Kalymnos Travel
Information

We thought some Kalymnos travel information and travelling tips would, perhaps, be welcome. After visiting many different islands, and on occasion finding it very difficult to find our way around, we decided it was time to put something together.

Travelling to Kalymnos outside of the summer months can be a long and tedious journey to many of the islands. With the absence of charter flights, particularly from the European countries, it becomes a much longer travelling time on schedule flights.

This is because most of the cheaper scheduled flights (Easyjet and now Aegean Air for example) don't fly from the more convenient airports that we are used to flying from. Whilst they provide a good service, it usually requires additional travelling time to get to their out-of-the-provinces points of departure, but once you know your choices, the event may be one that you could enjoy.

Award Winning Aegean Air Jet In For A Quick Turnaround

Unfortunately, both Colin and I had large suitcases, as we were taking some curtains (drapes) bought during the January sales in the UK, for the holiday home we have in Kalymnos; consequently, our bags were quite heavy.

We took a bus from our home town in the Snowdonia National Park to Wrexham, and then we jumped a train to Luton. I use the term loosely and figuratively, as there was no way we could 'jump' anywhere with our suitcases.

The weather was very cold and the trains were draughty. We had to change trains at, Birmingham, Leicester and then on to Luton to board an EasyJet flight the following day to Athens.

This was a bind because we were cold and tired from dragging our bags up and down stairs and escalators to get to the different platforms that we had to travel from.

There didn't seem to be any coordination between the different trains and invariably, or so it seemed, after alighting one train, our next departing train was leaving from a platform two or three flights of stairs away (the elevators always seemed to be broken down as you get to expect from the British Rail system) and at opposite end of the station.

We never dreamt it was going to be so difficult. We had to stay overnight in Luton because our Athens flight didn’t leave until early the next morning.

This cost us extra of course, and when we arrived at the Luton airport check-in our bags were so heavy, we had to pay excess baggage charges of £50.

This meant the money we saved in the January sales for the curtains, we spent on excess baggage and hotels! I thought buying the curtains was such a good idea, I had convinced Colin to go along with me at the time. Now, of course, I was getting all kinds of 'cursing' from him; I didn't blame him to be honest.

So much for our great savings from the January sales! and so much for getting a 'cheap flight' with EasyJet.

Upon arriving in Athens, we caught the new metro to Athens city centre and stayed in a cheap and cheerful hotel that friends had recommended to us. We were extremely impressed with the service of the Metro and the fact that the trains were so clean and modern; it was a refreshing change to see carriages without graffiti all over them, as you do say, in New York or London.

But we couldn't say the same about the hotel. It was no more than a back-packers 'put-you-up'. Which is fine, but as we are getting a little older now, we prefer to have one or two comforts around us.

We no longer rely on recommendations, we now got to Athens Hotels for a complete list of Athens hotels with detailed descriptions, photos and rates. They also have a list of Athens tours as well as holiday packages and cruises to the Greek islands. In addition, you will find useful tourist information for Athens – such as the Athens city map and metro map. And, if you are a back-packer looking for somewhere to put your head for the night, I am sure they'll be able to help you too.

It had taken us two days to get there and just like any big metropolis of a city anywhere in the world, Athens was buzzing.

After check-in at the hotel, we ate in a great taverna right in the centre of the city; we had read a review of the restaurant in the UK press and made a booking and they weren't phased by our arrival time. The events of the previous two days seemed to be worthwhile.

After travelling with Olympic for many years, it was refreshing to experience the services of Aegean; you can see why they have won so many awards. Some people would say that this should have been a great experience; it depends on what you prefer! I know what I'd rather do in future.

In fact, the good news is that Aegean Air has recently announced its new service from London (Stanstead) to Athens,and for us Northeners, from Late August(2009)this year, Easyjet are flying from Manchester to Athens, starting with a weekly flight, good eh?

Check Kalymnos travel information, book earlier and get same day connecting flights from Athens to Kalymnos. For more info go to Olympic Airlines or better still go to Aegean Air, you will almost certainly get a better deal.

Some alternative Kalymnos travel information
you may want to consider!

• Wait until the flights to Kos start in April/May if that's convenient. This is when the charter flights start from most European countries.
  
  
• Fly to Athens and stay at the Airport hotel. It might be a little more expensive, but much kinder to your nervous system.
  
  
• Stay in Athens longer, do more site-seeing and enjoy the more leisurely ferry from Piraeus to Kos or get a flight a few days after your stay in Athens. And it really is worth the extra time, there is so much to see.
  
  
• Fly to Rhodes and stay a few days for the experience of another island, before catching the ferry to Kos.

Kalymnos Travel Information - Holiday Travel Agents

Most travel agents in Britain have holiday packages to Kos and Kalymnos. This includes Thomas Cook, First Choice, Thomson’s, Direct Line and My Travel. The package companies vary in their price, and holiday type, for instance, self catering, half board or all inclusive; then you can think about whether you want to stay at hotel, apartments or studios. It won’t take you long to search for Kalymnos Travel information for the ideal holiday package to suit your needs.

Kalymnos Travel Information - Flights to Kalymnos

If you want to book you flight only, and arrange your stay when you arrive, Thomas cook or Easyjet will help you, depending on where you want to fly from in the UK.

Kalymnos Travel information - Hurray!! The New Kalymnian Airport!

If you know about Kalymnos travel information, you'll know that Kalymnos now has its own airport, with flights to and from Athens. It is situated in the area of Argos, which is quite close to capital city of Pothia. The services only operate during the summer months to cover the tourist requirements of the island. In winter, the airport continues to operate but is used only for carrying cargo and supplies. It is not a heavily used airport and the local people know exactly when a plane is due to arrive. Therefore, there will always be lots of buses and taxis outside the terminal which will take you either to the capital of the island, Pothia, or to your chosen destination.

Kalymnos Travel Information - Ferries to Kalymnos from Kos

Ferries come and go from Pothia every day on a regular basis. On the large ferry from Kos, it takes 50 minutes, but you can also get a ‘dolphin’ boat which is much faster and takes about half an hour.

Kalymnos Travel Information - Other Ferries

The Dodecanese Hydrofoil and the Samos Hydrofoil take regular trips to Kalymnos, and there are ferries to and from Kos and Rhodes on a daily basis in the summertime. There are also trips to Bodrum, Turkey from Pothia and many people take this opportunity for shopping in the Bodrum markets.

Kalymnos Travel Information - Island Hopping

Kalymnos travel information in high season, will be clear about ferries linking the island of Kalymnos with the other Dodecanese islands of Samos, which takes about 7 hours. Agathonisi takes about six hours, Arki, Patmos about 4 hours, Astypalaia, over 3 hours, Lipsi 3 hours, and finally 2 hours to Leros. These trips are usually twice a week, but check before you decide which trip you will take.

From Kalymnos it is also very easy to visit the nearby tiny islands of Telendos and Pserimos, both of these little islands are wonderful for swimming and fishing and you can enjoy a short stay, or at least a lovely day.

Kalymnos Travel Information - Car Hire in Kalymnos

Just A Regular Old Car! No Expensive SUV's or 4x4's Required Here

There are various places where you can rent a car or bikes for your stay on the island, especially in Pothia and Elies. We always go to Grekio in Elies.

As soon as you arrive in Pothia, there are lots of signs advertising both car hire or scooter hire. In fact, there are one or two places quite close to the harbour where the boats arrive. My personal advice is to shop around, as there are cheap deals to be had. A good idea, we always find, is to hire something for your first day or two. Then, being mobile, you can shop around just as soon as you have settled in and feel 'more comfortable'; you may find a better deal which you can switch to after the initial day or two.

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