Questions on Ferry from Bodrum to Rhodes
 

We will be going from Bodrum, Turkey to Rhodes, Greece by ferry. I read that the direct ferries are unreliable due to weather. Somewhere else I read that people take a ferry to Marmaris and then to Rhodes. I'm confused. Can someone please tell me the best, most reliable way to get from Bodrum to Rhodes and also how far in advance I should get the tickets?

Thanks!

Is there a direct ferry these days? I went from Rhodes to Kos and then from Kos to Bodrum by ferry in 2006.

We had to go through Marmaris to get to Rhodes. I don't think there is a direct ferry from Bodrum. Marmaris, as I remember, is about two+ hours from Bodrum.

@WWK was that by ferry or bus?

It really depends on when you plan to travel. During the Winter the Bodrum-Rhodes, Fethiye-Rhodes and Kusadasi-Samos lines will be interrupted. The other lines will be operated at least twice a week.

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

I think the Bodrum-Kos-Rhodes route might be the best.
Bodrum-Kos - http://www.bodrumferibot.com/en/calendar.asp
Kos-Rhodes - http://www.12ne.gr/en/itin_search.asp?pageID=135

The ferries from Marmaris depart in the morning - http://www.marmarisferry.com/program_en.php
Bodrum-Marmaris bus - http://marmariskoop.com/seferler.php

We will be traveling on May 31. I thought I saw a SeaLines ferry yesterday but today I see it is on June 1, I must have been mistaken. So if I do see it again, is that route reliable at this time of year? I also read the passport control lines are terrible. Are there lines leaving Turkey or entering Greece or both? How soon should I be at the ferry prior to departure?

Croesus, thanks for the link. Kos may be the way to go if the direct ferry doesn't run on Sat.

We took this trip two years ago. Drove Bodrum-Marmaris with family friends. The passport control was much longer in Greece than in Turkey. I don't know if that's changed.

I think if I were doing that route, I would try for one of the 06:35 Blue Star ferries that go from Kos to Rhodes 3 times a week.
http://www.bluestarferries.com/site/...?sel=624&loc=2

I'm guessing there's a decent restaurant/bar on board. I'm not really a fan of fast catamarans and hydrofoils.

See their ships - http://www.bluestarferries.com/site/...?sel=641&loc=2

Much more civilised. I see the Diagoras which runs that route has an "Open Deck Bar".

In fact there are 6 Kos-Rhodes ferries per week with them, all departing quite early in the morning.