My husband and I would like to spend a week visiting Santorini and Crete the beginning of May, after two weeks in Turkey. We will travel from Kusadasi to Samos first, I understand. But then can we get to Santorini in the same day? I can't seem to get the information I need from the ferry timetables I've found on the internet. I suppose it's because I don't have enough information. I've tried Samos to Naxos and Naxos to Santorini, but one or the other always comes up as not available.

I'd like to get this sorted so I can reserve a place to stay on Santorini. I assume it would be best to arrive with a reservation? Not just trust to Luck? And then we'd like to go on to Crete. We must be back in Athens for a flight on May 4? Are we trying to do too much? Does anyone have a better idea for how to spend 5 days and travel from Kusadasi to Athens and see some Greek islands on the way? Any advice or help will be MOST greatly appreciated.

There is no direct ferry to Santorini from Samos, you'll have to go to Naxos and then on to Santorini on a different ferry line. Right now there are 2/week from Samos to Naxos, Monday and Wednesday. The problem is that they arrive at Naxos late, almost midnight, which means an overnighter (and the loss of a precious day), so reservations are probably a good idea. There will probably be more added to the schedule for the summertime, but I can't say when. Keep checking with www.gtp.gr until your travel dates bring results. Some of the summer schedules are starting to appear on this website, but double check when it's closer to your travel dates since there are frequently last-minute changes. There are already a lot of timetables posted for Naxos-Santorini. You'll have your choice of car ferries or a highspeed ferry in May.

Overall, reservations aren't really necessary in May except for situations like late arrivals. But the reality of your time-frame is that you don't really have enough time to enjoy Samos-Naxos-Santorini-Crete-Athens, all in 5 days. Crete by itself deserves a week. The ferry from Santorini-Crete will take you to Heraklion, a large noisy city, nothing like the "real" Crete. I suggest you elimintate Crete altogether, save it for another trip.

Or..........You might want to consider flying from Samos to Santorini (plane change in Athens) to use your time more efficiently. Then you could possibly go to Crete as well by highspeed ferry, then fly back to Athens from there.

i know there are ferries from samos to naxos that leave in the morning and take only 4 hours but thta was in august not sure if these will run in may though.. i would also leave out crete