helen251

All you experienced travelers

We are two older women planning a trip to the Greek Isles and cannot decide to include Crete or Rhodes or both in addition to all the usual suspects (Santorini (3 nights) Mykonos (3 nights). We plan to do day trips to the other island close by. If you had to choose which would it be Crete or Rhodes or is it worthwhile to add time and do both?

Thanks

Helen

dunia123

I loved both but would probably put my vote in for Crete. (Caveat: I travelled to Rhodes & Mykonos as a college student studying abroad, and Crete & Santorini as an adult 20+ years later.) While in Crete, we stayed in Chania, which is a lovely town. I loved seeing Crete, which has such a different feeling to the rest of the islands. You can really feel the impact of the various cultures (Italian, Turkish) that have had an influence on the island. Hiking the Samaria Gorge (~10 miles from an altitude of ~1250m above sea level down to the Mediterrean) was one of the most beautiful and amazing hikes ever, though not an easy one.

I liked Rhodes as well, and don't think you'll go wrong with either. You may want to look into travel logistics between Crete & Santorini vs. Rhodes & Santorini and determine what makes better sense for your itinerary. (We flew from Athens to Crete, then took a high-speed catamaran ferry to Santorini. I'm sure the transportation options from Rhodes have improved since I was last there - the 14 hour slow boat from Rhodes to Athens I wouldn't do again!)

Enjoy regardless. Not that you asked, but Oia on Santorini is just beautiful. Consider renting a little cave house, sitting on your patio and watching as the sun goes down. Heaven!

mariha2912

Personally I would choose according to travel logistics and HOW LONG you can spend on each place. Both islands are large but Crete is much larger. If it is only for 3 full days and travel logistics can help it (for example overnight ferry Santorini/Rhodes so you save sight-seen hours) I would go for Rhodes.
Crete covers an area of 8,336 km2 (3,219 sq miles)
Rhodes is about 1,400 km2 (541 sq miles).

Heimdall

Blue Star Ferries seem to be cutting most of their Santorini - Rhodes sailings this year, and that means looking for alternate routes between the two islands. They still have a sailing at 1 am on Mondays, but that seems to be all. Other choices are the 14 hour sailing with Prevellis (currently Mondays & Saturdays), or going to Syros and meeting the Rhodes ferry there. Another choice would be a flight back to Athens connecting with a flight to Rhodes.

That in mind, the logical solution seems to be either Crete, which has daily connections with Santorini, or another island between Mykonos and Santorini (e.g. Naxos or Paros).

Chania

If I had to choose between Crete and Rhodos it would be Crete. You should also consider Naxos and Amorgos. In Crete, the western end has allot to see.