OverIt

Thanks everyone! I'm sorting the pros and cons of Nafplio to the islands in my head as we speak - I'll probably decide after I have a chance to go to the library this weekend and read some travel guides.

I wonder if I could break up the trip from Naxos to Nafplio with an overnight somewhere (travelerjan - I believe you recommended this in a thread somewhere in 2012 in another website . The idea is take the late ferry from Naxos to Piraeus, overnight somewhere, and take the bus to Nafplio the next morning. I'm inclined to do ferries rather than planes this time (I've done the turboprop Naxos-Athens three times and while it's convenient you spend much of the day waiting around, which boring and a pain with two kids and one squirmy husband).

I like the idea of Nafplio because we are probably spending two nights in Athens but will really only have time to explore properly one day.

Aug 28 Leave Boston
Aug 29 Arrive Athens 2 PM. Train to Piraeus for the 5:30 ferry to Naxos
Aug 30 Naxos
Aug 31 Naxos
Sept 1 Naxos
Sept 2 Naxos
Sept 3 Leave Naxos. Head to Nafplio (either that day or the next)
Sep 4 Napflio
Sep 5 Napflio
Sep 6 Nafplio --> Athens
Sep 7 Athens
Sep 8 Depart home

travelerjan

Your best bet would be to take the 6pm Blue Star which gets in either at 11:30 or midnight, depending on which day... then taxi to a close-by Piraeus hotel & collapse. Next AM you can get a bus (?? X93??) to Kifissou station & catch the Nafplio express (hourly on the half-hour).

As mentioned, If you take the earlier Blue star (9:45) it eats up a whole day, makes for a very loooong trip with kids. Taking the 6pm allows you a last lovely afternoon on the beach or wandering about. Of course, you'd have to check out of y our room at noon, but with most family-run hotels, you can arrange a work-around. They'll stow your bags in a baggage room or behind the counter, and when you come back at 4:30, you can use a reception-area "powder room" or a bathroom in a vacant unit to wash your face & change into travel clothes.

On the Blue Star, book a few days ahead for "reserved economy" seats, and ask for location in SIDE compartments, which are by windows, have fewer seats & are quieter (the cental area is more like a theatre -- 500 seats, several aisles, brightly lit and TV on constantly). With "Reserve econmy" you can sit out on deck on the plastic garden chairs (first come first served) until dark, then go inside & your reserved seats are t here for you,.. they're upholstered, leanback, lots of legroom & footrests, also t ray tables. You can either eat in the cafes, or get something to take to your seat. Then read, or nap, until arrival. If your boys are antsy, (or your hubby), the advantage of a large ferry is that you can walk the corridors with them

BTW, on a full boat (likely to be, on a sunday), you may come to your reserved seats and find them occupied -- th "squatters" will be "economy" deck passengers, just chancing that the seat is unsold. You can flash yur tickets at them, and they'll move... the exception is, if the squatter is an old greek lady in a black dress, with lots of bundles. She will give you grief, so do not confront her... just go to one of the deck stewards; its their job to move people along diplomatically.

OverIt

Would a taxi from the ferry port make sense? It seems like it would cost about $150 for four people and take about 2 hours. Sound right?

travelerjan

This is confusing. YOu mean taxi from Pireaus to Nafplio?? Would that be at 3:30, arriving on the 9:45 - 3 PM Blue Star? I have no idea if $150 "sounds right" because I am not an agent, checking prices for clients. That's the kind of info you expect an agency to give you. It seems a little low to me, but if you could get that price.... You wouldn't want a taxi from the taxi line, you'd want to book a car online ahead of time and have the terms in writing. Returning from Nafplio, a bus would be easy. Then a taxi from the bus station to any hotel/apt in central athens would be from €12 - 15. BTW, it's thoughtful to ask about prices using Euros, because so many helpers on this forum are not from N. America.

Heimdall

I wouldn’t book an ordinary taxi from Piraeus to Nafplio, but you might want to do some research on private transfers. I’ve no idea what it would cost, or even if they offer that service, but Fantasy Travel, a well known Athens travel agency, has a page where you can get a quote:
https://www.fantasy.travel/greek-tra...iAAEgLWdPD_BwE

There are other agencies that also provide the service, such as George’s Taxis, so it might pay to check around. For what it’s worth, I much prefer the morning Blue Star that arrives at Piraeus around 3 pm and then the bus from Kiffisos station the next morning. That gives you time to check into your hotel and go out for a meal, even possibly taking a short trip to central Athens for sightseeing.

Some hotels near the Piraeus docks are a bit grim, so IMO if you take the morning Blue Star from Naxos it would be better to go into central Athens. My “go to” hotel is the Cypria, which is near Syntagma Square, has great breakfasts, and reasonable room rates. They even helped me get to Kiffisos Station one time when taxi drivers were on strike. Here is their own website, but they are also listed on booking.com:
https://athenscypria.com/?lang=en

travelwithgiuli

During my last trip in Greece i went to Athens and then around the Cyclades, and so Naxos, Mykonos, Paros, Ios and Tinos!

travelerjan

travelwith guili --- these people have only 10 nights, why taunt them with an island list that would take at least 3 weeks to do justice to!

kja

@ travelwithgiuli: Welcome to Fodor's, and please feel free to post whatever advice you think appropriate! I'm sure the OP can decide how best to use any input provided.

OverIt

My husband would revolt if we did 5 places in ten days! Still trying to work out the logistics of getting to Nafplio.

Option #1: evening ferry, overnight in Pireaus, noonish buses to Nafplio. Snce the ferry is going to arrive at midnight, I'm not comfortable going into Athens at that time with two small boys. I can't tell how hard it will be to get from Piraeus to Nafplio, but it seems like I will have to take the train to Athens and then the bus from Athens to Nafplio. So we are looking at about 4-5 hours during the day of travelling (in addition to the ferry at night). I like this option because we can spend basically the whole day in Naxos ad leave in the evening (and save one night of hotel) and avoid the airport

Option 2: Fly to Athens on the 5 PM evening flight then stay at St Thomas B&B the airport, - http://www.stay-in-athens.com - Next AM from Airport, take the X93 to the station where you get the KTEL bus, to Nafplio. Although I'd prefer the ferry over the plane, it seems like this makes more sense, as St Thomas B&B is very charming (unlike Piraeus).

Any other options I am missing?

travelerjan

St. Thomas is a great option.... arrive there about 6, have a dip in the cute pool, in an olive grove... Janet (owner) doesnt' serve dinner but offers snacks & beverage around the pool, and gladly arranges for delivery of take-out (pizza etc). THey have a good unit fo r you... a 2 br adjoining door ... and a nice buffet breakfast & will get you to airport for the x93 bus for Kifissou Station (allow 65 mins to get to station). KTEL bus is 8 am, then 9:30 - 10:30 etc. Say Hi to Janet for me -- tell her I've been meaning to stay there ever since I discovered it 10 y ears ago, but have sent scores of satisfied visitors there. If I do get back to Greece, next time I'll go for sure.

BuffaloGirl

Naxos - If you are spending 8 days without a car, I highly suggest that you book a tour or two with Nicholas of Naxos Discovery Private Guided Tours. It was the highlight of our trip to Naxos. Nicholas knows the history, the flora and fauna, the hidden places, and little towns. All tours are private. He does every type of tour imaginable. You can leave it up to him, or you can tell him what you're interested in and he will customize it. He does hiking tours, as well!

I go more in depth on my trip report if you are interested.

I'm having some computer trouble, so just click on my name to find it (Santorini+Naxos+Athens = Wow...just Wow!!!). Have a great time!

Here is the link for the tour:
https://www.naxosdiscovery.net/

travelerjan

Buffalo Girl, that sounds wonderful, but may be beyond the budget of this young family. When you make a recommendation lilke that, it is thoughtful to include the KEY factor; what did it cost?

starrs

Thanks for the tip! I'm adding it to my list for my return trip!

Now off to find your TR! We LOVED our place in Oia. Looking forward to reading about yours!

BuffaloGirl

travelerjan, thank you for all the advice you provided me when I was planning my trip last year. I did supply a link so I'm sure the OP can look at it and inquire about pricing. I'm sure it all depends on length, where, etc. It was just a suggestion and I'm sure that OverIt can take it from there.

Starrs - I think you did read my trip report as I'm pretty sure you commented. But I would be honored if you looked at it again!

kja

I agree! I think Fodorites are fortunate that people like you provide whatever information they, personally, feel comfortable sharing, and honestly, I wish others wouldn't try to say what is or is not valuable. JMO.

starrs

I think I may be suffering from "sometimers".

Have you seen the cute cartoon on FB about two best friends and (paraphased) "We'll be best friends forever until we lose our memory and then we'll be NEW best friends".
That may be me soon.

starrs

+ 1

Let the OP decide and if even if the OP doesn't use the info, other readers may.

Over 20 years ago I read a suggestion for a certain lodging in Tuscany. It was a slowtrav post and only read that forum and NEVER posted on it.

And yet, 20+ years later I plan a trip to Italy, stay at that place and it was a highlight of the trip.

The original poster had no idea. IMO that's one of the best things about internet travel forums.

IMO one of the worst things is people criticizing the post of others, especially when it's just to criticize and an alternative is not suggested.


Example = 36 posts. 1.6k views. Readers may find suggestions helpful, even if they OP does not use the suggestion. 1.6 k views is a LOT of readers.

neckervd

We often arrived at Piraeus around midnight, took a taxi from the taxi stand in front of the boat to a hotel at Piraeus (for example Theoxenia), slept there and reached Kiffisos bus terminal from there after breakfast (by taxi).

travelerjan

Good idea necker, I did that once ... breaks up a long trip, just think of piraeus as a sleep-stop.

OverIt

Hi everyone...still debating about Napflio. Booked four nights in Naxos and three in Napflio ... with one unbooked day in between and am still undecided. I am drawn to Napflio because it seems like a fun place to chill out (kids playing in the square, etc) but will it be a hassle with two kids? We won't be renting a car. I've got my guidebooks and I am reading reading reading but would like to know whether it's worth a solid three days? I'm thinking we will probably really enjoy the change of pace from the Cyclades and Athens.

Leaning towards the night ferry with a Pireaus stopover over flight to Athens and St Thomas stayover. Will check out Theoxenia.