Practical information
Arrival times
The courses all start with a 7.30 pm evening meal on the first night. Participants may arrive at any time and can buy drinks, snacks or lunch at the pool bar. Early arrivers are invited to meet-up at 6 pm informally at the bar (nibbles are provided). We can save a meal for anyone arriving on the late-evening ferry.
Departure times
There are no classes on the last date given, which is the departure date. Breakfast is provided after which guests are welcome to relax at the hotel and beach until whatever time they need to travel.
Travel
Travel to and from Paros is not included in the cost of your holiday and remains your responsibility, but here you can find some information to help you when booking flights. We can help you plan your journey, what to bring and whether to extend your trip.
There are three main options:
1. Fly to Athens and take the ferry to Paros ( approx. 3 - 4 hours ).
2. Fly to Santorini and take the ferry to Paros ( approx. 2 -3 hours ).
3. Fly to Paros via Athens.
If you wish to stay overnight near one of the ferry ports we can recommend budget hotels
Directly outside the airport exit there's a bus stop with a bus which goes to the main ferry-port, Piraeus
(it's the last stop so you can't miss it!). The bus and the stop have a picture of a ferry to make things easy and most Greek people speak some English.
Those staying overnight may like to stay in the charming smaller port of Rafina, from where you can get an early morning ferry.
Customers make their own travel arrangements but we are happy to advise.
For those who prefer to travel with others we will try to link travellers together.
Here is a really useful website for information about ferries from Athens: http://www.ferriesingreece.com/
Here are some tips from a previous travellers to Paros:
"Last year I went to Santorini first, flying into Athens and getting a connecting flight. I stayed there 2 nights then got a ferry to Paros. At the end of the week I got the ferry back to Santorini and reversed the process. It worked fine, but I realised in retrospect that I would have been better to get the ferry direct back to Athens and fly from there rather than staying another night on Santorini. You don't save any money by getting a return ticket on the ferry." Fiona
"Mary & I stayed in a cheap and very friendly, back street hotel in Piraeus last time. It's very near the port and departure for the ferry to Paros, and it's other advantage is that it's next to the fish market! We'd certainly use it again."
Hotel Triton
8 Tsamadou str.
18531 Piraeus,
Greece
Tel. =30 210 417 3457- 8
Email [email protected]
www.htriton.gr
"I'm sure you already know about the Art Gallery Hotel in Athens. We always use this." John
"We both came to Paros in June, what a lovely week. We flew to Athens and took a taxi to Rafina (30 euros) We stayed overnight in the Avra Hotel in Rafina, reasonably priced and in a good position for the ferries, and caught the sea jet to Paros the next afternoon, making it a very leisurely start to the holiday. The journey out on the sea jet was very calm, it is a much smaller boat than the ferries and quicker. However, on the way back the sea was very choppy, at times it was like being on a roller coaster! Our taxi driver to the airport told us that they get about 6 days per year when the wind makes the sea choppy, we just happened to come back on one of the 6 days. Hope this is of help to you.
Regards, Sue"
Staying Extra Days
Guests are welcome to book extra nights accommodation with the hotel with the option of having half or full-board. Paros is in the middle of the Cyclades islands and is very well placed for island-hopping. Day trips include Delos (historic), Naxos (atmospheric) Mikonos (lively/touristic) and Santorini (scenic), while Syros, Tinos and Anti-Paros are just a short ferry ride away.
Once you've made sure there is a place for you on the course of your choice, email Nikos at the hotel, if you want to book in for additional nights: [email protected]. There are several nice restaurants within walking distance, so we recommend staying half board.
Meals
The hotel offers vegetarian options and caters for vegan, gluten free and dairy free diets.
Participants who have complex or unusual diets have two options:
A - Pay a £15 special diet supplement. The hotel catering team will do their best to accommodate your requests
or
B - Choose one of the regular options and buy a few snacks for any occasions when the meal doesn't match with your special diet.
The course fee includes a restaurant meal out where there are many choices and options available.
The courses all start with a 7.30 pm evening meal on the first night. Participants may arrive at any time and can buy drinks, snacks or lunch at the pool bar. Early arrivers are invited to meet-up at 6 pm informally at the bar (nibbles are provided). We can save a meal for anyone arriving on the late-evening ferry.
Departure times
There are no classes on the last date given, which is the departure date. Breakfast is provided after which guests are welcome to relax at the hotel and beach until whatever time they need to travel.
Travel
Travel to and from Paros is not included in the cost of your holiday and remains your responsibility, but here you can find some information to help you when booking flights. We can help you plan your journey, what to bring and whether to extend your trip.
There are three main options:
1. Fly to Athens and take the ferry to Paros ( approx. 3 - 4 hours ).
2. Fly to Santorini and take the ferry to Paros ( approx. 2 -3 hours ).
3. Fly to Paros via Athens.
If you wish to stay overnight near one of the ferry ports we can recommend budget hotels
Directly outside the airport exit there's a bus stop with a bus which goes to the main ferry-port, Piraeus
(it's the last stop so you can't miss it!). The bus and the stop have a picture of a ferry to make things easy and most Greek people speak some English.
Those staying overnight may like to stay in the charming smaller port of Rafina, from where you can get an early morning ferry.
Customers make their own travel arrangements but we are happy to advise.
For those who prefer to travel with others we will try to link travellers together.
Here is a really useful website for information about ferries from Athens: http://www.ferriesingreece.com/
Here are some tips from a previous travellers to Paros:
"Last year I went to Santorini first, flying into Athens and getting a connecting flight. I stayed there 2 nights then got a ferry to Paros. At the end of the week I got the ferry back to Santorini and reversed the process. It worked fine, but I realised in retrospect that I would have been better to get the ferry direct back to Athens and fly from there rather than staying another night on Santorini. You don't save any money by getting a return ticket on the ferry." Fiona
"Mary & I stayed in a cheap and very friendly, back street hotel in Piraeus last time. It's very near the port and departure for the ferry to Paros, and it's other advantage is that it's next to the fish market! We'd certainly use it again."
Hotel Triton
8 Tsamadou str.
18531 Piraeus,
Greece
Tel. =30 210 417 3457- 8
Email [email protected]
www.htriton.gr
"I'm sure you already know about the Art Gallery Hotel in Athens. We always use this." John
"We both came to Paros in June, what a lovely week. We flew to Athens and took a taxi to Rafina (30 euros) We stayed overnight in the Avra Hotel in Rafina, reasonably priced and in a good position for the ferries, and caught the sea jet to Paros the next afternoon, making it a very leisurely start to the holiday. The journey out on the sea jet was very calm, it is a much smaller boat than the ferries and quicker. However, on the way back the sea was very choppy, at times it was like being on a roller coaster! Our taxi driver to the airport told us that they get about 6 days per year when the wind makes the sea choppy, we just happened to come back on one of the 6 days. Hope this is of help to you.
Regards, Sue"
Staying Extra Days
Guests are welcome to book extra nights accommodation with the hotel with the option of having half or full-board. Paros is in the middle of the Cyclades islands and is very well placed for island-hopping. Day trips include Delos (historic), Naxos (atmospheric) Mikonos (lively/touristic) and Santorini (scenic), while Syros, Tinos and Anti-Paros are just a short ferry ride away.
Once you've made sure there is a place for you on the course of your choice, email Nikos at the hotel, if you want to book in for additional nights: [email protected]. There are several nice restaurants within walking distance, so we recommend staying half board.
Meals
The hotel offers vegetarian options and caters for vegan, gluten free and dairy free diets.
Participants who have complex or unusual diets have two options:
A - Pay a £15 special diet supplement. The hotel catering team will do their best to accommodate your requests
or
B - Choose one of the regular options and buy a few snacks for any occasions when the meal doesn't match with your special diet.
The course fee includes a restaurant meal out where there are many choices and options available.