I've tried to find a way to get from Izmir to Crete in mid-October and haven't had much luck. It would take a long time by ferry but I can't get any information on air schedules. Has anyone had any experience with this?
From Izmir you can fly to Bodrum or Marmaris to catch the ferry to Rhodes. From Rhodes you can fly or ferry to Crete on SkyExpress or Cyprus Airways.
http://www.skyexpress.gr and http://www.cyprusairways.com/main/default.aspx are small Greek airlines that fly direct with no connection needed back in Athens.
Another possibility would be to go from Izmir to Kusadasi where you can catch a ferry across to the Greek island of Samos. SkyExpress also flies to Samos.
The trick to using SkyExpress would be to determine when they change from their summer to winter schedule. Their planes are small turbo-prop models, so their baggage allowances are less than a 'regular' airline, 12.5kg, and overages are strictly charged back to the passenger.