For anyone interested in visiting Karpathos and doing a little "island hopping" as far as we know ANEK Lines will still be coming here during summer 2010. Their website is up and running and includes Crete, Santorini, Karpathos, Kassos, Halki, Rhodes, Athens and possibly Milos and Anafi.

Hi livingingreece
thanks for that will take a look.

Forgot to mention the ANEK Lines website only allows you to book cabins etc, if you want an ordinary cheap ticket to whichever island it is best to book at an agents in Greece. However, the website does give all times and days of travel so must be a help. There might be some changes (it is Greece after all!) but you can book accommodation if you wish, changes are often minimal.

thanks again

Forgot to mention I eventually received a bank credit for the air fare refund. the system works!!

livingingreece: hopefully you'll see this message and reply.
I have put together a loose itinerary and arrive in Karpathos on the 27th May about 4pm. don't know how long we will be staying but want to go back to Crete ( well HAVE to go back to Crete to fly home) and hoping to spend some time in Agia Pelagia before we finally leave.
We have been looking at Kasos and wondered if it was worth visiting and if so for how long.
Have been looking at ferry times and they are very unsociable to Kasos so need to make sure it's the right decision. Also can you give any recommendations for accomodation in Karpathos, quiet location, beach and authentic tavernas. I know it's a big ask but any information would be really appreciated.

Thanks for the email. We love Kassos - there is very little there, just a small "main town" Phry, with one of the best tavernas in Greece on the harbour. Also a tiny hotel (try to get a room with a harbour view) and one or two other even smaller hotels (not tried them); a few apartments. The people to contact are Kassos Maritime Travel - they have got a website. Knowledgeable, helpful and speak good English. A bigger island than first appears; we hired a car on our second visit (been there 4 times). Emborio also has a couple of tavernas, one excellent, the other untried. Extremely unspoilt and very Greek. People quiet and friendly. A 4 minute flight from Karpathos, or about 1 1/4 hrs on the ferry. Will get back to you re Karpathos but if you look on the website (I'm sure you've found plenty of information already) you can check the following; we love Finiki, a little fishing village, small beach, not a marvellous beach, a few small hotels and apartments. Very good tavernas, lots of fish to eat too, the speciality of the area. Also one of the loveliest places, and QUIET, is Ag. Nikolaos (Spoa) - 2 Ag. Nik's on Karpathos, one near Arkassa (not far from Finiki), but the Spoa one so very Greek; one very good taverna with rooms above it. Also nice is the area around Lefkos, a bit more built up but lovely beaches, more than enough tavernas and in May a pleasant place to stay. Kyra Panaghia, only 1 beach but superb scenery. Would be best to hire a car for any of the above, though Finiki has probably the best public transport - a bus every day, possibly 2 (not sure). In the north of the island, Diafani (you can visit Olympos easily) and we recommend the Glaros Hotel in Diafani. Let me know if you want any more information. A good website is Greekhotel.com, go into Dodecanese islands, then into Karpathos. If I've quoted the wrong website, I'll get back to you!!

hi

thanks for that. which airline flies between Karpathos and Kasos and does it fly to Crete?

At present it is Olympic Air. However, we won't know who is taking it over for summer for a while - possibly as late as end March. The flights are normally Rhodes/Karpathos/Kassos/Sitia (Crete); we presume whichever airline takes over for the summer will feature the same route. This is because Olympic Airways no longer exist. Flights to/from Athens to Karpathos are currently Athens Air, that too might change end March. Not a lot of help I know but the people who live here don't know either!

Just double checked the websites and they are correct. Just make sure you put greekhotel.com - not greekhotels.com, as that is a completely different site. If you want any hotel/apartment rooms at any of the places I've mentioned, just let me know.

Sorry meant to say if you want any names of hotels or rooms we know are OK let me know.

thanks a lot. really looking forward to the jollies.

Hi livingingreece

have now looked at Amoopi and fancy some apartments 'Sunflower Studios' that look as though they would fit the bill the only issue would be tavernas, or lack of if you can help please with any information as I am struggling to find any online.

many regards

Don't know Sunflower Studios but we will be in the area some time over the next 3 or 4 days so will have a look. Yes, there are quite a few small tavernas in the Amoopi area, so a good choice. Lovely beaches there, clear sea, near the main town of Pigadia, can get a bit crowded at times - partly due to the fact that the area is relatively near the town. Bus service to/from town too, if you are not hiring a car, or only having one for a few days.

Thanks. wil wait a few days then before booking. they look and sound nice but nothing like a first hand report.

cheers

Definitely Sunflower Studios. Both places you mentioned are a bit of a hike to the beach (not bad going down, maybe hard work coming back!) but maybe you could catch the bus or maybe just enjoy a slow leisurely walk. A very nice part of Karpathos anyway.

thanks. can you recommend somehwere flat as Mrs C suffers with her limbs and don't fancy having to carry her. we will arrive at the main port and prefer not too long a transfer. somewhere peaceful and near a beach.
thanks again

I'll get back to you - this is a fairly mountainous island. Parts of Pigadia are flat so will think of a couple of hotels. The Romantica very highly recommended but a 20 minute walk into town (a few little shops and tavernas very near), The Electra Beach - about 7 minutes walk into the town and a bit longer to the harbour, right on the beach. Will have a look when I next go into town - I only live here so never really look at anything!!! Not the best beach on the island (but a nice long one around 3 miles I think). Do you want a swimming pool, or something basic and "Greek"?

pool not particularly important if the accomodation is near the beach and the beach has sunbeds - we've done years of carting our own brollies etc but the old bones need a bit of comfort these days. don't look for fancy accomodation - we're used to Grecian properties - just clean and hopefully quiet.

thanks again