lkj2

We have traveled to Greece three times. The usual (but fabulous) suspects: Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, but this May we were thinking about the Ionians. We fly into Athens on 5/27 and have 14 days. Checked into flights to Corfu, no problem, but getting to Zakynthos or Kefalonia from there seems to be a logistical nightmare. Wondered if the Greek experts out there even recommend the Ionians, or are there other islands more highly recommended that we haven't seen. We are in our 50's, love photography, beautiful scenery, great greek food (not tremendously interested in ruins). Also where we might be able to fly from Corfu, rather than ferry because it is so far northwest. Thank you for any and all advice.

mariha2912

Ionians are great and very diverse islands but are not very easy for island hopping. Connecting among them sometimes requires returning on mainland and travel to a different port. Corfu is the Northern and maybe more "difficult" to connect on other islands. Paxi is a usual side trip, but there are no connections to islands you mentioned, unless you take the ferries heading to Italy through Patras, disembark to Patras and head for Ithaca,Kefalonia or Zante on a different ferry. Note that most Ioanians are in general larger that somne of the Dodecannese or Cyclades islands, and you can easily spend one or two weeks on each island.

mariha2912

PS: I think Olympic air was running Athens-Kefalonia-Corfu or Preveza-Kefalonia-Corfu flights a couple of times per week on summer months, but I am not sure this is still the case nowdays. I think Preveza flights have been canceled completely since two years ago and not sure what about the other combo
: (((

clausar

What you could do, is rent a car and after Corfu, ferry to Igoumenitsa on mainland - and drive to Lefkas, which is separated from the mainland through a bridge....
From Lefkas you can ferry to Kefalonia and from there to Zakynthos.
Have done that many times, only pls keep in mind that rental cars are not covered from insurance on the boats.
On you way to Lefkas, make a stop at Syvota, 25 south of Igoumenitsa, one of the nicest spots of Epirus, with many gerat sandy beaches and small islands !!!
( Not to be confused with same name village on the island of Lefkas)

Heimdall

How about the Dodecanese, which have good ferry connections with one another? Also, you could consider the Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos, and Alonissos). Another area to think about is not an island at all — the southern Peloponnese regions of Messenia and Laconia. You could be fooled into thinking you are on an island in the many beautiful seaside towns. Travel by road is quick and easy, so if you rent a car you could see a lot in two weeks.

mariha2912

Problem with rental car is that you need to return it back to Corfu as most car hire companies do not offer an option for drop off elsewhere, and if they do so, it costs and arm and a leg.
I believe that Ionians are a bit underated from independant travelrs, who always tend to focus on Cyclades, Crete and Rhodes. Yes, there are some package resorts on the Ionians, but in general they are more than package destinations, they have plenty to offer on travelers with multiple interests...