The Skiathos Bulletin Board

Merlin · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: Skiathos and back without XL

Following the demise of XL we decided to go to Skiathos anyway but with a twist.

We simply went with no prior bookings.
Our adventure rewarded us with an extended stay of over 3 weeks and wasn’t the weather kind, our stay may have been longer had pressure not been applied from the UK. This is one benefit of travelling none package.
It may have not been the cheapest or the most direct rout but we wanted to prove that you can just pack and go if you really want.

For those of you that do not know us we travel frequently to Skiathos on a regular basis and have done so for may years this in it’s self can be daunting but imaging taking someone who has developed not only a fear for flying but the fear for travelling, even going to the supermarket can have it’s moments.

So here we go!

Friday XL ceased trading and we kissed our flight goodbye.
Julie was all pilled up with various drugs and concoctions and her anxieties were popping, do we try for something on the day or return home!
We elected to return home as now emotions were running high, you see after so many visits the excitement is still the same today as the very first day over 21 years ago, if not more so as people were waiting our return.

On the way home from Manchester a dear friend found us 2 seats from East Midlands to Thessaloniki one way and we booked it! We will worry about the connections later and later we did, actually upon arriving into Thessaloniki and it’s simple.

Out bound:
EM to Thessaloniki. 80€
Bus to the Train Station 0.50€
Train to Volos via Larissa 11€
Overnight in Volos 30€ - 50€ we paid 35€ double
Ferry to Skiathos 30€

In bound:
Skiathos to Athens 53€
Overnight in Athens 40€ collect and return
Athens to Heathrow 185€

To be honest we did try to leave Skiathos with the package companies but basically waiting for a telephone call or entering the lottery for a standby seat simply began to eat into our last few days and you must admit time gets very precious in the final days or even hours.

All prices are based on per person and the inbound were all scheduled flights with Olympic, complimentary refreshments and a superb flight home Airbus A340, after travelling direct to Skiathos and using Easy Jet so many times what a surprise and a pleasure it was to come home in comfort!.

With all the above bookings only the flights were booked in advance and not more than 48hrs. All the rest of the travel arrangements were on arrival.

MrsWhicker · Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1013

Merlin, if only I'd known you were in Manchester Airport on the 12th Sept probably at the same check-in as some young friends of ours who thought they were on their way to Skiathos for their last holiday before their wedding next year, we could have hooked them up with you and maybe they might have had their holiday with your help, I tried my best to help from Skiathos but failed miserably.

Ah well, the best laid plans etc.

On a lighter note, it was lovely to meet you and Julie (don't tell Kriandos) and thank you so much for the wine which was enjoyed by all.

Kath x

Kriandos · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

Good evening Arthur and Julie and thanks for a cracking report.

Me and Viv read it together and agreed that we would have done exactly the same given the unfortunate predicament you were faced with.

We travelled a similar route in both directions several years ago, and enjoyed every minute even though it caused some inconvenience from a work point of view .... stuff em ... it was great Very Happy

Rock on ... life's too short Very Happy

Have you got any photos of Mrs Whicker ???

I've got this image in my mind ................

MrsWhicker · Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1013

Kriandos think of blue/brown eyes, unusual footwear and a popeye pipe, uurrgghh, on second thoughts better not.

Kriandos · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

MrsWhicker · Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Posts: 1013

Diamond · Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 379 Location: Hertfordshire

Not been on for a while and catching up on all the gossip on here tonight and see my name mentioned Laughing

Whats this all about - me and ClearSpray!! Rolling Eyes

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