Starting to Plan a trip to Greece - a few questions
Nov 22nd, 2008, 05:46 AM
#21
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Good news for travelers between Santorini and Rhodes! Blue Star has announced three ferries per week both directions for the coming season. See: http://www.danae.gr/news.asp?id=171
Nov 22nd, 2008, 07:33 AM
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ALice, heimdall REALLY has good news for you!! It looks as if the Ferry companies -- at least Blue Star, which is probably THE most reliable one -- are looking beyond the needs of Greek residents-only, to the interests of the nation's biggest current source of revenue, its tourists.
This ONE move will make your original thoughts about Naxos Santorini, Rhodes VERY feasible. Rhodes is MUCH more do-able than Crete as a short stay with a 2-week tour.
YOur timing idea of first 2 weeks of June is GREAT. As for itinerary, you now have several options. I would suggest:
RHODES (3 days) Fly there immediately on arrival. 1 day for Old Town, 1 day island-exploring, a wrap-up day, then off at Midnight to Santorini, arrive 7:40 (cabin=your hotel for nite)
SANTORINI (2 days) mid-morning on day#3 take "regular ferry" to Naxos (deck lets u see caldera view)
NAXOS (3-4 days): your big Beach, Hike, Antiquities time. To get to Athens (5-hr ferry) w.o. cutting up a whole day, take 6-11:30pm ferry.
ATHENS (3+ days)Seeing Athens at the last saves extra trip to/from ports; ALSO, by then you're more attuned to Greek culture, history, more adept at getting around, site-seeing etc. PLUS if there's any delay you don't risk being stranded on an island and missing your internationa flight.
This ONE move will make your original thoughts about Naxos Santorini, Rhodes VERY feasible. Rhodes is MUCH more do-able than Crete as a short stay with a 2-week tour.
YOur timing idea of first 2 weeks of June is GREAT. As for itinerary, you now have several options. I would suggest:
RHODES (3 days) Fly there immediately on arrival. 1 day for Old Town, 1 day island-exploring, a wrap-up day, then off at Midnight to Santorini, arrive 7:40 (cabin=your hotel for nite)
SANTORINI (2 days) mid-morning on day#3 take "regular ferry" to Naxos (deck lets u see caldera view)
NAXOS (3-4 days): your big Beach, Hike, Antiquities time. To get to Athens (5-hr ferry) w.o. cutting up a whole day, take 6-11:30pm ferry.
ATHENS (3+ days)Seeing Athens at the last saves extra trip to/from ports; ALSO, by then you're more attuned to Greek culture, history, more adept at getting around, site-seeing etc. PLUS if there's any delay you don't risk being stranded on an island and missing your internationa flight.
Nov 28th, 2008, 05:09 AM
#23
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Well, I hadn't checked this thread for a few days, what with getting ready for the holiday, and what good news I see! Heimdall has made my day with the news about the ferry. And travelerjan has good suggestions for the itinerary. I see this trip is coming together.
I guess the next thing is to map out some dates and look for airfare (I always do that first - sometimes a day one way or the other can make a big difference in price). Any advice on when to book? Is it too early? I tend to wait until after the first of the year.
Once that's in place, I can start looking at ferry schedules, and hotels. I'm sure you will hear back from me when I get to that phase!
Again, thanks SO much, you all are so helpful.
Alice
I guess the next thing is to map out some dates and look for airfare (I always do that first - sometimes a day one way or the other can make a big difference in price). Any advice on when to book? Is it too early? I tend to wait until after the first of the year.
Once that's in place, I can start looking at ferry schedules, and hotels. I'm sure you will hear back from me when I get to that phase!
Again, thanks SO much, you all are so helpful.
Alice
Nov 28th, 2008, 05:29 AM
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ALice, I don't know where exactly you're coming from, and that affects advice about flights. Here are some thoughts:
-- Right now may be a good time to check ... oil prices have dropped, the $/€ has not gone back up too much, who knows what the future holds?? I did use to wait until Jan-Feb, but I bought this month.
-- If you are planning the time-efficient route I suggested, or some variation, it means catching a "bargain" domestic flight out, immediately on arrival. To be safe on a connection, it's good to have 2 hours between international arrival, and takeoff of domestic flight. Typically there's a flight in early afternoon and then not one until 7 pm or so Thus, to get the earlier flight, it's wise to arrive by noon or before.
-- I would advise checking a multi-search engine such as Kayak or Mobissimus (which search 100s of sources). On Mobissimus you can "sort" by price, OR departure time OR arrival time OR airline.
-- My approach: putting in my dates & city, I sort by arrival time, and see what is available in the 9 am- 12 am window. I check the airline(s) in that time-frame an identify the 1 I hope for, usually too expensive.
-- Then I check back every day sorting by that airline. Usually price changes/drops come on Wed or Thurs. When u see a drop, pounce.
-- Right now may be a good time to check ... oil prices have dropped, the $/€ has not gone back up too much, who knows what the future holds?? I did use to wait until Jan-Feb, but I bought this month.
-- If you are planning the time-efficient route I suggested, or some variation, it means catching a "bargain" domestic flight out, immediately on arrival. To be safe on a connection, it's good to have 2 hours between international arrival, and takeoff of domestic flight. Typically there's a flight in early afternoon and then not one until 7 pm or so Thus, to get the earlier flight, it's wise to arrive by noon or before.
-- I would advise checking a multi-search engine such as Kayak or Mobissimus (which search 100s of sources). On Mobissimus you can "sort" by price, OR departure time OR arrival time OR airline.
-- My approach: putting in my dates & city, I sort by arrival time, and see what is available in the 9 am- 12 am window. I check the airline(s) in that time-frame an identify the 1 I hope for, usually too expensive.
-- Then I check back every day sorting by that airline. Usually price changes/drops come on Wed or Thurs. When u see a drop, pounce.
Nov 30th, 2008, 07:08 AM
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Thanks, travelerjan, I will start looking now. I've used Kayak but not Mobissimus, I'll have to check that one out. I frequently book through Cheap Tickets. I hadn't thought about current oil prices, good point. So I need to get my date possibilities in order right away.
I was looking at holidays during the period we want to travel and I see that June 8 is Holy Spirit Monday - is everything closed that day? Is that a good day to travel (ferry) because most other things are closed? Or are the ferries closed too?
AND Mimar - what is ttt? I see that periodically when I read the forums? What does that mean, why do you do it, and HOW do you do it?
Thanks,
Alice
I was looking at holidays during the period we want to travel and I see that June 8 is Holy Spirit Monday - is everything closed that day? Is that a good day to travel (ferry) because most other things are closed? Or are the ferries closed too?
AND Mimar - what is ttt? I see that periodically when I read the forums? What does that mean, why do you do it, and HOW do you do it?
Thanks,
Alice
Nov 30th, 2008, 12:44 PM
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Alice, there are codes used by a number of Fodorites that they never explain, you just have to catch on. Personally, I shy away from them, because it tends to make newcomers feel out of the loop, as I did for all too long ... there should be a "read this first."
TTT = "to the top." It means when someone adds to a thread, it makes it go to the top of the message list, and keeps it from falling into the great maw of old Threads. Sometimes people just say "topping." If I should ever do it, I would say, "I'm adding to this thread, so that it will go back up to the top and more people will see it." I find that to be more courteous for new readers.
Other expressions which can be puzzling, are very often in trip reports. I find them cutesy in the extreme. They are most often perpetrated by female Fodorites. They include:
DH = Dear Husband
DD = Dear Daughter
DS = Dear Son ... and even, god help us,
DDIL and DSIL.
-- once I even saw DSO (Dear Significant Other??
Interestingly male fodorites never nickname their spouses DW. It's just "Helen" or maybe "Mrs. B". And nobody seems to say DM for Dear Mother; they find it easy enough to just say Mom.
Another thing is GTG. = Get-Together. I'm all for this kind of jolly meeting. It's just the unexplained abbreviation that gives me pause.
TTT = "to the top." It means when someone adds to a thread, it makes it go to the top of the message list, and keeps it from falling into the great maw of old Threads. Sometimes people just say "topping." If I should ever do it, I would say, "I'm adding to this thread, so that it will go back up to the top and more people will see it." I find that to be more courteous for new readers.
Other expressions which can be puzzling, are very often in trip reports. I find them cutesy in the extreme. They are most often perpetrated by female Fodorites. They include:
DH = Dear Husband
DD = Dear Daughter
DS = Dear Son ... and even, god help us,
DDIL and DSIL.
-- once I even saw DSO (Dear Significant Other??
Interestingly male fodorites never nickname their spouses DW. It's just "Helen" or maybe "Mrs. B". And nobody seems to say DM for Dear Mother; they find it easy enough to just say Mom.
Another thing is GTG. = Get-Together. I'm all for this kind of jolly meeting. It's just the unexplained abbreviation that gives me pause.
Dec 1st, 2008, 04:50 AM
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TravelerJan,
Hi and thanks for the explanation of the "codes" I did guess correctly what they meant, but came up with other translations (some 4 letters..) for the "D" part. I thought it was some kind of texting thing but, dare I say it, I don't own a cell phone! Off subject sorry
Back to Greece planning (again!)
Carla
Hi and thanks for the explanation of the "codes" I did guess correctly what they meant, but came up with other translations (some 4 letters..) for the "D" part. I thought it was some kind of texting thing but, dare I say it, I don't own a cell phone! Off subject sorry
Back to Greece planning (again!)
Carla
Jan 14th, 2009, 05:28 PM
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Alice9 - I'm currently planning a June trip for DH and myself, and was considering of all places Rhodes, Santorini and Naxos! Of course I'm interested in Chios and would love to work in Ephesus, but there's always more to do than time for on a first trip! Anyway, would love to correspond directly with you re: trip plans since it seems we are kindred spirits. Interested?
and myself, and was considering of all places Rhodes, Santorini and Naxos! Of course I'm interested in Chios and would love to work in Ephesus, but there's always more to do than time for on a first trip! Anyway, would love to correspond directly with you re: trip plans since it seems we are kindred spirits. Interested?
Jan 15th, 2009, 12:28 AM
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>>I was looking at holidays during the period we want to travel and I see that June 8 is Holy Spirit Monday - is everything closed that day? Is that a good day to travel (ferry) because most other things are closed? Or are the ferries closed too?<<
I'm usually on the islands on Holy Spirit Monday, and hardly anything that affects tourists is closed except museums and ancient sites (most museums close every Monday anyway). All the ferries will be operating.
The entire Pentacost weekend is busy, particularly islands popular with Athenians, e.g. Mykonos. Ferries leaving for the islands at the beginning of the weekend, and those returning to the mainland on Monday, are heavily booked.
I'm usually on the islands on Holy Spirit Monday, and hardly anything that affects tourists is closed except museums and ancient sites (most museums close every Monday anyway). All the ferries will be operating.
The entire Pentacost weekend is busy, particularly islands popular with Athenians, e.g. Mykonos. Ferries leaving for the islands at the beginning of the weekend, and those returning to the mainland on Monday, are heavily booked.
Jan 18th, 2009, 05:26 AM
#32
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So Pentecost weekend is the one leading up to Holy Spirit Monday? I was thinking of traveling on that Monday, arriving on Tuesday to avoid that weekend entirely. Sounds like a safe bet.
I'm still doing my daily airfare check ready to pounce if something good comes up. The recommendation to fly direct from the US could be an impediment. I'm seeing better fares from some European Airlines, with stops in Zurich or somewhere else in Europe. Does it make that much of a difference if I go nonstop from New York or Philly rather than from a European city?
ALso, I'm pretty sure I'm right, but in June there should be daily ferries from Santorini to Naxos, is that right? I looked at the ferry schedules which are a little cryptic, but that seemed right.
And Aegean flies several times a day from Athens to Santorini, so if I get to Athens in the morning, I feel like I should be fine flying to Santorini in the afternoon, even with a possible delay.
Alice
I'm still doing my daily airfare check ready to pounce if something good comes up. The recommendation to fly direct from the US could be an impediment. I'm seeing better fares from some European Airlines, with stops in Zurich or somewhere else in Europe. Does it make that much of a difference if I go nonstop from New York or Philly rather than from a European city?
ALso, I'm pretty sure I'm right, but in June there should be daily ferries from Santorini to Naxos, is that right? I looked at the ferry schedules which are a little cryptic, but that seemed right.
And Aegean flies several times a day from Athens to Santorini, so if I get to Athens in the morning, I feel like I should be fine flying to Santorini in the afternoon, even with a possible delay.
Alice
Jan 18th, 2009, 05:49 AM
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Hi Alice,
If you are travelling <i>out</i> to the islands on Mon, most of the traffic will be heading <i>back</i> to Athens, so you will have no problem with ferry or hotel bookings.
There are daily ferries 12 months of the year from Santorini to Naxos.
If you are travelling <i>out</i> to the islands on Mon, most of the traffic will be heading <i>back</i> to Athens, so you will have no problem with ferry or hotel bookings.
There are daily ferries 12 months of the year from Santorini to Naxos.
Jan 18th, 2009, 06:11 AM
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Hi Alice,
The islands you will be visiting are good ones.
Personally I both Like Crete and Rhodos both offers different values.
Rhodos, Kos, Samos, Chios are the islands having frequent ferries to Turkey and a combo could be interesting.
During my travels in Greece ( I have a lot more complicated itineraries within limited time due to business ) I trust to use services of Travel agents and in times when a ferry or plane cancelled I am learning the first and have possibility to re-schedule easier. Ofcourse it is a choice to make. Have a great time
Murat
The islands you will be visiting are good ones.
Personally I both Like Crete and Rhodos both offers different values.
Rhodos, Kos, Samos, Chios are the islands having frequent ferries to Turkey and a combo could be interesting.
During my travels in Greece ( I have a lot more complicated itineraries within limited time due to business ) I trust to use services of Travel agents and in times when a ferry or plane cancelled I am learning the first and have possibility to re-schedule easier. Ofcourse it is a choice to make. Have a great time
Murat
Jan 18th, 2009, 12:32 PM
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Alice, choices involve time or money. If you save money on your transatlantic flight, you may have to pay a bit more for your Aegean flight.
Why is that? Because nonstops from Eastern US all leave the East coast from 4:30- 6pm and arrive in the morning between 9-10:30. If you decide on a cheaper option, which changes in Frankfurt, Paris, etc, most of those flights do not arrive until about 2 pm or later
You need about 2 hours between your international arrival, and the domestic flight departure (less, if you do carry-on & do not have to wait at luggage claim).. The domestic flight closes 45-60 mins before takeoff.
I checked Jun 9 for Aegean flights to Santorini. Their 2 flights after noon are 16:15 (3:15) and 19:20 (7:20). the first one costs €99.48, the 2nd is €114.48.
There is also a flight at 10:50 am at €54,48 ( a limited # of seats).
Those are your choices -- you can keep them in mind while looking for a transatlantic flight.
Why is that? Because nonstops from Eastern US all leave the East coast from 4:30- 6pm and arrive in the morning between 9-10:30. If you decide on a cheaper option, which changes in Frankfurt, Paris, etc, most of those flights do not arrive until about 2 pm or later
You need about 2 hours between your international arrival, and the domestic flight departure (less, if you do carry-on & do not have to wait at luggage claim).. The domestic flight closes 45-60 mins before takeoff.
I checked Jun 9 for Aegean flights to Santorini. Their 2 flights after noon are 16:15 (3:15) and 19:20 (7:20). the first one costs €99.48, the 2nd is €114.48.
There is also a flight at 10:50 am at €54,48 ( a limited # of seats).
Those are your choices -- you can keep them in mind while looking for a transatlantic flight.
Jan 18th, 2009, 12:44 PM
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Hi Alice,
We are going to Greece in June also and I just bought our airfare from Economytravel.com.
We are flying from Des Moines Iowa to Athens and then home from Rome to Des Moines.
We paid $1530.00 per ticket including taxes. I have been watching and waiting for fares to go down. Originally, prices were about 1750.00 for my tickets, so when they dropped, I purchased.
Economytravel.com may have some less expensive tickets for your route also.
Have a great time!
Laurie
We are going to Greece in June also and I just bought our airfare from Economytravel.com.
We are flying from Des Moines Iowa to Athens and then home from Rome to Des Moines.
We paid $1530.00 per ticket including taxes. I have been watching and waiting for fares to go down. Originally, prices were about 1750.00 for my tickets, so when they dropped, I purchased.
Economytravel.com may have some less expensive tickets for your route also.
Have a great time!
Laurie
Jan 18th, 2009, 02:04 PM
#37
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Thanks, travelerjan, I HAVE noticed that the US-Athens flights arrive earlier in the day than the Europe-Athens flights. And earlier gives me more leeway for catching a flight to Santorini.
And Laurie, I will definitely check out your website for airfare.
At some point (as always) I will decide airfare is what it is and just book. I'm just not at that point yet!
Alice
And Laurie, I will definitely check out your website for airfare.
At some point (as always) I will decide airfare is what it is and just book. I'm just not at that point yet!
Alice
Jan 18th, 2009, 06:08 PM
#38
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Alice, in all your requests for advice about getting a good transatlantic fare, you have NOT shared where you live, and unless we know that we cannot judge what would be a good fare for you. To get the best advice, you need to share more, and be more specific.
Jan 19th, 2009, 11:59 AM
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You're right, travelerjan, I should have given more information. We're in the Washington DC area, the Maryland suburbs. We have 3 local airports, Dulles, National, and BWI. Philadelphia is a few hours away.
Dulles and BWI are both international airports. And we'll use whatever airport gets us the best rates.
Alice
ps It took me a while to post a reply, Fodors has really been having problems with their logins.
Dulles and BWI are both international airports. And we'll use whatever airport gets us the best rates.
Alice
ps It took me a while to post a reply, Fodors has really been having problems with their logins.
Jan 19th, 2009, 02:31 PM
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You got THAT right, Alice! Glad to hear I'm not the only one who is being treated like a stranger by the Fodor software. I've been posting on this forum for FOUR years, and as of this week, Fodor's pretended it didn't KNOW me ... kept popping up that log-in form. And -- altho one checks off the box "remember me on this computer", nooooo it doesn't.
Do you suppose this is a purposeful glitch by a (Bush loyalist) employee, like those departing Clinton workers who disabled the"W" on White House keyboards??
Do you suppose this is a purposeful glitch by a (Bush loyalist) employee, like those departing Clinton workers who disabled the"W" on White House keyboards??
