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Cruise cancelled,need last minute help in planning Turkish-Greek Itinerary

Cruise cancelled,need last minute help in planning Turkish-Greek Itinerary

Old Aug 26th, 2005, 04:59 AM
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Cruise cancelled,need last minute help in planning Turkish-Greek Itinerary

We will be in Istanbul on September 9th and from there are scheduled on going to greek Islands on Louis Cruises. We just found out that the cruise line has changed our ship to m/v Perla, which has terrible reviews.

We want to cancel the cruise and travel independently. I don't have a lot of time left for research, so can somebody suggest an itenerary for 10 days from Sep 9 - 19th
that starts in Istanbul and ends in Athens (that's where we fly out from) and includes Turkey and a few greek islands.

I know this is a last minute thing, but if anybody can help, I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance to all,

Luba

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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 05:10 AM
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Could you build an itinerary by 'following' the basis of the cruise route? Use local ferries to island-hop?
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 05:17 AM
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I would do the first 3 nights in Istanbul. Then I would fly to Athens, switch planes (because I doubt there are direct flights from Istanbul to many Greek Islands? and with 10 days I wouldn't want to waste time) fly to Santorini, spend 3 nights. Then I would ferry it to one other island for 2 nights (Mykonos maybe?), then ferry it back to Athens for the last 2 nights. I've been to Athens, Istanbul, Santorini & Mykonos but not all on the same trip.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 05:21 AM
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Thanks for the suggestion. This would be our preferred route, I just have to work out all the logistics.
I don't want to lose time on ferries, but I am not sure if it is too late now to book flights between the islands.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 06:43 AM
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Unless it's changed there really aren't flights between the islands. Mainly you have to return to Athens by plane between each flight.

I'd think about flying from Istanbul to Antalya in Turkey, and then heading to Bodrum where you could take a boat to Rhodes. Then maybe fly to Athens. Of course, it's hard to pass up going to Santorini. Ah, so much to do in such a short time.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 07:00 AM
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Hi

If you can't get a flight from Athens to Santorini (try Aegean or Olympic) one option is to take the overnight ferry to Santorini (saves time compared to a day trip.) Then as the above posters suggested do the other islands by ferry, working your way back to Athens. Other islands that can be considered are Paros and Naxos - both get good reviews. In Athens try the Cecil Hotel or Attalos. Both in good locations, close to a metro that will take you to Piraeus port.

What has happened may seem inconvenient but something tells me you are going to have a fab holiday at much less cost.

Good luck.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 09:23 AM
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After a couple of days exploring Istanbul, go to Selcuk to see Ephesus. You can either fly to Izmir and then a bus to Selcuk, or take a bus the whole way but you'll probably have to switch buses in Izmir. Domestic Turkish Flights are inexpensive. The Turkish bus system is very efficient and the buses are comfortable and modern with A/C. From there you can take a bus to Kusadasi, and from Kusadasi take the ferry across to Samos, a Greek Island. From Samos you can make your way to Santorini by ferry via Naxos in as little as 4.5 hours depending on the day. From Naxos, Santorini is about a 3-5 hour ride depending on the ferry. Use

www.gtp.gr

to plot your course and determine departure and arrival times.

This suggestion will give you a chance to see at least 3 islands--Samos, Naxos and Santorini--before travelling on to Athens. You will have the option of stopping at a couple of other islands along this route as well, Ikaria and Ios. You can also skip Santorini and travel back to Athens from Naxos or Paros, which is close by to Naxos.
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Old Aug 26th, 2005, 09:31 AM
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Clarification: Samos to Naxos can take as little as 4.5 hours, not Samos to Santorini. Sorry for any confusion.
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Old Aug 28th, 2005, 04:50 PM
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There are no inter island flights that will help you at all, they all tend to go from an island to Athens this may help on your last hop back to Athens. So you will have to take the greek ferries. Logistically it makes sense to drop Mykonos/Santorini you will waste a lot of travelling time to include them.

Your initial Turkish destination could be Kusadesi (for Samos, greece)or Bodrum (for Kos, greece).

1) From Kos take the ferry to Nissyros from there to Tilos then to Rodos then you can fly or ferry back to Athens.

2) From Kos take the ferry to Kalymnos from there to Astypalaea, then to Amorgos and a ferry back to Athens (Piraeus).

3) From Samos take a ferry from Vathy to Fourni, from here to Ag. Kirikos in Ikaria, you may get a ferry to Mykonos from here or Evdilos on the north coast of Ikaria. from Mykonos fly/ferry to Athens (Piraeus, Rafina).

4) From Samos town take a bus to Pythagorio port, here there are ferries to Patmos island, from here take a ferry to one of the cyclades islands maybe Naxos or Paros, from either you can fly/ferry back to Piraeus.

Go on give em a go, even if you've never heard of them.
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