Athens Guide: Leaving GreeceFerries, flights, buses and tips on the journey home from Greece |
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At the end
of every holiday to Greece I come to the point
where I am counting the days I have left in
preparation for the life I must return to in
America. That means confronting the
fact that once again I am leaving for the
other world. It also means squeezing as many
friends into as many nights as I have left,
drinking wine at lunch and coffee instead of a
nap in the afternoon and of course last minute
shopping for the same people I always buy
gifts for and who if I had just saved the
money could give them round-trip tickets to
Greece by now and not have the hassle of
shopping for them. But leaving Greece gives me the rare opportunity to actually get organized. At a certain point during the trip I realize the end is appoaching and I write a list of things I need to do before I leave. It can be places I have yet to see, restaurants I promised to try, friends to meet with, books to buy, gifts and so on. Then I check each item off and feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that seems to mask the sadness I have about leaving. Here are some tips for leaving. Some of you will be ready to go and others will wish you could stay forever. Either way this should make it easier.Taxi to the AirportArrange a taxi to the airport in advance. You can get the hotel desk to call for a radio taxi but it has been my experience that they don't always show up and sometimes by the time they do I am a nervous wreck because I have been thinking they were not going to show up. Not that I would mind staying but by this point it is only stalling the inevitable and the prospect of multiple trips to the airport until I can be squeezed on another flight is not one I look foreword to. So I book a taxi transfer with George the Famous Taxi Driver as soon as I know when I am leaving. Some people who are arriving at night from the islands and have an early flight ask about hotels at the airport. There is one hotel which is not finished yet and is quite expensive. You can save some time by staying at the Armonia Hotel in Vouliagmeni which is a good idea if you have a mid-morning flight. Plus you can take a nice early morning swim on your last day in Greece. But if you have a really early flight, like 8am or earlier then you may as well just stay downtown because without traffic you can get to the airport pretty quickly. If you have a really-really early flight then you may as well have a late dinner and get to the airport after midnight and wait. Not that I would do this but some people don't mind spending hours in airports and if you have a flight at 4am what is the point in checking into a hotel? For info on the Armonia and downtown hotels see hotels . You are supposed to be at the airport 2 hours before an international flight. I don't want to create a problem by saying this but go early and get a window seat (though not on the wing). Buses to the Airport There are
three bus lines to and from the Eleftherios
Venizelos Airport. All
buses depart from the designated area on the
inner curbside of the arrivals level of the
Main Terminal Building exactly outside the
Exit (doors 4-5) Metro to the AirportThe airport metro leaves every half an hour from Monastiraki and stops at Syntagma, and every stop on the Blue Line. The journey time to Athens International Airport from Syntagma is 27 minutes and from Piraeus 60 minutes. (Change at Monastiraki) See the metro map. Ferries from PatrasSome of you will be leaving by ferry to Italy. It is suggested that you buy your tickets in advance especially if you want a cabin or have a car. You can buy tickets through just about any downtown travel agency or whichever agency you have been working with for your trip. Try to get on one of the newer and faster ships like the Superfast Lines or the Blue Star if possible. When you get your ferry tickets they will give you bus information and in some cases the ferry companies have their own buses. You can also take a train to Patras from the Peloponessos train station or you can take a public bus. Believe it or not the bus is faster than the train. If there are four of you traveling together you can split a cab or do a transfer with George . For bus schedules see www.athensguide.com/schedules and www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo Some of the ferry companies let you stop off for a night in Corfu on trips from Patras to Italy. Be sure to ask about this if you have time. Also ask about ferries from Patras to Venice. If you have to leave Greece you may as well go somewhere else really great. |
Related Pages:Athens
Airport
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