Author: golfmom
Date: 10/10/2008, 03:43 pm
I'm starting to plan our trip to Greece and please let me know if I'm on the right track. The dates are Monday, August 24 to Thursday, September 10 -- 16 nights in Greece. I'll be with my two daughters, 19 and 21 who are great travelers. Last summer we spent two weeks traveling from Paris to Northern Italy; we took the train throughout. However, this time we'll rent a car for three days, take two plane rides and two ferry rides. My husband is staying home with our dog; he's not a traveler unless it involves golf!

The plan:
3 nights: Arrive in Athens on Tuesday August 25, pick up rental car and drive to Nafplio. Visit Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nemea.

4 nights: On Friday back to airport to drop off car. Fly 3 PM Aegean Air to Crete. Spend two days in Chania, take bus, spend two days in Heraklion. Visit Palace of Knossos, museum.

2 nights: On Tuesday 9:45 AM Catamaran to Santorini. Visit caldera, ancient Thera.

3 nights: On Thursday 3:30 PM Ferry to Naxos. Take bus tour.

4 nights: On Sunday fly 1:40 PM Olympic Air to Athens. On Monday take 7:30 AM Athens bus to visit Delphi for the whole day, arriving back at 9 PM. Visit Acropolis and other sites for two full days.

Fly home on Thursday, September 10.

What do you think about this general plan? Any suggestions? I had hoped to visit Olympia, but I think Nemea will take it's place. I considered driving to Delphi from Nafplio and spending the night, but I think that's a lot of driving for just one night. I also considered taking a one day Fantasy or Dolphin Tour of Delphi, but the price would be $300 more than doing it on our own. I'm starting to look at lodging, but first I wanted to see if I needed to make any itinerary adjustments.

Thank you in advance.

Hi

I would try not to split the mainland visits. Check your arrival time in Athens with schedules for Aegean or Olympic Air flying to Crete, Santorini or Naxos. You may be lucky enough to get a connecting flight to one of those islands (Crete or Naxos would be ideal). Then on your return you can do the mainland. I don't think you need 7 nights in Athens. 3 nights should suffice. I would suggest using the extra nights saved to include Mystras and Olympia or more time on Santorini or Naxos.

Thanks for your reply and suggestion! I reposted this request with "Greece" in the title, so this may get confusing.

At one time I did have us flying on to Crete first thing and doing the mainland part afterwards. Then I decided to break up the trip with the islands in the middle: first the Nafplio area, then islands, then Athens area. Also it seemed like a logical way/time to get rid of the car. What do you think?

At my original post it was suggested that I tack on Delphi to the beginning (spending the night) and thus shorten Athens by a day for a total of three nights. It is an idea. Also it was suggested I spend three nights in Chania and only one night in Heraklion, as Chania has more charm.

Response to worldinabag comment -- I did not understand the itinerary to mean 7 nights in Athens. I understood it to mean that you would NOT go into Athens upon arrival -- you would drive directly from airport to the Argolid area for 3 days. The athens time would be ALL at the end, and would onlly really involve one evening in Athens, One long day in Delphi, and just 2 full days at the last for Athens sightseeing.

I highly approve this approach, because I have tried the other way twice.... coming back from an island and going directly to Nafplio. It makes for an entire day of travel, which I handled with a good book, but it was tiring and irritating for my travel companions. I think your itinerary is well thought out!

For your Nafplio stay it will be hot, so think about swim breaks. I LOooove the tiny pebbly little beach ARvinitia on the other side of the peninsula from old town -- you can take the scenic walk around the point at water=level, or go "over the top" and down the ramp. Its very pebbly so u should all take "water shoes" (slip-ons; get them cheap at CVS or sporting goods stores--useful in Crete too!).

Arvinitia may be crowded in August; Tolo is a sandy beach only 15 minutes by bus but also narrow and crowded. My "secret" beach is Asine -- take bus to Tolo & ask to be let off at Asine corner just 1/2 Km before tolo. A small shingle beach with taverna, and an ancient ruin! walk beyond ruin on a dirt road and there's a huuuge sandy beach, NO ccrowds. (No sunbed or taverna either; take snacks & water).

Thank you for your reply; all this fine tuning will help.

traveljan: What do you think about driving to Delphi from Nafplio, staying the night, and then driving to the Athens airport the next day where we'll drop off the car and fly to Crete? Or should I stick with my original plan of taking a day bus trip to Delphi from Athens? Regarding Chania, do you agree that I should spend three nights there and one night in Heraklion? Thanks for your Asine beach suggestion; my dauaghters will be looking forward to some beach time at the beginning of our trip.

Are you arriving in Athens after an overnight flight? If so, I don't think it a good idea to immediately pick up a rental car and start driving. Fatigue plus the time zone change can really hit you. I notice it more as I get older.

Mimar: I was thinking of this as well. I remember once we were taking a double decker bus tour after arriving in London and I looked over and both my daughters were fast asleep! However, this past summer we did the same time frame to Paris and we all did remarkably well keeping alert. I'm thinking next summer will be similar.

About driving immediately on arrival -- you'll do fine. Friends of mine have done it frequently. It is an excellent divided hi-way, NO traffic lights all the way to beyond Corinth ... and in Pelopponese, much less traffic also. Just knock back a belt or two of Greek Coffee glyka (sweet) at the airport and you'll zip right along -- of course you'll crash later but who cares?

I think going to Delphi after the Argolid is a great idea ... contributors to various forums have mentioned doing that. Use the website from Michelins to get the recommended route, distance, duration of trip -- it will steer you to the best route -- I think its about 4.5 hours. If you go mid-morning you could get there by 3 or so, when the tour busses are leaving, and you could see the site at leisure, have dinner & o-nite, then go to the museum in the AM, then zip off to Athens Airport. Wizard!
http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichel...ing_directions

travelerjan: Wow, the Michelin site is exactly what I needed! Thanks.

So now the plan looks like this:
3 nights Nafplio
1 night Delphi
4 nights Crete - 3 in Chania, 1 in Heraklion
2 nights Santorini
3 nights Naxos
3 nights Athens

How does this look?

Fascinating once again, travelerjan. I am sure over the years we have follows in each others footsteps.

I spent a wonferful few days many years ago in an area close to Tolo and a lot of time at Asine. LOL I thought it was MY secret beach. To Golfmum, please pay it a visit!

Perhaps my memory is playing tricks again but wasn't it from there mythology suggests some of the Greek fleet left to fight at Troy? If it wasn't Asine then it was a smaller bay closer to Tolo. I made mention of it in my little book when I visited the area but stupidly wasn't too specific of the departure point's location.

Bill

Bill Barr, I think I love you! Your mention of Asine sent me straight to Google (the ONLY search engine) and I put in "Asine in Iliad" and got this wonderful link from "The Enlightened LIbrarian" ---
http://enlightenedlibrarian.com/Articles/51/asine

It references the 4-word mention of Asine in the Iliad, translated by Robert Fagles (my FAVE) as "Asine commanding the deep wide gulf" ... and then goes on to talk about the wonderful Greek poet Robert Seferis being there in 1917 and inspired to write a poem, which is quoted. All that and a lovely chance to swim as well.

I'll take the poem along when I go to Asine again, about May 26 i hope.

A fascinating read travelerjan. And yes, you must go back.

Bill