Hey there everyone, I am a newbie traveler of the world and had a quick question to anyone that could answer it. I am looking for a cheap way to get from Italy to Greece and then back from Greece to just about anywhere in Western Europe (ie France, Spain, Amsterdam, England, ect). I would figure a boat ride from Southern Italy to Greece and then a Train back. Is that feasible? Anyone that could give any suggestions to the matter, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks a bunch. Peace.

Check out this site: www.ferries.gr

Please do not discount air travel. Sometimes you can find less expensive flights than train or ferry. Don't know if they have flights in this region, but try EasyJet, or Go. They are basic, but they get you there, and more quickly than other options. (Any other suggestions from Fodorites?)

www.europebyair.com flies from Athens to/from several cities, including Milan, starting at $99.

My girlfriend and I took the boat from Brindisi to Patras (17 hours), then train to Athens (can't remember, but it was the slow train, no ac, and completely jammed), then boat to the greek islands. To save time we flew back to Brussels from Athen for $80.00 USD oneway..........just an fyi. Carey

Train from Greece to Italy is a good way to learn the intricacies of how difficult it is to find rail travel info for transportation through the Balkans - - especially on a site like www.raileurope.com. Sally Fowler surely knows all about this (I do NOT, from personal experience) - - and it CAN be done - - but would surely take a week (almost all of that on a train) - - going from Athens to Thessaloniki, through Sofia, Bucharest and Budapest. Note that I ruled out going through Skopje (Macedonia) and then on up through Belgrade; they are fighting a war, there, you know. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Two years ago, we got extremely cheap flights from Santorini to Athens to Rome through travelocity.com. You may want to check it out.