Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Acquiring ferry tickets

Search

Acquiring ferry tickets

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 13th, 2014 | 08:30 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 0
Acquiring ferry tickets

I will be leaving for Greece, three weeks from today! I will need tickets for three ferries. I already know the dates for two of the ferries, and I have checked that all three ferries are running on the days I do/might want to travel.

I arrive in Greece in the early evening and want to take a ferry to Mykonos first thing the next morning, so time will be tight. When/where/how do you recommend buying this ticket?

I want to travel between Mykonos and Santorini but I'm not yet sure which day I will go. Will I have any problems buying a ticket on walk-up?

I plan to take the overnight ferry from Santorini to Rhodes. Should I book this earlier? When/where do you recommend getting the ticket?

Thanks for your help.
artsnletters is offline  
Old Apr 13th, 2014 | 11:22 PM
  #2  
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 0
several years ago, we bought ferry tickets from croatia on ocean24.com . i think they are based in germany. they actually delivered our tickets to california... and we were a tiny bit surprised when they actually arrived, as ordered! at any rate, i think it is a good site to do some research.
kawh is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 12:14 AM
  #3  
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 0
There is no need to buy your tickets in advance, May is not a busy period for Greece.
Upon your arrival at the airport just go to the office of Amphitrion Holidays which is at the arrivals hall, and buy your tickets there.

You can buy the Mykonos - Santorini leg when you will be on Mykonos.

There is also no need to buy the ticket to Rhodes in advance, unless you would like to book a cabin. I am not an expert when it comes to Ferries, but i see that until the 10th of May, there is one ferry every Saturday at 3:40 AM.
clausar is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 01:38 AM
  #4  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,682
Likes: 0
I can't add much to what clausar wrote. The only decision you need to make now is where you will be spending the night before ferry departure. If you are staying in central Athens the most convenient port would be Piraeus, and the best ferry Blue Star Ithaki, which departs at 07:30.

Most ferries to Mykonos depart from Rafina, which is both nearer the airport and nearer Mykonos. There is a Sea Jet catamaran from Rafina that takes only 2 hrs to Mykonos. I've had a similar itinerary, with an evening arrival at Athens Airport and an early morning departure to Mykonos. IMO the best alternative is to stay in Rafina and an early morning ferry from there.

Hotel Avra in Rafina is only about 20-30 minutes from the airport, and you can walk from the hotel to the ferry docks in about five minutes. You can either take a taxi to Rafina or use the KTEL Attica bus which departs the airport in front of Sofitel. Rafina is a small port with several excellent fish tavernas. Some rooms in the Avra have view of the harbour.

Avra is nice, but if you want a more upmarket hotel you could stay at the airport Sofitel and go to Rafina in the morning.
Heimdall is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 07:01 AM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 0
It looks like I'll be able to take the overnight ferry from Santorini to Rhodes on the very early morning of May 12 - it leaves at 0:50 and arrives at 9:00. Is this wrong? I'm able to buy a ticket on the ocean24 site listed above, although I did not complete the purchase.

Avra is actually a bit more than I wanted to pay, but I will ponder on it. I can cancel my reservation in Piraeus for free, but to get a rate even close to what I can pay in Rafina I'll have to book with no cancellation. Do you know of anywhere less expensive? I'll only be sleeping there, and I'm sure after a probably sleepless overnight flight I'll sleep like a log wherever I am.

I assume the fish tavernas in Rafina are the same as elsewhere - you pay for the fish by weight?
artsnletters is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 07:08 AM
  #6  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Another reason it is best to buy later are the last minute changes (even up to the day of departure) in schedules especially with Seajets. If you need to change the boat company due to cancellation, you have to get a refund then buy a different ticket.
greg is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 07:12 AM
  #7  
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,821
Likes: 0
Check the Hotel Corali.
brotherleelove2004 is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 07:14 AM
  #8  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,682
Likes: 0
Corali in Rafina should be a bit cheaper, and it's just as close to the ferry docks: http://www.hotel-corali.gr
Heimdall is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 08:09 AM
  #9  
 
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
All that needs to be said has been said. So I'll just wish you happy travels.
dulciusexasperis is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 10:18 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 0
If I'm going from Rafina to Mykonos, should I care whether I am using Fast Ferries or Golden Star Ferries? I favor the latter because it leaves later!
artsnletters is offline  
Old Apr 14th, 2014 | 11:26 PM
  #11  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,682
Likes: 0
Take the one that departs at the time you prefer. I've never used either ferry, but they are both conventional vessels about the same size. Superferry II is a little older, but that shouldn't matter.
Heimdall is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Debbielynn
Europe
16
Apr 12th, 2016 10:46 AM
DonnaKat
Europe
17
Dec 1st, 2011 10:56 AM
Jenn_Mitch
Europe
6
Jun 22nd, 2009 03:07 PM
JnL1
Europe
7
Apr 23rd, 2009 11:39 AM
TigerAthlete12
Europe
12
Apr 21st, 2009 10:17 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -