Hi First visit

[flax]

Hi Folks,
We're planning a trip to Halki in early September and have a couple of questions.
Apologies if they're frequently asked.
Is a week too long to spend on the island ? We're the mooching around going for walks and spending a couple of hours on the beach after a decent lunch type of people rather than sightseers.
How often and when do ferries go to Tilos.I appreciate it's still early days post Covid-19 and some timetables haven't been published but any help on previous years would be appreciated.
And the usual question - best places to eat for authentic local food.
Many thanks in advance.
Flax.

[flax]

One more thing - any links to local blogs would be appreciated too.

[soupdragon]

Hi Flax

We're quite new to the Island and asked ourselves the same question before our first visit. To answer your question is a week too long?

I'd say all the replies you'll get will be NO. Two weeks isn't enough and there are some lucky people who spend a month or more there.
We try to seek out the most relaxing places for our holidays and Halki so far is the most chilled out place we've found.
If you like to meander around be prepared for some inclines, depending which direction and how far you go will vary the intensity of ache in your legs at the end of the day.
We tend to have a slow wander to one of the beaches and park our bums at the taverna for a read/chill/lunch/drinks (delete as appropriate) and generally just watch nothing at all while we age a couple of hours. Then we head back to our place of abode for a hard earned rest.

Regarding Tilos. The catamaran goes Tuesday and Thursday morning and returns later in the afternoon. If you did a day trip you'd get around 4 or 5 hours there I think. Our last visit there we stayed over for two nights. Was most enjoyable.

If you like to give yourself over to total relaxation you can't do any better than Halki.

Hope that helps.

Cheers. Tom and Rose

[flax]

Oh that's marvellous to know.Sounds right up our street.
We seen many changes in nearly 50 years of visiting the islands and we're increasingly drawn to off the beaten track now our galivanting days are over.
Thanks for responding so quickly.

[soupdragon]

I'm sure you'll have an absolutely marvelous time.
Last year we only managed to drag ourselves away from the harbour area once compared to previous years when it would be a daily ritual. We actually felt a bit guilty but later realised that we were just so comfortable doing next to nothing. I just felt right if you know what I mean?
Anyway, have a great time. If you get the inclination post a couple of daily, what I did today, type posts if you could? It gives those of us that have to wait until next year for a visit a little boost

Cheers. Tom and Rose

[flax]

Definitely.
We originally had a family holiday planned for this week at a villa in Paxos to coincide with the Euros.
We tend to do a villa and pool holiday every couple of years to tie in with either the World Cup or Euros and enjoy time with our kids who are at Uni.
That obviously went by the wayside,postponed till next year, so we chanced a cheap as chips easyJet flight into Rhodes and will do Rhodes,Tilos and Symi to link in with ferries.
Even when the kids were growing up we backpacked and island hopped and they loved it.
Now I'm creaking a bit I tend to prefer stuff I can organise in advance - not like the old days of a few drachmas a night for a room and no A/C !
Microwaves and mobile phones hadn't been invented then.The internet was stuff of science fiction.
What has never changed have been the islands and the wonderful Greek people.
Resilient after so much adversity and happy for us to linger over a cold Mythos,a few nuts and generally noodling around doing nothing until a fabulous dinner and an early night.
Looking forward to it enormously after this bizarre year.

[soupdragon]

Sounds like Halki was created with you in mind

Cheers. Tom and Rose

[Liz]

Hi .. sorry late here .. Tom and Rose wrote a couple of wonderful blogs on here when they first visited .. Halki is ... just so chilled you can do as much or as little as you like. There are beaches if you want .. all with excellent tavernas or you can just sit on your terrace/balcony or on the harbour with a book or just stare into space for hours . The people are so welcome and friendly, we are still hopeful for October having had our June trip cancelled ... Id say a week is not enough .. its amazing how fast time flies when you. do absolutely nothing .. its a magical place and I'm sure you will love it

[ketut]

Has anyone heard which tavernas are open or will be open soon!

[Liz]

Black Sea is open and Remezzo is open .. from some pictures I saw it doesn't look like Valentis is open and Petros's shop looks closed ( I did hear he was poorly in hospital- I do hope he's ok ) .. I'm not sure about anywhere else

[mralf]

Hello Flax,,,,I've been going to Halki once or twice a year since 1993 and I always find it very relaying, friendly and welcoming. In my younger days we walked all round the Island and always finished up at a beach, a castle or once the monastery Before the road was built. But you can always sit where yo can see the harbour and boating activities. It is the cleanest harbour , Ideal for swimming (if you can swim) I love it and will be back on Wednesday

[Liz]

Hi Mralf will you let us know how the airport and transfers etc are ? .. thanks

[mralf]

I'm tempted to say 'Kalispera' Flax and Liz,    The airport at Gatwick was quieter than on previous trips, Spacing was variable but it worked  well. At Rhodes spacing was better observed, Health paper required by the Hellenic Republic was registered. some of us, if not all, had a saliva test taken and we were free to  go.   The new ferry was quicker than the older boats and it ran on time every time.
On the island....7 tavernas around the harbor were open, but Christos and Nicky have shut up their taverna an have moved to Rhodes as were5 cafenons and Theodosia's.
The number of British visitors was very reduced but a lot of the owners of holiday rooms were letting them out to Greeks for the weekends, all relations from Rhodes and the rest of Greece so th place was more crowded at weekends
d than I have ever known it.
The three beach tavernas were all open.
I can say that Halki is still the Halki that draws us back, Quiet and peaceful

[ketut]

Thanks for the update mralf. After much deliberation we have decided to risk the flights to visit Halki this year. Can you tell me which tavernas are open in the evening. Thanks

[mralf]

Ketut hello,   All seven of the harborside tavernas were open in the evening but not one of the beachside tavernas were open in the evening.   The bus was running but I could find no timetable!     As to grocery shops ,two were open but Petro's opened the day after I arrived but was closed again before I left.     There was also a boat making trips to various beaches to a time table which seemed to be quite busy.       I hope to be back in second half of September.