Greece - Korina Miller [604]
Hire
You can hire bicycles in most tourist places, but they are not as widely available as cars and motorcycles. Prices range from €5 to €12 per day, depending on the type and age of the bike.
Purchase
Bicycles are carried free on ferries. You can buy decent mountain or touring bikes in Greece’s major towns, though you may have a problem finding a ready buyer if you wish to sell it on. Bike prices are much the same as across the rest of Europe, anywhere from €300 to €2000.
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BOAT
See Island Hopping Click here for details on getting around by boat.
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BUS
All long-distance buses, on the mainland and the islands, are operated by regional collectives known as KTEL (Koino Tamio Eispraxeon Leoforion; www.ktel.org). Every prefecture on the mainland has a KTEL, which operates local services within the prefecture and to the main towns of other prefectures. Details of inter-urban buses throughout Greece are available by dialling 14505; at the time of research it was only available in Greek but an English translation was planned.
The bus network is comprehensive. With the exception of towns in Thrace, which are serviced by Thessaloniki, all the major towns on the mainland have frequent connections to Athens. The islands of Corfu, Kefallonia and Zakynthos can also be reached directly from Athens by bus – the fares include the price of the ferry ticket.
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CRUISING
Cruise ships aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but, not surprisingly, in a country with countless islands and gorgeous azure waters, they’re a popular way of seeing Greece. There is something very special about sailing into the colourful harbours of the islands. The upside is you won’t have to deal with the fluctuations and general havoc of ferry schedules; you don’t have to pre-book or hunt accommodation; and you know everything will be open as the islands take out all the stops when a cruise ship arrives in town.
There are, of course, the downsides. International cruise ships tend to be enormous floating hotels and can easily dwarf a small island. Two thousand passengers disembarking can lead to large queues and crowds. These big boats are also rarely able to dock in the small island harbours and you’ll need to wait for your turn on the little boats running guests to shore.
More fitting for the Greek islands are smaller, local cruise ships. We’re not talking dinghies – these boats still accommodate 500 to 800 people and have the expected amenities like spas, gyms, shops, bars and pools. They’re able to dock in the island harbours and the smaller number of passengers disembarking means you’re likely to have a more meaningful experience on the islands.
The most popular Greek cruise line is Louis Cruises ( 21032 14980; www.louiscruises.com), with a wide range of reasonably priced trips and various types of accommodation. A week-long cruise through the islands and to Turkey starts from €470, while a three-day cruise begins at €175. Booking through a travel agency means you may get a few days in Athens and even a discount flight from Europe tacked on. Try Fantasy Travel (www.fantasytravelofgreece.com), Seafarer Cruises (www.seafarercruises.com) or Brendan Tours (www.brendanvacations.com).
If you opt for the big boys, Thomas Cook (www.thomascook.com) has lots of cruises that include the Greek islands, including some family-friendly options. Their smallest boat, the Calypso, takes only 486 passengers and is an adult-only liner that visits the Aegean. Seven nights starts from €540 if you book online. easyCruise (www.easycruise.com) has three-day cruises from €330. Like the airline, they’re cheap and cheerful.
Prices on cruises include meals, port fees and portage but there are often fuel and gratuity charges that are extra. Children often only pay port fees if they bunk in with parents. Excursions are generally additional as well and can range