My boyfriend and I will be traveling in Turkey this August, and then making our way to Santorini. We have discussed spending a few days on Rhodes, but have heard the tour groups can be maddening. As an alternative, we are considering Patmos. Any opinions would be most helpful! Thanks

A couple of years ago, when planning our way from Santorini into Turkey we were faced with the same question. We ended up deciding for Rhodes because: <BR>a) it's much better connected to Santorini (no direct means of transportation between Patmos and Santorini; we ended up flying between the islands because the ferry would take too long); <BR>b) it's better connected to Turkey (there are some 5 daily hydrofoils and the trip to Marmaris takes less than 1 hour); and <BR>c) it's "heavier" on sites to be seen <BR>We were not disapointed. We spent 3 nights there (only 2 full days because we arrived at night and left to Marmaris early in the morning the 3rd day) but could have spent a whole week. On the first full day we visited the very beautiful old town. On the second, we rented a car to visit Lindos and the west coast of the island. Though this was at mid July and the tour crowds must have been there, we hardly noticed them. <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

Thanks, Paulo. One more question: were there ferrys going between Patmos and Rhodes? I have heard that there are, and that making a day trip to Patmos is a good idea. Thanks for your help!

Well, Robyn, sort of ... During the summer high season there are daily hydrofoils between Rhodes and Patmos (depending on day of week you may have to change in Kos). Now, I estimate it'll take 4+ hours one way, meaning that if you start at 8am in Rhodes you should be ok to take off for visiting Patmos, say, around 12:30pm. Car ferries would take much longer (8+ hours). I would guess that the hydrofoils back to Rhodes depart Patmos by 4pm ... and this not necessarily every day in the week. I, for one, wouldn't like to travel 9 hours to enjoy only 3+ in Patmos (except if there's a night ferry out of Patmos, arriving in Rhodes in the early morning). I would stay for the night. <BR>Depending on where you're going in Turkey, you may have an alternative. From Kusadasi to Samos it's a piece of cake (at least 2 options each day) and there are daily hydrofoils between Samos and Patmos. You may plan to leave Kusadasi early in the morning and try to make it from Samos to Patmos in the afternoon. Spend the night and take the afternoon hydrofoil (with or without change in Kos) to Rhodes. <BR>To have an IDEA of available schedulles (don't bet your life on it) you may use the site (better if you don't fix dates, as the resulting form will inform you on the schedulles' validity): <BR>http://www.gtpnet.gr/gihform.asp <BR>Once this site doesn't show options that call for a boat change, you should play around with SAMOS, PATMOS, KOS and RODOS as origin/destination ports to get the picture. There are other sites that show ferry travel info but the summer schedulles are not out yet (they're working with current schedulles). See, for instance, <BR>http://www.greekferries.gr/domestic.htm <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>

Thanks for the websites, Paulo!

Robyn, I have a similar problem and perhaps paulo will see and respond. I want to get from Rhodes to Kusadasi. Is there a direct flight from Rhodes to K or Izmir or is it better to go to Marmaris then fly or bus. Time?? Also does anyone know if there are moped rentals outside Lindos-since one cannot drive there.

Ron, as I pointed out elsewhere, we drove from Marmaris ... Being two of the largest cities in Turkey, you may certainly fly between Marmaris and Izmir (from there you'd have to take a bus/cab back to Kusadasi). There are buses from Marmaris to Kusadasi and I would guess (wild guess) that it would take 4 to 4 1/2 hours. Buses in Turkey are exceptionally good. At the port in Marmaris I would ask to be drived to the correct otogar to get the bus to Kusadasi. <BR>To reach the Lindos site, you have to go up a hill through very narrow streets (which should be crowded in Septmeber). I don't think they allow mopeds up there. <BR>Paulo <BR> <BR>