Greece honeymoon - long stay in Naxos, short visit to Santorini
Mar 14th, 2011, 05:31 AM
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Greece honeymoon - long stay in Naxos, short visit to Santorini
Hi,
I am planning our honeymoon for June this year. We are flying to and from Athens and our trip will last a total of 16 days!! My name goes some way to describing our holiday needs - Couple in our 20's! We really want to relax and chill out, enjoy nice food, atmosphere, beaches, day trips and relaxing by pool. We would like to avoid commercialised tourist centres but would like some life to the place in the evenings! I am looking at Naxos as our base, spending 12 nights there in Agios Prokopios. Would this be a good base to relax, explore the island and take some day trips to neighbouring islands - Paros, Delos and maybe Mykonos? Do you think we would be better splitting the 12 days between 2 islands? The reason I am leaning towards one island is that we (particularly husband to be!!) dont want too much hassle in having to relocate too many times! After Naxos the plan is to spend 3 nights in Oia, Santorini. I have gotten a good price from the Delfini Rooms - anyone have experience of this accomodation?
All advice would be much appreciated - this is my 1st post to the forum!
I am planning our honeymoon for June this year. We are flying to and from Athens and our trip will last a total of 16 days!! My name goes some way to describing our holiday needs - Couple in our 20's! We really want to relax and chill out, enjoy nice food, atmosphere, beaches, day trips and relaxing by pool. We would like to avoid commercialised tourist centres but would like some life to the place in the evenings! I am looking at Naxos as our base, spending 12 nights there in Agios Prokopios. Would this be a good base to relax, explore the island and take some day trips to neighbouring islands - Paros, Delos and maybe Mykonos? Do you think we would be better splitting the 12 days between 2 islands? The reason I am leaning towards one island is that we (particularly husband to be!!) dont want too much hassle in having to relocate too many times! After Naxos the plan is to spend 3 nights in Oia, Santorini. I have gotten a good price from the Delfini Rooms - anyone have experience of this accomodation?
All advice would be much appreciated - this is my 1st post to the forum!
Mar 14th, 2011, 06:06 AM
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Sounds like a good plan ... and the proportion is about right ... Naxos is the 2nd largest isle in the Cyclades (Andros is actually the largest but more rural/ag & much less of interest), with many facets to explore -- while Santorini, when all is said & done, is unique, and just 12 miles long, and these days (with the Akrotiri dig still closed) mainly about the view. About Delfini, check the TA reviews, there have been good reports, our Santorini expert Brotherleelove has often included it on his recommended list.
About Naxos: yes Ag. Prokopios is a good choice, water is deep & can be chilly, but by June, it's certainly "do-able." The beach is wide, sandy, excellent, I like it a lot better than Ag. Anna which is shorter, narrower & gets v. crowdy. Also, Ag. Prokopios has a good choice of cafes for snacks & casual dining ... if you want to explore the greater variety in Naxos Town, you can do so by bus because the last bus is I think 11 pm.
Luckily, you've chosen one of the islands that DOEs have organized day-excursions; there are 2 companies that do this (we 'regulars' recommend the one using the boat Hm Alexander, which is a larger vessel, more stable). THere's an excursion to Delos/Mykonos 3x a week http://visit-cyclades.com/EN/cruises...os_Mykonos.php Here, you can even see a photo-series http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/552009563QJRIYa by someone who took that exact excursion.
On Monday, the Alexander does a "beach-a-thon" visiting 3 small islands that are mainly about the beaches.
As for Paros, in June there's a daily 9:30 ferry arriving 10:15, and the last ferry back at night is about 21:30 (9:30 pm) so u could hve a fairly long day. Paros is not as mountainous as naxos, so if you're at all conversant with scooters, you could rent one to do some exploring.
Of course, Naxos has enough attractions to fill your weeks. no need to rent a car most of the time, since the bus system to/from Naxos Town is just fine... but you'll want to swoop around the island a day or 2. If you've looked at this forum prior to posting I expect you've already looked at the great photos by stanbr that I continually rave about -- http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/552001505EYxVYT
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/570796960FtMsPF
Here are even more (240!) by "Greektraveller" a norwegian who's just as Naxos-addicted:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3258003...7614678419763/
Best wishes for your upcoming nuptials, enjoy your honeymoon, and lucky you, you've chosen such nice destinations that it will be a pleasure to return there to celebrate various milestone anniversaries, down the road!
About Naxos: yes Ag. Prokopios is a good choice, water is deep & can be chilly, but by June, it's certainly "do-able." The beach is wide, sandy, excellent, I like it a lot better than Ag. Anna which is shorter, narrower & gets v. crowdy. Also, Ag. Prokopios has a good choice of cafes for snacks & casual dining ... if you want to explore the greater variety in Naxos Town, you can do so by bus because the last bus is I think 11 pm.
Luckily, you've chosen one of the islands that DOEs have organized day-excursions; there are 2 companies that do this (we 'regulars' recommend the one using the boat Hm Alexander, which is a larger vessel, more stable). THere's an excursion to Delos/Mykonos 3x a week http://visit-cyclades.com/EN/cruises...os_Mykonos.php Here, you can even see a photo-series http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/552009563QJRIYa by someone who took that exact excursion.
On Monday, the Alexander does a "beach-a-thon" visiting 3 small islands that are mainly about the beaches.
As for Paros, in June there's a daily 9:30 ferry arriving 10:15, and the last ferry back at night is about 21:30 (9:30 pm) so u could hve a fairly long day. Paros is not as mountainous as naxos, so if you're at all conversant with scooters, you could rent one to do some exploring.
Of course, Naxos has enough attractions to fill your weeks. no need to rent a car most of the time, since the bus system to/from Naxos Town is just fine... but you'll want to swoop around the island a day or 2. If you've looked at this forum prior to posting I expect you've already looked at the great photos by stanbr that I continually rave about -- http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/552001505EYxVYT
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/570796960FtMsPF
Here are even more (240!) by "Greektraveller" a norwegian who's just as Naxos-addicted:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3258003...7614678419763/
Best wishes for your upcoming nuptials, enjoy your honeymoon, and lucky you, you've chosen such nice destinations that it will be a pleasure to return there to celebrate various milestone anniversaries, down the road!
Mar 14th, 2011, 10:48 AM
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Thanks travelerjan! Great advice! I'm loving the idea of a beach-a-thon!!
Just another question - I emailed Delfini to confirm my booking and they have asked for my credit card details and a copy signature by fax or e-mail. This doesn't sound very safe to me - is this normal??
Just another question - I emailed Delfini to confirm my booking and they have asked for my credit card details and a copy signature by fax or e-mail. This doesn't sound very safe to me - is this normal??
Mar 14th, 2011, 11:13 AM
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I have had many places ask for my credit card details, but never a "Copy signature." I have also almost never had to send a deposit anyway ... in 10 trips, more than 2 dozen islands plus Athens and Nafplio.
Some Santorini places are veddy veddy pricey & uppity and have all kinds of nonrefundable rules, but those are not the kind of places where I stay. But I didn't think Delfini was that kind of place, either.
I tell you what i do... I never just fill out a form. I write an "e-mail letter" in which I say how much I have always hoped to visit beautiful (fill in name of island), and have heard such good things about (fill in name of hotel) and so much would like to stay with you. Then I say if you have a room available at a rate I can afford (then I put in my "wish" amount), I shall immediately send you my credit card details to hold the reservation. However, I plan to pay in cash, upon arrival, as is my custom. I'm looking forward so much to finally seeing (fill in name of Island).
I have NEVER been required to give a signature. You might just e-mail Delfini back and say,
Yes, we wish to reserve a room for €xxx per night from xxx to xxx. To hold our reservation, below is my credit card information (name on card, card #, expiration date -- that's IT). We do not feel comfortable sending our signatures via fax. We hope the above information will be satisfactory, since I plan to pay our room bill in cash, on arrival. Is that satisfactory? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you very much, we look forward to staying in your beautiful place in Oia!
... I bet you get a confirmation pronto --- print it out & take it with you. And actually, once you get there, you don't hve to plunk down 3 nights worth of rent. Give them 1 night's worth and say, tomorrow I'll get to the ATM and give you the rest. NOTE: They are authorized to ask to see your Passport, to write down the number for their records -- but not to HOLD your Passport (In some small villages, or small hotels a few years back, they would say they had to hold your passport -- that was an old custom, to keep people from skipping out, but that is so 1960s). I don't think Delfini would do that... just a note for the future. Anyway, if you pay for hte current night it never comes up.
Some Santorini places are veddy veddy pricey & uppity and have all kinds of nonrefundable rules, but those are not the kind of places where I stay. But I didn't think Delfini was that kind of place, either.
I tell you what i do... I never just fill out a form. I write an "e-mail letter" in which I say how much I have always hoped to visit beautiful (fill in name of island), and have heard such good things about (fill in name of hotel) and so much would like to stay with you. Then I say if you have a room available at a rate I can afford (then I put in my "wish" amount), I shall immediately send you my credit card details to hold the reservation. However, I plan to pay in cash, upon arrival, as is my custom. I'm looking forward so much to finally seeing (fill in name of Island).
I have NEVER been required to give a signature. You might just e-mail Delfini back and say,
Yes, we wish to reserve a room for €xxx per night from xxx to xxx. To hold our reservation, below is my credit card information (name on card, card #, expiration date -- that's IT). We do not feel comfortable sending our signatures via fax. We hope the above information will be satisfactory, since I plan to pay our room bill in cash, on arrival. Is that satisfactory? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you very much, we look forward to staying in your beautiful place in Oia!
... I bet you get a confirmation pronto --- print it out & take it with you. And actually, once you get there, you don't hve to plunk down 3 nights worth of rent. Give them 1 night's worth and say, tomorrow I'll get to the ATM and give you the rest. NOTE: They are authorized to ask to see your Passport, to write down the number for their records -- but not to HOLD your Passport (In some small villages, or small hotels a few years back, they would say they had to hold your passport -- that was an old custom, to keep people from skipping out, but that is so 1960s). I don't think Delfini would do that... just a note for the future. Anyway, if you pay for hte current night it never comes up.
Mar 14th, 2011, 02:10 PM
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Hi Couple20S
My husband and I have stayed at Delfini Villas twice and loved it both times. The two women who run the place (Rena and Sima I believe) are very nice and very accomodating.
The last time they did want some kind of signature but I never figured out how to get it to them.........fax didn't seem to work so they ended up giving up on that.
Enjoy!
My husband and I have stayed at Delfini Villas twice and loved it both times. The two women who run the place (Rena and Sima I believe) are very nice and very accomodating.
The last time they did want some kind of signature but I never figured out how to get it to them.........fax didn't seem to work so they ended up giving up on that.
Enjoy!
Mar 15th, 2011, 07:14 AM
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OK, in general in Greece things are not so formal as in other countries and many exchanges, transactions etc are based on "good faith" , assuming everyone is well-intented. But hotels all around the world have a cancelation policy, and usually international hotel chains or upclass hotels will require you feel in a form with details of your reservation, your credit card info and your signature, as a proof you read and agreed with all the terms of reservation, especially when a deposit is required. It is not something strange or something. I think it is fair enough that if you know in advance cancelation policies etc, and you don't show up last minute or something, you have to pay the deposit or part of deposit or the cost of the whole stay, or whatever is applicable and was made known to you. Trying not to give CC details or signature means you don't trust this hotel, so why to book there at first place anyway?
Mar 16th, 2011, 02:57 AM
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The feedback on Delfini seems very good so I'm just going to send details and tell them I will pay in cash. It's not that I don't trust the hotel - it's just a bit reckless to be sending credit card details without fully checking out a situation!
I can't wait to saty at Delfini. I think it will be a lovely place to end our honeymoon!
Thanks for the advice!
I can't wait to saty at Delfini. I think it will be a lovely place to end our honeymoon!
Thanks for the advice!
Mar 16th, 2011, 07:56 AM
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I can tell you that Rena, the owner of Delfini, is as honest as the day is long. I don't know how to reassure you any more than that. But don't expect her to reserve your room if you don't comply to her policies.
Mar 17th, 2011, 06:34 PM
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One of our hotels this summer wanted a 45 euro deposit to hold a 4 night reservation. I quite wanted to stay at this particular hotel so I made arrangements to wire the 45 euros to them via Western Union. Total fee was $13 to send the funds. If you are concerned about your credit card see if the hotel will take the wire transfer. They can pick up the funds at any post office in Greece. There problem solved.
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