Andros, Greece.

mrtfc

In my older age I'm looking at taking my family for their first holiday abroad. I grew up going to Greece with my parents, and andros is the single greatest place on gods earth. At least according to my memories 25 years ago 😉

Has anybody else been?

One thing, and I am a novice at booking for abroad, as it has no airport I believe you have to fly to Athens, travel to the port at Rafina, and get a ferry to andros. As it seems to still be relatively tourist free, it's hard to get package deals to there so may end up having to book flights and travel separately from accommodation.

Pollycat

mrtfc wrote: »

In my older age I'm looking at taking my family for their first holiday abroad. I grew up going to Greece with my parents, and andros is the single greatest place on gods earth. At least according to my memories 25 years ago 😉

Has anybody else been?

One thing, and I am a novice at booking for abroad, as it has no airport I believe you have to fly to Athens, travel to the port at Rafina, and get a ferry to andros. As it seems to still be relatively tourist free, it's hard to get package deals to there so may end up having to book flights and travel separately from accommodation.

Just because somewhere was paradise on earth 25 years ago doesn't mean it will still be the same - although not having an airport will have kept the hordes away somewhat. :cool:

Depending on the age of your family, more complicated travel arrangements may be bothersome.
And depending on the age of your family, a quiet island may not suit.

But I'm sure you've thought all this through.
I'd be inclined to checkout the Andros board on Tripadvisor.

Booking accommodation & flights independently is not a problem, although you'll need to add in the xfer from the airport to the port and book your ferry tickets.

mrtfc

The family are all fine, the kids were 14 and 15 when I met their mom 7 years ago and more than anything they'd love a beach holiday. None of us are clubbing types.
I was just struggling with a package holiday, it seems cos its off the beaten track a little it's a case of booking the travel individually bit by bit. That's the bit I've never had to do before.

Happy new year to you all x

Pollycat

As mentioned previously, ask on TA Andros board about booking xfers to the port and details of ferry times etc and how much time you should allow and what would happen if your incoming flight was late and you missed your booked ferry i.e. rebooking, accommodation in Athens etc.


You'll also find reviews on Andros accommodation on TA and maybe a regular will be able to recommend somewhere.

Alan_Bowen

There are a number of tour operators who offer holidays to Andros if you want someone else to put it together for you, have a look at Sunvil Holidays and the less expensive Olympic Holidays. Both have reasonable descriptions of how it is now before you jump in and book on the basis of a memory!

Archergirl

It's a little daunting to plan a trip like this for your first one, what happens if the ferries have a problem on you last day.....

mrtfc

Exactly that. I'm happy to piece it together, but for peace of mind I'd like something put together.

There was a wonderful Greek travel agent by me in Sutton Coldfield, I may walk down there in the new year.

Thanks all of you for your advice and help.

Anywhere you'd all recommend going? Corfu and crete etc are a bit too obvious.

Archergirl

Samos is a nice island with an airport, I would ask your local agent what they suggest, we went on a Sunsail holiday to Vonauki but I think Nielson have taken it over, lots of boaty things to do inc SUP and windsurfers, quite spendy though.....

Ganga

If you like great beaches and scenery try the island of Skiathos,it has an airport and i can really recommend it but then i think that most places in Greece are super.

mark1959

I've been to Andros, unfortunately longer ago than you, about 1989. It was and probably still is a beautiful island as it is a 4 hour ferry from rafina. Others to try [that I've been to much more recently] are Limnos, Lesbos, Chios, Kos, Milos, Paros, Naxos [which may not have an airport, these were all visited by ferry], Thassos, Rhodes and Crete. :cool:

Pollycat

I think the OP should do some research about Greece and her (many) islands, taking into account access from the UK from the airports the OP would prefer to fly from (as yet not named) and the type of accommodation the OP wants (as yet unspecified).