Greece Itinerary Planning for October trip
Jun 26th, 2008, 05:53 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Greece Itinerary Planning for October trip
We are trying to figure out an itinerary for a trip to Greece in October. For some reason I'm finding this more difficult than any other European trip we've taken, so I'm hoping some kind Fodorites can help me out with this!
I guess I'm finding this challenging because of the vast array of choices of places to go in Greece, combined with transportation difficulties / logistics between islands, particularly in shoulder season. I do not cope well with ferries. The hydrofoils and fast cats are out of the question - I will travel ONLY on a large, traditional, slow ferry, and can't / won't do any ferry trip that's in excess of 3.5 to 4 hours absolute max. I'd rather fly to / between any island destinations if possible (yes, I know they're small planes, I have no issue with that other than possibly luggage allowances!).
Mainland Greece was never really part of my image of a trip to Greece - I always thought of the Greek islands. However, as a result of my ferry issue, it looks like we'll need to pick just a couple of islands and spend the rest of the trip on the mainland (Pelopponnese peninsula plus Delphi). For the island part, the intention would be to spend time just relaxing and unwinding, enjoying sea views, whiling away the hours in a picturesque cafe with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, possibly a few hours of windsurfing for hubby and hopefully a bit of swimming (if it's still possible in October). We'll rent a car for the mainland, and that part of the trip would be more about siteseeing, and maybe a little hiking.
With all of that background in mind, here are the details. We have FF tickets, arriving Athens around 1:30 pm on October 4, and departing Athens at 6 am on October 24, for a total of 23 nights in Greece.
Considering something like this:
- arrive Athens - 2 nights Athens - Acropolis, archaeological museum
- fly to Santorini - 5 nights Santorini
- ferry to Naxos (there is a slow ferry, right? How do I make sure that I'm getting a regular slow ferry and not the fast cats or hydrofoils? I've found it very difficult to interpret the online Greek ferry schedules I've looked at!) - 5 nights Naxos
- (or would it be better to do Naxos first, then Santorini?)
- fly back to Athens, pick up rental car, drive to Delphi - 2 nights
- Drive to Pelopponese, stay either Ancient Olympia area or Dimitsana area - 2 nights
- Drive to Mani peninsula - stay where?? Kardamylii? Gytheio? Other location? - 2 nights
- Drive to Monemvasia - 2 nights
- Drive to Nafplio - 4 nights - visit Mycenae, Epidaurus, Mystras, Corinth from this base
- drop car off at Athens airport, stay 1 night at airport hotel for 6 am departure flight the next day!
How does this look? Would you suggest reversing the mainland portion (start in Nafplio and work our way back around, ending in Delphi) instead? Any other comments or suggestions? We tend to be fairly slow travellers and don't normally like 2 night stays - we usually like to pick one base and stay put as much as possible (at least 3 or 4 nights, if not a week) then do day trips from there - but it seems like we need to move around that much to see all of those sites.
Thanks for any assistance!
I guess I'm finding this challenging because of the vast array of choices of places to go in Greece, combined with transportation difficulties / logistics between islands, particularly in shoulder season. I do not cope well with ferries. The hydrofoils and fast cats are out of the question - I will travel ONLY on a large, traditional, slow ferry, and can't / won't do any ferry trip that's in excess of 3.5 to 4 hours absolute max. I'd rather fly to / between any island destinations if possible (yes, I know they're small planes, I have no issue with that other than possibly luggage allowances!).
Mainland Greece was never really part of my image of a trip to Greece - I always thought of the Greek islands. However, as a result of my ferry issue, it looks like we'll need to pick just a couple of islands and spend the rest of the trip on the mainland (Pelopponnese peninsula plus Delphi). For the island part, the intention would be to spend time just relaxing and unwinding, enjoying sea views, whiling away the hours in a picturesque cafe with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, possibly a few hours of windsurfing for hubby and hopefully a bit of swimming (if it's still possible in October). We'll rent a car for the mainland, and that part of the trip would be more about siteseeing, and maybe a little hiking.
With all of that background in mind, here are the details. We have FF tickets, arriving Athens around 1:30 pm on October 4, and departing Athens at 6 am on October 24, for a total of 23 nights in Greece.
Considering something like this:
- arrive Athens - 2 nights Athens - Acropolis, archaeological museum
- fly to Santorini - 5 nights Santorini
- ferry to Naxos (there is a slow ferry, right? How do I make sure that I'm getting a regular slow ferry and not the fast cats or hydrofoils? I've found it very difficult to interpret the online Greek ferry schedules I've looked at!) - 5 nights Naxos
- (or would it be better to do Naxos first, then Santorini?)
- fly back to Athens, pick up rental car, drive to Delphi - 2 nights
- Drive to Pelopponese, stay either Ancient Olympia area or Dimitsana area - 2 nights
- Drive to Mani peninsula - stay where?? Kardamylii? Gytheio? Other location? - 2 nights
- Drive to Monemvasia - 2 nights
- Drive to Nafplio - 4 nights - visit Mycenae, Epidaurus, Mystras, Corinth from this base
- drop car off at Athens airport, stay 1 night at airport hotel for 6 am departure flight the next day!
How does this look? Would you suggest reversing the mainland portion (start in Nafplio and work our way back around, ending in Delphi) instead? Any other comments or suggestions? We tend to be fairly slow travellers and don't normally like 2 night stays - we usually like to pick one base and stay put as much as possible (at least 3 or 4 nights, if not a week) then do day trips from there - but it seems like we need to move around that much to see all of those sites.
Thanks for any assistance!
Jun 26th, 2008, 06:12 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Blue Star travels between Santorini and Naxos, both ways. It's a large traditional ferry, very nice with lots of amenities (although not exactly "slow" because I think it goes a little faster than the older ones).
I would do Naxos before Santorini and travel on the Blue Star. If you want to fly Athens-Naxos (or vv), then book your flight asap. There aren't that many flights and the planes are small. There are more flights to/from Santorini-Athens and Aegean has very comfortable jets.
I would do Naxos before Santorini and travel on the Blue Star. If you want to fly Athens-Naxos (or vv), then book your flight asap. There aren't that many flights and the planes are small. There are more flights to/from Santorini-Athens and Aegean has very comfortable jets.
Jun 26th, 2008, 06:39 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for posting the vital specifics of arrival, departure, and your limitations. It enables us to give you better feedback.
Thank you too, for an itinerary that is do-able, so "old hands" don't have to talk you out of a drive-a-thon.
RE FERRY TYPES - what ferry sites are you looking at?? Open seas? That's one of the easiest, but www.gtp.gr -- while it's a bit cumbersome at first, gives you MUCH more info. Try it using August (Oct sked are incomplete at this point). Put in 2 sample ports (i.e Santorini and Naxos) and no day, just "8" for Aug; See what pops up.
This site tells u not only ferry name but type: CF = car ferry (usually 1,000-2000 passengers). CC = car- carrying catamaran --larger 400-500 pass.cats. CM = catamaran (smaller), HF = hydrofoil (almost not used, except right near Athens). NOTE
ome CF's are big but fairly fast and v. modern = Blue Star, my fave. If u click on "more info" it shows you the exact route, and if you click on the FOTO of the ship it often gives you the exact passenger capacity.
PLANES -- if you take Aegean air, their planes are not really small -- about 70 passengers. Olympic is about 50 passenger i think. Only Sky express has the 18-passenger planes and they prob. don't fly in October.
Aegean has best rep, best planes, and if you book in timely fashion you can often get "promotional" fares that are not much more than ferries.
SEQUENCE -- Naxos or Santorini 1st? I think it depends on your itinerary preference. Naxos has 1 daily flite on Olympic --on oct 6, 12:30 @75€. Ageans best 10/6 flite= 10:30@98€.
If u did Naxos first, u could take the blue star ferry to Santorini & get the fabled cliff view from below when entering Caldera. And to gt back to Athens, from Santorini u would have choice of 4 aegean flites (vs 1 Olympic from Naxos). A noon flight gets in @12:45; you could be on your way to Delphi by 1:45... 3 hr drive, in time for dinner & lodging in Arachova, and an early start the next day (8 am) at site to beat the tour groups.
SWIMMING -- YES, I think u can, esp. on lovely sand beaches of Naxos.
IN ALL... a lovely trip plan! Take me along??? ;0.
Thank you too, for an itinerary that is do-able, so "old hands" don't have to talk you out of a drive-a-thon.
RE FERRY TYPES - what ferry sites are you looking at?? Open seas? That's one of the easiest, but www.gtp.gr -- while it's a bit cumbersome at first, gives you MUCH more info. Try it using August (Oct sked are incomplete at this point). Put in 2 sample ports (i.e Santorini and Naxos) and no day, just "8" for Aug; See what pops up.
This site tells u not only ferry name but type: CF = car ferry (usually 1,000-2000 passengers). CC = car- carrying catamaran --larger 400-500 pass.cats. CM = catamaran (smaller), HF = hydrofoil (almost not used, except right near Athens). NOTE
ome CF's are big but fairly fast and v. modern = Blue Star, my fave. If u click on "more info" it shows you the exact route, and if you click on the FOTO of the ship it often gives you the exact passenger capacity.PLANES -- if you take Aegean air, their planes are not really small -- about 70 passengers. Olympic is about 50 passenger i think. Only Sky express has the 18-passenger planes and they prob. don't fly in October.
Aegean has best rep, best planes, and if you book in timely fashion you can often get "promotional" fares that are not much more than ferries.
SEQUENCE -- Naxos or Santorini 1st? I think it depends on your itinerary preference. Naxos has 1 daily flite on Olympic --on oct 6, 12:30 @75€. Ageans best 10/6 flite= 10:30@98€.
If u did Naxos first, u could take the blue star ferry to Santorini & get the fabled cliff view from below when entering Caldera. And to gt back to Athens, from Santorini u would have choice of 4 aegean flites (vs 1 Olympic from Naxos). A noon flight gets in @12:45; you could be on your way to Delphi by 1:45... 3 hr drive, in time for dinner & lodging in Arachova, and an early start the next day (8 am) at site to beat the tour groups.
SWIMMING -- YES, I think u can, esp. on lovely sand beaches of Naxos.
IN ALL... a lovely trip plan! Take me along??? ;0.
Jun 26th, 2008, 06:51 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi,
Your trip looks fabulous. Can I come with you? I think you will love the Pelopponese. Momenvasia is wonderful. Also there are some nice little sea villages near Epidarvros. We stayed in Nea Epidravros. There are water taxis there that take you to Hydra and other places near by. Also on the north shore of the Corinth canal are some cute towns. One that comes to mind is Napkaktos (sp). Now there is the bridge so you do not have to put your car on a ferry to get across the gulf of Corinth. There is so much to see in Greece. Another wonderful part is the Pelion penisula, which is out of the way for you, but so nice. You will have a great time.
Yipper
Your trip looks fabulous. Can I come with you? I think you will love the Pelopponese. Momenvasia is wonderful. Also there are some nice little sea villages near Epidarvros. We stayed in Nea Epidravros. There are water taxis there that take you to Hydra and other places near by. Also on the north shore of the Corinth canal are some cute towns. One that comes to mind is Napkaktos (sp). Now there is the bridge so you do not have to put your car on a ferry to get across the gulf of Corinth. There is so much to see in Greece. Another wonderful part is the Pelion penisula, which is out of the way for you, but so nice. You will have a great time.
Yipper
Jun 26th, 2008, 07:08 AM
#6
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I TOOK THE FAST FERRY FROM MYKONOS TO SANTORINI AND 80% WERE VOMITING. THE SLOW FERRY WAS ONLY 15 EUROS AND WAS A PLEASURE BECAUSE IT IS A BIG RELAXING BOAT IN WHICH YOU CAN GO TO BAR INSIDE AND SIT IN COMFTY SEATS OR GO TO THE TOP DECK AND ENJOY: (DEFINITELY BETTER THAN THE AWFUL FAST FERRY RIDE) - I TOOK IT FROM ATHENS TO MYKONOS AND SANTORINI TO CRETE . RENT A VESPA OR 4 WHEELER TO GET AROUND ON THE ISLANDS - A CAR ON SOME ISLANDS IS TOO MUCH. CRETE WAS GREAT- ESPECIALLY GOING TO BALOS. I WENT IN SEPTEMBER AND IT WAS 85 TO 90 DEGREES WITH LITTLE TOURISTS COMPARED TO THE 110 DEGREE HEAT AND TOURIST FILLED SUMMER. YOU'LL HAVE A BLAST.
JERRY
JERRY
Jun 26th, 2008, 11:17 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks to everybody for the responses!
Travelerjan, thanks so much for the information on the ferry sites, yes, I think it was Open Seas I looked at, and I think also Blue Star ferries site, I wasn't sure how to tell what type of ferry it would be ... and I've still got a stupid question ... is the car ferry the one I'm looking for on the gtp.com schedule? Is that the old-fashioned slow kind of ferry, where I can go and sit outside on the deck rather than being cooped up inside, and that's less prone to rocking and causing seasickness for passengers?
Travelerjan, thanks so much for the information on the ferry sites, yes, I think it was Open Seas I looked at, and I think also Blue Star ferries site, I wasn't sure how to tell what type of ferry it would be ... and I've still got a stupid question ... is the car ferry the one I'm looking for on the gtp.com schedule? Is that the old-fashioned slow kind of ferry, where I can go and sit outside on the deck rather than being cooped up inside, and that's less prone to rocking and causing seasickness for passengers?
Jun 26th, 2008, 12:14 PM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Only the Hellenic Seaways Highspeed passenger/car ferries and their passenger only ferries, as well as the I.J. Superjets are enclosed. All the others, Blue Star, Anek, G.A. and Lane Lines ferries are the "regular" open-decked car/passenger ferries.
Blue Star ferries offers an indoor seating area with reserved aircraft-style seating for just a few euro more than the basic economy tickets. You can still get up and walk around out on deck and sit anywhere you want out there but you'll always be able to come back inside when you want to relax in comfort.
Blue Star ferries offers an indoor seating area with reserved aircraft-style seating for just a few euro more than the basic economy tickets. You can still get up and walk around out on deck and sit anywhere you want out there but you'll always be able to come back inside when you want to relax in comfort.
Jun 26th, 2008, 01:02 PM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
travelgirl, it's gtp.gr, not gtp.com.
Yes, car ferry is the big open deck ship.. did you go look at that website?? On the Ferry you want, click on More Info -- that's where you see the moving red line on a map (below), and a tiny photo of the ferryboat. Click on the BOAT foto to get more info about its size. I told you this before.
YOu may sit on the deck the whole time if you want to. Your Naxos-Santorini trip would only be about 2.5 hours. As BrotherLee says, if you want to sit inside at a "Reserved Economy" seat, you pay a couple of Euros more on Blue Star Line. (However, in October, it won't be NEARLY full...so actually, you can sit in these seats without paying the reserve fee). You may also sit inside at the cafe area without a reserve fee.
Yes, car ferry is the big open deck ship.. did you go look at that website?? On the Ferry you want, click on More Info -- that's where you see the moving red line on a map (below), and a tiny photo of the ferryboat. Click on the BOAT foto to get more info about its size. I told you this before.
YOu may sit on the deck the whole time if you want to. Your Naxos-Santorini trip would only be about 2.5 hours. As BrotherLee says, if you want to sit inside at a "Reserved Economy" seat, you pay a couple of Euros more on Blue Star Line. (However, in October, it won't be NEARLY full...so actually, you can sit in these seats without paying the reserve fee). You may also sit inside at the cafe area without a reserve fee.
Jun 26th, 2008, 04:03 PM
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i just returned from Greece. i was in Delphi for 24 hours, darling town and the ruins were very interesting but doesn't take long to see it all. we actually did a cruise of the islands, but like you i was very concerned about the size of the ship, etc., all the ferries and ships were fine. i was really impressed with the overnight ferry we took from Brindisi (Italy) to Patras, Greece. I was totally dreading it and couldn't even imagine what it would be like, turned out to be one of the nicer experiences we had.
Agean airlines have very nice planes & the Athens airport was very nice also.
Agean airlines have very nice planes & the Athens airport was very nice also.
Jun 26th, 2008, 04:35 PM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another recommendation for Aegean Airlines -- very comfortable planes and nice service.
We had a flight cancellation when trying to leave Santorini (some kind of strike) but Aegean re-booked us for the next morning, put us up in a hotel and provided early morning transportation back to the airport -- a really first class operation IMO.
We had a flight cancellation when trying to leave Santorini (some kind of strike) but Aegean re-booked us for the next morning, put us up in a hotel and provided early morning transportation back to the airport -- a really first class operation IMO.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gladfon
Europe
55
Sep 25th, 2008 03:20 AM
