JD1020

Does anyone have a recommendation for a beach hotel in Naxos? I have read that St George beach is very busy. Is there another beach town to be considered or is St George the best area to stay? My fiance and I will be on our honeymoon and looking for a nicer hotel, preferably on the beach (or with beach access) away from a bustling/tourist area, but close enough to go there if we'd like to, perhaps for dinner. Any recommendations are appreciated!

Thank you!

Weadles

I was going to suggest The Nissaki Beach Hotel until I finished your post and realized that you DON'T want to be near a 'bustling/tourist area'. Nissaki is right on St. George Beach, but we had a lovely room there, and enjoyed walking into town for sightseeing, restaurants, and shopping.
I assume there are other hotels farther out on the island that are closer to what you're looking for, but keep in mind that parking in town is quite limited.

Heimdall

There are much better beaches to the south, but people stay in St George for its proximity to Naxos Town, where you will likely spend most of your evenings. When I'm on Naxos I stay in St George, but could care less if the hotel is on the beach, as I take the bus to beaches at Agios Prokopios or Plaka.

Weadles makes a good point about limited parking in town. Also, the buses into town can be packed at peak periods.

jamikins

We loved Hotel Spiros - its a more budget hotel but a short walk to Naxos town and the beach

http://www.hotelspiros.com/

stanbr

You do not say when you will be visiting Naxos. If it is high season July and August then St George will be crowded as will most of the rest of the beaches. If you are in Shoulder season May June and September then St George is an excellent choice because it is a good beach and is directly adjacent to Naxos town and there will be just enough people there to make it interesting but not crowded.
Like Heimdall we prefer to be close to town for all the activites there and when we want a really nice beach sday we hop the local bus and head out to what I call the west coast beaches and Heimdall calls south beaches I guess in reality they are the Southwest beaches about 7 km from Naxos town. You could stay at Ag Procopious which is a substantial beach with a village at one end. There you will find hotels and dining and good transportaton to and from town by bus and taxi.
Further out and even less crowded is Plaka beach. It is serviced by a string of decent hotels across the sand road from the beach and I believe there are about 5 tavernas over about 2km so there is dining as well.
After experiencing both, it is always our choice to stay at St George and the town. Only disclaimer is we have not been to Naxos on high season.
Top hotels at St George would be Nissaki which is at the far end of the beach and not too busy at all, Hotel Glaros right next door Naxos Resort which is back from the beach about 50 meters and Hotel Galaxy which is back about 100 meters from the beach Jamikins is correct Hotel Spiros is one of my favourite hotels and is right next door to Galaxy has a pool some ocean views but is a slightly lower class thus more affordable option.
Images of Naxos town
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577942756YgKLfl
Plaka beach
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577941251SkgZfC

I have images of all of the hotels mentioned above if you are interested.

Heimdall

Stanbr, I meant that Prokopios and Plaka beaches are to the south of St George and Naxos Town. You are correct that they are on the west coast of the island.

stanbr

Hi Heimdall I also agree with you that they are south of Naxos Town. I never thought of it that way I just thought west coast. Everyone has their own perspective and sharing it broadens others knowledge base.

JD1020

Thank you! We will be going at the end of September. It sounds like st George is the place to stay and that it will not be as crowded as the summer.

Weadles

If it helps at all, we stayed at Nissaki in high season ( July) and didn't find the hotel that crowded at all. Town was very busy, so we were really glad that we could walk in easily for dinner and sightseeing.

Jitske_Kretz

Try the Liana hotel, www.lianaHotel.com. Across the street from a great sandy beach, 10 mins by bus into Naxos town, a couple of nice restuarants within walking distance and very, very relaxing. The hosts are amazing and really go the extra mile to meet everyone's needs. We were there last September and had a great week.