fax13

Seeking advice with schedule/transportation and hotels.
I am planning my honeymoon from May 29th to June 10th in the greek islands

1 night in Athens; 3 nights in Mykonos (Belvedre); 3 nights in Santorini (Katikies); 4 nights in Crete (Blue Palace Resort & Spa).
What is the best way to travel to the islands from athens and between the isalnds?

I am thinking of a flight to mykonos, hydrofoil to Santorini, hydrofoil to Crete and flight back to Athens.

Any suggestions?

brotherleelove2004

Your transportation ideas are good. You could also take the fast boat from Rafina (very close to Athens) to Mykonos and the Flying Dolphin the rest of the way to Crete with stops at Santorini and/or Naxos, Paros and Ios. You can also take a ferry back to Crete, but flying is so much faster.

fax13

thank you for the advice. Can you suggest a ferry or hydrofoil company(website) and is Aegean air the best interisland flight co? Also by departure is out of Athens on Friday june 10 at 12:00pm.... Can I leave crete on the morining of the 10th and make my 12:00 flight?

brotherleelove2004

The Hellas Flying Dolphin travels between Crete and Mykonos.

http://www.greekislands.gr/hfd/

The website below is a bit more comprehensive once you learn to navigate it.

http://www.gtp.gr/

Lately it's been reported that Aegean is more reliable than Olympic, although I personally haven't had much problem with Olympic aside from one delay. I have heard about lost baggage, however. Flying to/from Crete and Mykonos you have the choice of either


The schedules on the websites above are only good until March 31. You'll have to keep checking back until the summer schedules are published.

Aegean has two morning flights out of Heraklion and one out of Chania that will get you back to Athens in plenty of time for your 12:00 flight.

Olympic also has one from Chania and two from Heraklion, all in the morning.

It's my observation that Aegean is significantly less expensive.

Keep in mind that if your plans change and you decide you want to fly from one island to another, you'll be paying for two separate flights because all interisland flights backtrack to Athens for a plane change.

fax13

thank you for the advice... it is a big help... any suggestions on restaurants in the islands? ANy suggestion on a nice hotel in athens for my 1st night, Only in athens for one day and night.

brotherleelove2004

Top of the line would be the Grand Bretagne, but if you're on a tight budget the Attalos Hotel is well situated near the Plaka and has a nice rooftop lounge for viewing the Acropolis.

On Santorini there are so many restaurants of quality it's hard to make a recommendation. I'll focus on my favorite village of Oia, where I'll be staying in May-June. Try the "1800," the Oia Cafe-Restaurant, the Skala or the Ambrosia. If you want authentic Greek food in a restaurant the Greeks go to, try the Poseidon right next to the main square.

fax13

Do you have a recomendation on these two hotels in Mykonos.....Kivotos club v. Belverde....

brotherleelove2004

Sorry, no. I've never been to Mykonos.

fax13

how about Hotels in Crete... Elounda beach villa v. Blue Palace Spa nd resort....

brotherleelove2004

Again, sorry. My experience of hotels on Crete is many years old and is limited to Heraklion, Agia Galini and Matala, and I don't even remember the names.

EWCJMU

I'm happy to weigh in on the Blue Palace. My wife and I stayed there this past September and can't wait to go back. The rooms are large and luxurious (although most, but not all, have the de rigeur plunge pool -- be sure to get one if that's important to you), staff is great, location is great. We only ate breakfast there, but it was very good. Truly a first class place. To be honest, I was somewhat concerned about staying there because I had heard some negative things about the resort on other forums, but our experience there was fantastic.

We did drive by the Elounda Beach Villas and that property did not look as nice. We didn't go in, however, and did hear good things about it.