found them reliable, friendly and helpful. An advantage is that you can pay online before your trip.
Having said that, and as Larry suggests, the hotel will also call you a taxi. We do this if we are just going to the bus station, have never waited more than about five minutes, and have found it straightforward.
Alan
Posted by
Cape Ann, Massachusetts
3334 posts
I, too, used Welcome Pickups from the airport to my hotel. It was only a few dollars above a regular taxi, and they were there when expected and pleasant for the entire ride to my hotel. I'd use them again in a heartbeat.
Posted by
Sidney, BC, Canada
979 posts
I used Welcome Pick-ups in Athens for trips to and from hotels and the airport and Pireaus. They were great. On one occasion my suitcase handle broke as we were loading it into the car and the driver found me a luggage store in Pireaus, helped me buy a new suitcase at a reasonable price, helped me repack, and took the old one off for disposal...luckily it was only a carryon size! Cars are immaculate, the drivers all speak excellent English and try to avoid complications such as protests, construction and other potential delays by taking detours through less crowded areas. Worth the bit of extra money it costs.
Posted by
Portland
3643 posts
Here’s another thumb up for Welcome pickups.