Ireland to Cyprus without flying...

Piko

I have a friend who has a phobia of flying but his daughter is getting married in Cyprus next summer, so he's asked me to find out how to get to Cyprus by land/sea. He really wants to go to the wedding and no amount of persuasion or valium will get him into a plane!
Any advice, or good websites i could be looking at?

Piko

biko

Ferry to UK, take train to Paris, then to Athens and ferry from Piraeus to Cyprus.
Or from Turkey

Biko

kmick

Sedation and a wheelchair? That journey is about 3000 miles.

Piko

Thanks Biko, is that site pretty reliable? there's a few links on it which look promising....

Sedation and a wheelchair? That journey is about 3000 miles

Afraid not! either he's goes by train/ferry or he stays at home

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

That's an 8-day round trip!! I'd recommended hynosis.

Fratton Fred

Wow, I would love to do that journey.

robinph

Unless he's filming a and episode of "long way to the med" he really should see about getting the fear of flying sorted. That kind of journey by land/ sea would not be fun if the purpose of the trip is to actually get somewhere, if the trip is for the journey itself then it's a different matter though.

Benedict XVI

I obviously do not know the circumstance but is it not a bit selfish of the daughter to get married so far from home when her father has a fear of flying.

Or are they from Cyprus and the father is here ?

Piko

I don't think he's flown in about 40 years, he's retired ,and being of a certain generation/growing up in rural ireland/ being stuck in his ways, i don't think he'd be interested in hypnosis or any kind of counselling to get over his phobia...

With time off from work etc not being an issue, i'm not limited by the length of the journey, only by budget. I'm sure that if i can plan it right, the travelling can be a holiday in itself. Having not seen much of the world in the last few decades i'm sure it would be a more interesting experience than sitting on a plane for a few hours...

I need trip planning advice guys, not a number for a hypnotist!
He's a lovely man and i just want to help him see his daughter get married, and maybe see a bit of the world while he's at it...

Fratton Fred

Piko wrote: »

I don't think he's flown in about 40 years, he's retired ,and being of a certain generation/growing up in rural ireland/ being stuck in his ways, i don't think he'd be interested in hypnosis or any kind of counselling to get over his phobia...

With time off from work etc not being an issue, i'm not limited by the length of the journey, only by budget. I'm sure that if i can plan it right, the travelling can be a holiday in itself. Having not seen much of the world in the last few decades i'm sure it would be a more interesting experience than sitting on a plane for a few hours...

I need trip planning advice guys, not a number for a hypnotist!
He's a lovely man and i just want to help him see his daughter get married, and maybe see a bit of the world while he's at it...

There's a company called John Jameson and Sons limited that do a very nice potion for helping those with a fear of flying:D

My father in law is scared stiff of flying but we dragged him over to the Dominican Republic for our wedding, he loved it, especially when he realised he had his own TV with a choice of films to watch.

Fratton Fred

Dublin - ferry to Holyhead - train to London - Paris - Turin - Venice.

Then Ferry from Venice to Patra followed by a bus to Pireaus. Ferry to Rhodes, then another ferry to Limassol.

Dublin to London is about 10 hours
Paris to Venice is an 11 hour journey.
Venice to Patra is 29 hours (ish)
Piraeus to Rhodes is 16 hours
Rhodes to Limassol is 18 hours

Then you have to make all the legs join up.

If the wedding is next summer, you should be ok if you set off late January:D

I reckon you are talking about a weeks worth of travelling each way, unless you drive to Turkey and catch the ferry, which will take you through some pretty wild and wonderful places I'm sure.

Bogger77

I've researched most of this route for a trip to Palermo, the seat61.com site is brilliant.
The german train company, Die Bahn, have a brill timetable website, here that will help you do rough travel estimates from Holyhead to Italy.

I'd be go the following route, which is 100% Euro Zone (and euro is accepted in Geneva, and most places should be English speaker friendly)

Dublin to holyhead Ferry
Holyhead to London, via Virgin. or
Dublin-Busaras to London via Eurolines (sleep on the way, <80e return)
London-St Pancreas to Paris via Eurostar (can do for 50stg one way)
Paris-Gare de Lyon to Geneva (about 80e first class if you book in advance one way) (www.tgv.com or www.sbb.ch)
Geneva to Milan (www.sbb.ch)
Milan to Bari (88e First Class 7hrs, www.trenitalia.it
bari to Athens via Ferry
Athens to Rhodes via Ferry
Rhodes to Cyprus via Ferry (only company I could find for 2008)


It's one hell of a trip, I'd love to do it.

Piko

Thanks Bogger77

Do you think i should book as much as i can in advance or leave it open in case of any delays/missed connections etc?
Are you planning on stopping off for a few days in some places along the way?



Fratton Fred, the whiskey has been mentioned to him, perhaps when i have the trip planned out and show him an itinerary, the weeks of travelling will scare him more than the flying but i wouldn't hold my breath!

Bogger77

Most of the train journeys cannot be booked much more than 3 months in advance, but check the websites to check that, all the european train operators have good english language websites.
My plan, is to get to the south as fast as possible, as I've spent a few days in each of the stops as far as Rome.

Your friend should try find interesting places to stop over, for me I'd go over night from Dublin, sleeping on the bus and get as far as Geneva for my first over night stop, but then again, I love trains and dont mind spending 10-16 hours in a day on them.
I'd try get an over night ferry from Italy to Greece, and try get an overnight Ferry from Greece mainland to Rhodes, from there to Cyprus, I'd grab what ever sailing I could, as there's not too many.
I have avoided the Turkey route, as it's outside of Eurozone, and it has some issues politically, that might cause problems in future, plus I'm sure sure your friend wouldn't like to have to cross the Cyprus - North Cyprus border.

One tip, your friend should ensure that people know he's Irish not English, as it's amazing how peoples attitudes change to being more friendly, Irish rugby shirts/polo shirts etc, would be a nice idea.

You really are looking at up to 7 days each way to do this!!

Piko

Bogger77 wrote: »

I have avoided the Turkey route, as it's outside of Eurozone, and it has some issues politically, that might cause problems in future, plus I'm sure sure your friend wouldn't like to have to cross the Cyprus - North Cyprus border.

Reading the seat61.com site, i think i'll definitely steer clear of turkey.

One tip, your friend should ensure that people know he's Irish not English, as it's amazing how peoples attitudes change to being more friendly, Irish rugby shirts/polo shirts etc, would be a nice idea.

Wearing an irish jersey is a great idea, I've definitely noticed the difference in attitudes when people realise i'm irish and not english

limklad

Piko wrote: »

I have a friend who has a phobia of flying but his daughter is getting married in Cyprus next summer, so he's asked me to find out how to get to Cyprus by land/sea. He really wants to go to the wedding and no amount of persuasion or valium will get him into a plane!
Any advice, or good websites i could be looking at?

Piko

I went to Turkey this summer, The Passenger next to me was very very extremely nervous. Her Husband did not alleviate her fears. As I am experience Traveller, I calmly talk her through what will happen next, from Pilots checks, Stewards check and safety checks, plane loading, Plane moving, stopping, all the banging noise etc. The Loud noise of the engines and air brushing against the cabin. I just calmly talk her through it. she ask questions about air turbulence, etc. I told her my experience and she said she drove alot. I told her the truth that she is far more highly likely to get kill in her car than on the Aeroplane, and quoted her some statics. I told her News Media reports every plane crash no matter how small and ask her does she listen to the News for Deaths happening on our roads. Does that stop her from Driving. She said "No". I then proceed to tell her, There are more people killed every year on our roads than from planes throughout the world every year. It helped her fears. I told her everybody is nervous the first time. It get easier the more you travel as you get more experience.
As the Plane took off she held my hand tightly, I told her If something is wrong just look in to my eyes, and you will know very soon. For the whole flight she kept looking into my eyes for every small bump. I just smiled and sat back. It was the calmest flight, I ever been on.

TheHairyFairy

Fair play to him for looking at this alternate route. I'd say there are lots of boardsies who would love to do this journey. Why not offer to travel along with him, it would be a great experience, and would be great to see it documented on video etc.

Then at the end of the outward trip you would all get to have a bash before turning around and travelling back again. Any budding documentary makers out there?

[Jackass]

You'd be spending a sh*t load of money & time getting there.

I'd suggest calling it an inter-railing holiday that ends in Cyprus. But having to do the journey back, it really is insane how difficult this would be.

But Biko's idea is the best way, ferry to wales, train to London, London to Paris, Paris to Greece (god knows how many stop overs - probably Paris - Munich; Munich - Budapest; Budapest - Sophia; Sophia - Athens; Athens ferry to Nicosia.)

It may be quicker to go Paris - Milan - travel south through Italy and see if you can get a ferry from Italy to Greece and Greece to Cyprus. Although not many major cities are on the East coast of Italy, so you may have to travel all the way to Sicely to get ferry over.

It's an amazing holiday but would take you a couple of weeks there and back.

Soooooo much easier flying!! Should work harder at sorting that out.

[Edit] Just saw Bogger77 post - yeah that would be easier than my way

CantGetNoSleep

An interrail ticket would almost certainly be cheaper

Bogger77

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

An interrail ticket would almost certainly be cheaper

Inter rail for adults isn't ultra cheap considering this trip is multi zone.
plus, tbh, it'd be easy to get cheap first class seats booking this far in advance. I've got first class on TGV Geneva Paris booking 2.5 months in advance than it was for standard class when booking 3 days in advance!

CantGetNoSleep

Bogger77 wrote: »

Inter rail for adults isn't ultra cheap considering this trip is multi zone.
plus, tbh, it'd be easy to get cheap first class seats booking this far in advance. I've got first class on TGV Geneva Paris booking 2.5 months in advance than it was for standard class when booking 3 days in advance!

There are no zones in interrail anymore

http://www.railpassshop.com/pd/IRN/InterRail_Global_AH

Still think it would work out cheaper this way

olaola

What about a freighter cruise from Cork to Cyprus?

http://www.cruisecyprus.com/grimaldi_freighter_cruises.htm

http://www.cruisecyprus.com/grimaldi_itineraries_and_prices.htm

kingofburt

I've spent the last three months doing a very similar journey, except we started in Trieste in Italty and finished in Venice, going to Turkey on the Croatian side of the adriatic and home via Italy. I think Fratton Fred has the right route, take train to Venice then ferry the rest of the way. It will be the most relaxing option, unless you want to see some of the cities in Eastern europe don't bother with the train, it is a very long journey and I think you can get the direct train from Belgrade to Athens but would you be interested in 30 plus hours on a train with several long stops at border crossings? Feel free to pm if you want more info or compny names.

Mitch Buchannon

All you need to do is give him a glass of milk.



*Mitch leaves to watch re-runs of "The A Team" *

cfitz

limklad wrote: »

I then proceed to tell her, There are more people killed every year on our roads than from planes throughout the world every year. It helped her fears.

That's not true though, for the past 10 years there have been far more aircraft fatalities worldwide than road deaths in Ireland.

shrapnel222

i think i'd go ferry to France, train to Paris, train to milan, train to brindisi, ferry to greece (can't remember the port), train to athens, boat to cyprus