Car Hire and other Paralion Astros, Greece Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: There is the odd bus but I wouldn't hold your breath. The best way to get around is by hiring a car. We pre booked ours in England with Suncars who went through Hertz. We collected a Citroen Saxo on arrival at the airport which cost £145 for the week. When we returned it a week later it was fully inspected by Miss Hitler from Hertz. Fortunately she couldn't find any damage so let us return to England!!!

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Other Contact: Hertz International

'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Paralio Astros fills up in the evenings and weekends with Greeks from far and wide. They all arrive in their cars and part of the beach by the harbour has been turned into a large parking area. Even so, one particularly hot weekend the park was nearly full by midday. Then the Greeks choose to park wherever they think fitting which is not always in sensible places.
The main shopping street in Paralio Astros is narrow as are the pavements where they exist. Keep an eye and ear open for traffic from behind at all times. I'm led to believe this street becomes pedestrianised in peak season which would make a lot of sense.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Paralio Astros is a good 2 hours and more away from Kalamata airport. Our flight back to England was due to leave around 3pm. As we had our own transport which we were returning to Kalamata airport, we weren't in any hurry. We made the scenic journey over the mountains to Messini, where the airport is, with an hour to kill before check-in. There is a small road just past the airport on the opposite side, running by the side of the Pamissos River. This runs all the way down to the coast (about 3 miles of pot-holes and maize fields.) There is a gypsy encampment at the main road end but they are miles from the coast.
There is a lovely, steeply shelving sandy beach with the river Pamissos flowing into the sea. The beach extends for miles.There were only two Greek women on our part, and they'd arrived at the same time as us.
It's quite picturesque and the river is full of frogs and other wildlife. One or two boats are moored here. What a find!! There was even a tree for shade. I was so hot, I plunged into the water. What a relief. Not bad for my last swim in Greece for 2006.
Back into clothes and so to the airport.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: The Peloponnese has a spectacular, single track railway, incorporating Korinthos, Argos,Nafpllion, Tripoli,Megalopoli, Kalamata and over to the West at Kiparissia. Then northwards along the west coast to Patras and continuing round back to Korinthos. This then proceeds to Athens. Unfortunately, at the moment there is a massive upgrading project underway nad some parts of the railway are closed as new lines are laid. I'm really not sure how much is closed but certainly from the east coast to Tripoli there is no track.
It really is an amazing piece of engineering when you realise the gradients involved and all the viaducts and bridges that had to be constructed. OK, so journeys may take a long time but what scenery you'll enjoy. Who's in any hurry anyway??

The timetable below will need checking.

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Website: http://www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo/railwaypeloponese.htm