TRAVEL SPECIAL..ISLAND HOPPING...Where to vacation in October.

ISLAND HOPPING  Where to vacation in October.  INDIA THE ANDAMANS The Andaman & Nicobar Islands comprise around 600 islands in the  Bay of Bengal. The main Andaman island, known as Great Andaman,  is divided into three parts: North, Middle and South. WHY NOW? After the monsoon ends in September, there are only occasional showers  and days are not as warm. Crowds are thinner and weather is perfect for  water sports. WHAT TO SEE Package tours usually cover Port Blair, Havelock Island and Neil Island, but you can make your own 5-6 day itinerary and include the North and  Middle to the above places in South.Here's the must-see list: Diglipur: Ross and Smith islands, mud volcano Rangat: Long Island Baratang:  Parrot Island, limestone caves Port Blair: Cellular Jail, Ross Island, Chidiya Tapu, Corbyn's Cove beach, Wandoor beach, Mahatma Gandhi  Marine National Park Havelock Island: Radhanagar beach Neil Island HOW TO REACH Air: Flights (direct and with stops) to Port Blair are available from major  cities. The return fare for a person, for an October trip, is upwards of `20,000  (ex Delhi). Sea: You can take the cheaper option of a ship, but it's not too  convenient as it can take 3-4 days and is limited to boarding from Kolkata,  Chennai and Visakhapatnam via personal booking. The cost varies from  `1,700-7,640 per person depending on accommodation type. Between & within islands: Island hopping can be done through ferries, a cheap option, while on the islands, you can take taxis, autorickshaws scooters and motorbikes. WHERE TO STAY You can take your pick from luxury resorts and hotels (upwards of `6,500),  to deluxe hotels (upwards of `2,500), budget hotels and lodges  (upwards of `500). WORLD GREECE The Greek Islands are divided into six main areas Cyclades, Ionian islands, Dodecanese, Aegean islands, Sporades and Crete- -most of which are further divided into island clusters. Popular destinations  like Athens, Crete, Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes clearly stand out. WHY NOW? The recent economic crisis, good weather and shoulder season in October  mean you will get excellent deals. WHAT TO SEE Ideally, plan a 10-15 day trip to combine the classical sites and island hopping. Here are hot spots you can pick from: The Acropolis and Parthenon Temple of Olympian Zeus Meteora monasteries & Delphi Poseidon temple, Cape Sounion Olympia ruins, Peloponnese Byzantine walls in Thessaloniki  Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos or Paros in Cyclades Rhodes and Kos  in Dodecanese Corfu and Zakynthos in Ionian Crete HOW TO REACH Air: Direct flights or with 1-2 stops are available from major Indian cities  to capital Athens, where you will start your trip. While direct flight can take  around six hours, the ones with stops can last 10 hours or more. The best return fare for a person in October is in the range of `40,000-45,000 (ex Delhi), with Aeroflot offering the best rates. Inland trips: Use a mix of ferries (`1,000-6,000), buses, trains, rental cars and mopeds, the last being the cheapest. Save 25% on ferries by  booking two months in advance. WHERE TO STAY Save 40-50% on hotels in offshoulder season, with prices varying on  mainland and islands. Opt for 4or 5-star hotel chains like Hilton, Sofitel, Best Western and Starwood (upwards of `6,000 a night). Pick villas,  apartments and rental homes  (Airbnb.com GreekApartments.gr HomeAway.com) at `4,500-7,500, or budget hotels that cost `1,500-6,000. Hostels and camping are the cheapest, starting from around `1,000. Riju Dave

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