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Fine-tuning Requested: Naxos, Santorini, Athens Itinerary

Fine-tuning Requested: Naxos, Santorini, Athens Itinerary

Old Feb 24th, 2017, 07:54 AM
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Fine-tuning Requested: Naxos, Santorini, Athens Itinerary

Hello,

My husband and I are FINALLY going to Greece this summer! We had initially planned on going for our 10th wedding anniversary, but due to the Greek financial crisis and strikes at the time (our friends who continued their Greek trip that summer had a bad experience with the strikes), we postponed our trip. Fast forward, we are going this July for our 15th wedding anniversary. I've used input from a previous post, as well as others' posts on Fodors' to come up with an itinerary. I would love feedback on our itinerary - things to include, things to omit, which day trips to take. We have purchased all flights and made all hotel reservations. We have not made reservations for ferries or sunset cruises, since it seems it is best to see what the weather and winds will be when we arrive. This has been a trip in the making for a number of years now, and I would really appreciate any bit of advice to make it the best anniversary trip.

We would like a combination of exploration and relaxation. We don't want to me running around, but we do want some activity. I absolutely love archaeology and museums, but my husband would rather sit on the beach or go on hikes. He would visit ancient ruins to see my happiness and excitement, but if he was by himself, he would skip it all together. We both love good quality, fresh, local food, and we chose Naxos, in part to be farther away from crowds and to experience Greek culture. This will be our first time in Greece, and so we just had to visit breathtaking Santorini. Thank you so much in advance!

July 2017
12 nights total
Naxos - 5 nights
Santorini - 4 nights
Athens - 3 nights

Day 1: Travel from US to Athens
Day 2: Arrive in Athens late afternoon; stay 1 night in Athens at King George Hotel; dinner at rooftop with Acropolis view?
Day 3: Travel to Naxos on mid-morning flight; stay at Villa Marandi in Stelida; beach day & Naxos Town
Day 4: Naxos - Rent car and explore Naxos (car rental 1, 2, 3 or 4 days?)
Day 5: Naxos - Mount Zeus hike and beach
Day 6: Naxos - Day trip to either Paros or Mykonos-Delos (which is better day trip?); or should we have another beach/island exploration day?
Day 7: Naxos - Beach and further exploration
Day 8: Ferry to Santorini on Blue Star in the afternoon; arrive around 3pm (should we take an earlier boat even if it means to take a catamaran; my husband does get seasick); stay at Kapari Natural Resort in Imerovigli; explore Imerovigli and take short walk to Fira
Day 9: Santorini - Hike to Oia; take sunset cruise
Day 10: Santorini - Drive around Santorini - Megalochori, beaches, wineries, Akrotiri and ancient Thera
Day 11: Santorini - Amoudi Bay, further island exploration or Day trip to Nea Kameni volcano and Therassia (which is better - further island exploration or Nea Kameni?)
Day 12: Fly to Athens on late morning flight; stay at King George Hotel; explore Plaka and Monastiraki Square or Acropolis Museum
Day 13: Athens - Acropolis and Acropolis Museum. Other ideas: Varvakios Agora; Benaki Museum; Central Markets on Athinas St., Anafiotika on the north side of the Acropolis
Day 14: Athens - Explore Kolonaki and Syntagma Square; lounge at hotel; travel back to US on an early evening flight
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 08:07 AM
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Sounds heavenly and I think a good split of time and length of stays. We had so much good food on Naxos - the grilled fish! eggplant! Greek salad! local wine...I am dying to return.

It really sounds like you have planned well - I will mention one rather different museum in Athens (if you get tired of the crumbles) - The Byzantine and Christian Museum. It is in a lovely old home, with an amazing collection of icons, religious artifacts, tapestries, manuscripts etc. Not what you would usually think of when you picture an icon - a single depiction of a saint, but these elaborately painted boards with miniature scenes - like the whole book of revelation on a 3 X 5 board. It takes about 2 or 3 hours, more if you really get into studying some of the exhibits and I felt it was a bit different than other museums I have visited in Europe.

Have a wonderful trip!
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 08:10 AM
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Looks good to me. For Day 6 it depends upon whether there is a Naxos Star or Alexander trip to Delos/Mykonos — they don't go every day. Since you love archeology, don't miss the trip to Delos even if you have to take it on another day. Be flexible!

I would also urge you to go on Blue Star to Santorini, since that is one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the Cyclades. You can stand on the outside deck as the ship leaves Naxos harbour with the Portara behind you, sails between Naxos and Paros, makes its way past several small islands, lastly entering the Santorini caldera for the grand finale. If you tale a catamaran your seat inside the cabin may not even be near a window.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 04:00 PM
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Thank you for the advice! So, it sounds like the Delos-Mykonos day trip would be more worth the time
than Paros. I'll definitely keep the Byzantine museum in Athens in mind, too.

Can anyone talk to the Nea Nameni day trip from Santorini? It will definitely depend on how we are feeling those two weeks. But would love to get more insight to the day trip, so I can determine whether I should look into it more seriously, or if we should just plan on further exploration of Santorini. Thanks.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 11:14 PM
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Much as I love Paros (and more specifically its little neighbour Antiparos), Delos is a one of a kind, and I have even stayed on Mykonos just to see it. The day trip from Naxos takes a total of about 10 hours, including about 3 hours on Delos and 3 hours on Mykonos in the afternoon. Personally I prefer Paros to Naxos, but they are both great islands with many similarities.

Here are a few photos of Delos from one of my trips. I have others taken on film, but haven't scanned them yet.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/heimda...57627791957268
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Old Feb 25th, 2017, 06:44 AM
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Just a couple of comments. Well planned trip.
Stelada is a newer hotel area and is not well serviced by local bus so having a car for the full time in Naxos is probably a good idea.
As Heimdall said be flexible. Go visit any travel agent in Naxos town and find out what days Naxos Star and Alaxander will be doing the Delos Mykonos excursion. This is just my opinion but the Alexander is a cat with a wide beam and I think is a bit more stable boat. I always take Alexander when I can.
Day trip Delos and Mykonos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7637922138466/

While the Blue Star is a great way to get to Santorini over the last two years Champion Jet 1 and 2 are doing this run as well. There are fast ferries both quite large but they feature an open deck at the back which is open during the whole trip so you can still have a fast trip with outside ocean views. Determining factor should probably which ship gets you to Santorini the earliest.

Naxos has a smattering of antiquities, lots of great beaches and mountain villages to explore with the car. It also has some good hikes. You may want to buy a hiking guide at the zoom store on the waterfront.

This album was done over a three day period a few years ago.
Trip around Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7634605629689/
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Old Feb 25th, 2017, 07:03 AM
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For that excursion, here's a wonderful photo preview of exactly what you'd see ... by that stellar forum contributor and ace photog, "stanbr" - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57637922138466 - pix of the highlights of DELOS, and of Mykonos Town ... including a stop at one of the cafes in the "Little Venice" seafront area (be warned: a drink there can be 2x the cost of identical drinks elsewhere (same deal for certain famous cafes on Santorini). I've been to Mykonos a number of times, and can attest that this excursion will give you a good sample, then you can decide whether to return on another trip and stay longer. Other comments:

HOTEL BOOKINGS: Since I'm assuming you don't go for absolute lowest (nonrefundable) rates, you can cancel or "tweak" reservations without penalty up to 2 weeks beforehand. Many newcomers mistakenly think they are "locked in". If you are wavering, you could make a back-up booking at another place, then choose. (Hoteliers may hate this, but if you are a newbie still researching, it does give an option to learn & change).

DELOS: Please research!! If you are internet-only type, here's a fairly good article http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/delos to print; this site http://www.planetware.com/greece/delos-gr-aeg-delos.htm has the BEST Map (the site folder's map is less good). Without prep, site means MUCH less. If it's crowded, one ploy =see in reverse ... START in South with "houses" (with floor mosaics) and work back to the Lion Terrace.

FERRIES - (1) DO choose MV Alexander for DELOS daytrip - much larger vessel, smoother ride (Naxos Star bounces around!): day of Naxos arrival, check seafront agencies for choices & days, check forecasts the day before & book when forecast is calm, less wind. (2) SANTORINI - absolutely choose BLUE STAR!! These are v large vessels (like small liners = 1500-1800 passengers + 250 vehicles including semi-trailers), Besides being super-scenic with Deck seating (buy economy tickets), ride is so smooth you don't think u are moving; husband will like that. TIP - In crowded July you need to STRATEGIZE to get good deck seats, thusly:
• In pier's passenger "Shed" push yr way to front, to be 1st to board
• Large Baggage goes on racks at car-level - leave hubby to do this
• YOU scamper up escalator/steps to Econmy level to snag best seats
• When arriving Naxos, be READY when ramp slams down, because
ferry makes very short stop! Don't get caught when ramp closes.
BOOKING - No need; just buy tickets at any agency day before.

SANTORINI HOTELS - Do Research! This is best map - w Km marks - http://mapsof.net/santorini/thira-island-santorini-map As u can see, Imervogli is not that short a walk to Fira, esp. in July 100°F heat! I'm sure that's a lovely hotel, but I think u may have to rent a car more days than u think. I wonder bout that hike to Oia in heat; OK if you start 7 am. 8-10 am best time. Then at 10 cruise mobs arrive and jampack the lanes so u will want to scram. Same deal 6:30-9 pm because of myth that Oia sunsets are superior somehow. 4-6pm the 2nd less-crowded time in Oia. Dont drive there - hard to find parking.

SANTORINI - Ancient Thira; the site is acres of tumbled ruins - here, a map http://www.greeceprivatetours.com/ancient-thera-map.jpg and here's a Trip Advisor thread w great pix & tips: http://tinyurl.com/zevpfgw

NAXOS HOTELS -Villa Marandi certainly a luxe & upscale hotel, but what websites don't say about Stelida area - it is NOT on a beach (water area is rocky & weedy) - the beach at Prokopios is a real hike and you are isolated, need a car just to get to a cafe or a shop; you'll have to rent a car for much of your time if you stay there, no bus stops. And if you do late dining in Naxos town & have a glass o' wine or three, u may want to taxi back. Also (since Stelida hotels were built on ex-swamp), mosquitoes worse here, as summer progresses; be prepared, close windows @ night.

ATHENS MUSEUMS - Re previous recommend: Byzantine Mus. great for those who are Huge fans/scholars of that era. For less-so, I HIGHLY rec. BENAKI Museum (espec. if your husb not museum-buff). This mus. is very well curated, and not huge -- i.e., has 2 cases of wonderful Red & black vases, not 4 roomsful!! Covers all eras from ancient + byzantine + 1800s revolution ... Marvy paintings of battle heros -- BOTH sides wear fez, mustachios, turkish costumes! BONUS: cute bar AND stylish restaurant, where Athens' elites lunch. Also Thurs its FREE & open til midnight!
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Old Feb 25th, 2017, 07:05 AM
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No Edit function on Fodors alas! Re OIA, when I said 8-10, I meant for touring OIA, not for walk.
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Old Feb 27th, 2017, 06:06 AM
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Apologies for my 2-day absence! Thank you so much for the additional comments. All the specific tips regarding the tours, times, car rental, temps and boats really help. And I appreciate noting the Benaki museum. This is all so excellent and helps ease my mind around ferry/tour bookings. My hubby and I also did additional research, and I think we will skip Nea Kameni when in Santorini and opt instead for Amoudi Bay. We will also plan on rising early to make the most of our days, especially when we want to hike. And we'll bring some bug repellant, since my hubby tends to be prone to getting all the mosquito bites when no one in the area is bitten. Our good friends stayed at Villa Marandi in naxos last September and simply loved it. We'll plan to rent a car there, since we'd prefer to be in an area that is quieter than the town center. We'll definitely venture to the better beaches and villages, but we also wanted the option to "escape" to more solitude when desired. Thanks again for all the info, including the links. This will be handy, especially for Delos. Hopefully, the winds will be calm and we can go to Delos.

One more question - we only travel with a small rolling carry-on and a small backpack for each of us. Will we be able to bring our carry-on with us on the Blue Star ferry outside deck? Or do we store our carry-on with the bigger luggage? We have little luggage locks, so I'm not entirely worried of theft, but always like to have my eyes on my stuff.
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Old Feb 27th, 2017, 06:35 AM
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You can carry all your luggage with you to the Blue Star open deck if you wish, even if you had two huge rolling suitcases. Most people leave their large bags on the car deck and take the carry-ons/small backpacks with them to their seats or the open deck.
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Old Feb 27th, 2017, 07:20 AM
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Thanks for the info Heimdall!

We are so excited for this trip! And we're feeling prepared thanks to all of the feedback received on this forum.
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