A challenge to those of you that travel using a standard charter holiday

Norsk utgave (Norwegian edition)

WE CHALLENGE YOU TO GO ON A MINI Island STROLL!

Hydrofoils take you very fast from on island to the next, like this one that runs between Skiathos and Skopelos.

Many of you will take day trips to an island that is close to the one that you are staying on. This is great. But what about extending this trip to the point when you have to sleep over at least for one night?

WHY?

Well, here are some contrary questions: What will you experience on a day trip and what will you miss? The first question first: Obviously you will experience quite a few things on a day trip and in most cases they will give back to you what they promised in the add for the trip. But the next question is: Was this everything I can expect to experience at this given island? Off course not. Take for instance The island of Symi. This is a small island north east of Rhodes with many day trips every day.

When the boats arrive the whole island flourishes with plenty of tourists running back and forth through the streets and in and out of the many shops. It can be expected that the prices go up every time this happens. The elevated tempo can be charming enough but it is when the boats are leaving that you can really experience what Symi is all about. Then everything is settling down to a laid back tempo. Now you can walk around and really feel the village charm. And if you are as lucky as we are, you will have a room with a balcony above the harbour where you can watch the village life like the fishermen do their work. You can watch the sailboats leaving or arriving, in short enjoy life! After a while you leave your room, find a decent tavern where you eat and drink. This is how Symi is at least during most of the day and you will have to stay there for 24 hrs to find out.

This is some of the view we had from our balcony above the harbour of Symi where we stayed during the summer of 1983.

HOW IS A MINI Island STROLL DONE?

The simplest way is to go on a day trip and don’t return until the same boat arrives the following day. Many also will sell one way tickets. But if you really want some of the genuine Island stroll feeling you should visit of the travel agencies and ask for a tourist class ticket on one of the ferries that goes to your island of choice.

At the travel agency you can also book a night but this is not recommended because this should be done when you arrive the island. To give an example from the already mentioned island of Symi. We had just arrived when we got run down by someone that wanted to rent us a "room". We went along and found the room acceptable based on our needs.

What about the bed you have already paid for at you "mother" island? Just forget it, it can manage without you.

If you take this challenge I will guaranty that you can look back on many experiences that you had been without if you had followed the rest of the party. And it is not very difficult………if you dare.

Recommended destinations from some of the larger tourist islands:

• Crete: First and foremost Santorini. Greece’s most photographed island and a beautiful place to go Island Strolling. Also Kithira north of Crete can be recommended.
• Rhodes: Many alternatives like Symi, Kos and Karpathos are within a decent distance.
• Kos: Kalimnos but also Leros and Patmos

• Samos: Ikaria and Patmos + Turkey

• Skiathos: Skopelos and Alonissos + the main land
• Corfu: Paxi
• Santorini: A lot of islands like Anafi, Amorgos, Ios, Paros, Naxos, Folegandros, Milos and Sifnos