Independent travel to Haraki

Going Independently is Easy

We've been travelling to Haraki independently for many years (never done it any other way). People sometimes ask us how easy or difficult it is – it's easy!

The first time we went we'd already read about the village in Lonely Planet, bought a flight which landed in the middle of the day, hired a car at the airport and drove to Haraki (after looking at some other places on the way). We left the car in the square and went for a walk along the front. The first place we ever stayed was Angela's. We asked if there were any apartments available and there was just one, which we took for the week. And so our love affair with Haraki began.

Accommodation

You can just turn up as we did and at most times of the year there will be some availability, just ask around. This is the most flexible route because you get to pick and choose. However it is, I suppose, possible that you will be disappointed. If you would like to book accommodation in advance you could check out the list of accommodation providers here. Please let them know that you found them on Bob's web site.

Flights

Flights are also easy for anyone with access to the internet, Sunday papers etc. We've always used Flightline and have never had any problems with their service. There are links to some flight providers on the flights page.

Transfers

That just leaves transfers from and to the airport. When you walk out of departures, immediately across the road there's a taxi rank where there's a line of taxis just waiting for your business. Ask the price first. The current price is 30 euros to Haraki but, for some reason, it's 45 euros coming back (prices in 2008). Also for some unknown reason, most of the taxis seem not to bother with air conditioning so it's windows open for the 40 minute ride. To book your return taxi you can ask your accommodation provider who will probably be happy to oblige in making the call. If this isn't possible then one of the bars or the hotel will probably be able to help you to book your taxi.

Our personal preference is to book a hire car from Paul & Mary at M&S rent a car. We ring them a few days before and book a car. Paul or one of the family collects us from the airport and takes us to Haraki. Leaves the car with us and then drives us back to the airport at the end of the holiday. They are completely reliable. For a small car this costs 30 euros each way if you book the car for a week, or it's free if you have the car for a fortnight and we have a car and transfers all sorted out. (M&S do not offer just the transfer service, you need to book the car as well, however probably not for the full duration of your stay, talk to Mary.)

Advantages of going it alone:

You get to choose the time of day your flight arrives and departs (no more night flights if you don't want them).
You get to choose where you stay – if you don't like what you see go to somewhere you do like.
Transfer and airport waiting times dramatically reduced – on arrival at Rhodes airport you walk past the crowds, into your transport, and get to Haraki long before your fellow travellers arrive in their coaches.
On your return journey you leave your accommodation an hour or so before check-in and walk past the queues of people lined up outside (in the baking sun) and go straight to check in.
We've bought two suitcases which are just inside the maximum size allowed for hand luggage so, with no luggage to check in, we bypass the long queues waiting to have their bags X-rayed. There's no waiting for your luggage in the reclaim halls at each end either – just get off the plane and go out of the airport.
Your money goes straight to the accommodation provider. This has to be better for Haraki. To rent an apartment costs anything from 25 to 85 euros per night (depending on facilities and seasonal variations) if booking independently. When tour operators make block bookings I was amazed to hear just how much they take of this. I'm not going to say the amount because I'm sure it changes from apartment to apartment, suffice to say it's the lion's share. With so little of the holiday price reaching the owners there is little incentive to update and improve the rooms and facilities. It also adds to the pressure on the local economy currently being exerted by the increasing number of all inclusive hotels which are springing up on the island (although not in Haraki as yet). These establishments provide little to the locals, the majority of the profits going straight back to the operators.

Disadvantages of going it alone:

There's no rep.
You should phone and confirm your return flight 48 hours or so before departure (the number is usually on your flight ticket and the operators speak English).
Can't think of anymore disadvantages.