How much does it cost for a taxi from the airport to Skala or is there a bus?
Official charges set by government (in Euros):
flat charge on being flagged 0.74
0.24 per kilometre within city limits
0.44 outside city limits
0.44 per kilometre night rate
0.30 per piece of luggage over 10 kilos.
Small extra charge to/from airport or bus station etc.
So Skala to airport should be about 15 euros, not double that!!!
These prices may not be 100% up-to-date but were correct last time I
checked.
Kefalonian taxi drivers are a law unto themselves and will try to charge
you much more than this. Don't pay more.
Work out the charge in advance and pay only that. Any trouble take their
number and report to tourist police.
Who do I tip?
Almost everyone, tips are heavily relied on to supplement low wages by
workers. The average wage out here is in the region of only £100 for a 7 day
week.......!
If you are in a restaurant it is usual to leave around 10% of the bill. It
is also customary to leave a tip in bars maybe 0.70-1 € (40p) for each
round.
At the end of your holiday, a tip should be left for the chambermaid.
Obviously, if you feel the service was poor then don’t leave a tip or adjust
the amount accordingly.
Are there opportunities for walking?
Yes there lots of opportunities for walking and exploring. FoI has never been against lounging around on beaches it's just that lounging around on beaches can get boringÉreally. And besides what happens when its too cold to go on the beach, it's rainy or windy? The secret is knowing where to start. Check out FoI's self-guided trails pages - there is one on each island page - which are available to download straight to your computer. Or simply go out and explore - go on, get lost in Greece!
Will my mobile phone work?
Mobile phones are quite widely used on the islands now with several networks available so you shouldn't have any problems, except perhaps in the most remote or mountainous of places.
What is the best time of the season to go?
It all depends on what you're after. At the beginning and end of season you generally get better prices, less congested beaches and more chilled locals. The temperatures are also more amenable, there are less mosquitoes in some places and you get better displays of flowers and other plants. After all the summer is for most plants in the Mediterranean, their winter.
The high summer has all the downsides, including the factory closures which propel huge numbers of tourists to the resorts from across Europe. But if that's when you have to go on holiday, the secret is in picking the right resort or location where you can escape. At least its going to be hot!
ATMs
Check on the back of your card; if you have a Cirrus sign (most do) then you will be able to use it at Greek cash points. You can also take money out via the usual suspects of Visa and Mastercard.
There are limited cash machines on all of the Ionian islands but these are for the most part situated in the main towns of the islands, so check how far away from them you are before you go.
