just spent easter in the village of Kastraki which is just through Kalambaka. We booked flights through Airline network and car hire through Auto Union. Auto union is just off site at Athens airport but thier organisation was excellent and much cheaper than the bigger names on site, the car was brand new as well. I can recommend them.
Anyone thinking of visiting at this time beware though! We landed on the Thursday about 6.10pm and thought we might have missed the holiday getaway. Wrong! the traffic going north made the M25 look like brands hatch. The journey back on Monday was much the same once we reached Larrisa. If I were to do it again I would go a day either side of the bank holidays, although they are building a new motorway road to connect with the existing toll roads north and south of Larrisa. Having said that the area was stupendous and worth the journey, the people were great and were really welcoming. We stayed in Athens on the Monday night before returning on Tuesday and what a disappointment it was. We hadn't been for 20 odd years and whilst places change the two squares, Ormonia and Syntagma were really seedy and uncomfortable to walk round. The Plaka too didn't have the charm we remember or could it bee that our rose tinted spectacles weren't working? I would be interested to know other opinions please.
Hi Greekofile
So glad you enjoyed Kastraki, we stayed in there last September, it is such a beautiful place and like you say the people are so friendly. We arrived in the village about 10pm and couldn't find our accommodation. I asked a shop keeper for directions, he found the phone number in the phone book and called them. They owners then came and met us in the square so we could follow them, couldn't see that happening in this country. Hope you enjoyed the views around Meteora as much as we did. I have to say we didn't have any travel problems but we went at a quiet time.
We are hiring a car when we go out in September so I will check out Auto Union. Is it easy to get to them from the airport?
We had also considered spending a night or two in Athens but after your report I think we might give it a miss.
So glad you enjoyed Kastraki, we stayed in there last September, it is such a beautiful place and like you say the people are so friendly. We arrived in the village about 10pm and couldn't find our accommodation. I asked a shop keeper for directions, he found the phone number in the phone book and called them. They owners then came and met us in the square so we could follow them, couldn't see that happening in this country. Hope you enjoyed the views around Meteora as much as we did. I have to say we didn't have any travel problems but we went at a quiet time.
We are hiring a car when we go out in September so I will check out Auto Union. Is it easy to get to them from the airport?
We had also considered spending a night or two in Athens but after your report I think we might give it a miss.
Ginamac
the car hire is simple. They have a minibus that picks up every 15 minutes or so. When you exit the arrivals hall turn right and walk to the very end of the building. The pick up point is the first piece of car park you get to. Auto union are to be found on the internet and the e mail address is something like (sorry nearest I remember) info@autounion.gr.
As for Athens, if you haven't seen the sights of Athens i.e. Acropolis etc. it's worth going to see them just take care where you book your hotel and keep out of the side streets at Ormonia Square and Syntagma Square. The rest is safe enough.
Enjoy, we can't wait to go backk to Greece but have to wait for September for Alonyssos.
the car hire is simple. They have a minibus that picks up every 15 minutes or so. When you exit the arrivals hall turn right and walk to the very end of the building. The pick up point is the first piece of car park you get to. Auto union are to be found on the internet and the e mail address is something like (sorry nearest I remember) info@autounion.gr.
As for Athens, if you haven't seen the sights of Athens i.e. Acropolis etc. it's worth going to see them just take care where you book your hotel and keep out of the side streets at Ormonia Square and Syntagma Square. The rest is safe enough.
Enjoy, we can't wait to go backk to Greece but have to wait for September for Alonyssos.
Hi
tried to do an internet quote but it doesn't seem to work so I have sent an email to the address you gave, hopefully it is correct as it hasn't been bounced back yet.
We visited Athens about 12 years ago so I have seen some of the sights so if we do decide not to go we aren't really going to be missing anything.
We are going in September and are planning on travelling up to the Mount Olympus and Pelion area, it seems so far away though.
tried to do an internet quote but it doesn't seem to work so I have sent an email to the address you gave, hopefully it is correct as it hasn't been bounced back yet.
We visited Athens about 12 years ago so I have seen some of the sights so if we do decide not to go we aren't really going to be missing anything.
We are going in September and are planning on travelling up to the Mount Olympus and Pelion area, it seems so far away though.
we stayed on the Pelion two or three years ago in Horto which is quite well down the penninsular. There was a Greek/American couple there whom we got quite friendly with and he used to drive to Athens and fly to London every two weeks to "sign on". He said the journey took about 41/2 hours by car. The drive to Volos looks steady then the road down the western side of the Pelion is not too bad, just a bit hilly and windy in places. It's a nice area to visit. The drive up past the ski slopes to the other side is breathtaking. There is a small steam railway (can't remember exactly where it starts) that runs from the coast up into the hills and some nice villages. It's worth a trip if you're in the area. The vilage is not far south of Volos on the western side near the gulf. Hope you enjoy it.
Greekofile
We have received an email quote from Auto Union so thank you for the information.
This is an area we have never visited so we are looking forward to exploring. We are staying in Lamia on our first night and after that we haven't made any definite plans. Horto is a place that we hope to visit and a trip on the steam train sounds like a nice idea.
Gina
We have received an email quote from Auto Union so thank you for the information.
This is an area we have never visited so we are looking forward to exploring. We are staying in Lamia on our first night and after that we haven't made any definite plans. Horto is a place that we hope to visit and a trip on the steam train sounds like a nice idea.
Gina
ENJOY!
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