Hello All,
My husband & I are travelling to Athens Sept 13 and plan to ferry across to Santorini, Mykonos & Naxos. We would like to fly back to Athens after a couple of nights at each island to not waste time. (We take the ferry lots on Vancouver Island).
Which is the best starting point, ferry to Mykonos and then Naxos and then ferry to Santorini with flying back to Athens. OR ferry to Santorini, then to Naxos then Mykonos and somehow fly back to Athens? Also, do you have any suggestions of lodgings at each of these islands? Thanks so much, Debbie
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3149 posts
Which route you take might depend on the ferry schedules for your travel dates, as they don't necessarily run every day. You can check here to see what's available in September: http://www.gtp.gr
If your arrival in Greece is by plane and if it's your plan to go directly from the airport out to your first island it makes better sense to go to Mykonos first, as the port of Rafina is closer to the airport than the port of Piraeus, and the trip from Rafina to Mykonos can be a short as 2.5 hours. From Piraeus it can be 5 hours or longer. There are airport buses that will take you to both ports for just a few euro.
All 3 of these islands have airports with flights to Athens. Olympic Air flies to all 3. Aegean Airlines flies to Mykonos and Santorini. Both airlines have websites with e-ticketing.
Asking for hotel suggestions without stating your maximum daily room budget (in euro, please) is too much of a guessing game that wastes time for everyone.
Posted by
Philadelphia
655 posts
Have you considered flying directly on when you first arrive in Athens?
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3414 posts
Debbie, we can give you a lot of keyboarding information -- but you have a neighbor in Nanaimo who can tell you ALL you need to know, on the phone! Go to Trip Advisor Greece Forum or Fodor's Forum Greece, and find a "thread" by the contributor who goes by the screen name of "stanbr."
HINT: on TA, in the search slot, put "stanbr" and see if it brings up a message BY him. Or else, on the top of the thread list, change the area to NAXOS, and then click on almost any thread ... and Stanbr undoubtedly will be among the contributors. When you find a message by him, click on HIS NAME, and up will come a page whre you can send him a PM (private Message). Just put in the message that you have posted on Steves, give him your name & local Phone # , and wait for the call! He knows both these islands, all the ferry info, and knowing your interests can suggest exactly the right lodgings for you. Do it NOW! (And tell him that Janet says Hi!). -- Travelerjan
Posted by
OP
Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
3 posts
Thank you all for your replies - we will follow your information. We will also reconsider staying in Athens for the first 2 nights, by flying to one of the Islands first when we initially land in Greece and do Athens on the trip back!! (I found that there was so much info out there, I was getting confused on which to follow. But who better to ask than people on this Travel-line!)
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32386 posts
Debbie,
I just returned from several weeks in Greece (including a RS tour of the Pelopponese as well as a few of the islands) and have a few comments.
I'd suggest travelling by Ferry from Athens to Mykonos, then to Naxos, and finally to Santorini. I found that to be a logical and easy route to follow. Santorini has a nice (albeit small) airport, and you can easily get flights from there back to Athens via Aegean or other airlines (I found Aegean to be a real "class act" and I'd fly with them again anytime).
You might have a look at This Website for LOTS of information on everything you'll need to know about travelling in Greece. I used one of the Travel Agents in Athens (recommended on the website above) to arrange my transportation, Hotels and transfers, and they did an excellent job (although I booked the flight from Santorini to Milan on the web).
Happy travels!