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: 5/26/2007 Subject: travel between athens and thessaloniki
Question QUESTION: Hi!
I am going to be in Athens in a few weeks time and was looking into travelling from athens to delphi then on the meteora and finally thessaloniki. i essentially have one day set asside for each destination..... i will be travelling with my mother, sister and husband. i thought about hiring a car, but this seemed to be an expensive option. are the buses or trains betweent these towns regular and better value. how much time should i leave? where would you suggest spending the night between delphi and meteora - i'd like something a little different and maybe traditional? thanks for your help!!
ANSWER: Yiasou Jo, Thankyou for the question,
Toughie to answer...4 of you going...and while the bus and trains are inexpensive, everywhere you go you will be going 4-times-the price. A 25-euro bus ride one way will cost you 100-euro, more then the cost of a rental car.
Perhaps you could get a car rental for the trip between Athens and Delphi. About a 3-hr trip up and then 3-more back and the rest of the day in Delphi would save you the 12-euro X 4 bus trip up. You could turn the car in and stay at your place in Athens overnite and then proceed on the way BY TRAIN to Meteora and then on to Thessalonika.
OR IF you can get a no cost drop off in the agreement, you could go on from Delphi to Lamia, stay overnite and catch the train in Lamia for Meteora.
Reason I say this is that the road trip to Meteora will be a long one and onto Thessalonica as well. The trains are still fairly inexpensive and will besides the price being the same as the rental, will offer a bit of comfort and less stress then the rental car.
Train from Athens to Kalambaka (gateway to Meteora) is 20-euro, Train to Thessalonika is about 7-Euro fm Kalambaka.
Do the rental-car day trip to Delphi...Then a train fm Athens (or Lamia) to Kalambaka (Meteora), overnite at the KOKA ROCA in Kalambaka (if available), spend the next morning and perhaps early afternoon at Meteora, then Train out to Thessaloniki for about 7-euro.
If you are returning to Athens do so by regular train from Thessalonika...it's about a 7-hr train ride at a 15-euro PP rate...you could also take the IC express to Athens. BUT It will cost DOUBLE and save only 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Prices of rentals, especially with the screw job Euro rate, are pretty steep...about 60 per day...less, by 10% if you keep the car for 3-days or more.
Ref: the other part of your question...there are some small villages between Delphi and Meteora as well as the city of Lamia.
NOT recommending anything in that area. Kalambaka is the ONLY interesting place prior to Meteora and it is at the Meteora base camp.
I would say that going train would be slightly cheaper and far less agravation, specially when adding in the price of the petrol.
Still another idea would be...[IF you plan on sightseeing in and around Thesseloniki], rent the car there and drive it around that rather interesting, historic area, then drive it back to Athens IF you can drop it off "free". Lots of the rental agencies allow free drop offs in Europe. IE: Hertz, Euro-Car, Avis, Budget etc.
Usually the BUS is more expensive than the train, anytime..anywhere.
anyhow, those are some ideas,
Have a safe trip
Calh taxiedi
DENNY
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Denny for your answer! very helpful and specific. i now have another question... the accomodation i had arranged in Athens has fallen through (an apartment in kolonaki), and i need to arrange something else. any suggestions. it is also for the 4 people travelling through Greece. Thank you once again!!
Answer Yiassis Jo,
REF your last ... I am hesitant to recommend because the place you were going to stay KOLONAKI is noted for its upscale, expensive places...
I recommend only the LESSER IN-expensive places which illiminates Kolonaki.
However, if you would like an area that is convenient and peaceful and near that same area (Kolonaki), you might try EXARHIA. It is a lot 'hipper' (to use an old term).
HOTEL ORION on Em Benaki (21038-27-362) TRIPLE ROOMS are in the 50-euro neighborhood, Doubles are 40-Euro. Breakfast? add 5-Euro. Or better yet, get out and enjoy a short walk to an outdoor taverna for breakfast in Plaka area.
HOTEL DRYADES, Dryadon #4 (27-116), This is Orions luxurious sister, and one of Athens nicest mid-level accommodators. Doubles are 50-60 a nite. Breakfast adds 5 to the price.
Finally...the EXARCHELON, Themistokleous #55, (00-731).
Reservations recommended. Triples 60-70 euro. 10% off for reserving on-line. Only problem with that, I do not have the on-line address.
Hope that this will help...
Have a great and safe trip
Denny
