Hello--- Last night I bought my airline ticket for a trip to Greece and Turkey this fall. I will fly to Athens Sept 15 and spend 2 days there, then fly to Kos (in the Dodecanese, very close to Turkey) to join a walking tour that will last 2 1/2 weeks and include walking (hiking) on Kos, Patmos, Samos, and 2 other islands. It ends on Samos, and I will have to get myself to Olu Deniz, Turkey, for the start of another hiking trip of the Turquoise Coast in Turkey. Then I plan to go to Istanbul for 7-9 days, and fly home from there on Oct 22. I'm excited and a little apprehensive. I've been to Europe, mostly Italy, many times, but never Greece or Turkey. I still need to get travel insurance, a hotel for Athens, a flight to Kos, a way to Olu Deniz from Samos (I think I have that figured out, I have 3 days to get there, but the ferry schedules are pretty vague, and what I REALLY want to do is spend a day on Rhodes while I'm making the trip, and I know ferry schedules are shortened in October)), a way to Istanbul from the Turquoise Coast (Turkish airline sites are pretty vague too, and the Turkish Airways price is $335 - I'm working on a budget airline ticket), and help for my time in Istanbul for hotel and some guiding. So there is lots to do yet. If you have any ideas for me, please let me know. Thanks, I'll keep posting my progress, and plan a big Trip Report when I get back.
Linda, is there any way to change your ticket, if you want to do the Rhodes thing??? Because you should have (sorry) looked at a map first. The only way you can do 3 days in Rhodes Readily is to Fly into Rhodes, do the 3 days, THEN go to Kos. Samos-Rhodes transport at end of your hike trip is problematic in Fall...even in May I have had problems! Going to Turkey is easiest from Samos (45 mins), tho I don't know where that Olu place is...you need some map work girl. If u can't switch ticket then instead of Rhodes u might look at ferry sked to go to/from Chios; a magical isle and really only reachable from Samos. BUt first, check into switching your flight-- even if you have a $25 penalty it will be worth it, and it's months off. Good luck!
