Greece in March - Itinerary Assistance
Nov 9th, 2008, 06:04 AM
#21
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I would definitely suggest leaving Crete out of your itinerary for this trip. Unless you fly, it's an overnight ferry and you'd be wasting a lot of time. You could easily spend your whole trip just in Crete.
Hydra is a beautiful island and you could do it as a day trip or an overnight. You'd just have to check on the high speed Dolphin (hydrofoil) times.
In March you will not be swimming, although the weather should be spring-like and pleasant for most of it. The wildflowers should be very pretty the further south you go. We were in Northern Greece at the end of April this year and the poppies were spectcular.
Hydra is a beautiful island and you could do it as a day trip or an overnight. You'd just have to check on the high speed Dolphin (hydrofoil) times.
In March you will not be swimming, although the weather should be spring-like and pleasant for most of it. The wildflowers should be very pretty the further south you go. We were in Northern Greece at the end of April this year and the poppies were spectcular.
Jan 31st, 2009, 09:35 AM
#22
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Reading this (and a few other posts) has got me changing my mind about an early March trip. My husband and I have the chance to get out of the New England winter for a week in early March (not flexible due to husband's work schedule) and leave our toddler with her grandparents. We were thinking Paris plus another city because of the short time frame (7 nights, flying from Boston) and accepting that the weather is likely to not be great anywhere. But in reading this post, seeing ms_go's photos, and discovering that we can get RT tickets to Athens for about the same price as to Paris, I'm tempted to try Greece and stick with Athens and the Peloponnese (or areas immediately surrounding Athens). A few questions:
1. Is this way too short of a trip to get a taste of Athens? We travel pretty frequently so could certainly plan to go back another year in the later spring/fall to see the islands, etc.
2. Where do you recommend we stay other than Athens in the Peloponnese that would be most convenient to the sites? I know there are many sites, I'm just reading my guidebooks now to figure out which to see. Would you recommend we base it two places outside of Athens so we don't have to drive around that much? I wouldn't want to move around more than that.
3. Speaking of which...what are the "don't misses" of this area? I really overwhelmed by how much seems to be in such a small area!
4. It looks like the weather is okay at the time of year - coolish, might rain but not very cold or rainy every day (on average).
sorry for the very vague nature of these questions. I'm trying to see if this is a doable trip for us in such a short time and working on my research now. thanks for your help
1. Is this way too short of a trip to get a taste of Athens? We travel pretty frequently so could certainly plan to go back another year in the later spring/fall to see the islands, etc.
2. Where do you recommend we stay other than Athens in the Peloponnese that would be most convenient to the sites? I know there are many sites, I'm just reading my guidebooks now to figure out which to see. Would you recommend we base it two places outside of Athens so we don't have to drive around that much? I wouldn't want to move around more than that.
3. Speaking of which...what are the "don't misses" of this area? I really overwhelmed by how much seems to be in such a small area!
4. It looks like the weather is okay at the time of year - coolish, might rain but not very cold or rainy every day (on average).
sorry for the very vague nature of these questions. I'm trying to see if this is a doable trip for us in such a short time and working on my research now. thanks for your help
Jan 31st, 2009, 11:40 AM
#23
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If I were you (and I DO looove Greece) I would stay in Paris for 7 days, if you have not been there before, or not for a long time.
In bad weather, SO much to do anyway in Paris!! Of course, also in Athens. It is just that the travel will be a lot longer unless you an get a non- stop.
If you DO decide on Athens, you might do 3 days, then go to ONE other place -- Nafplio -- for 3 days. You could decide to take the KTEL intercity bus (11.5 each way) and rent a car only for 1 day, in Nafplio.
DAY 1 - a full day to explore Nafplio itself; there is now a FREE audio guide available at a Kiosk by the water front that walks you through 40 major historical/architectural landmarks. A GREAT new attactions. Before 3 pm go up Palamidi (taxi up the back, walk DOWN the 999 steps, don't be crazy & walk UP). have a wonderful sunset sit at the water- front promenade (the cafes have heaters & plastic sides so you can enjoy the view even in Mar.)
DAY 2 - Rental car "ruin-a-thon" .. The iliad-era Mycenae or Nemea, the #2 Sacred Games Site of GReece. Then Epidaurus (if it's still winter hours they close at 3, so start early). Another easy one is Tiryns, just 4 mi out of Nafplio, like Mycenae, I even almost like it better.
Nafplio has VRY nice restaurants and chic, interesting shops. A great and romantic getaway spot.
In bad weather, SO much to do anyway in Paris!! Of course, also in Athens. It is just that the travel will be a lot longer unless you an get a non- stop.
If you DO decide on Athens, you might do 3 days, then go to ONE other place -- Nafplio -- for 3 days. You could decide to take the KTEL intercity bus (11.5 each way) and rent a car only for 1 day, in Nafplio.
DAY 1 - a full day to explore Nafplio itself; there is now a FREE audio guide available at a Kiosk by the water front that walks you through 40 major historical/architectural landmarks. A GREAT new attactions. Before 3 pm go up Palamidi (taxi up the back, walk DOWN the 999 steps, don't be crazy & walk UP). have a wonderful sunset sit at the water- front promenade (the cafes have heaters & plastic sides so you can enjoy the view even in Mar.)
DAY 2 - Rental car "ruin-a-thon" .. The iliad-era Mycenae or Nemea, the #2 Sacred Games Site of GReece. Then Epidaurus (if it's still winter hours they close at 3, so start early). Another easy one is Tiryns, just 4 mi out of Nafplio, like Mycenae, I even almost like it better.
Nafplio has VRY nice restaurants and chic, interesting shops. A great and romantic getaway spot.
Feb 1st, 2009, 04:10 AM
#24
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Thanks Jan. We actually were just in Paris in October but with our daughter so it was a different kind of trip. I take it from your email that you think the weather could be iffy in Greece at that time of year and that it would be "safer" to go to Paris? Also, was that a typo that Nafplio is 11.5 hours away?!! It is pretty close I thought?
Any suggestions of where to stay in Nafplio? And is the second day there, the one you'd recommend renting the car for? If we split our 7 nights up - would you recommend 2 in Athens, 4 in Nafplio and the last in Athens (for flight home)? Or is 4 nights in Nafplio too long?
Still not sure what to do! Greece looks fantastic but could definitely wait until we have a longer time to go and really explore with our daughter.
Any suggestions of where to stay in Nafplio? And is the second day there, the one you'd recommend renting the car for? If we split our 7 nights up - would you recommend 2 in Athens, 4 in Nafplio and the last in Athens (for flight home)? Or is 4 nights in Nafplio too long?
Still not sure what to do! Greece looks fantastic but could definitely wait until we have a longer time to go and really explore with our daughter.
Feb 1st, 2009, 06:03 AM
#25
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11.5 was EUROS not HOURS! It's 2.5 hours. Renting a car in Nafplio is easy ... but you could ALSO rent a car at the Airport for your last 3 days... drive EASILY on the modern hi-way to Nafplio with nary a stop for the first 2 hours -- then return the car just before you fly home.
The 2-4 -2 is pretty good... just remember CAR get & return from airport (NOT in city; avoid city driving). If u rent from Budget USING the GREEK website you get the best avaiailable deals (int'tl rental agencies soak people who register as being from N. Am) ... on Budget u can use english page of greek site, pay w american credit card u still get the deal that EU people get. Go figure.http://www.budget-athens.gr/default.aspx
If you really want to rent IN athens, National Car Rental has a branch where you can pick up yr car RIGHT BY the major hi way out of town.
In Nafplio, my big fave is Hotel LETO .. up above, looking down on town and bay... Tell Mr. Tzaneto janet sent you ...next door, Pension Eleni... 100 yards away, by Parking square, Pension Ligeia. google all.
WE can't decide for YOU whether to do Paris or Greece! Make your own decisions without forcing us to persuade 1 way or other. About the idea of "saving" Greece until you have more time -- just look at this as your FIRST encounter with Greece... there is never enough time to encompass all of Greece.
I.E., I never hear of people say, let's Save London until we have time, or Let's Sve Paris -- they know that top destinations always merit a return in more depth.
Did I forget to give you the foto link toNafplio?
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh
'Nuff Sed.
The 2-4 -2 is pretty good... just remember CAR get & return from airport (NOT in city; avoid city driving). If u rent from Budget USING the GREEK website you get the best avaiailable deals (int'tl rental agencies soak people who register as being from N. Am) ... on Budget u can use english page of greek site, pay w american credit card u still get the deal that EU people get. Go figure.http://www.budget-athens.gr/default.aspx
If you really want to rent IN athens, National Car Rental has a branch where you can pick up yr car RIGHT BY the major hi way out of town.
In Nafplio, my big fave is Hotel LETO .. up above, looking down on town and bay... Tell Mr. Tzaneto janet sent you ...next door, Pension Eleni... 100 yards away, by Parking square, Pension Ligeia. google all.
WE can't decide for YOU whether to do Paris or Greece! Make your own decisions without forcing us to persuade 1 way or other. About the idea of "saving" Greece until you have more time -- just look at this as your FIRST encounter with Greece... there is never enough time to encompass all of Greece.
I.E., I never hear of people say, let's Save London until we have time, or Let's Sve Paris -- they know that top destinations always merit a return in more depth.
Did I forget to give you the foto link toNafplio?
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh
'Nuff Sed.
Feb 4th, 2009, 04:36 PM
#26
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Thanks for the advice. We have decided to go to Paris this time around and go to Greece when we can go for a longer period of time in better weather. I'm sure we would have had fun in March but the Paris trip seemed to make more sense since we don't have much time to "prepare" for the trip either and we like to have time to really learn about a new place like Greece before we go.
