My husband and I are travelling to Greece and Cyprus end-April for 3 weeks. Our schedule so far is:<BR><BR>Santorini for 4 nights (flying),<BR>Delphi for 3 nights(bus or taxi from Athens),<BR>Nafplio for 3 nights(bus from Athens?),<BR>fly off to Cyprus for 6 nights (meeting in-laws),<BR>back to Athens for 4 nights (day trip to Cape Sounion). <BR><BR>We won't be renting a car and will probably be taking buses or taxis. Here are some of my questions:<BR><BR>1)Cld anyone advise how I can get to Delphi and then to Nafplio in the shortest, most convenient time? i.e. do I need to go back to Athens to catch the bus to Nafplio? <BR><BR>2)Or shd we do Nafplio first,then Delphi?<BR><BR>3)How much will a taxi cost for a ride from Athens to Delphi? <BR><BR>4)Between Lava Oia's and Volcano Villas, which is a better choice in Oia? Wld we need to make reservations for Delphi and Nafplio. We wld like abit of flexibility and not be too tied down by our advance hotel bookings.<BR><BR>5)Any suggestions to alternative itineary? e.g going up to Meteroa after Delphi, etc. <BR><BR>Thanks and any input wld be welcome!Looking forward to them!<BR><BR>

Reminds me of a song by Afroman, 'back on the bus.'<BR>Delphi and Nafplio and both a long way from Athens. Delphi is a solid 2.5 hours one way and Nafplio is at least 3.5 one way. I would not want to sit on a Greek bus for that long on either of those jaunts. Rent a car and get the routing at www.viamichelin.com I have done both trips and driven myself...

We stayed at the Nafsimedeon Hotel in Nauplio(n). Nice place to stay, it is in a old mansion right next to the park.<BR>The lady at the desk spoke good english and arranged a taxi for us to take us back to Athens. It was reasonable, (and had seatbelts) I think around $50 to $60 for two of us. The trip took us around three hours, most of it in Athens nightmare traffic. Taxis can also take you to Delphi. <BR><BR>We rented a car in Nauplio to get around, but it was expensive. I would take more taxis.

ML, I question your decision to spend three nights in Delphi unless you are planning on doing some hiking in the area. Delphi can certainly be done as a day trip from Athens either with a private car and driver (about $120US) or on a bus tour (arranged through your hotel or at a travel agency). Once you have seen the ruins at Delphi there really is not allot more to do in the area. I would suggest adding to your time on the Peleponnese (Nafplio) or as you suggested heading up to Meteoria for a few days.

Rita, the thing with going up to Meteroa is that it wld be a long journey down to Nafplio. Is there a shorter way to get to Nafplio? <BR><BR>dsc/fh, taxis it is then. I agree buses wld take forever to reach my destinations. Can anybody recommend a reliable taxi service for the Athens-Delphi journey? George the Driver is quoting US$180. Is that the normal rate?<BR><BR>

Why won't you just rent a car and make it easier. It is not too bad driving even from Athens. We did it. For two weeks from Hertz we paid US $549 with auto transmition. All taxes and insurance including. We payed additional $ for a second driver

I agree with Harry, rent a car. If you are that interested in seeing Greece outside of the islands then a car would make things allot easier.<BR><BR>If you want to see Meteoria, Delphi, and Napflio then I would use this itinerary. Head north from Athens to Meteoria and then south to Delphi. Cross the Gulf of Corinth on a ferry and then head to Napflio and finally back into Athens.<BR><BR>I've been to Napflio and need to ask . . . what are you wanting to do there? It is a nice town and definately worth a short stay but heading south on the Peleponnese to see Monemvasia is also worth a trip.<BR>

Two bits of advice from a seasoned traveller to Greece:<BR>1. if you have a taxi for the duration, go from Delphi to Nafplion via the Rio-Antirio ferry crossing, or the Agios nikolaos - Egion crossing if times suit. Former go every 10 inutes and take 15 minutes. Latter go every few hours and take 45 minutes. Avoids going back thru Athens - and makes a nice loop. You could stop at Diakofto (near Patras) and do the rack and pinion railway to Kalavrita if you have time - a stunning trip up a narrow gorge. Driver could meet you at Kalavrita.<BR>Don't try and squeeze Meteora in. Take more time in Nafplion. This - and other itineraries - is described on <BR>www.i-escape.com, click Greece then Peloponnese<BR>2. Try taxi driver Mr Kranidiotis in Athens, tel 010 9239083, very reliable, speaks a little English, father of a friend of mine, Konstantina.<BR>3. Also recommend Nafsimedon in Nafplion. This may also be on i-escape, not sure.<BR>Good luck!

Thanks Michael. That is really very handy info!Will call Mr Kranidiotis, hope he understands me!<BR><BR>Rita, what will I do in Nafplio? Well, just wander around, take in the sights, flop around and vegetate. My husband and I really go on veg mode when we're on holiday, don't like the rush, rush feeling you get when you join a tour grp or try to take in too many places at one go. Wld make me want to take a holiday from my holiday when I return home!<BR><BR>We find driving in a foreign country and on the wrong side of the road stressful. We took taxis when we were in Spain and really enjoyed the luxury of being able to take in the scenery as we are driven. Well, to each its own. I suppose most people prefer the flexibilty of renting a car.<BR>Thanks again for yr advice. And Harry, you too! <BR>

Nauplio is a wonderful place to go. I want to go back to the Peloponnese and stay a while. <BR><BR>The town is easy to walk around in. The Castle is absolutly beautiful lit at night, and fun to climb around in. <BR>Do take thick soled shoes with good traction. The worn stone steps are slippery.<BR><BR>Do rent a car in Nauplio for a day or two in Nauplio to get to the sites around the area. Driving in rural greece is really not too bad. (Totally avoid driving in Athens! It's insane!)<BR><BR>Driving in Greece is on the right side of the road, and most of the signage is similar to the USA. <BR><BR>Don't expect any information from the Nauplion City tourist office. Rude people and NO information about the area. Rely on the hotel front desk staff who are helpful.<BR><BR>It took us around three hours to get from Athens to Nauplion on the modern highway (most of it was in Athens traffic). Another option to get to or from, Naplion is by hydrofoil through the local local islands. You do need to take a taxi ride from Nauplio south to Porto Heli. The hydrofoil is cheap, relaxing and fast. Do not waste any time on Hydra. TOURIST TRAP!<BR><BR>One thing that surprised me is that outside of Athens, you do not flush the toilet paper. You put it in the container provided. Also, take a washcloth. Outside of the luxury hotels in Athens, they are not provided.<BR><BR><BR>

eb - what makes you think that driving on the right and having similar signs to the USA would be of any comfort to ML? This is the world wide web after all and not quite everyone who posts here is from the USA. From her use of the word holiday, rather than the American term, vacation, I would guess that ML is from either the UK or Ireland, in which case the right side would most definitely be the wrong side!<BR><BR>The reason that you don't flush toilet paper in Greece btw, is because their plumbing is narrower than in most other countries and you can get a nasty blow-back situation if you try and flush too much at a time. Since this is mentioned in just about every guide or forum on Greece I've ever seen, I'm amazed that it came as a surprise to you!

well, I flushed the TP down the toilet every time there and NEVER had a problem!<BR><BR>Maybe this is some Greek urban legend that has gotten a life of it's own over the years, and now is considered a "true fact".<BR><BR>It might be a problem in bathrooms that date from the 50s or 60s, but it was not in any hotel or restaurant I went to (2000).

No, it's still true today. The standard diameter of Greek soil pipes is about 3 inches, as opposed to 6 inches in most other countries. Obviously, this is wide enough to take a certain amount of, shall we say, solid matter, but if you try and flush reams of paper, or the sort of non-biodegradable, impregnated wipes that some people use, then you are asking for trouble. Basically, a little common sense is called for. If you don't believe me, try doing a Google search on Greek plumbing.

The plumbing situation referred to above is definitely NOT an urban myth. I was just in Greece last year and found it to be quite true. Although we were unaware of the 'no-flushing rule' in Athens and Mykonos, it was brought to our attention in Santorini--first by the clerk showing us to our (4 star) hotel room, and many times over, by signs posted in various restrooms. Remembering not to flush is a very hard habit to break!

I never had any TP problems.

3DAYS ARE TOO MUCH FOR DELPHI.<BR><BR>I had been to Greece last April. The day we decided to drive down to Delphi, there were stormy winds.The cars sway from their tracks on the highway.<BR>Bus is very convinient.Go to the point of its origin. We went by the 1st bus in the morn. at 6.30 or 7. Came back by afternoon bus.Last bus back to Athens is at 3.30 pm.<BR>3 DAYS ARE TOO MUCH AT DELPHI. You may do a day trip from Athens or stay for max. 1 day.<BR>NAPFLIO IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TOWN IN MAINLAND GREECE.Stay for 2 days, then hire a car & see Epidaurus, Mycenae as day trips. Go to Mystra and Monemvassia. They will be much more rewarding. PELOPONESE area needs around a week. You may decide to see Olympia. <BR>I think you can go to Galaxidi, a pretty coastal town; from Delphi & then cross the Gulf of Corinth by ferry to procced to Olympia or Peloponese.<BR>Check about the port of crossing.<BR>Rest of your programme is perfect.Athens-Sounio could be 3 days.<BR>All the best.

Hi everybody, slight change of plans now. We've decided to take a 3 day packaged tour to Delphi and Meteora. It costs 270 euros p/p (first class hotel, I was told)from Dilos. All the packages offered by the travel agents seem rather similar,I hope I made the right choice by going with Dilos. Has anybody been on such tours and what are yr comments?