Comfortable ferry with yummy gyros! (Bary-Patras)

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Bary-Patras
Date:	05/08/09 (10 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reasonable value in the winter

Disadvantages: Rather expensive in the summer

Super Ferries run the line from Bari - Patras. First of all you have to get to the port itself which isn't too tricky but can be a bit misleading, basically you have to buy a ticket from one of the kiosks at the bus station which is next to the train station in Bari, board the "20/", which can get a bit packed obviously because lots of people are heading to the port at the same time, it also happens that lots of boats leave at the same time as you don't just have one heading to Greece but also several to Albania, ferries which can get particularly busy when workers head home on a Friday for the weekend.

Once you get dropped off, there's a short walk to a posh terminal building where you buy your tickets, then you walk back to the port and board the boat with said tickets.

Now being a foot passenger on a tight budget, I hadn't booked a cabin and was on the cheapo reclining seats, as on most boats the reclining seats are never particularly comfortable and its much easier to choose a corner, throw down a mat and a sleeping bag and nod off.

Sleeping in busy surroundings is never too easy so I checked out the duty free and invested in a bottle of ouzo for around 5 euros ended up sharing it with a Russian guy who in turn found probably the best food on the boat was in a gyros place out on deck - having a spit out on deck looked a bit surreal but it was quite cool, if it hadn't been so windy it would have been enjoyable to sit out on the deck with one whilst looking back at the Italian coastline.

The boat stops at Igoumenitsa several hours earlier than Patras to allow cars to disembark - many of them heading to Northern Greece or Turkey. It doesn't take too long though and it's not long before the boat is sailing full speed ahead before arriving at the pleasant port of Patras in Greece.

It's not the cheapest boat I've ever taken but the price isn't that bad and inter-railers will be glad to know that it is included in their ticket price. Overall I had a good time on it, it wasn't particularly busy. The price in high season can be as much as 75 euros and in low season it goes down to around 35 euros.

Summary: A bit dear but good for inter-railers