We are landing at the airport around 21:00 (9PM), picking up a rental car and heading for a week in the Peloponnese early October. We want to bypass Athens and find a hotel for the night on the western side to get an early start in the morning without hitting Athens' traffic. Our map shows a road bypassing north of Athens. Does it exist? Anyone know of an okay hotel west of Athens? We don't want to drive far at night. Thank you.

Dear Etal,<BR><BR>There is no way to bypass Athens, or at least the suburbs in order to get to the highway to Peloponnese. The new highway that will take you from the airport towards Athens isn't complete yet. In a couple of years you will be able to follow the new highway, connecting outside Athens to the other highway leading to Peloponnese. For now though the best you can do is:<BR>After the airport get to the highway leading to the suburb of Kiffisia, from Kifissia ask, if you don't see signs, and get to the highway called Athens-Lamia (or Thessaloniki), follow that South (Towards Athens center/ Piraeus). After 8 Km about you will see signs for an exit (it's actually the start of the highway connecting Athens to Peloponnese) and follow direction towards Korinthos (the first city in Peloponnese).<BR>I know it sounds confusing, but don't look at all the small streets in the map, since the highway from the airport it's new and has changed many things since last year. From the airport to Kifissia about 30-40 min, from there to the highway leading to Pelloponese 20 min, and from the highway to Korinthos (Corinth) about 1+ hour. Careful though there is lots of construction in thet last highway. Traffic not terrible at this time especially going to the highway through Kifissia. Hotels, I don't know, several in Kifissia but expensive. You may want to try Corinthos, if you decide to travel at night. (if you decide to stay in Corinthos, stay at the area of Loutraki, a couple of Km outside Korinthos with lots of hotels).<BR><BR><BR>

Yiannis, this is the way we drove from the airport last April. <BR><BR>It was sometimes confusing and it wasn't traffic free but we made it. Also there were many road signs missing. The road signs are usually in Greek and in Latin. We had a great map we bought in Athens and that was the most imprtant investment. I personnaly wouldn't even think about driving anywhere from the airport that late. 9 pm will be dark in October, won't be?<BR><BR>We spent two weeks in Peloponnese. ETal, I hope you will have as great trip as we did. Prepare yourself psychologically for driving from/to the airport and you will be just fine. Once we got to Peloponnese driving was fun.

Dear Gina,<BR><BR>You are right, I don't think I wrote anything totaly different. I know that it can be confusing, especially, when the highway isn't ready and you have to go through several neighborhoods in order to get to the other highway. Despite all these, another (Greek) way to get through these is just by asking locals, fortunately most speak basic English. I am not sure if nighjt or day will make a big difference, since there are not safety issues. But maybe in your first day in Athens, daytime will be better.<BR>Anyway, enjoy Greece!<BR>

as you land at 9 pm,(delay+luggage+rental paperwork),and maybe tired after several hours on a plane,<BR>i suggest you spend the night at the sofitel hotel wich is just accross the arrival terminal,<BR>wake up early ,and leave the hotel after a good breakfast (if not included in the rate,in the terminal you will have some choice).<BR><BR>it is better to avoid driving nightime ,trying to find your way out of athens.<BR><BR>an other option is kifissia (katerina hotel is a good choice if you do not opt for the deluxe pentelikon hotel or the theoxenia hotel.

<BR>ETal,<BR>in August 2000 there used a be a stiff extra tax on car rentals originating at the old airport (not uncommon in most cities, including US).<BR><BR>if this is still true, you may want to consider renting the car in Athens and NOT at the airport.<BR><BR>Jef's advice seems good: "better to avoid driving nightime, trying to find your way out of athens."<BR><BR>It's hairy enough driving in broad daylight, let alone at night on unfamiliar roads while tired, especially in Greece!!