lorib1

We leave for Greece in 4 weeks! Here is our itinerary:

Athens - 3 nts - Hotel Grande Bretagne
Chania, Crete - 3nts - Ammos Hotel
Heraklion, Crete - 1nt - Hotel GDM Megaron
Folegandros - 3nts - Anemomilos Apts
Santorini - 4nts Katikies

As of right now - we have flights from Athens to Chania, and Santorini back to Athens for our flight home. I have tried to make a reservation for the hi-speed ferry from Heraklion to Santorini - but the reservations for early June aren't being taken yet, but they have my request. The schedules for Santorini-Folegandros-Santorini aren't available yet either, and I am concerned that we may have to change our plans for Folegandros if we cannot get back/forth. Should I be overly concerned? Both trips will be in the first week of June - Any advice on this?

Also - we haven't rented any cars in any of the locations. We don't know if we should - will we need them? If so - should we book in advance? We haven't decided yet how we will go from Chania to Heraklion - I think I read that the drive is 2 hours? Is it possible to pick up a car in Chania and then return it in Heraklion? Alternatively, if we don't really need a car in Chania - we could take a car service from Chania to Heraklion (estimated prices??).

Additionally - am looking for restaurant recommendations in all of the locations, as well as any "must see or do" things in the areas except for Athens & Heraklion (we know what we want to see there).

Sorry for so many questions - but wanted to put them all in one thread! Thanks!

brotherleelove2004

Using www.gtp.gr I'm seeing a ferry from Santorini-Folegandros-Santorini departing at 10 AM and returning at 2:10 PM and 3:30 PM depending on the day, but it's only twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays. Don't expect this schedule to improve so early in the season. This is not a particularly popular route. There might be other options open to you by taking the morning ferry from Santorini to Ios and then switching to another ferry from Ios to Folegandros, but as of now it's not been officially added to the schedule. Use www.gtp.gr to keep tabs on the changes. Plug in your travel dates to see if there's anything available when you need it.

You won't have any trouble picking up a rental car on Crete once you've arrived. And yes, you can pick it up in Chania and return it to Heraklion. Ask at your hotel for which rental agencies have this service available. Frequent buses are also available between these two cities.

In Oia the popular restaurants are 1800, Ambrosia & Nectar, Pelekanos, Thomas Grill, Skala, Seagull, Laokasti, and Katina's down the steps at Amoudi. Also, if you want basic but authentic Greek food go to Neptune next to the main square.

lorib1

brotherleelove - thanks for the quick response.

Do you think that we should think about an alternative in case we can't get to Folegandros? I was thinking about one of the other stops on the hi-speed ferry (flyingcat) - Ios, Paros, Naxos to simplify our ferry issues.

Any ideas from anyone? What hotels would you recommend? In addition - when would the "final" schedules be out so that we could make our decision on Folegandros?

If we have to nix Folegandros - would like to go somewhere that would have the same less developed, less touristy feel that Folegandros seems to have.

brotherleelove2004

At that time of year you really don't need to make advance reservations. Instead you can have a couple of choices ready and just call ahead as you move form island to island to see if they've got room for you. That way you can keep flexible, and if you ask they might even send someone to pick you up at the ferry port.

You can also just arrive and have a look around for a room, or talk to one of the locals that always meet the boats. Or look for a room rental service office near the port, they're bound to be there.

Yes, I'd think about an alternative to Folegandros. Actually, if you go to Paros you can catch the very frequent daily ferry over to Antiparos, another less-developed alternative to the more popular islands.

As for the highspeed ferry, keep in mind that this year's schedule as posted on their website is a bit different than last year's. They aren't implementing daily service until sometime in July, so you'll have to adjust your island-to-island movements accordingly or take the slower car ferries which are pretty much a daily occurrence between these islands.

lorib1

thanks again for the reply.

I would, however, like to make hotel arrangements ahead of time, as I am a big planner and don't like to have much uncertainty in where we are staying.

That said - on Paros - would love some suggestions. We prefer small upscale hotels, preferably with few or no children (sorry to those w/kids). Does anyone have experience with Yria Resort on Paros? it is part of the small luxury hotels (we have liked many of their properties) but the reviews on tripadvisor are not good. Astir of Paros also looks nice, but tripadvisor reviews aren't great. The Kosmitis hotel in Naoussa has great reviews on tripadvisor and looks nice but there are no reviews here.

Are there hotels on Antiparos?

lorib1

Also - any hotel recs for Naxos would be great too...

lorib1

I am topping off my message...

So now we depart for our trip 2 weeks from Friday and still no luck on the ferries to/from Folegandros. The proprietor of Anemomilos Apts assures me that there are ferries that will accomodate us, but the ferries are not on the schedules yet.

Not sure if anyone knows, but how far in advance are the ferry schedules generally posted? The dates of our travel are June 3-6 for Folegandros. I guess I am trying to put a personal "cut-off" date so that we can make alternate plans (if necessary) without being charged any accomodation deposits.

Thanks again!

jaclynpoulson

I too am keeping my eye on the Santorini-Folegandros. If I'm reading your post correct, you need a ferry on June 3, Saturday. There are currently 2 ferries on gtp.gr for Saturdays (one leaves at 9:00 and one at 10:00).

lorib1

Yes - I see those 2 ferries for that trip. However, we are coming from Heraklion, Crete on the hi-speed ferry to Santorini that morning (arrives Santorini around 11:45am). I had previously seen a ferry at 12:10pm going to Folegandros on June 3 - but it is no longer on the schedule... There are none so far for the return trip on the 6th.

brotherleelove2004

I think the ferry schedules for May are all posted now. At any rate, if you're making room reservations you pretty much have to go with what's showing on the ferry websites. If you don't you might find yourself paying for rooms you can't get to.

lorib1

Brotherleelove - Not to belabour the point of the ferry schedules - but when would you expect the early June schedules to be available?

brotherleelove2004

As far as I can tell they're already posted, at least when I plug in the required info on www.gtp.gr I'm now getting some results for as far ahead as September. I don't think much more will be added unless there's extra need beyond the already anticipated demand. The only way to know for sure is to keep checking back, but that's problematic when you're trying to make plans, I know. Good Luck with that.

I've just noticed, however, that some of the routes and schedules have changed a bit for this summer season. Apparently, unless it's a BIG typo (there's something confusing on their website), the Hellenic highspeed cat isn't going to Naxos this year, although the new "IJ" company's highspeed ferry is.

lorib1

Just as an FYI on the Flying Cat - it isn't stopping at Naxos, even though it is detailed as such on the price list. I confirmed this with the ferry company. It IS confusing on their website.

I will work on securing accomodations elsewhere and see how that works out. In a few days - I will email Anemomilos again about the ferries.

I think that if I don't see ferries scheduled by this weekend, we will change our travel plans (sadly so...).

littlemountain

Lorib1, if Folegandros has to go, it has go. But that would be a shame; Folegandros is a gem and Anemomilos Apartments are beautifully designed and run and enjoy one of the great views of Greece.

Following brotherleelove's suggestion, if you arrive in Santorini at 1145, you have time to transfer to the 1215 boat to Ios. It arrives at 1300, giving you time to catch the 1340 boat to Folegandros.

Now, according to the Greek Travel Pages, getting back is still a problem. But GTP doesn't list everything. Quite apart from the main routes listed on GTP (which, as you can see from the official Folegandros website do, in fact, only travel through the Eastern Cyclades twice per week, even in high season) there are local routes to Santorini which will not appear on the GTP website. The telephone number for the Folegandros Port Authority and telephone and fax numbers and an e-mail address for the travel agency (Maraki) which doubles as the local tourist office will appear if you follow the "Transportation" link on the Folegandros website: http://www.folegandros.gr/frameset_en.htm. Contact them directly and ask the hotel to do it as well (better chance of getting the right answer if you ask twice).

There are other alternatives as well if all else fails -- read this article from the December 04 Conde Nast Traveller: http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/...9&pageNumber=1.

Good luck.

dweirens

Hope you have a nice time, as I have much of the same itinerary. We are leaving Thursday May 25, but are spending a few nights in London before arriving in Greece. We have one night booked in Heraklion (5/30) followed by three nights at the Ammos Hotel in Chania (5/31-6/2) and four nights at the Ether Studios in Santorini (6/3-6/6), and then three nights at the Royal Olympic in Athens. We cross paths at the Ammos.

lorib1

Littlemountain - the ferry to which you refer from Ios to Folegandros is at 1:40am, not PM, so that isn't an option.

I am going to contact the local agency to see if there are any local boats that can accomodate us. I looked at that article to which you referenced from Conde Nast about a private boat, but wouldn't have a clue how to go about finding one (or the cost for that matter!).

I've tried every combination of travel through the other islands and it continues to seem less and less likely that we will get to Folegandros.

Maybe my attempts with the local travel agents will prove successful.

I will keep you posted!

brotherleelove2004

Keep in mind that any local boat you could hire to take you there will be small and very vulnerable to choppy seas. If you have any tendency towards seasickness you might want to rethink this idea. Also, it would probably be very expensive.

littlemountain

Apologies for the bad intel on the ferry schedule - my 24 hour clock obviously broke! And I'm not seriously recommending you try to take an unlicensed small boat ride over a choppy sea.

Part of the isolated charm of Folegandros certainly stems from how hard you have to work to get there, and the ferry companies certainly don't make that easy. On top of weather and scheduling, for example, from the Danae Travel website I see a ferry strike (tie-up by the owners, actually) was called on May 8 for May 16 to protest Greek government policy on fare pricing. That'll come to a rude surprise to some unsuspecting earlybird travellers.

Heimdall

lorib1, from my experience the Cyclades ferry schedules for early June are usually posted about two weeks in advance, sometimes less, so you should have some firm information soon. I know it is frustrating for those who like to plan ahead, but that's Greek travel.

Even when you have all your reservations made things can change, so you are wise to have that backup plan. Don't ditch Folegandros just yet, though. The joy of traveling in early June is that there are plenty of vacancies in all the hotels, and ferries are never full. One possible exception for you is the Pentecost holiday, which this year falls on Jun 12th. Many Greeks go to the islands that weekend, so highspeed ferries are sometimes full.

Personally I enjoy finding accommodation when arriving on an island. You can change your plans on the spur of the moment, staying a little longer if you wish, and not having to worry about getting to an island on a particular date, except when you have to fly back to Athens. The best part is, you will pay less for your rooms than when you book in advance.

lorib1

we have decided to wait until this weekend, which would still be 3 weeks prior before making other plans, which would be to go to Naxos instead.

I am a "planner" and like to have where we are staying and how we are getting from place to place mapped out ahead of arrival in whatever country to which we are traveling.

Pentacost won't be an issue, though. We are back in the States on June 10th.

Thanks for all of your advice!!!