MyBeautifulBalloon

Hi everyone,

We are just starting to plan next summer's vacation and we are going to go to Greece. We are thinking about:

1. Visiting Crete and another island (TBD)

or

2. Spending time in the mainland/South Peloponnese, and visiting Corfu and/or Zakynthos


We have been to Rhodes and loved it. We will be travelling in August with our two children, ages 19 and 17, and want the whole Greek experience, from beautiful small towns, good food, archeological sites, natural beauty and great beaches.

Which trip should we do and why?

Thank you so much.

traveller1959

>> want the whole Greek experience, from beautiful small towns, good food, archeological sites, natural beauty and great beaches <<

Then, it is a no-brainer. Peloponnes and the mainland, of course. In this case, you do not need an "island". BTW, Peloponnes IS an island and Attica a peninsula. Both have some of the world's most beautiful beaches.

kja

See your earlier post, Andrea:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...es-choices.cfm

MyBeautifulBalloon

Thank you, traveller1959. That is what we were leaning towards.

The reason we wanted to include Corfu is that it is a little different than many of the other Greek islands and the mainland, with it's more "Italian" feel and greener, more lush topography.

Would are thinking about visiting the mainland and the Peloponnese as we slowly drive from Athens to Corfu. Is that possible?

Also, kja, please do not read or comment on my posts. You have an unusual and disturbing interest in what I write. Thank you.

travelerjan

Be aware that Corfu is one of the most popular package-holiday destinations for the UK ... many direct flights and purpose-built "resorts" which are in some instances jammed-together beach developments, not the verdant serene places pictured in the Durrell books. Read some candid descriptions such as offered by Rough Guide to Greece, and thoroughly prowl the Corfu section of Trip Advisor... to see what to avoid. Also you may not be able to take a rental car from Mainland to an island, check carefully.

MyBeautifulBalloon

Well, that changes things drastically. The last thing we want is an island overrun with tourists.

Maybe the mainland and the Peloponnese would be best. We can also add in the island of Zakynthos, which looks wonderful.

So it comes down basically to this:

The Peloponnese or Crete?

travelerjan

Get ready for a Long Read - you have pushed TWO of my buttons!

CRete vs Peloponnese — a win-win situation!! but don’t base decision on random opinions from a travel forum! Now is the time for Homework! Involve your children(really, they are young adults). And do NOT rely totally on what you all can find with a click on the internet. Too many websites are created to build traffic: they tout highlights, omit drawbacks. Instead go to Library, get an armful of guides, browse, photocopy, choose.

In my 12 trips (9 taking newbies like you) I’ve accumulated shelves of guides but if asked to do with just 1, its ROUGH GUIDE to Greece. Not for photos (u can get those online) but Detailed AND candid reporting by writers who actually are PAID to travel & discover, (NOT people who just sit at a computer or go on promotional freebies; yes! it happens!). Fodors is reliable but geared more to mainstream upscale older travelers. LET’S GO Greece aimed right at youth & budget market. If just Peloponnese R Steves Guide is good. BTW, u can get used guides cheep-cheep at Amazon & other online sources; no need to seek newest edition - u are seeking overall picture, activities, ambience, not latest hotel & dining prices.

That said, internet has some Fine NONcommercial sites to supplement (NOT substitute for) Guides:

PELOPONNESE -
Argolid Area - http://www.visitnafplio.com — Covers everyhing! Click ALL links!! Great site W PIX & Video, created by Norwegian Expat ..
MAP - http://euro-map.com/karty-grecii/pel...eloponnesa.jpg Click & it gets huuuuge! shows all roads, towns PLUS terrain

CRETE -
http://www.explorecrete.com — the start-point for everything Crete-wise .. has ads but not bias … again, click & read ALL links!
MAP - http://www.explorecrete.com/crete-ma.../Crete-eot.png --again click & it's huuge, shows all roads ALL terrain… vital planning aid

“EYE CANDY”
One of this forum’s best contributors, “stanbr” does splendid photos — so good that I (being lazy) dont even post mine, just link to his. Re crete, we both favor Western Crete by far (because a lot of East Crete is developed for mass tourism). Here, a few choice pix:

Nafplio & Beyond - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57632094108982
Pelops Castles - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57645468134284
Olympia-Delphi - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57645469717811

WEst Crete -https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157671590654126
Chania Crete https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57632117917828
CRETe South - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57645487373222
Libyan Sea-Sougia- Ag. Romuli - Loutro-Chora Sfakion

If you love his albums, you can leave a comment saying so!

Tabernash2

DD has been to Crete, and she suggested we skip it on our trip there next month. She said she was disappointed in it. Santorini is where we are going for 5 nights, plus three nights in Athens.

BTW, because I had a very short time-frame to plan our trip, and because lodging was already booked, I went to Costcotravel.com and found a great Greece trip. Take a look at their options. They use high-end lodging, and include ferries and airport transfers.

Whathello

I had forgotten how nice Balloons was/

I was ready to comment, but I'll refrain, in case I'm hurting the OP, and will just give my unconditional support to Kja, who is a very nice person, and gives good advice.

(When she is allowed to.)

Odin

<i> Be aware that Corfu is one of the most popular package-holiday destinations for the UK </i>

Very true but that does not mean you need to write off the whole island & discourage someone from visiting, away from the tourist areas there is much to see. Most of Greece and the islands will be popular package holiday destinations for the UK and Europe, such as Zakynthos, now THAT is a party island.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...-travel-guide/

travelerjan

Odin, I was not saying that all of Corfu is a problem, just that you have to strategize, especially in August, and she now is considering the two largest destinations in Greece -- which also have package-holiday areas, but are SO much larger in territory that they are not overwhelmed.

kja

@ Whathello: Thanks! I do try to be helpful and am glad to hear that you think my advice has some merit. I admit, though, that I have trouble with posters who are unrelentingly and unapologetically rude to one or more of those who try to help them, whether the person trying to help is you or me or anyone else. One of my many quirks….

MyBeautifulBalloon

After talking to my family, we have come up with either of these ideas for our 15 days:

- driving through the South Peloponnese,

- driving nortwest through the mainland and adding in either Corfu or Zakynthos

- driving northeast through the mainland and head towards Central Macedonia


Thanks again.

StCirq

kja is one of the most helpful people on this forum.

Balloon doesn't seem to want to invest any time in doing her own research, yet rudely dismisses people who try to help her.

And what's with Iceland, Balloon? Going there on the way to Greece, or what?

MyBeautifulBalloon

StCirq, your comments are completely without merit and are bordering on harassment. If you were to read her responses on another of my posts, you would see why I do not want her help.

As well, if you would actually read my posts, you would see that we are going to Greece next August, and to Iceland in March. There are 5 months between these vacations.

As well, asking questions here on this forum is a great way to do research, as many, many people would agree.

Again, if you have nothing to add but insults, please do not read or respond to my posts.

kja

@ StCirq: Thank you!

MyBeautifulBalloon

Here is the question I was asking before being "interrupted":

After talking to my family, we have come up with these ideas for our 15 days in Greece:

- driving through the South Peloponnese,

- driving northwest through the mainland and adding in either Corfu or Zakynthos

- driving northeast through the mainland and head towards Central Macedonia


Thanks again.