PeaceOut

Thank you! Will look at that and see if they operate in early November. Am also looking into the Peloponnese. There seem to be lots of options. We want to travel 'efficiently' and not spend too much time in transit.

brotherleelove2004

You'll have to check here to see if there is even any ferry service between Turkey and the Greek islands in November.

http://www.feribot.net/feribot/?lang=en

PeaceOut

Thanks!

Heimdall

<i>We want to travel 'efficiently' and not spend too much time in transit.</i>

That rules out travelling through Turkey to get a ferry to the Greek Islands. Your most efficient mode of travel will be to fly from Istanbul to Athens, then go from there either to islands or a mainland destination. There are only a few cruises left at the beginning of November, and frankly that's not the best way to see the islands anyway. The last on the Louis Cruises calendar leaves on Nov 4th, and goes back to Turkey. ;-) http://www.louiscruises.com/en/cruis...013/index.html

From Athens you can fly to an island (e.g. Santorini) in less than an hour. You could drive from Athens to Nafplion in about 3 hours, or take one of the frequent KTEL express buses from Kiffisos Station (Terminal A). There are also guided tours to Nafplion, Delphi, Meteora, etc, but I'm not sure of the frequency in November. My option would be to rent a car in Athens and drive to Nafplion, which is a seaside town with many nearby historic sights.

PeaceOut

Thanks, H. I looked on that last link and it didn't mention Istanbul. And you are right, we don't want to travel in Turkey to get a ferry.

Nafplion does look like a good base for us. Yes? Would we need a car to day-trip from there? We usually prefer to use public transportation, like trains.

Heimdall

You could take local buses, or perhaps find a taxi driver to take you out to the sites. A car would be more convenient, of course. The other option I mentioned was a tour with Chat, Key, or G.O. You can find their links in my post on http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-santorini.cfm

PeaceOut

We would prefer a car over a tour, so will consider our choices. If a car is not liability there, it could be the way to go. We aren't opposed to having a car, but don't want to have one if driving and parking is a nightmare, like it is in Italian cities, for instance.

neckervd

Be aware that Movember is not a very pleasant montn to visit the Greek Islands and countryside. Athens and (greater) suroundigs would be the better choice. For Mediterranean beach life (although limited) you may fly to Israel or may be Cyprus (if you are not pretentious).

PeaceOut

I realize that November is not ideal, but the books recommend September/October, and we will be there the first of November. We don't have the option to change the dates, but could change the location after Istanbul if the visit to Greece can't make sense. But I really want to do Greece!

immimi

We went to Samos at the end of October and summer was most
certainly over - most restos were closed, the beaches were
deserted and the wind was wicked! Lots of cats getting ready
to starve over the winter.

I'd consider Crete.

Heimdall

Hi PeaceOut,

You are getting too much (unhelpful) conflicting advice. If you want to go to Greece, why on earth not! The weather won't magically change overnight on the 1st of November, and you can still have some warm sunny days. One reason I suggested the mainland was that you will be less affected by the wind than on the islands, and there will be more to do in case of inclement weather. To show you what the weather will be like at the beginning of November, here is a trip planner for Corinth (no info available for Nafplion): http://www.wunderground.com/history/...atename=Greece

Scroll down the page for actual weather stats over the last several years. As you can see, it's not all doom and gloom. In fact, it will probably be more pleasant for sightseeing than in the heat of summer.

Heimdall

To add: the trip planner brought me to Elefsis, which is on the road to Corinth, just outside of Athens. There will be no significant difference in weather between there and Nafplion.

PeaceOut

Thank you, Heimdall. That's what I need to hear!

We live in Colorado, so "cold weather" in Greece won's bother us. Clear or partly sunny skies with no rain are our hope. I will look at the links for precipitation and temps. We are not sun worshippers. Cool weather is welcome so long as there is visibility.

The mainland might be best as you suggest.

We could do this:
Istanbul, 5 or 6 nights (required);
Fly to Athens, get a car (or stay in Athens overnight)
Drive to a 'home base' town (waterside) for 6 nights (Nafplion?)
Return to Athens for a night or two before flying out.

Hmmmm. Your input is very helpful in our planning.

Heimdall

Hi again,

That sounds like a good plan to me.

There are many different places you could go in Greece, and the islands are primarily a summer destination. Someone suggested going to Crete, probably because it is the most southerly island, but temperatures are actually slightly higher in the southern Peloponnese in early November than there. Nafplion is a popular weekend getaway for Athenians, probably not so much in November. Save some time for Athens before you leave Greece.

PeaceOut

Again, thank you, H. I was thinking Crete, too, because it is the most southernmost. Good to know that is not a plus, in this instance.

If we want to choose a home base in the southern Peloponnese, from which we could day-trip, but also mostly find lots to do locally on-foot-- would you choose Nafplion or another waterside town?

Athens will definitely be a two night stay, at least. Probably at the end of the trip, if we do as above.

clausar

You could split your stay between Nafplio and Kalamata, which is another nice city with much to see in the wider area.

From Nafplio you could visit Epidavros, Mycenae, Tiryns and perhaps an island like Spetses.

From Kalamata you could visit ancien Messini, the wonderful villages of Stoupa and Kardamili and Finikounda, Methoni, Koroni and Pylos.

Heimdall

I stayed near Kalamata. When we visited the huge Ancient Messeni site there were only about six other people there. The seaside villages mentioned by clausar are indeed wonderful. Here are a few photos of the Kalamata area: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heimdal...7627739427148/

PeaceOut

Thank you! Your pictures show the Greece we'd like to see: hills and waterside antiquities.

clausar, thanks for the details, also. I have some reading to do!

Heimdall

I understand the motorway has been completed all the way to Kalamata, now, so driving there by rental car would be easy.

PeaceOut

Sounds good!