travelerjan

You will have a lot of trouble getting any transport on Easter Monday except perhaps transport back to Athens... but it's hard to know this far ahead.

Heimdall

Aussiedreamer, I've been back and forth a couple of times between the UK and Australia, so know what you mean about long flights. Nevertheless, I would reconsider flying straight to Crete.

The taxi ride into central Athens takes 45 minutes, about the same length of time for flights to Chania or Heraklion. I wouldn't take the metro or bus into central Athens when you are tired and jet-lagged, given the number of pickpockets hanging around Monasteraki and Syntagma stations. Go to the islands to rest and de-lag, then return to Athens at the end of the trip refreshed and ready to take in the wonderful sights.

Regarding travelerjan's advice about travelling to Santorini on Easter Monday (April 9th), I fear she is correct. This year, until May 15th, Highspeed 7 sailed only on Tue, Wed, & Fri, and I couldn't find anything from Sea Jets either. If you don't mind the expense, you could fly from Chania or Heraklion to Santorini via Athens, and there are already flights shown on the Aegean Airlines website for that day. If you decide to fly, <i>book well in advance</i>, because flights back to Athens will fill up early.

There is a chance that Prevelis, a conventional ferry, will sail on Easter Monday, but I wouldn't count on it. Normally this once-per-week ferry sails from Heraklion to Santorini on Sundays, but this year, according to openseas.gr, sailed on Easter Monday instead. You won't see Prevelis on next year's timetables more than 2-3 weeks in advance, though.

Bottom line, I can see several advantages in flying straight to Crete instead of delaying a few days in Athens. You will avoid the Easter Monday travel dilemma, and have more energy to tackle Athens and the mainland at the end of the trip.

travelerjan

Aussie, I agree with Heimdall that you could avoid that Easter-travel problem by saving Athens for last -- but I also sympathize with your exhaustion at arriving from half-way around the world & immediately jumping on another flight. You can have it both ways... If you arrive 8:30pm, you'll be out of the building in 45 minutes or so. You can get a taxi or Shuttle to 2-3 nearby Moderate-price lodgings, and CRASH for the night. THen get up EARLY and get the first flight (7? am?) to Chania -- and the ticket price will be moderate also! Here are options - all about 15 minutes away by taxi ...some may provide transport to/from airport, a taxi is about €15?
• PERIS - http://www.perishotelapt.gr - least expensive
• ST.THOMAS B & B - http://www.stay-in-athens.com
• PANTHEON - http://www.hotelpantheon.gr
• HOLIDAY INN - http://www.hiathens.com - more but has shuttle

I would advise checking immediately for any discounted flights Aegean is now offering for your dates - if you sign up for theire "newsletter (actually an e-mail alert system) - https://en.aegeanair.com/newsletter/?email= Use this link otherwise it's impossible to find out on Aegean Website whre you can sign up.

Heimdall

Another good alternative from travelerjan. Of course it depends upon what time your flight arrives in Athens, and whether you can get a good connection to Crete. My inclination is to just keep going after a long flight rather than getting up really early the next morning for another flight when you are already sleep deprived.

Just two days ago I returned home from an 11½ hour overnight flight from Cape Town, SA to London, waited about 2 hrs for an airport bus to where my car was located, rode another 2 hrs on the bus, then picked up my car and went shopping. I am 74 years old, but still kept going that day until bedtime, despite not getting much sleep on the airplane. Do what you think best.

Weadles

I don't know what your budget is, but here's another option, a bit more expensive.

When we arrive in Athens, we often stay in Vouliagmeni at either The Westin or Astir Palace. Both hotels are on the beach, which is a great place to de-stress and get over jet lag for a night or two.

The hotel provides shuttle service into Athens a few times a day, but it looks like you need some rest, so maybe save Athens until the last few nights before your flight home?


There are three restaurants on site, including a short walk away, the famous NOBU of Athens, which has great food and a stunning location on the water.

Vouliagmeni is about 30 min. from the airport.

I believe both hotels have been sold and recently renovated, and expected to reopen this year, if they haven't already.

travelerjan

OP said they were arriving at 8:30pm on a Thursday.

Heimdall

Thanks, travelerjan, I missed that. Aegean Airlines has 22:55 flights to Heraklion on Thursdays in April, but the last flight to Chania seems to be at 21:55, which would be cutting it a bit close.

kawh

Santorini is so special. Too special. My memory is of people, LITERALLY shoulder to shoulder jammed into a narrow walkway... then on the cliffside, a BIG drone buzzing around... maybe looking for famous people at the hotels???

I loved Athens so very much. Spend some time there enjoying the museums and sipping espresso.

And if you have 2 extra days and do want to take a drive, definitely go to Meteora. If you google images, it really DOES look like that. Thrillingly special.

Heimdall

Santorini won't be very crowded in early April, even at Easter. Take a look at the Google Maps street view, which unless it has been revised since then, was done off-season. I don't recall it being crowded at all where the street view camera went.

Just thinking, aussiedreamer, perhaps it would be better to go to Santorini first, and then take the ferry to Crete?

aussiedreamer

Again, thanks for the great tips. Heimdall I came up with that thought last night.......have our couple of days to get over the trip on Santorini, then Crete finishing up in Athens.

Heimdall

Great minds think alike, aussiedreamer, lol! The last flight to Santorini on Thursdays in April leaves at 19:50, so you will have to stay overnight in Athens. Travelerjan gave some great tips for budget hotels near the airport, but I wouldn't stay at Holiday Inn, which is nearly as expensive as the airport Sofitel.

Before an early morning flight I always stay at Sofitel, which is a 2 min walk across the street from the terminal. I'm a budget traveller myself, but don't mind paying more occasionally for convenience.

Looking back at your earlier thread, I can understand why, with an 8:30 pm arrival in Athens, you wish to take a break before moving further. Just imagine: if you book at Sofitel you can grab your bags from the carousel and be checking in at hotel reception five minutes later! Warning, though—you will be spoiled, because it's a 5* hotel with very comfortable beds and a swimming pool:
https://traveluxblog.files.wordpress...10/pool-21.jpg

I like Sofitel before early morning flights because you can stay in bed a little longer. If you don't wish to use the hotel facilities you can walk back to the terminal for the shops and restaurants.

Heimdall

Just to add, when travelling around Greek Easter it's important to book transport well in advance, because many Greeks return to their home islands or villages on the mainland to celebrate the holiday with their families.

It's possible there will be extra flights added to the Aegean Airlines schedule, so keep checking. Highspeed ferries come out of their winter layups for the Easter holiday, so there will be more added to the schedule when the timetables are updated early next year. Hellenic Seaways tends to wait longer than Sea Jets Consortium, but Sea Jets sometimes changes their schedule after publication.

Ferries are very busy going out to the islands during the week before Easter, and busy going back to the mainland from Easter Monday. When you go against the flow it's easier to book a seat. That is about the only time apart from August high season when it is necessary to book ferries in advance.

kawh

Ditto on Airport Sofitel. Ended my trip to Greece with a stay there (are there ANY flights out of that airport after 6 in the morning???)and have a very fond memory. Just felt super relaxed on flight out. The hotel food was a bit rich for me, so actually had quite a decent meal at one of the airport "restaurants." As I recall, you can get flight info on the room televisions.

aussiedreamer

Sounds great thanks heaps. Just need to play around with dates, we will definately fly where possible......We depart Athens the Wednesday after Easter....so its just a bit tricky to work out where to spend Easter without moving around over the holiday period. Fun though. ;-)

aussiedreamer

Just a quick thought.......

Night of arrival, airport Hotel

Fly to Santorini the next morning for 2 nights.

Ferry to Crete 3/4 nights.
(am I correct that the high speed ferry only takes about 2 hours? and I can't seem to find if it will be operating at that time of year?)

Fly to Athens, collect car and head out of the city for 4 (approx) days some of which will be Easter, so would have accommodation booked.

Finishing back in Athens for 2/3 nights before our pm flight out Arpil 11.

This does mean arriving into Athens either Easter Sunday or Monday, which if we have it all booked should be fine I'm guessing. I think from initial research spending Easter Sunday in Athens would actually be quite good?

kja

Are you sure that you can see what you want in Crete and Athens in the time you have? Sounds rushed to me, but of course, it depends on what you want to see and experience....

KayF

Hi, we are Aussies too and have visited Greece quite a few times, mostly the islands which we love. I don't think Rhodes has been suggested, it's got a lot of history and might be good in the off-season as it's not so dependent on tourists.

If you can, get the ferry to Santorini. We have flown in, arrived by catamaran and also by ferry. The flight is good as it's quick but the views from the outside ferry deck are spectacular. On a catamaran you are inside so can see but not very well.

I think Santorini will be very quiet but to me, it's all about the views and the views will be there regardless of whether places are closed for the season.

We stayed in Chania for about 4 nights at the beginning of October one year and were really surprised at how it was starting to shut down. The weather was still great but cafes were quiet and waiters bored. We really enjoyed it there, the harbour is lovely.

We've visited a couple of islands on a few trips and found it's best to double check if the ferries go where you want, before you lock anything in. It can be harder to get from one point to the other than you think, if that makes sense.

Another thought about whether to fly to Chania after the long flight to Athens - once we flew into Athens, stayed a couple of nights, then flew out again to Mykonos. If we had our time over, we would have flown directly there on arrival. You are already at the airport, you can rest once you get there and you don't have to make the return journey to the airport after only a few short days.

We live in Brisbane too, so happy to chat if you like.

Kay

Heimdall

Historically highspeed ferries begin operating between Crete and Santorini a week before Greece's Good Friday, but not necessarily daily at that point. Greek Easter is fairly early in 2018, and that may affect the frequency of sailings. Incidentally, the highspeeds on that route are based at Heraklion, Crete, and start and end their days there.

A quick reference I use for Hellenic Seaways Highspeed 7 is https://www.ferries.gr/hfd/ . Guess what? I just looked it up now, and see it already has 2018 timetables, showing in starting on 5th April. That is a good ferry—I've used it several times on other routes when it used to be called Highspeed 5, and since then it has been completely renovated.

Sea Jets will probably have one of its Champion Jet ferries operating by then as well, so you should have a choice of two ferries, both leaving around the same time.

Heimdall

Pardon the small typos in most of my posts. I really miss the preview feature, which allows me a second look before I submit.

aussiedreamer

Thanks Heimdall..great info.

Ps. Thought it was just me not being able to use the preview button.