UK to Corfu Jan Feb March

catmandoo

catmandoo

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Whats the best and cheapest way to get to Corfu form Uk in first quarter 2007. Charter flights not available till May.

Aware of Ryanair to Brindisi and Bari and then ferry to Corfu but not sure whether overnight stay advisable in in Brindisi etc (Seaplane Brindisi Gouvia not running in winter and expensive having to take off from Brindisi airport)

Also considering direct flight to Athens but not sure of travel route overland to Corfu, frequency and comfort of bus services. Can any one advise with direct experience of travelling both ways. Also will it take more than 2 days to get there ?

Unfortunately travelling from Scotland so have extra bother of staying overnight at Stansed /Gatwick etc
 
Doesnt lorry transport go all the way from Scotland? isnt there just a chance that you could get a lift all the way or at least part. with a train along the way? perhaps the time constraint is too great?
 
1 - The Gouvia floatplane service is extending its route to Brindisi this winter I believe. It will have to fly to Kerkyra to clear customs.

2 - Brindisi. Flight and ferry schedules force and overnight in the 'town' - CarpeDiem is a hostel run by 'Maurizio'. cell number 0039 338 323 5545. He will pick you up from the airport and drop you at the ferry terminal. Speaks good Englissh and a nice fella. www.hostelcarpediem.it

3 -Overland from Athens ?? dont bother. Fly Aegean airlines. modern aircraft, good service to kerkyra. About Euro 100 return.

Alternative - fly/drive to Venice, catch ferry from there. If you are flying then get a cabin on the ferry its a 24 hour trip. If you are driving in a larger vehicle then book 'camping on deck' you can sleep in the vehicle and you get to use the restuarant and shops anyway.

I usually go Easyjet to Athens then Aegean to Corfu. Cost about 200 return. Usually works 1 way without more than an hour or two layover but the other way needs 12 hours or so in Athens, usually an overnighter. Be warned NO cheap hotels near Athens international. ( they built a friggin big airport and banned all hotel development! ) The Sofitel at the airport wants Euro 300 for the night - walk in traffic - 10% discout (wow!) on weekends. Holiday inn - about 20 minute ride on free shuttle Euro 120 / night. Ibis and F1 in Athens but could cost you 30 or 40 euros each way in a taxi so not worth the hour drive. Last weekend I stayed overnight in a reasonably priced room ( Euro 60, continental brakfast included. Private bath and shower, TV too ) about 10 mins frm the airport, included a free ride to/from the hotel. Its a new, clean and friendly little 'family' place, the business card of which I cannot find right now but if you go down to the two travel agents on the lower floor of the Athens airport the one on the left of the exit will put you on to them!

Brindisi ferries DO run in winter, so do Igonometsa ferries.
 
It may be worth considering flying to Athens .There are several buses a day to Lefkas which takes around 5-6 hours from the center of Athens .Fare is 24euro approx .Good standard of bus -ussually !!but very scenic trip .Once to Lefkas there is bus to Preveza(2euro) then to igoumonitsa (about 15 euro last time i used it) which takes 3 hours then ferry to Corfu -10 euro which takes an hour and half -all very good links and nice trip through mountains on bus.Ferrys run all the time to Corfu although less frequent through night .If your feeling flush a taxi from Lefkas to igoumonitsa is around 100 euro or even taxi from Athens at around 250 euro .If you google "athens survival guide" there is a wealth of info on there .The bus company for greece is k-tel and they have good web site with timetables -sometimes not working but very good when it is .Good train link from Athens airport to center where you can find hotel if needed for 50 - 60 euro a night.Just a few ideas for you to think about .You may even find bus direct to igoumonitsa but i ussually only go as far as Lefkas which is 90 k from igoumonitsa.
 
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Doesnt lorry transport go all the way from Scotland? isnt there just a chance that you could get a lift all the way or at least part. with a train along the way? perhaps the time constraint is too great?

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Go by lorry at my age . That would put SWMBO off for ever On yer bike pal /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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1 - The Gouvia floatplane service is extending its route to Brindisi this winter I believe. It will have to fly to Kerkyra to clear customs.


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In September I was told that they would not let the planes alight in Brindisi harbour . They must go to and from the airport Hence wheels on floats of the one plane that does the trip . Presumably for Italian authorities to pick up airport tax hence higher price than it could be.
 
It may start too late for you, but I've just been told that from March 20th 2007, there will be a new all year service from Gatwick to Corfu, with 3 flights a week.
I hope to learn more about it later this week.
 
Not at the moment - I've a customer who has some building land for sale in Corfu and he rang me this afternoon to ask if I could add the flight details to his web site. His daughter lives on Corfu and told him about the new service. He's getting the full details from her and passing them on to me later this week - I'll post again when I know.
 
Have you tried the Olympic Site? March last year they took us to Athens and then flew us in a little plane to Preveza [with three fights a week]. I am sure they have local flights to Corfu as well. The total cost was £130.

Because of a mess up with flight times at their end they took us a day early. Put us in a nice hotel in Athens and offered us three extra meals. Had a evening and day in Athens for sight seeing etc Normally there would be an hour between flights.

The previous year I flew on First Choice for a similar price and was delayed for four hours. It has taken me 18 months to get £20 compensation. First Choice made a billion profit last year. Olympic have been running at a loss since the Wright Brothers.
 
Try this for the Athens bus timetables:

Athens buses

I've done it to Lefkas and that works fine. Need a local airport bus to bus terminal from the airport though. Not sure about the extra bit to Corfu, suggest you browse the timetables for more direct route not via lefkas.

Steve
 
Landing at Athens?

I'd recommend BA for the flights if you book early, 3 a day, and they do 'one ways' nowadays. Often cheaper than Easy if you book well ahead, and great legroom and nice grub on the trip.

Now, choice, air to Corfu, or bus/ferry. Right pain arranging flight bookings unless you travel Olympic from London.

Thinking bus?


Do Number 93 bus from Athens Eleftheriou airport to Kiffisou bus station (about 24 a day, slightly longer waits at night). Journey time 1 hour. Catch it on the extreme right as you exit the terminal building. Ticket from the kiosk gives you 24 hors touring Athens if you wish . . . good if you decide to overnight in Athens.

Kiffisou bus station opens at 0600. Buy tickets for Igoumenitsa at row of kiosks (reserves you a seat on the bus), takes about 6 hours, about €26, but I'm a bit out of date. 3 - 4 buses a day if I remember right, and unfortunately the KTEL web site with time tables has been suspended.

From Igoumenitsa frequent ferries run to Corfu town.

Allow 14 hours for the whole performance, but it's quite fun at the bus sation. Beats television, watching all the action. Bit like watching charter yachts arriving on their moorings.

Better bet, of course, is to keep your yacht at Levkas, or better still, Kalamata. But you don't want to hear that.
 
Re Kiffisou bus station...there is an excellent restaurant..a bit like a canteen but with waiter service.. !!! Highly recommended to while away the odd hour or two. Seriously though..the bus terminal is a bit of a dump .. but wonderful people watching..!!
 
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