Hello, I am trying to plan a trip for next May/June to Turkey and Greece. I have been in contact with a couple of agencies with a little dilemma I have. Mainly I am interested to know if it is possible to take a ferry from Kusadasi to Mykonos overnight, via Samos? I am aware that the ferry from Samos to Mykonos is spotty and the schedules are not out yet. Therefore, is there a better and low cost alternative to this problem? I am just trying to find a way to travel between these two destinations overnight rather than waste one travel day to get between the two. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3122 posts
In the past the ferry route from Samos to Piraeus has changed every couple of years. Last year the ferry stopped at Mykonos but a year or two before that it stopped at Naxos and Paros instead. As you know, you'll have to wait to see what the official route and timetable will be in 2011, but http://www.gtp.gr shows one 'unofficial' schedule for Samos>Mykonos for 2011, and so far this ferry will depart on Tuesdays at 1pm, arriving Mykonos at 7pm. If this route and schedule don't change there will be more days per week added but I can't say if any other departure times will be added or if any other companies will offer that route. In the past NEL Lines did stop there as well. Expect to see more official schedules for May/June sometime in April.
Posted by
OP
Pico Rivera, CA
594 posts
I see the ferry that you mentioned. Thank you. This looks hopeful. My worry is that I want to have all of my hotels booked in January just to be sure I reserve well in advance. Now suppose I can't do that because I have to wait for the ferry schedules to come out in April. Will there still be ample time to book my hotels in Turkey/Greece one to two months in advance for travel at the end of May/early June? Something tells me that would be pushing it.
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3122 posts
There's just no simple answer. It's the chance you take if you can't determine the ferry schedules far in advance, especially if your route isn't typically a daily one. Think about booking as you go. Take along a list of hotel choices and call ahead from Samos using an OTE phone card and a public phone, and when you know when you want to move to your next island call your first choice and ask for a room, and work your way down the list if necessary. The phone cards are cheap. You'll need to know the island code as well as the hotel phone number. Mykonos=22890 There is one backup alternative you can keep in mind. www.skyexpress.gr is a small Cretan airline that offers direct flights from Samos to Mykonos. They should be making that flight by the end of May.