Waiting for transfers to Halki

[kalliopi]

Although I am quite travelled in Greece, I haven't been for several years. On the spur of the moment we have booked for a week in Halki at the end of June. Our flight times are: Newcastle to Rhodes 22nd June landing@15.55. Returning from Rhodes to Newcastle 29th Jun @ 16:55 .

Am I correct in thinking we will have an over night stay in Rhodes on both the outbound & inbound trips?

It is a long time since I was in Rhodes Town, can anyone advise us how best to spend the evenings wisely, in a not too expensive way. Are there any inexpensive tavernas serving Greek food and/or any places that are a must to visit?

[Liz]

Hi Kalliopi and welcome
I presume you've booked with Olympic
You may JUST manage the ferry on the way to Halki and for the return I don't think they take you off a day early , the ferries leave at 8.30 and 9.30am so the day you leave you may get a few hours in a hotel on Rhodes ( better than the airport )
Can't help you on Rhodes town I'm afraid as Ive never been

[kalliopi]

Thanks for your reply Liz, but I am still a little confused over ferry times for 2011, I do know these are Greek ferries, so must expect to be confused! I thought the ferry left at 4pm ish on Wednesdays, or did last year,therefore we have no chance of catching it. I see there is the Dodekanisios Express at 9am on the Thursday morning which is not so bad. I can't find 2011 timetable for the Wednesday ferry from Rhodes to Halki, if there still is one.

[carol]

Hi Kalliopi, I think maybe you are getting mixed up with the ferries that come from Rhodes ie Dodekanisos express/seaway and the local small ferries that run between Kamiros Scala and Halki. The local ferries on wednesday changeover day went last year at approx 8.30am and 9am returning from KS at approx 5pm and 530pm to fit in with the afternoon flights arriving from the UK. You will be able to catch either ferry if you are with Olympic but as Liz says you may have a few hours wait in a hotel in Rhodes on your way home, coming out shouldnt be a problem if your flight is on time, hope this is of some help ;D

[animalwelfare]

hello,
there are more alternative ferries from Rhodes town in the summer season, not only from Kamiros Scala, maybe they change the schedule, so better look short before you go there, check it out: www.danae.gr/ferries-Greece.asp
You also can call or mail to the harbor or shipping companies:
ADDRESS: Makariou & Papagou corner - 85100 RHODES Phones: 22410-44333 or 44335 FAX: [phone]
Web site: www.ando.gr/eot E-mail: [e-mail]

I spent nights at City Center Hotel, Rhodos town, booked with www.booking.com at my way back they even offered me a "day-room" for some hours to wait for my flight back. Must ask them if they do it in summer season.

Even the water taxi runs since Easter.

Its always a little adventure to go there, but that makes the difference to other full all inclusive islands or holidays !Love it.

Maria

[kalliopi]

Thanks for your replies,Marie & Carol, typical me I have tried to be packaged and acting like I am not, the old holiday rep in me coming out.
All will be revealed when I get my paperwork from Olympic, or I could call them and try to get some sense, or maybe not. Danae again don't seem to do Wednesdays.

I know I sound as if I have little faith, but I did work as a rep for Olympic & several other now defunct/bankrupt holiday companies many moons ago,, so I do know from experience, that half the time, they do not know they are doing

Just looking forward to finding out about the place you all obviously love so much. I love these boards & feel as if I know then place already, will be hanging around, if you will have me. ;D

[carol]

Hi Kalliopi, as you are with Olympic they should arrange your transfers to and from Halki, I imagine there will be a rep waiting for you at Rhodes airport to either put you in a taxi to Kamiros Scala or in a bus depending on how many other visitors there are that day. On your return you will be given a time to be at the ferry and then I believe there is usually either bus or taxi to take you to a hotel or airport depending on how long your wait is. We have not travelled with Olympic but plenty on here have and they have always arrived ;D so dont worry, let them do the organising,you just enjoy your holiday and we want you to stick around, more the merrier Please give us your thoughts good or bad when you return, it is always good to hear from a new visitor ;D

[kalliopi]

Thanks carol, yes I know that there will be a rep to meet us & transfers are included, as there normally is with a package, I was just trying to get a handle on the ferry times. As an ex rep, I am used to anything & everything travelling in Greece can throw at me and am not really worried, just hoping I have as least time as possible on Rhodes and more on your lovely quiet island.

[carol]

It sounds like your arrival time is perfect and as long as your flights are on time you will be in Halki early evening on wednesday but you may have a bit of hanging around in a hotel on the way home, better than hanging about at the airport at least there should be no overnight stops in Rhodes ;D

[kalliopi]

Oh brilliant Carol, from what you & Liz have said, it's much better than I was thinking. It will be nice to spend a few hours in Rhodes, but not too many & not overnight is much preferable. I picked up an Olympic brochure yesterday. When I got it home I realised it doesn't feature Halki Sooo looking forward to it & seeing how much Greek I can remember.

[muriman]

Kalliopi, just out of curiosity, when you worked for the companies you mention many moons ago, did you by any chance work for a "Small" company? (If you did, you will know what I mean!).

As a further point to what others have said, any delay to your flight would make getting the ferry from Kamiros Skala touch and go (though if you are on a package it would be Olympic's responsibility to put you in a hotel for the night and get you to KS for the next day's ferry. It might be worth trying to go with hand baggage only to save time at the airport. The Thursday ferry would probably be the normal Thursday time of 1430, not the late afternoon/early evening times which usually happen on Wednesdays, because that is the main change-over day when the ferries cater for the charter flight traffic (though this arrangement is not in published timetables). Up to a point, one of the two ferries may wait for the latest charter pax, but typically not beyond about 1700-1730.

[kalliopi]

Thanks for that muriman. We now have the paperwork from Olympic and we are none the wiser, it only shows the flights & names the accommodation Last week I tried the chat thing on the Olympic website, someone started to reply & then bogged off. It was also suggested you could give your e-mail addy. If no one there to answer immediately, they would e-mail back with the reply, I did, needless to say I am glad I was not holding my breath. ;D

I have not worked for that company but I remember paling around with two of the reps on Skopelos, can't remember their names for the life of me now.

[kalliopi]

Only 6 days to go as you will see from my signature ;D We have the tickets & everything from Olympic, everything but the itinerary that is. Thank goodness for you guys on this forum or we would have a clue what is is likely to happen when we land in Rhodes. It seems very strange to me that Olympic don't tell you anything.

[carol]

Hi Kalliopi, Lisa returned over a week ago and it sounds like the ferry waited for late arrivals within reason, you should be ok outbound as long as your flight is on time, you may even get a quick drink at Kamiros Scala ;D and on the way home let Olympic sort it out, you definitely wont lose a days holiday. Have a fabulous time, chill out and enjoy x