Well one things for sure... food / pots here have little meaning as for now.
(most seems to eb rather useless)

Exp PT's in FFXIV works much like in FFXI, but gettings SP/EXP in
FFXIV now is really easy compared to launch day.
(i quit FFXI 2010 so after that idk how it is)

I did a test a few hours ago, me & a friend decided to Rapid-level our mules for fun.
We picked up 7 battle-leves each from rank 1-10.

I went as Thaumaturge rank 1 & my friend as Conjurer rank 1.

Since we both spent atleast 3-5years in FFXI & we both have atleast
1x rank 50 class in FFXIV, so we more or less knew what to do and
knew the classes from 1-50 already.

Anywayz, we managed to level from 1-15 in less than 1hour 30min,
with atleast 1-2 short breaks in between.
(im sure we could have duo'd the leves faster but it was just for fun)
Oh ya... and we did this entire thing in starter gear & weapons.
The only thing we bought was a r17 Headgear (mask) with some mp+ on it.

Video of the Rapid Leveling: (no super sexy editing lol)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weKO-S9OLw4

- The video more or less show you what to do & how to start the "Leves",
a good option for anyone new to the game i guess.
 (as you can see its not too hard)

So if your no total stranger to FFXI you wont have any major problems
leveling at a decent rate even playing Solo.
The spells and abilities are much alike, just not as fast or perfect as in FFXI.

There's isnt much grind parties mostly because Battle-leves gives you
a decent amount of SP/EXP.

It's better to party and share leves by linking the same leves
together and use the Guardian buff to increase the sp/exp gain.

Looking for parties...well.. its not hard to find one if there's people around,
just shout LF party or "Let me join", then there's behest every 30min or so i think.
Everything you need is in the menu, how to invite ppl, change gear etc.