Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The safety record of both airlines is exemplary. The contact details for local Olympic and
Aegean offices are listed throughout the guide.
TICKETS
EasyJet offers some of the cheapest tickets between Greece and the rest of Eur- ope and
covers a huge range of destinations. If you're coming from outside Europe, consider a
cheap flight to a European hub like London and then an onward ticket with easyJet. Some
airlines also offer cheap deals to students. If you're planning to travel between June and
September, it's wise to book ahead.
CLIMATE CHANGE & TRAVEL
Every form of transport that relies on carbon-based fuel generates CO2, the main
cause of human-induced climate change. Modern travel is dependent on aero-
planes, which might use less fuel per kilometre per person than most cars but
travel much greater distances. The altitude at which aircraft emit gases (including
CO2) and particles also contributes to their climate change impact. Many websites
offer 'carbon calculators' that allow people to estimate the carbon emissions gen-
erated by their journey and, for those who wish to do so, to off set the impact of the
greenhouse gases emitted with contributions to portfolios of climate-friendly initi-
atives throughout the world. Lonely Planet off sets the carbon footprint of all staff
and author travel.
Land
Travelling by land offers you the chance to really appreciate the landscape, as well as the
many experiences that go along with train or bus travel. International train travel, in partic-
ular, has become much more feasible in recent years with speedier trains and better con-
nections. You can now travel from London to Athens by train and ferry in less than two
days. By choosing to travel on the ground instead of the air, you'll also be reducing your
carbon footprint. It's a win-win situation.
OVERLAND FROM WESTERN EUROPE
If you're keen to reach Greece without taking to the air, and enjoy the independen-
ce of a road trip, you can reach Greece by heading overland to an Italian port and
hopping on a ferry. A high-speed ferry trip from Venice to Patra can be completed
in around 26 hours. From Patra to Athens is a further 3½ hours' driving.
