Overnight between Athens Airport and Galaxidi

Crooney, we can give you the best advice if you just supply important specifics... mainly, exactly what time will you arrive in ATH? It will affect what we recommend. If you arrive in the afternoon I can recommend a nearby hotel on a beach at Rafina ... where you could have a swim before sunset, a meal in a local taverna and an early night. The next AM (via free shuttle) you return to airport refreshed, and pck up a car for your drive. Really, from experience, it just takes one night of good sleep to recover enough for a 3-hour drive ... I know this from experience.

If you arrive on one of those nonstops from N America (Canada air, Delta, AA, UA) between 9 - 10:30 am, you could do the same, just have the whole afternoon for sunning. For a "rest stop" somewhere northwest toward the Delphi area, not anything close. The island of Evia is above the Attiki peninsula, but getting to a place there could take nearly 2 hours, really defeating the purpose. More info will enable us to help you better.

We've not yet bought tickets (still in the planning stage and thrilled we can start thinking seriously of a trip overseas!) but it's likely that we would arrive late morning. Rafina and the 'Athens Riviera" seem like the best choice and I would greatly appreciate a recommendation for a hotel.

PS. I did research the route from the airport towards Delphi and didn't find anything appealing for the first night or so but plan to stop, en route, at the Hosios Loukas Monastery and Distomo - which really means a full day heading towards Delphi.

Here's the Rafina hotel I referred to - http://www.hotelavra.gr/ As mentioned, it does offer free shuttle from & back to Airport... which has 2 advantages (1) you need not deal with car rental until you actually need the car and (2) no taxi cost (otherwise to/from hotel would be about €25). Here's that link - http://www.hotelavra.gr/uploads/editorfiles/files/avra_hotel_shuttle_bus.pdf They do ask that you tell them in advance which shuttle time you will need... since they don't run it when there's no one needing it. They do have a restaurant there for snacks, dinner and buffet meals. But since it's right in the village of Rafina, you might instead want to stroll around the town square & choose one of the local tavernas.

This looks like a wonderful option and I cannot thank you enough!

I’d second Janet’s recommendation of the Avra. In normal times we stay there a couple of nights a year on our way back and forth to Andros. The airport transfers have always been simple and reliable.

A couple of thoughts
a) we prefer an inland facing room, especially during hot weather. The sea facing have great views, and you can watch the ferries come and go, but if you have the windows open they can be noisy early in the morning when the boats are revving up.
b) Janet’s suggestion of eating in the square is also a good one. Our favourite restaurant there is the Limeni, which is on the left hand side as you go away from the sea. It’s less than 5 minutes from the hotel and has really nice food, friendly staff and a nice local atmosphere.

One other thing: if you have a car in Galaxidi I’d recommend a trip along the coast to Nafpaktos. A pretty little town with a great castle.

Have a great trip.

Alan

I'd tentatively added it to my itinerary but was concerned when I read (many) negative reviews on Trip Advisor although those on Booking were much better. I'm always treat these reviews with a grain of salt and much prefer RS forum recommendations and so I'm delighted that you and Janet enjoyed the Avra. My other option was the Aegeon Beach Hotel at Cape Sounio, but the shuttle for the Avra is a great incentive - a day without having to drive!

I'm poring over airline schedules today and the trip is quickly becoming a reality -

Many, many thanks!!