Message: We're going the first half of June and have our sights set on:<BR>1) Athens (1 day)<BR>2) Fly to Santorini (4 days)<BR>3) Ferry to Naxos (3 days)<BR>4) Day trip to Mykonos/Delos<BR>4) Ferry to Paros (3 days)<BR>5) Ferry back to Santorini; stay extra day or fly back to Athens<BR>6) Overnight Athens airport hotel<BR>7) Fly to Istanbul in the a.m.<BR>8) Istanbul (4 days)<BR>9) Fly to Cappadocia (3 days)<BR>10) Fly back to Istanbul (1 day)<BR>11) Fly to Athens (1 night) and back home<BR><BR>We've only booked our flight from JFK to Athens on CrossAir ($650) and reserved first night accommodation in Athens. I'll reserve flight to Santorini via Aegean Airlines but since we are flexible, should we reserve a roundtrip from Santorini or take a one-way ticket and figure the rest out? Does it make sense to ferry back to Santorini just to catch a flight? As I said we are completely flexible although we would like to stick with the above itinerary.<BR><BR>Can anyone please comment? Many thanks!!!!<BR><BR>

You might be taking a bit of a chance if you try to book at the last minute. If it is windy, flights and ferries are cancelled, then it is really hard to get on the next flight because of the backlog. This apparently happens a lot, especially in summer. The planes will go when the ferries don't but even the planes are grounded sometimes.<BR><BR>That being said, last May we planned a similar trip except we had planned ferries and buses. We wound up being in Athens for almost three days (two too many!) waiting for the ferries to run, then took the ferry trip from hell to Santorini. We boarded at noon and arrived the next morning at 6 am with no taxis waiting.<BR><BR>We then said to heck with ferries and looked to see where we could fly, and flew to Rhodes rather than our planned Mykonos-Samos-Kusadasi. However, the planes did not fly out of Santorini for two days. Fortunately we had booked the third day!<BR><BR>Rhodes is great. Think about swapping it for Paros and Mykonos. Then we took a high-speed catamaran (one hour) to Marmaris and flew from there to Istanbul, then flew to Cappadocia and back. We booked all our flights two days before maximum. May is less busy than June though.

Save yourself some time & $ by taking the ferry from Naxos/Paros to Samos to Kusadasi/Ephusus & fly from Izmir to Istanbul $115pp on Turkish Air

Jerald, how long is the trip from Paros/Naxos to Samos? Thanks

Jo Jo, It is very confusing, it looks like 5.5 to 6 hrs. Check your dates with www.gtp.gr under transportation & domestic sea schedules. MC lines has one listed @ about 3hrs from Naxos beginning 6/21

You can surely visit us when you are in Cappadocia, join us for a dinner or a drink. If you need professional & non commercial assistance on your itinerary pls. do not hesitate to contact us.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Murat & Pinar

When we flew from Atehns to Santorini via Olympia airlines, we were on the left side of the plane, which gave us a fntastic view of all of Santorinia and the remaining volcanic caldera "islands" circling the caldera, and the very steep cliffs of Santorini with the steps and mules climbing up the side. If all planes fly the same way, it is well worth sitting on the left side to see this awesome view.

Dear JOJO,<BR>I can help you for Turkish Part, domestic flight is 85$ for one way in turkey and you can reserve before you come, becouse it may be full. For istanbul and cappadocia i can arrenge very resenable and comfertable package for you.(hotels, tours and flights) Just visit my site and send me an e-mail: www.turkeyhotelsandtours.com<BR><BR>Hope to see you in our country.<BR>Regards<BR>Erdal