From Rhodes to Symi
Two topics today; Rhodes to Symi ferries and… me! First of all, I may have told you that I’ve been setting up another blog site. This is for when I want to write something about writing. It was also set up to show potential travel websites that I have a blog – it’s a long story but, the bottom line is, I started writing some articles for a new travel blog agency and they required me to have a writer’s blog. I didn’t want to use Symi Dream, as this one is all about anything and everything, with a Symi leaning, and it’s all a bit over here and over there. The new one is purely about writing and my books and things, and slightly more serious.
Anyway… Long story short, the blog is up and running, and I’ve started writing for a new travel website. My first article for them, about Bran Castle, Romania, is due out on 18th and I’ll leave you a reminder towards the end of the week. The more visits and likes and all that that it gets the better it will be for me. I am hoping that, as Symi Dream now has up to 1,300 unique readers each day, a few loyal readers will click to my new article and show the new site that I bring a following with me. But, I’ll go on about this nearer the publication time. Meanwhile, if you want to see my new blog and maybe share it with any friends who might have an interest, you can find it here: ‘Writing thoughts.’
Rhodes to Symi ferries
The reason I know about the number of visitors to Symi Dream is because I looked at our server stats on Sunday. While there, I also looked at the keywords people are using to find information about Symi and a lot of the most popular search terms concern travel, ‘Ferry Rhodes to Symi’, ‘Sea transfers, Rhodes to Symi’ and ‘Ferry from Rhodes’, that kind of thing. It looks like people are starting to plan their summer holiday – those who have not yet already booked them. Therefore, a couple of links might be of interest and so, here they are.
If you are travelling from Rhodes to Symi independently, you might like to first read Andy’s latest news and posts about travel to the island (including flight info and news on airlines) at the Symi Visitor Travel Blog.
If you are coming to Symi on a Wednesday or Friday, you can currently (and the timetable runs for several months) get across in the afternoon/evening for those two days. This means that as long as you arrive on Rhodes before about three in the afternoon, you can come over the same day. This is with Blue Star Ferries. That’s the link to their timetable, you can also find the booking and other info on the site and use the EN | ΕΛ links at the top to change the language to English or Greek.
If you are travelling to Symi on other days, then the Dodekanisos Seaways site is the one to see. At the moment, you can get across on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning at 08.30. The timetable expands as we get closer to summer and more journeys are available. Also, later in the year, the Panagia Skiadeni, the larger ferry, should start operating on day trips and some afternoon, evening runs. Your best bet there is to keep an eye on the Symi Visitor travel blog mentioned above. Unless you land at Rhodes at something like 06.00 in the morning, though, the current schedule means an overnight stay on that island before you can get across. As I always say, check your boat connection before you book your independent flights.
Some sensible people have told me they’ve heeded this advice in the past, bravo. Other people have contacted me and sent notes along the lines of: “Can you help me? We arrive at Rhodes at midday on Tuesday and are booked into Symi that night, but we can’t find a ferry!” Such messages are usually worded as if to make it sound like my fault, but I do what I can, which is usually to say: “You will have to stay overnight in Rhodes.” But keep an eye on the ferry timetables as, the closer we get to Easter (April 16th) the more crossings are available; check the Dodekanisos Seaways timetable in particular.
So, if you are planning a trip to Symi and coming on your own (that is, independently) then a) check Andy’s blog for up to date travel news and b) make sure you know what the boats are doing before you book a flight. Things get easier the closer we get to summer, but the Easter timetables are already available for both ferry companies. Tomorrow I’ll talk about harbours and getting from the airport to the boat. Don’t forget to check out my new blog and share the news, please, to help support a struggling writer. ‘Writing Thoughts.’
