Need Help with Greece Island hopping

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I booked my 1 leg with Afgean air for about $210 total for 3 people to go from Athens to Rhodes.

Now I need to go from Rhodes to Corfu on either Aug 18 or 19. The price I am coming up with is over $600 for 3 and it requires us leaving at around midnight to catch a 6 am flight. I do not want to spend 6 hours in the airport or have to book a room for the night. I had toght I could just book a small boat or ferry to get us there but I can't find any and was told it is to far.

I will also need to go from Corfu to Athens on Aug 25.

Any suggestions. I am just about ready to cancel Corfu from my trip and book a 5 to 6 day cruise.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

My suggestion is to rent a car in Athens and drive by way of the ancient ruins at Delphi to the short ferry to Corfu, which is just off the mainland unlike Rhodes. Then drive back by way of the perched monasteries at Metero. That is how I went to Corfu.

There are no options by train to the ferry. This really is a short ferry ride unlike most of the lengthy voyages to get to many of the Greek islands. It is only about 30 miles from Igoumenitsa to Corfu Town and there are frequent departures during the day.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

As Carolinian said Rhodes (Aegean Sea/Sea of Crete) and Corfu (Ionian Sea) are in different seas off different coasts of Greece. In fact, they're about as far apart as you can get in Greece with Rhodes being just off the coast of southern Turkey and Corfu off the WEST coast of Greece towards Italy.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

My suggestion is to rent a car in Athens and drive by way of the ancient ruins at Delphi to the short ferry to Corfu, which is just off the mainland unlike Rhodes. Then drive back by way of the perched monasteries at Metero. That is how I went to Corfu.

There are no options by train.

Steve my main problem is Rhodes to Corfu. That flight is about $780 for the 3 of us for a decent flight. I can save about $175 if we did a 7 hour layover at the airport.

I guees I could book a flight from Rhodes to Athens then book a car to the ferry. But can I take the car on the ferry or do I park it there?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

As Carolinian said Rhodes (Aegean Sea/Sea of Crete) and Corfu (Ionian Sea) are in different seas off different coasts of Greece. In fact, they're about as far apart as you can get in Greece with Rhodes being just off the coast of southern Turkey and Corfu off the east coast of Greece towards Italy.

I might be better off going to Italy for a day or two and then heading to Corfu from Italy.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Steve my main problem is Rhodes to Corfu. That flight is about $780 for the 3 of us for a decent flight. I can save about $175 if we did a 7 hour layover at the airport.

I guees I could book a flight from Rhodes to Athens then book a car to the ferry. But can I take the car on the ferry or do I park it there?

Yes, this is a car ferry. I took my rental car I picked up at the Athens airport on the ferry to use during my t/s exchange on Corfu. I used AutoEurope or Europe By Car (I don't remember which one) for the car rental.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Yes, this is a car ferry. I took my rental car I picked up at the Athens airport on the ferry to use during my t/s exchange on Corfu. I used AutoEurope or Europe By Car (I don't remember which one) for the car rental.

Is this going to save me enough for it to be feasable. I just looked and I can get 1 way tickets for $100 PP from Rhodes to Athens. Facter in the cost of the car, I am Guessing about $400 and the ferry RT maybe $200 if not more. The toal cost would be more than the $800 tickets for the 3 hour flight.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I might be better off going to Italy for a day or two and then heading to Corfu from Italy.

According to Cook's European Timetable there is ferry service to Corfu from Bari and Brindisi in Italy. From Brindisi in the summer the ferry takes eight hours and runs six days a week, all except Tuesday, most days leaving Brindisi at 10:30 AM, but on Monday leaving at 9 PM. The schedule from Bari is more complex, and it does not seem to run every day. Bari to Corfu is 10 hours. There are also Bari to Igoumenitsa ferries, where you can then get a second ferry to Corfu. The first leg takes 11 1/2 hours, and these run at least once daily, again with a complex schedule.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Is this going to save me enough for it to be feasable. I just looked and I can get 1 way tickets for $100 PP from Rhodes to Athens. Facter in the cost of the car, I am Guessing about $400 and the ferry RT maybe $200 if not more. The toal cost would be more than the $800 tickets for the 3 hour flight.

My car cost less than $200 to rent, and you have to remember you will need a rental anyway on Corfu. The ferry was not that expensive; about $30 each way if memory serves. And Delphi was very interesting and the perched monateries magnificent!

Just pulled out Let's Go - Greece 2004 edition, and found the Corfu / Igoumenitsa ferry takes 1 1/2 hours and runs 8 times a day each direction. The fare listed is 5.10 euros, but it does not say if that is for a car or pedestrian. The first ferry is at 6:30 AM and the last one at 9 PM.

The old Athens airport was by far the worst big city airport I have ever been in, and the new one is a big improvement, but still not somewhere I would want to sit around for 7 hours. IMHO it is better to be driving, seeing the countryside.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

According to Cook's European Timetable there is ferry service to Corfu from Bari and Brindisi in Italy. From Brindisi in the summer the ferry takes eight hours and runs six days a week, all except Tuesday, most days leaving Brindisi at 10:30 AM, but on Monday leaving at 9 PM. The schedule from Bari is more complex, and it does not seem to run every day. Bari to Corfu is 10 hours. There are also Bari to Igoumenitsa ferries, where you can then get a second ferry to Corfu. The first leg takes 11 1/2 hours, and these run at least once daily, again with a complex schedule.

I just checked the cost for Italy is way out there. So Italy is out. What about the Short ferry from Athens.

I have been emailing Matt Barrett for help as well. He has the Greece travel help website and has been very helpfull as well by email.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

My car cost less than $200 to rent, and you have to remember you will need a rental anyway on Corfu. The ferry was not that expensive; about $30 each way if memory serves. And Delphi was very interesting and the perched monateries magnificent!

Just pulled out Let's Go - Greece 2004 edition, and found the Corfu / Igoumenitsa ferry takes 1 1/2 hours and runs 8 times a day each direction. The fare listed is 5.10 euros, but it does not say if that is for a car or pedestrian. The first ferry is at 6:30 AM and the last one at 9 PM.

We are now considering doing this. How long is the drive from Athens to the Ferry going to Corfu?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Oh Thank Goodness. Steve to the rescue.

It would be horrible to miss Corfu and if you can fit in Delphi more the better.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Oh Thank Goodness. Steve to the rescue.

It would be horrible to miss Corfu and if you can fit in Delphi more the better.

Your not kidding Steve to the Rescue. I am waiting for him to call me up shortly.

I found cheap air leaving a day early from Rhodes to Athens at 39 eurios PP.

There is a 7 am flight or an 11:50pm flight.


First option

If I take the 7 am I get in at 8am and should have enough time to drive over to the ferry and be able to check in the same night.

Second option.

If I do the 11:50 pm flight I get to stay the extra day in Rhodes but I will have to book a hotel for the night.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Your not kidding Steve to the Rescue. I am waiting for him to call me up shortly.

I found cheap air leaving a day early from Rhodes to Athens at 39 eurios PP.

There is a 7 am flight or an 11:50pm flight.


First option

If I take the 7 am I get in at 8am and should have enough time to drive over to the ferry and be able to check in the same night.

Second option.

If I do the 11:50 pm flight I get to stay the extra day in Rhodes but I will have to book a hotel for the night.

Take the early flight Frank. I would not drive at night in Greece on a bet. Can you drive a stick?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Steve thank you for calling I got a lot of great information from you. It was a pleasure speaking to you.

We ended up booking the flights and paying threw the nose. I booked Business class because the allow for more weight on the luggage.