AboutDenny Expertise Greece on a budget, The Islands, Mainland, Athens and its burbs. For the basics on getting around...maybe I can help...I go there yearly and you can`t be as cheap as me .
Experience Worked & lived in Athens area for 5 years. (78-83 Was AFRS Radio Announcer (Denny West)at the time. Last visit: Mar/Sep 2005.
Expert: Denny Date: 6/5/2007 Subject: island hopping
Question Me and a couple of friends are thinking of doing island hopping later this summer. firstly we are thinking of first two weeks of September - is this a good time to go? secondly, what is the best way to do it on a budget? can we just catch a ferry as and when and is accommodation readily available??
Answer Yiasou Emma, thanks for your question,
First off...September is excellent...Seems Labor day comes and the tourists (IE: Teachers, students & parents)leave.
Second...the temperature is suppose to drop to about 90 for a high and the nites are even cooler.
third...prices begin to come down as more rooms become available...
forth...more rooms available, both in town and at the campsites.
IF you are truely 'budgeteers' camping would be the way to go...you can rent a tent as you go, pay a small charge to get into the site, and for 3-of you. the price will be about 20-euro a nite(tent included).
Pensiones on the islands and in Athens Plaka area go for around 40-50per nite for a triple...(15-euro each).
Food & drink in stores is cheaper then at bars or tavernas.
But for true ambiance and effect you need to do some cafes and tavernas.
REGULAR FERRYS leave in the morning from PIRAEUS...select a plan of attack and go...Lots of island hoppers go from
(Depending on time & money)...to NAXOS, MYKONOS, PAROS, SANTORINI...then back to PIRAEUS.
Deck class ticket price depends on distance...Going the above route will run roughly 90-100 Euro in ferry costs. Chop off an island ...save 15-euro...each.
FAVORITE islands are MYKONOS & SANTORINI...Best beaches are probably NAXOS farside of island. PAROS is best for getting anywhere from.
Ferrys run daily, one kind or another, in September.
Go by metro from Athens to Piraeus port...cost is 1-euro.
Go by taxi and you may get ripped off or at least pay 10-times more(each).
Grabbing a bite to eat standing up is cheaper then a sit down.
Partying all nite and then crashing on the beach at sunup saves the cost of a room...(recommended only for truely strapped and/or depraved.
Like to drink, get totally wasted and do so cheaply? GO to FAROUTCAMPING on island of IOS...average age 21, average blood-alcohol content...2.something.
REFERENCE FERRYS...in Athens, go to ticket agencies in Plaka area and ask about tickets for 3, traveling together for ONE price. ALSO...ONE price-ticket for all islands you wish to go to.
And ask about EASY-CRUISES...(go to islands, sleep on-board, enjoy island during day into early evening.
ONE PRICE...save looking for rooms on the island).
Watchout on this...TOURs of island are overpriced and unnecessary on most islands...IE: MYKONOS is the town and Paradise beach by bus. NO NEED for a tour! If you want to do a tour...take the one to DELOS out of Myk.
SANTORINI...Cliffs are walkable, bus to IO or bus to Akrotiri & old thira alot cheaper then a formal tour. But its your Euro!
Calh taxiedi
Have a safe trip
(I'll look for you...I'm heading over in Mid-Sept for a month).
DENNY
