Hi,
I'm going to be backpacking in Greece from 21 June to 1 July. I'm solo & female, so if anyone wants to hang out, please let me know!
I'm thinking:
Athens 21 to 23 June (Should I book my ferry ticket online beforehand? If not, where could I get the ticket in person?). I'm going to be at the Athens Backpackers hostel.
Santorini 23 - 27 June (For accommodations in my range, there's George Pension, Tony's Villa and Villa Marvalia. I'd like to go to George Pension but I'm afraid that being by myself, I might get bored b/c it's not near the town center. The other 2 are on Perissa. Do you have to be a part of a couple or group of friends to have fun around here? It seems everyone goes with others).
27 & 28 on Naxos or Paros. To be honest, Naxos seems more interesting to me, though I understand that it's not exactly a backpacker's paradise. Then again, I'm 30 and not looking to just drink every night.
So... any advice would be great. And if you'll be in those areas and would like to meet up, PLEASE let me know. I'm afraid I'll be bored by myself. Or is it easy to meet others? Also, on the islands, are there day activities and tours I can participate in where I can do things in a group setting?
Thanks!
Hi , I live in Athens. Do not worry about travelling by yourself since Greece is quite safe for tourists. Santorini is really nice. You can rent a scooter to go round the island which is not very big. There is also a youth hostel I think in Thira, which is the main town of the island. You should try to go to Mykonos as well. That is another island which can also be combined with other islands like Tinos and Syros. There are two ports, either the port of Pireaus for Santori. Or if you decide to go to Mykonos (you will definitely find company over there, there is quite a lot of nightlife) you can leave from the port of Rafina.
To be honest I am not sure about the dates but most Greeks travel to the islands on weekends. You can buy your ticket on line or when you are in Athens in any travel agency. You will not get bored in Greece by yourself, there are so many things to see. It is better to be alone than with someone you cannot get along with
Let me know if you need more information. I am not sure about the hotels you mention in Santorini but there are so many rooms to let and hostels , you will be fine in terms of accommodation.
I can also give you some number if you decide to go to Mykonos for accommodation
Amalia
Hi Amalia,
Thanks so much for your feedback! Quick question, my flight gets into Athens at 18:30. Is it safe to take the metro to my hostel at night?
Thanks again!!
Hi
Just around the corner from Athens Backpacker, there's a travel shop where you can buy tickets. I bought mine on the day. Maybe to save time, you could get the night boat to Santorini. That's what I did, and it was fine. You can pay an extra 10 euros for a cabin, or sleep in the airplane seats.
I wouldn't worry about accommodation. I travelled alone (also 30) a couple of weeks ago, and was in Santorini, Naox, Paros & Athens. On arrival, there were enough touts at the port to get accommodation at a decent price (I payed between 15 and 25 euros for a room). I met up with people every day. Shared a room with a girl I met, and had people to go out with every night but one!
I just returned from Athens and the metro system is excellent. You will buy your ticket at the airport, and then you will need to validate it with time/date just before going down the stairs. (You insert it into a slot.) Also, with future ticket purchases, be sure to touch the British flag at the bottom of the screen to get the english version. With an 18:30 arrival, you might emerge from the Metro in darkness, but we were amazed by all the friendly, helpful people. Having said that, you should not put anything down in the Metro, because we talked to a few people who had things stolen. One got off the metro, put her purse on top of her suitcase, and it was gone in an instant. Just be cautious.
We stayed at the Parthenon Hotel which was right next to a hostel, and things looked busy and friendly with an internet cafe on first floor. I would think you will meet people easily. On Naxos, we hiked for hours along the beaches which are beautiful, white sand. You can walk from St. George all the way to Plaka in two hours, with a small detour on the road. The port is very busy at night, with everyone chatting and mingling. We stayed at Glaros Hotel on the beach. Alex runs the place and he is well known for helping people with questions. You could always stop in there for a chat!
Santorini is amazing. The walk from Firestefani to Ioa is gorgeous and takes several hours. Road narrows, so be careful if you do this since traffic can be crazy. Have fun!
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