How to get to Ierapetra
NEW in the link below you can enter your travel details and find other participants for car/taxi pooling.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14N2Ih84m1INlYWVBXoSbkc37w-daiF6KrPuxcwjjZIA/edit?usp=sharing
For participants accompanied by spouse or others we provide a scratch book for notes that you may find useful.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LKNGTfw5cNpKWMalvmkTrYJ7FWDOoPjwdLpUuJ0bD1U/edit?usp=sharing
In Brief
First, fly to Greece (step 1), then fly to Crete (step 2) or take the ferry (step 2′) and afterwards catch a public bus or a taxi to Ierapetra (step 3). If you arrive by public bus to Ierapetra catch a taxi fro the station to your hotel (step 4).
In Detail
Step 1: Reaching Greece:
The largest airport in Greece is “Eleftherios Venizelos” (code ATH) in Athens. From there there are very often flights to/from Crete (read later for recommended airlines). Alternatively, “Macedonia” airport in Thessaloniki can be used. The airport code is SKG. It is cheaper (especially for flights from Europe) but also a bit more time consuming. From there, there are flights to Crete as well.
Step 2: Reaching Crete by air (see Step 2′ for reaching Crete by ferry!):
Heraklion is largest city in Crete and it is ~100 km from the final destination of Ierapetra. Frequent flights to “Nikos Kazantzakis” airport in Heraklion (code HER) are offered from Athens, Thessaloniki and several other big European cities. The cost should be expected to be between 100 and 300 euros (both ways) when booked early.
Step 2′: Reaching Crete by ferry:
Catch the Ferry from Piraeus Port to Heraklion. There are two companies that operate this connection, MINOAN and ANEK lines. TIP: Outside the ship of MINOAN lines there is a bus waiting for passengers to Ierapetra. You have to be fast to catch. Otherwise you must go to the bus station which is a few hundred meters away. Here you can get an example booking for a participant reaching Crete accompanied by one adult.
Step 3: Reaching Ierapetra:
Ierapetra is roughly 100 km away from Heraklion. Catch a public bus or a taxi from the airport terminal or from the port (in case you arrive by ferry) to Ierapetra (via Agios Nicolaos). In the former case the bus stop is very close to the terminal building. Ask for the intercity bus stop to Ierapetra. In the latter case, the bus stop it is inside the port.
There is a bus connection from the airport terminal daily at 07:00, 09:45, 11:45, 14:45, 16:45, 19:45 (click here to go to the website of the bus company). The price for a single ticket is 11 euros.
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1.Bus: The trip takes almost 2.5 hours. If you travel with MINOAN ferry lines you have a 50% discount. The bus will drop you at the bus station. Then catch a taxi to your hotel.
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2.Taxi: It costs roughly 110 - 120 euros (per taxi not per person) and it takes roughly 1.5 hours (the price is subject to change) and will take you directly to your hotel. Special Rates: The service www.cretetaxi.com is giving the conference participants a special rate of 90 euros including VAT. What you have to do is: (a) email them at info@cretetaxi.com informing them about your arrival quoting our conference title (b) a taxi will be waiting for them at the airport arrivals. The contact person, who speaks English, German, Dutch and Greek will be at the airport to welcome your participants and she will coordinate all the fares. Note the car-pooling list we have so that you can share the cots with participants arriving similar time as you are https://docs.google.com/document/d/14N2Ih84m1INlYWVBXoSbkc37w-daiF6KrPuxcwjjZIA/edit?usp=sharing.
Accommodation
The participants are kindly requested to arrange for their own accommodation. Ierapetra has many hotels for every budget. Prices for single rooms with breakfast range from 40 to approximately 120 euros (including taxes). A (nearly) complete list of hotels, rooms and apartments can be found at Booking.com
Hotels with Special rates for the conference:
The LOC has agreement for special rates and hence recommends, the following hotels:
ASTRON Hotel (map): Participants staying at Astron Hotel will special rates. The promotional code is “CONFERENCE”. Instructions:
> go to http://hotelastron.com/en/rates
> in the booking engine choose your dates and in the field “CORPORATE/ PROMOTIONAL CODE” give the code “CONFERENCE”.
El Greco Hotel (map): Participants staying at El Greco Hotel will get the will special rates. The promotional code is: “astrophysics 2014" ATTENTION: always ask for sea view room!
Other Hotels:
Petra Mare Hotel (map)
Arion Palace Hotel (map)
