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Travel within Greece, and motion sickness?

Travel within Greece, and motion sickness?

Old Apr 20th, 2017, 07:55 AM
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Travel within Greece, and motion sickness?

I understand this question may be impossible to answer, but here goes.

My wife and I are considering a trip to Greece, maybe 3 weeks starting in early October. We'd like to visit at least one major archeological site outside of Athens and an island or two. We'd prefer not to rent a car. My wife is highly prone to motion sickness due to an unusual injury to her vestibular system. She can use a Transderm Scope patch, which helps, but it's best not to use that too often.

As examples, two specific scenario questions:

1) The bus between Athens and Delphi: is that a windy road with lots of steep, sharp hills and speed changes, or more of a decent highway with gradual curves where a well-maintained bus can travel at a relatively constant speed?

2) The ferry to Naxos, Paros, or Santorini: From photos these look like big stable boats. Obviously it depends on conditions but are they prone to rolling a lot? Taking the ferry seems like fun but are we better off choosing only an island we can fly to?

Once again due to the subjective nature of this there may not be a real answer, but appreciate any thoughts or experiences. Thanks.
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Old Apr 20th, 2017, 08:17 AM
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The large ferries are very stable and should not pose any problems, even for someone who is more susceptible to seasickness than usual. If you take one of the modern and very large Blue Star Ferries car ferries you can wander around out on an open deck for fresh air. The "highspeeds" are mostly enclosed with a very small outside area. Avoid the very small Seajet2 and Superjet at all costs. If the seas are rough everyone gets sick on these two.
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Old Apr 20th, 2017, 08:20 AM
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Well, you're right, there is no definitive answer.

I would say that flying to an island is probably a better bet than the ferry.

For the bus, as much depends on the bus type and the driver as does on the road conditions. The ride in an ordinary municipal type bus will not be the same as on an air ride expensive tour bus for example and how heavy footed the driver is will also make a difference. The alternative would be to hire a car and driver so you can then 'control' the driving.
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Old Apr 20th, 2017, 08:21 AM
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As I remember the road to Delphi was fairly mountainous with lots of curves. It is not an interstate style of roadway.
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Old Apr 20th, 2017, 08:23 AM
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Regarding ferries, as long as you use Blue Star you should be fine under normal conditions. These are large ferries with stabilisers, so there is usually no roll. Occasionally there are October storms when seas are very rough, and then it would be wise to change your plans. You don't have to book ferries in advance for October. Sailing time from Piraeus (Athens) on Blue Star is 4 hours to Paros, 5 hours to Naxos, and 7½ hours to Santorini.

All three islands have airports, and flights take less than an hour gate to gate, with only about 20-30 minutes in the air. Santorini has the longest runway, followed by Paros and then Naxos. Santorini has regional jets, Paros large turboprops, and Naxos smaller turboprops that hold about 40 passengers.
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Old Apr 20th, 2017, 08:40 AM
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Ferries to Islands:
check the size of the boats
http://www.bluestarferries.com/en/ab...our-ships.html
https://hellenicseaways.gr/en/fleet/...tional-ferries
http://www.anek.gr/portal/page/portal/ANEK_prod/Fleet_2
https://www.minoan.gr/en/page/428/about-minoan-lines

Never take a high speed catamaran, flying cat, super jet, flying dolphin, etc.

Planes to Naxos, Paros, etc.:
do the same; some island airports are too small for big (resp normal) planes.

Bus:
I didn't find Athens - Delphi particularly sinuous. But Athens - Mycenae - Argos - Nauplia would be flater and all by motorway (used by most buses).
But be aware that routes on Islands can get very sinuous.

October is low season. There is no need to book long ahead, neither for ferries nor for accommodation (except Athens city hotels).
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Old Apr 20th, 2017, 08:57 AM
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Thanks all. Yes, I knew there would not be a straightforward answer, but I appreciate the info. I've noted Blue Star line and the fact that we should be flexible, or perhaps just fly. Small planes can be a problem for her, but if the flight is short then she'll just slap on the patch and it is usually OK.

For the bus to Delphi or elsewhere I totally understand that it depends on the driver and the bus's suspension system as much as anything. Hiring a car might be the solution. I should mention that "slow travel" is our middle name, so if we went to Delphi we'd stay a few days. Therefore we'd need two one way trips, possibly very expensive. I'll look into it.

fmpden, I found this on YouTube, 40 minutes shot through a car window on the way to Delphi. I just skipped through a couple minutes of it. It's definitely not I-70, and could be borderline for her. Yep, depends on the driver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pnTVAlLpgQ

neckervd, thanks for mentioning the Peloponnese route option. I used Delphi as an example, due to it's fame and it looks amazing, but we are open to other suggestions.

Thanks again.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 11:05 AM
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FWIW, I did some preliminary research and it looks like 215-250Eu for one-way taxi service between Athens and Delphi. Then we could spend several days there, as is our style.

So that's a bucketload of money (amphora-load?), but now we know what to factor into trip costs if we decide to go that route.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2017, 06:14 PM
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Greece is one of our favourite places to visit. One trip we went for about 10 days at the start of October and were surprised that it was definitely the 'end of the season'. Some shops and restaurants closed, some nearly empty at dinner, waiters standing around looking bored etc. We still enjoyed the trip and it was sunny but it took the edge off a bit. We were in Chania (Crete) and Hydra on that trip.

Also I suffer a lot with motion sickness too and can sympathise. I always take drugs to help and on one of the large ferries, had to sit up on the open-air deck as sitting inside I started to feel really queasy. On the catamarans, which take half as long but cost twice as much, you can't really move around at all. I get sick on planes too and much prefer being on the water than in a plane. The views of Santorini as you approach by ferry are spectacular.

Have you thought of staying on Mykonos and doing a day trip to Delos? Delos is an interesting island and easy to reach and Mykonos is one of those places you want to take a photograph every time you turn the corner.

Kay
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 07:02 AM
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KayF, Thanks for the info and encouragement. We've been enjoying visiting places slightly off season in recent years. In looking at weather averages it seems late Sept - early Oct could be better than late October.

Delos looks fantastic from photos. Yes, you can burn up a lot of memory cards there I imagine. I'm slightly leaning towards Naxos from preliminary reading, but we have more homework to do. I think it's a question of several good decisions.

The motion sickness is a real problem and just something we have to deal with. Her ears are damaged, the result of a direct lightning strike many years ago. She can get sick on planes, boats, buses, escalators, you name it! But we understand the issue and we manage.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 03:11 PM
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I would strongly urge, if it is to be 3 weeks, that you make it from Sept 15 to Oct 8 rather than later, and have your time in Athens at the END. What Kay says about October is true ... you may get the feeling of "we've stayed too long at the fair" (especially in Hydra which is really mainly tourism). Naxos is an excellent choice because it's a very large island, fertile w. big agriculture sector, and a large permanent population. In fact, the Naxians all looove to go out to eat, so the waterfront crescent of restaurants in late sept will be busy with diners... most of them locals!

A sequence that would work for you might be FLY to Santorini (50 minutes) for 3 days, a 2 hour BLUE STAR ferry to NAXOS (2 hrs). About Blue Star ferries -- you can buy the "Economy" seats which means seats on Deck (which is what you'd want) or sitting at a table at a cafe area just inside from the deck). If you want a reserved inside seat (called "aircraft" tho they are MUCH bigger, nicer than plane seats!!). As for motion, personally I have almost NO sense of motion on these very large vessels. Even the liquid in my glass on the tray table or cafe table doesn't move.

I'd suggest 3 days in Santorini, a week in Naxos, then FLY back to airport (45 minutes), very steady turbo-prop planes. And then, on the mainland, instead of the scary, curvy mountain roads you fear, en route to Delphi -- you can drive 2 Easy, LEVEL hours on Greece's Most Modern divided highway, across the Corinth Canal to the fertile valleys of the Argolid, and stay in gorgeous Nafplio for 5days. Has your research discovered Nafplio yet? The Greeks consider it the most beautiful Old Town in the entire nation ... at the tip of a peninsula, stunning scenery, amazing sunsets, Venetian golden-stone architecture ... and surrounded by more Landmark Ancient Sites than anywhere else in Greece. And its location, surounded by water, gives the vibe of an island without the transport challenges.

This website: http://www.visitnafplio.com -- comprehensive and NON-commercial - tells all about this place AND the nearby famous sites -- Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nemea, Tiryns, plus vineyards,villages beaches. DO click on all links. And here's a photo album of some of its delights: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094108982/ - if you choose this destination, I strongly recommend hotel Agammemnon, a moderate price hotel with balcony views directly on the seafront.

After Nafplio, you'd still have about 6 nights in Athens, and in October it's at its most vibrant, full of life and activities..
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 03:26 PM
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Regarding Kay's suggestion of Mykonos with a daytrip to Delos, while Delos is spectacular, I would be very concerned about the small boat from Mykonos to Delos. Admittedly I went when there was a high wind, but with a boat that size, it wouldn't take much in the way of waves to make those sensitive to motion-sickness turn green.
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Old Apr 23rd, 2017, 07:38 PM
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travelerjan, thanks much for all that fantastic information. That itinerary looks great, and upon reflection it makes sense to head to an island first. Given that Santorini has an international airport we could possibly book this as an open-jaw flight. I'll look into that.

In fact Nafplio came onto my radar yesterday doing some searching of the Peloponnese, and it was reinforced in a trip report on Fodors today, RubyTwin's excellent 13 days with 13-year-olds, which you may have seen.

artsnletters, correct, unless the seas were dead calm then a small boat is out. The irony is we literally met on a small boat, but those days are gone!

Thanks again, I'll show all this to my wife, but it sounds like we can make this work.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 06:07 AM
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Glad I can be helpful! Especially if it can introduce you to the magic of Nafplio. It's known as "the proposal capital of Greece" because so many men bring their sweethearts there for the Big Question. In fact, I tend to rate its sunsets about the tops in Greece (and i've been to 25+ islands)... partly because you enjoy them from the comfort of upholstered love-seats on the front-row of canopied cafes, relaxing for an hour for the price of a coffee (as opposed to standing jammed together against a parapet in S., or having to reserve for a pricey meal).

Since you have time, and appear to be interested in an in-depth experience in Greece as opposed to a surface "drive-by" I highly recommend getting a Comprehensive and CANDID guidebook - of the big ones, I find Rough Guide provides the best in-depth. It's a FAT tome, but you needn't lug along the whole thing -- you can carefully pull out sections (Cyclades, Athens, etc), use duct tape to make a silver spine and voila! pocket-size "Guidettes!" When u are spending many many thousands on a 3-week trip, $20 or so is a small investment. The bonuses: a GOOD & succinct history section, excellent word/phrase list, insightful sections on nature, culture, food & drink, getting around. etc.

As for "open-jaw" tickets, hmmm. It's a trade-off. Altho you don't say where you're starting from (always useful, when asking for good advice!), some detective work shows you are from Denver. With your wife's travel problem, you want airtime to be as brief as possible. You could limit your connections to 1 each way, IF you can get a nonstop from Denver to a Europe airport that flies direct to Santorini, and ditto homebound from Athens. However, in Mid or late September, out of high season, less likely to be offered. The other option involves flying to either NY, PHL or ?Montreal? the only 3 that do transatlantic nonstops to ATH. They all leave between 4-5:30 pm, arrive between 9 - 10AM Greek time next day... 11+ hours in the air.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 05:30 AM
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Thanks again travelerjan! If's a bit late for the Big Question, but a sunset cafe love-seat sounds like a good time to renew the lease!

We have used Rough Guides in the past, so thanks for the duct-tapable recommendation. We would also watch some "Great Courses" on Greek history before the trip. They have quite a few to choose from.
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/search/?q=greece

In fact we watched an excellent set on the Iliad and Odyssey not too long ago.

Your detective work was accurate: we fly out of Denver. We plan to use frequent flier miles. I just entered in Denver-Santorini, and then Athens-Denver as the open jaw. It did come up with some options, but I think you are correct: round trip Athens and then doing a separate ticket to Santorini will give us even more options and better routes. But I'll experiment once we have actual dates.

We are leaving on a domestic trip to California soon, so will put this on the back burner for a couple of weeks, but thanks again for your help. The Nafplio links and photos from your earlier post are excellent.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 06:59 AM
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I agree with trying to go to an island on the same day as you arrive in Athens and then leaving your time in Athens to the end of the trip. That is always the best way to go in any case, because you invariably end up having to at least return to Athens the night before your flight home and that means a lost day generally speaking. Better to start on an island then return to Athens a few days before you fly home to do anything you want to do on the mainland and in Athens.

Re timing, while the weather even for swimming is still good right up to the end of October, a few things do change as you get nearer to the end of October.

First, places start closing down. Although the tourist season does extend to the end of October, each week in October you will find fewer and fewer places open. Every store, restaurant, bar, hotel, etc. closes when they decide to and it varies by location.

Even on the very popular tourist islands like Rhodes, I can tell you that they start to close by the beginning of October. Some places will stay open to the end of October but fewer and fewer each week.

Second, weather starts to change in October. I always advise people that if they plan to visit in October, they need to consider what 3 or 4 days of rain will do to their plan. If you spend 2 weeks in a place, having 3 or 4 days with rain doesn't ruin a trip. But if you get it when you have only 1 week in a place, it pretty much does ruin it. The same if you are moving around. If you planned to spend for example 5 days on Naxos and it rained for 4 of those days or even 3, you might be pretty disappointed with your time there.

So it makes more sense to go as early as possible ie. last week of September and first 2 weeks of October for those 2 reasons.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 07:07 AM
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Nelson, it sounds good & thanx for the link to Great Courses I'd forgotten about them -- altho I do attend the wonderful courses on Ancient Greek History at U of Penn (Note: I no longer register to audit because they've raised the Senior Audit Price to $500!!!! ... The lecture hall seats 300+, so I just quietly slip into an empty seat in the back!).

Before you run off on your domestic trip, I do urge ONE thing, to maximize your Nafplio enjoyment: reserve Hotel Agamemnon for a few days. If you don't choose the rock-bottom nonrefundable rate, it is risk-free! You can tweak the days a day or 2 earlier or later and even cancel up to 2weeks before, WITHOUT advance payment or penalty.

I wish you the best possible trip ... TJ
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 05:06 PM
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Thanks once again. I am on board with starting in September and going directly to an island, not what I originally was thinking. But all the points raised make total sense. I had not shown any of this to my wife, but she independently came to the same conclusion. Proving, once again, that wives are smarter than husbands.

Dogeared, appreciate the weather details. We have a similar weather history in Colorado. I'd give someone a 75% chance of having decent outdoor weather in early October, but only 25% in late October. So a September start feels right. Still, we'll cover our bases and present sacrificial offerings to both Helios and Zeus prior to departure.

TJ, Hotel Agamemnon is noted!
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