Title: Independent Travellers Greek Island Hopping: Author: Frewin Poffley.
Publisher: Thomas Cook Publishing.
Publishers Web Link: Thomas Cook Publishing 
Authors Website: greekislandhopping.com
Price: Paper Covers 18.73 Euros(₤12.99 GBPounds) (Publisher *Special ₤9.79 New). 
Source: Book Sellers/Publisher.          
*May change without notice).      

Independent Travellers Greek Island Hopping. The Review. 

Wow – here’s a challenge!  This book attempts to tell you how you can travel by ferry from island to island.  Anyone who has actually attempted it will tell you that it is far from easy, even when everything is running to schedule. Factor in the possibility that the ferry is in for service, that it is cancelled due to the Meltemi or an unannounced strike, and you are likely to come seriously unstuck if you are trying to get back quickly for a flight home.

Having said that, this book is full of excellent advice and information which was up to date at the time of printing - 2005, alas - (2006 now available). It calls itself ‘the island hopper’s bible’, and it may well be the best collection of information currently available, but nothing is as good as turning up on the day and checking and re-checking the information – including the name of the ferry that is in service. There may well be a last-minute substitution of one ferry for another, leaving you stranded on the quayside, mistakenly awaiting one which will never arrive….. Don’t forget, too, that a different timetable may operate in ‘mid’ and ‘high’ season, so you need to keep an particular eye open around the dates that these change. You may also need to bear in mind that more than one ferry company may operate on a particular route, and that you are unlikely to get information from any one company about the service offered by rivals. A 'bible' may well be the answer...

A blunder many of us make when we are first-time island-hoppers is to assume that you can get to a particular island from any other. Not so! The various groups of islands are connected on a ‘hub’ principle, each having one island that is linked to the others in the group via a local service, and also by more regular service to a major island in other groups. The trick of course is to know which is the island that serves as a ‘hub’ in the group you are heading for, and make for that one first.  

Another big mistake is to assume that all the ferries run every day. Some only run once or twice a week, so it is vital to check your linked-up return journey as well as your outward one before you set off for that isolated spot.

Luckily this book gives you typical timetables (note, they are TYPICAL, not necessarily ACCURATE) and plenty of information about the different ferry companies, their addresses, telephone numbers and how to contact them.  

So let us suppose you have arrived at your destination without too much stress and you have your return tickets safely in your hot little hand. How does this book shape up once you arrive at your destination?  Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to check out all the information (sob), but there seems to be plenty of detail about what to see, good beaches, accommodation, places to eat, and even a few maps. Of course, most guide books are somewhat subjective so you should not be too put off by some of the remarks… (‘a candidate for the weirdest hotel in the Greek islands..’, ‘a very insipid sort of place..’, ‘a small, rather drab town…’, ‘the only decent boat they have….’). Just do your own thing, make your own decisions, and have fun.  

'Greek Island Hopping' is updated annually, promises regular access to updates via the internet (greekislandhopping.com) and encourages reports and comments from guide users. So why not buy a copy, pack your bags and test it out? What do you have to lose?