Expert: Denny - 6/13/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Denny.  Denny here.

I am looking for some help with the logistics of an Island hopping trip we are planning.  We will be ariving in Athens at 8 p.m. on Thursday June 28, looking to depart for some islands on Friday night June 29 or Saturday morning June 30.

We will be flying back out of Athens on Sunday, July 8.  Our ideal island hop is from Athens to Crete, Santorini, Ios, Mykonos.  Is this possible?  I haven't been able to find transportation from Crete to Santorini to continue this loop, it appears to only go back to Piraeus.  We would only need a day or two on each island in our short trip but would love to hit these all.

ANSWER: Yiasou Denny,  thanks for the question,

I will have to confirm this but as far as I know there is a ferry that leaves in the early morning...6:AM Boarding,
from Heraklion, Crete and gets to Santorini in about 5-hours,  costs around 20-euro.  This ferry makes the trip 5-days a week.  Monday and thursday use to be down days.  However, everyyear does offer changes in schedules...Let me get back to you on that.  

Will also check on the other avenues of your journey...but I believe at this moment there are daily runs by ferry; regular and/or Flying Dolphin between each place.

Back atcha in 24-hours I hope...traveling at moment and not in reach of my regular computer.

Denny

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Denny for the preliminary response.  Will anxiously await update.

Answer
Yiasou again Denny,

REF my last ... Looks like the IRAKLION (Crete) run to SANTORINI is just 3-times per week...Sunday, Wednesday and Friday...leaves around 6-7 AM.   4-hours.

SANTORINI to IOS...1-3 per day...8=euro.  (1-hour).

IOS to MYKONOS ... 2-hr daily HYDROFOIL ... 27-euro and RESERVE ahead of time (In Athens perhaps or Crete...earliest date when you  know you will be going).

MYKONOS - PIRAEUS ... several daily ... regular & Fast boats...

Flights also available ... RESERVE ahead if possible. About 75 euro...5-flights per day...peak times they may add another.

(note:  Mykonos/IOS or IOS/Mykonos same problem...only the hydrofoils...also problems IF there is WIND!

If you get the breaks you can do all in alloted time.

IF you need to drop an island ... Drop either CRETE or IOS.

Crete is VERY big ... you gotta rent a car and spend at least 3-nites there to take in even a part .

IOS is for hard core PARTY people...lots of drinking and carousing...and the Far Out Camp Site is 'far out' .
 (course if that is what you are looking for ... leave it on the schedule!)

MYKONOS is awesome fun, both in town and at the beach, specially on the Platy Yalos/Paradise Beach side.

SANTORINI is just AWESOME !!!!

Calh taxiedi
Have a safe trip
DENNY