ascoli

We have the opportunity to visit friends on Crete next September (2016), so we have a good amount of time to plan the trip...but are having a hard time deciding where else to go once we leave Crete. Your ideas appreciated. Here are the parameters:
• we'll be staying on Crete 3-4 days; our entire trip abroad will be a week/half or two
• we understand that flying within Europe can be expensive, so are looking for things nearby or reached affordably, even by boat
• we're not interested in other Greek islands this trip
• we've been to Italy many times, and always enjoy time there, but feel like we should branch out

Thoughts thus far: Sicily, Sardenia or Malta. Deep southern Italy, like Bari or Taranto. Croatia.

Thoughts?

sandralist

Boats and ferries can be more expensive than flying. I would look at the website of the airport in Crete and see what direct flights there might be to Italy and other parts of Europe.

However, when you say you have been to Italy enough that you feel a need to branch out, then why the interest in Sicily, Sardinia or Puglia?

Also, what interests you? The weather in September is usually quite nice all over Europe. Any thoughts of going to Switzerland or Scotland? Spain?

clausar

I don't think there will be direct flight to Sardinia from Crete, but i saw direct flights from Heraklion to Bari, with only 4-5 departures during September.

Pls check : http://www.volotea.com

pariswat

A good idea is to have a look at main airports what flights are coming and leaving. It would give you an idea of where you could get cheap flights to - look at the list and select cheap airlines (AirBerlin etc).

http://www.heraklion-airport.info/departures.html
There is a second big airport at Chania.

But you can easily expand your stay in Crete - 10 days in Crete is not necessarily too many. Also depends on what you've seen before.
First time we went to Crete we found the sites stunning. We came back 4 years ago, and found Knossos, for example quite small and not so interesting. We were 'just' back from Egypt.

Southam

www.skyscanner.com can help you with one-way flights on a budget. For instance, it shows a connection from Crete to Malta, going through Athens on Aegean and taking four hours. Not a great bargain (using this September as a test), but Malta can reward a stay of around four days.

Heimdall

You wrote: "we're not interested in other Greek islands this trip", but what about the Greek mainland? Far easier and cheaper to arrange than to other European countries, and a different experience from the islands.

ascoli

Thank you all very much! Very helpful.

Just to clarify: we want to branch out from Italy...but have a hard time doing so! Hence, the possibilities of Sicily, etc.

I've been to Crete twice before and mainland (though husb hasn't), and I'm greedily packing in some new destinations. (The perks of being the planner.)

You've provided great tips for the next round of research. Additional thoughts welcomed!