excited_confused

BTW, not sure what the difference is but should I go with booking economy seats on the ferry from Athens to Naxos? It is a 4 hour ferry ride on the high speed, is there a considerable difference in the seats between Economy & Business?
Ticketing for the return finally done!!! Thanks for all the help.

GrTr

You may get some ideas from the webcams in our blog at: http://www.greek-webcams.com

Heimdall

If you are travelling on Hellenic Seaways Highspeed 4, all the seats are reserved, and economy is fine. Business and VIP have seats arranged around tables in smaller lounges, while economy seats are in rows. To see what the highspeeds are like, take the Virtual Tour on http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=265. You may have to disable your pop-up blocker.

If you are travelling on Blue Star, book air seats or go Business Class. Ferries are busy in July, and with ordinary economy tickets you aren't guaranteed a seat, while air seats are numbered and reserved.

excited_confused

Thanks so much, that is exactly the info I was looking for. I have asked Pacific to book the economy sets on Hellenic so that should be fine. Now I just have to pray that the flight is on time...!

excited_confused

Her goes again....! The last ticket I have to buy is the Thess Athens sector on Sunday July 24. Have already asked Pacific Travel to book the 16.55 high speed ferry to Naxos. I was initially going to take the 12.30 flight that gets in at 13.20, which is perfect, but am getting a little nervous in case the flight is delayed. My other option is taking the 9.30 flight getting in at 10.20. This is much safer but how should we spend the time in between (5 hours)? We will have our carry-on bags with us so can't really do much sightseeing then. Any recommendations?
Also, can I buy tickets from the ferry from Naxos to Santorini at the port in Athens? Thanks.

Heimdall

Five hours won't give you much time to go anywhere, but you could take a quick trip by metro into central Athens, then the metro from there to Piraeus. I'm not sure exactly where it is, but Pacific Travel has a central Athens office, and I believe you can leave your carry-ons there while you walk around. Why not send them another email and ask?

It wouldn't leave you much time for sightseeing though, so maybe it would be better to just stay at the airport until it's time to board the bus for Piraeus. The airport has some nice shops and cafes, and Sofitel is just across the street, with a nicer and more expensive restaurant. There is also a little museum on the upper floor of the terminal that has displays of the finds during airport construction.

You can buy tickets for the highspeed directly from the ticket booth next to the ferry, but also from Pacific Travel at the airport. By now you must be their favorite customer, so give them a try. ;-)

excited_confused

They certainly know me well enough by now so will give it a shot! Thanks for the suggestion! Do you think we should go with the earlier flight?
Which metro would take us from the city to the port?
Is there anything to do/see at the port area in case we get there early?
Thanks.

Heimdall

I'm one of those 'get there early' types, so would probably choose the earlier flight myself. I know there are things to do around Piraeus, but perhaps not very convenient with carry-on luggage in tow. The Attica Zoo is near the airport, another possibility if you take a taxi there from the airport: http://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/...-spata-zoo.htm

The metro station at the airport is next to the terminal, and will take you to central Athens. You can get off at Syntagma to see the changing of the guard, transfer to Acropoli for the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, or carry on to Monastiraki where you will catch the Green Line to Piraeus. I understand there is a luggage storage facility at Monastiraki Station, but I've never used it, and don't know exactly where it is located. The port is the last stop on the Green Line, and the station there is just across a footbridge to the Santorini ferries. Look for the big red catamarans with 'Vodafone' on the side. Here is a map of the metro system: http://www.athens-greece.us/athens-m...-metro-map.asp

If you decide to stay at the airport, suggest you take the X96 bus to Piraeus. It leaves directly from the front of the terminal, and stops in Piraeus near the Cyclades docks.

excited_confused

Sorry for the long silence - or maybe it was a relief!! Thanks for the map Heimdall, Now at leat I can figure out where the stations are - in theory!!
I did end up booking the earlier flight but still have to figure out what we are doing during our time in Athens. It is a Sunday so all the travel agencies are closed, or else I could have left the luggage at the Pacific Travels office in the city. I was thinking maybe we could go for lunch at one of those rooftop restaurants in a hotel in the center & see if they will hold our luggage for a couple of hours. Any suggestions as to which hotels I can try?

excited_confused

Not looking to spend a fortune for lunch so suggestions for a reasonably priced restaurant (around 10-12 euros per person) in a hotel would be great. I can call the hotel & check about the luggage then.

Litsa

Just to note..if you're flying out of Thessaloniki (SKG), would look into a direct flight to Santorini via www.aegeanair.com/ You can also use www.kayak.com/ and click of 'non-stop';-) See no reason to have to change planes in Athens if your dates fit the bill for a direct flight out of SKG;-) Also recc to spend some time in Thessaloniki..wonderful City..fabulous food;-)) Have a great trip..and EnjOY!

excited_confused

Thanks Litsa, we are going to Naxos first from Thessoloniki & then to Santorini, & there was no flight to Naxos. Will be spending the weekend in Thessoloniki, don;t know much about it so open to any recommendations. DD will be there for 5 weeks before I get there so hopefully she can take me around!

clausar

some comments and recommendations after reading previous posts
1. ferry tickets
Unfortunately e tickets do not exist, that means you will have to pay for your tickets in advance and pick them up upon your arrival in Greece. Now tickets have same price regardless where you buy them. What travel agencies do, is to charge a service fee per ticket,this fee varies from 3 to 10 Euro per ticket.... Best solution is to use either Pacific Travel or Amphitrion Holidays, they both have airport offices open 24/7 where you can pick your tickets upon your arrival. ( offices are located in the arrival hall and are easy to find)
2. Athens Hotel
Athens Gate is an excellent choice, but i would also recommend Hotel Parthenon, located 100 meters awayand closer to the Acropolis... To my opinion it has a more quiet location, with Athens gate being on a major noisy street.
3. Lunch in Athens
There are some spots near Syntagma Square where you can deposit your luggage, personally i would never have lunch in a hotel in the center, as it will be either overpriced or of bad quality..... Of course there are hotels offering excellent greek kitchen, but at a totally different pricerange.... and speaking of food
4. Thessaloniki
Lots of very very good restaurants there, i have been to Ouzo Melathron ( one of my all time favorites - and not at all touristical), an excellent fish restaurant, an all time classic for locals is Argentina, in Kalamaria ( bit out of centre)and of course the famous Krikelas in Ladadika area( in the centre of the city)

excited_confused

Thank you for your input. Any specific suggestions on a hotel restaurant with a view of the Acropolis where we could leave our luggage & walk around for a couple of hours after lunch?

excited_confused

Also, which metro line is the one that goes from the airport to the city?

crayon78

The metro line between the airport & the city is line 3 (the blue line).

clausar

Hotel Restaurants with Acropolis view are rather expensive ( Electra Palace, Grande Bretagne or Kinge George) however you can try Astor Hotel or Arethusa, both have restaurants with Acropolis view... but other than the view don't expect too much...

clausar

Hm... reading what you wrote earlier....
i am afraid that there is no hotel with Acropolis view where you could have lunch for 10-12 euros per person.....
A nice place where Athenians are having a quick bite in the center is Monastiraki Square, at the beginning of Mitropoleos street. There are 3-4 kebab restaurants, serving delicious kebab or souvlaki. I recommend Savvas or Thanasis, stay away from Bairaktaris..... A kebab with french fries and a drink should cost around 10 Euro per person
As for your luggage pacific Travel that i recommended, is open also on Sundays from 9am -8 pm

BeachGirl247

Athens Gate Hotel has a nice view as well. I don't know if they serve lunch though. Dinner was average but the wine and view were very good.

Judy

We had lunch at the Athens Gate the day we arrived as our room wasn't ready and we were tired. The food was fine but we were seated on the other side of the Acropolis....had the view for breakfast and dinner but not for lunch.
BeachGirl247, we may have been there at the same time. We returned 6/5.