Greek island hopping: anybody done it recently?

[Blackpuddin]

I island-hopped around Greece for several years on the trot in my youth and loved it. Now Mrs B would like to try it with me, island hop I mean, and I'm keen to revisit some of my old haunts, but the last time I did it was getting on for 40 years ago. Back then you could get a bucket flight to Athens, wander down to the docks at Piraeus, jump on a ferry to the island of your choice where some wizened old crone would come up to you and offer you dirt-cheap accommodation. Is it still like that? Or have they made things more difficult?

[Blackpuddin]

How interesting, thanks for coming on here.
For a ten-day trip involving maybe three islands from Athens, where would you recommend?
We're going in September, once the schools are open.

[Blackpuddin]

Thanks for that useful info. Being old timers we'd be looking for the much smaller islands rather than 'banging' places like Rhodes.

[Blackpuddin]

This is wonderful information, thank you so much. I've been to at least two of the places you mention but it was so long ago it will be interesting to see how things have changed. I'm sure I remember getting a tiny train from Volos in the east to Ioannina in the west but I can't see anything now on the internet to back up my foggy memory!

[Blackpuddin]

It was a rickety old narrow gauge thing with a souvlaki-only buffet car, I may be imagining the route but I'm fairly sure Volos and the Meteora were involved. Thanks again for your help, it's much appreciated.

[Blackpuddin]

Smashing that, many thanks!