Mary Wells | 04/04/2008 4:05 pm

Gypsy’s Personal Guide to Doctors, Drivers, Taxis, Shippers and Helicopters in the Med

Credentials: My husband and I had a summer home in St. Jean Cap Ferrat for 30 years and brought our children up from one end of the Med to the other. We had all kinds and sizes of boats and after selling my home in France I now spend summers on a Feadship called “Strangelove”. I have had many, many, many guests through the years and I know how painful it is to need a dentist and not know one. I am giving you the names, telephone numbers of friends you will be glad to know.

If you have someone you would like to add to my list please let me know. We all need friends when we travel.

Doctors in Italy:
The Genius: Dr. Luigi Marasco — Head of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the Brindisi Hospital. When necessary, for serious emergencies, he will travel. He is a life saver – he is just possibly an angel.
Tel: 39 0185 283 645 Mobile phone: 39 338 688 1723

In Portofino:

Dr. Fati: Reliable, Responsible: Tel: 39 0185 283 645. Mobile: 39 338 688 1723

Dr Ramasco: Reliable, Responsible: Tel: 39 338 281 1046.

Doctors in Spain:
Reliable, responsible. In Palma de Mallorca: Dr. Marisa Diaz Polo Tel: 34 071 681518

Doctors in South of France:
Excellent: In St Jean Cap Ferrat: This has been my family doctor in summer! Dr. Philippe Lemione. Speaks English, Philippe is a very good internist who knows the right specialist. Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 76 16 16. Mobile: 33 (0) 609 090988.

Dr. Veronique Coissard in Beaulieu Sur Mer, lovely and smart dermatologist, speaks English, Tel: 33 (0) 493 01 19 40

Dr. Simblser in Beausoleil, highly respected dermatologist in that odd French area squeezed right above Monte Carlo; experienced, speaks English, knows American medications, I’ve known him for years. Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 78 57 25

I just have to add Dr. Eric Maugee, dermatologist attaché to the Hospital Saint Louis in Paris – a good man and a good name to have! Tel: 01 48 74 12 94

Dr. Gerald Demaneuf, my favorite dentist, his office is in Beaulieu Sur Mer, he is excellent and he doesn’t hurt! Speaks English. I’ve known him for years in Beaulieu Sur Mer, Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 011 940

Laboratory Blood tests: Mr. Edery, respected, reliable, in Beaulieu Sur Mer, Tel: 33 (0) 4 93 01 12 59.

Shipping Agents You Can Trust: I’ve tried them all, I have shipped houses full of precious items so often you would be shocked so I won’t tell you. I think these are the best by far.

Best shipper in the world in my opinion: Tony Daddone, Kamino International Transport, 145th Avenue, Valley Stream, New York 11581. Tel: 1 516 825 4774, ext 3100 for Tony Daddone. Fax 1 516 825 4669. He never – and I mean never – lets you down. Call from Europe, Greenland, or the moon – he is affiliated with the shippers of the world and knows who is who – he will arrange everything.

Another great shipper if you own or charter a boat: Catalano Shipping Services.

La Panorama, Bloc C/D, 57 Rue Grimaldi, Monaco 98000. No matter where you sail, Catalano will find you to deliver or to take away, the five star shipper for yachts. Tel: 377 93 50 86 86.

Taxis, Limos, Drivers, Helicopters

Limousines, Monaco based:

2 M Limousines

Owner: Marc Bazzano – the best on the French coast in my opinion – very pleasant, smart, speaks good English, utterly reliable
Mobile: 377 (0) 6 80 86 40 27
Tel: 377 93 50 69 69

Limousines, Barcelona based:
Abaser: Tel: 34 93 245 78 29 www.abaser.es

Limousines, St Tropez based:
Riviera Limousine (Francis Laprade) Tel: 33 (0) 611 533 856

Limousines, Rome
Salvatore Rapicavoli: Tel: 39 329 623 1954; mobile: 39 (0) 6 783 49 022
Maurizio Benfenati: Tel: 39 388 231 151 28; www.coopsar.it

Local taxis, Portofino
Claudio: Tel: 39 335 533 2307
Giovanni: Tel: 39 340 47 33 160

Local taxis, Porto Santo Stefeno
Lucio: Tel: 39 335 126 2906
Marco: Tel: 39 339 399 7132

Local taxi, Viareggio
Alessandro: Tel: 39 339 61 58 852

Private Driver – Amalfi Coast plus

ALFREDO THE WONDERFUL

This intelligent, experienced and elegant driver and guide will pick you up and drive you anywhere in Italy. He is the very top of the line. Very good English. Tel: 39 334 330 21 92

Private Driver – La Spezia, Forte dei Marmi area
Massimo Gianfaldoni of Tuscany Dream Limo Service: lives in the area and knows it intimately – lots of shops in that area and he knows them all. I looked at houses in Forte dei Marmi, he has been sending me pictures of possibilities ever since! Speaks good English. Tel: 39 347 461 4390

Private Driver – Porto Cervo
Alessandro Tedde, Tel: 39 368 351 9386 or 39 333 935 5492

The Delightful Drivers of Capri
They sing, they gossip, they bring out the sun, they all know each other, in fact some of them are brothers, they tell funny stories – they should be on radio. They grew up in Capri where everybody knows too much about everybody else but they would never live anywhere else and they drive amazing cars. You are always a star in those cars. Very easy to find them up near the piazzetta in town, here are just a few telephone numbers:

The two, swinging, singing brothers: Nello and Antonio Federico, hilarious, great guys, speak very good English, Tel: 39 335 81 44 771

Another good one, doesn’t sing that I know of but speaks good English: Paolo de Gregorio, Tel: 39 338 284 7638

Private drivers n Brindisi (Italy)
Better than an ambulance if you have an accident in my opinion. Angelo, Tel: 39 338 373 7442 and Roberto, 39 30 939 820

Helicopters
Nice-Monaco: Heli Air Monaco: Tel: 377 92 05 00 50

Italy from Rome: Captain Ricciuto Tel: 39 347 354 9648

72 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

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By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/05/2008 5:39 pm

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No Ferrari Testa Rossa for rental! I’m dissappointed and shall just stay home. Thanks anyway!

By beatriz m on 04/05/2008 10:05 am

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Ms. Wells: Thanks for the helpful info. I’ll hang on to it should I require it. You are correct, when traveling it’s good to have friends. This is true whether in high or low places. If you are in SF, my sister has an excellent shoulder to cry on. My nephew as several friends who for the cost of a couple of pizzas can be cajoled to move boxes or carry groceries. Not so good on the laundry, though. In Oakland, there’s my friend Shannon who’ll drive you wherever you need to go if by any chance you are without a car. In Los Lunas, I know a dentist who’ll see you posthaste if a crown falls out and your family doctor just retired. There is also in NM, a contigent of women who’ll bake you cookies or invite you to their dining tables for a home cooked meal. Just let me know if I can be of any assistance.

By iris odonata on 04/05/2008 11:51 am

Shannon on Piedmont Avenue? She is a total peach!

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/05/2008 1:28 pm

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Well well well Miss Mugsy, it IS a small world……yes……

By iris odonata on 04/05/2008 4:46 pm

She helped take great care of our Simone when she fell recently. Shannon is terrific people and a great neighborhood asset!

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/05/2008 5:39 pm

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Oui! A kindred soul of uncommon grace.

By iris odonata on 04/06/2008 12:14 am

Well Emcee, all I can say is for someone who is so critical of anothers writing ability, ie. the Glen Close Armani piece, “Shannon is terrific people” is not what I call good English.

By Sandra Robinson on 05/07/2008 2:32 pm

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Wow, Mary, quite a list…what about Greece, any recommendations there?

By Sandra Robinson on 04/05/2008 1:33 pm

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Well, a couple of years ago I had some health issues. I did not completely believe what the doctors told me, but did take the medicine they prescribed. (They seemed to keep guessing) I would told anyone who would listen my symptoms. I even spoke to my chiropractor! She found out what was wrong with me. After 60 days my body began to feel normal, back to my old self. I no longer have any of those symptoms and no longer take the pills. When you have a medical issue, I think you should contact anyone to truly verify what’s wrong. If I had the list Mary provided they would have received a phone call from me. Thanks for the list.

By Barbara Taylor on 04/05/2008 5:37 pm

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Mary, okay, okay. I give up. What in bloody blue blazes is a feadship? I googled your boat, and it is beautiful, but what’s the deal? Is it like a high-end timeshare, only ocean-going? Of course if you ever need someone to take up one of your guest rooms to finish her novel, I’m sure the website mavens have my email!

By Mugsy Peabody on 04/05/2008 5:41 pm

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Run over by a cab in Paris,long ago..no damage.A garbage truck slamed into me in Morocco.Problem for my car,but not me! Grandchildren traveling abroad,thank you for your list Mary Wells.

By Charles Dance on 04/05/2008 8:08 pm

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Great tips. Have had the luck to have friends and family in France, and in Paris I’ve always stayed at The Ritz, and their house doctor, Dr. Phillip Siou was wonderful when I was on the spot. Also American Hospital in [just] Paris has helped me and friends many times. Thanks Mary, for the generous advice and shared information that can be invaluable. If only I’d have known about the shipper. I’ve been burned by shippers who invariably goofed up. I’m saving all of these goodies in my travel address book.

By Simmy Sussman on 04/06/2008 12:20 am

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Simmy- My wonderful aunt’s name was Simmy…she was French, and a tennis playing rose growing fanatic. My son is a French citizen and has lived in Paris good portion of his life, and I am moving to Aix-en-Provence. Check out the apartment on my site…in the 7th on the street where the Madeline books were set. Viva la France! http://web.mac.com/myfrenchheart

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/06/2008 12:45 pm

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We may not all travel in style of the rich and famous but it is always good to know that we can get help. We needed a dr in Torremolinos,(yes I know it is a tourist trap but we travel cheap) the hotel got us a young doctor who spoke English within 10 minutes from our call. He took care of my husband , his hotel call and meds was 40.00. In Belgium at a very inexpensive B and B , my grandson became very ill. A dr came on New Years day and checked him out. Cost for that service was 29.00 (4 years ago) only problem was he refused to give my grandson antibiotics because now in Belgium they only give them when absolutely needed! We have traveled a lot, but never in luxury hotels, just clean cheap ones, if the bathroom is down the hall, so be it. Travel off season?Of course. Less crowded too. Bring a raincoat! Meals too expensive ? buy bread cheese and if coke or bottle of wine and have a ball in your room. Travel long distances in a night train schedule and save a night hotel. Do not have the money for a limo? in Europe there are plenty of taxi’s and inexpensive local transportation and oodles of trains going everywhere all day long. If you cant do it this year ( I can’t either this year) then you dream about it for the next year.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 04/06/2008 9:20 am