Also, I am not so keen on history as much as on the breath-taking views.

There are breathtaking views on the mainland, it doesn't get more fantastic than Meteora for instance, whether you are interested in the monasteries or not. Same with the Pelion area, there is not much history but the scenery is beautiful, Mama Mia was filmed in the area. And the Peloponnese.

Also Orthodox Easter is in May this year.

You can cover the islands by ferry instead of a cruise. That way you will actually get to stay on the islands rather than just have a quick look around while the cruise ship is in port. As Odin wrote you will be in Greece over Orthodox Easter, which will give you an opportunity to see the celebrations, but may complicate your planning.

Ferries to the islands will be busy in the days preceding Easter Sunday (May 5th), and busy again after the weekend when people return to the mainland. Normally pre-booking ferries for early May isn't necessary, but as you will be travelling during the Easter season it would be advisable.

Though you aren't interested in history, the views at many of the ancient sites can be described as breathtaking.

Thanks Odin and Heimdall.

I had not thought about the mainland except for Athens.
As of now, my plan was to reach Athens on the 1st May, head to Santorini/Mykonos immediately. spend 3 nights each on these 2 islands and then stay in Athens for 2 nights.

Well, a little bit of history is good enough for us .
I was aware of the Easter holidays and was afraid that I might miss out some deals which I might have availed otherwise. Also, I think, due to Easter, the prices would shoot up.

We wanted to experience a cruise, as we have never experienced it before.
Anyways, would be really grateful, if you could help us chalk a plan.

If you plan 3 nights each on Mykonos & Santorini and 2 nights in Athens, you won't have time for a cruise in your 1-9 May honeymoon. I'm not sure there is such a thing as a 2-3 night cruise in the Greek Islands anyway.

Actually your plan sounds good, so I would stick with the 3 nights on Mykonos and 3 nights on Santorini, with the final 2 nights in Athens. It doesn't really matter which island you do first, but it usually works out best to start with the one furthest away (Santorini) and go there by connecting flight.

If you return to Athens from Mykonos you could get a little flavour of a cruise by taking Blue Star Ithaki to Piraeus. Book tickets in business class and you will have waiters in white coats providing table service. Any time you like you can walk out to the open deck for views, which will be fun when the ferry stops at Tinos and Mykonos.

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding.

Edit: "when the ferry stops at Tinos and Syros".

Louis Cruises offers 3 days cruises from Athens ( Piraeus to be more precise),
Check out the website : http://tinyurl.com/c6g4tx4

Just note that there are fixed departures that may not fit in your initial planning

Good info from clausar.

Thanks Heindall and Clausar.

I looked into the cruises and it actually doesnt fit into my iteniary. infact, according to me, 3-4 days on cruise and just touching the islands doesnt make sense. I think I would stick to the original plan and probably take the ferry from Athens to Santorini and then to Mykonos and in the end, back to Athens.

By the way, ferries or flight?? I would want to save on the cost here and spend the same on better hotels..

P.S: Now, I start with the hotel search and the ferries timing and cost.

Check the Aegean Airlines website. You might get lucky and find 'saver' fares for your island flights that sometimes compare to ferry ticket pricing. For example, the car ferry to Santorini charges €34 for an economy ticket. Aegean sometimes has tickets for €39, all taxes included.

Were it me, I would fly to Santorini and take the ferry from Mykonos back to Athens. There are several flights spaced throughout the day, so chances are you can find one that departs within a few hours of your arrival in Athens, getting you to Santorini the same day. You are travelling just when many Greeks will be heading to the islands for Easter, so will be lucky to get a saver fare.

Blue Star Ferries, the most popular option for Santorini, departs Piraeus at 07:25, and unless you have a very early arrival in Athens you will have to wait until the next day for that ferry. Blue Star takes about 8 hrs to Santorini.

Normally I would recommend avoiding Superjet, because it is very small and has a sketchy reliability record, but on 1st May it leaves Piraeus at 15:00, so if you arrive in Athens by around noon you would have time to make that ferry. Tickets are twice the price of Blue Star.

Whatever you decide to do, make your ferry or flight bookings early.

Hm.... 1st of May...
I am not sure everything would be running normally on that day...
Due to labour day, there may be a strike !!!!
This may also cause delays of flights....

An afterthought: if going directly to Santorini doesn't work out, you could reverse the itinerary and do Mykonos first, then Santorini. There is a ferry from Rafina to Mykonos departing at 18:15 on 1st May, taking only 4 hrs. Rafina is closer to Athens Airport than Piraeus, and it would take about 30 minutes to get there by taxi. KTEL Attica buses leave from the airport to Rafina hourly throughout the day, and drop you off at the ferry docks.

Logistics are more or less the same whether you do Santorini > Mykonos or Mykonos > Santorini. The catamaran going between the two islands goes both ways, probably not running on Easter Sunday. The same Blue Star that leaves Piraeus in the morning returns from Santorini in the afternoon.

Clausar and I cross-posted. Yes, there is a possibility of strikes on 1st May, I had forgotten about Labour Day. Would the unions be so cruel as to strike just before Easter?

Heimdall
it is quite possible, should they not strike the whole day, they will certainly strike at least for a few hours....

What i am afraid of is PAME, that is loyal to the communist party of Greece ( KKE) and quite radical..
Most of the strikes of seamen that were standing in front of the ships and didn't let anyone embark, were supported by PAME..

Will keep it in mind and will post about possible strikes, as soon as there will be more information about them.

Hello and congrats on your marriage!
Santorini is indeed a gorgeous island!

What I suggest is that you booked a sailing boat with a skipper (they are discreet, believe me) and explore gorgeous beaches of Santorini and other islands. The skipper will lead you to the best places to eat and maybe to lovely isolated beaches

Last year booked a boat from www.incrediblue.com to go to Kos island. Why don't you check it. It is also low season and it can prove quite cheap compared to June or July.

Best regards,
Jayden

Jayden

You have been to so many places last year....
How are we sure that the skipper is really discreet?
and what if he's not?

Best Regards

Clausar

Hey Clausar,

It is quite common to go on sailing vacation for honeymoon. So most of the skippers know how to treat their customers.

JaydenHolloway is a spammer who has also been plugging his website on Trip Advisor under the screen name WilliamL. Not very subtle!

Who is WIlliamL? No I am not a spammer!
And I have nothing to do with this website except from the fact that I have used it.
I could have suggested other sites too.

why didn't you?

I guess it was only a coincidence that two people joined Fodor's and Trip Advisor on the same day, both posting replies on multiple threads with the same website link.

Because that was the one that I happened to use. That's all. Anyway, I am not here to promote. Maybe I have just become a fanboy, just like I am with Apple products.

As for strikes, you are right, I have heard a lot of things about it. Heimdal and Clausar are you Greeks?

When you make four posts in one afternoon all plugging the same website that is promotion. Advertising is not allowed on Fodor's.

Oh, I see. Didn't think that this would be considered advertisement. I am new in Fodor's

Hi Everyone,

Thanks a lot for the answers. Apologies for not replying before.

As it turns out, I might take the evening flight from India on the 1st. So, would probably reach Athens on the 2nd morning.

But, keeping in Mind, 3 nights each in Santorini and Mykonos, I might travel on the 5th.

Does the Easter holidays mean, the prices of Hotels and travelling would shoot up ?

Anyways, could you please message me the links of ferries so that I could check out the timings and start booking them.

You guys have been so much helpful to me. Thanks once again.

Need Help for Mykonos.

Wanted to know, which side of Mykonos, shall we stay.

Requirements. Private beech, sea view and we plan to experience the night life of Mykonos for atleast a night.

we are staying there for 4 nights.

Check the Mykonos Thea Hotel. You will need a rental car or taxi to go into Mykonos Town for nightlife.

According to their website Thea doesn't open until May 20th: http://www.mykonosthea.com/rates.htm

Frankly, at the beginning of May all beaches will have a private feel, because there won't be many other sunbathers. Mykonos Grand, at Agios Ioannis, has a private area on the beach, and it's near Mykonos Town: http://www.mykonosgrand.gr

Frankly my best wishes for your new life.Santorini is the best choise for honeymoon .Greece have 3000 islands to visit .If you like are in honeymoon in santorini you can have the best events for this reason .Last years Santorini host 1000s for the same reason. The second island is good choise myconos , paros, milos,but if you ask me Rodos is THE Island for you.But is very difficult to go from one island to other directly ,you have to come back in Athens .

There are not more than 10 hotels in Greece with a private beach, since all Greek beaches according to Greek constitution are public....

I was last year during May on Mykonos, stayed at Mykonos Grand, which is very nice hotel, a great advice from Heimdall.

At the beginning of May even the usually very busy beach of Platys Gialos will be empty

Hi all,

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Heimdall, had shortlisted Mykonos Grand, superb hotel it is. but unfortunately, it is a little above my budget. Was more interested in hotels at around 170-200 euros.

The main reason I suggested Mykonos Grand is that I kew it had a private area on Agios Ioannis Beach. I still think Agios Ioannis would be a good place to stay, because the beach isn't crowded (especially early May) and has great sunset views. Maybe clausar can suggest another hotel within your price range.

Please check Saint John, an exhellent hotel on Agios Ioannis Beach, that Heimdall recommended, which will feel very very private

A second option would be Mykonos Blue on Psarou Beach.

Both within your budget and both excellent hotels.

Actually I noticed that Mykonos Grand has garden view rooms for €190. For a sea view you pay an extra €40.

Heimdall i checked random days 6-10/5 and i didn't see the garden view room.... after seeing your post, i tried different days, and suddenly the garden view room showed up

I think as a good will gesture for Honeymooners they would upgrade them to a Sea View room free of charge, given the fact that the hotel will be most likely empty

Hey Clausar/Heimdall,,

Firstly A very happy Holi to you. Its the Indian festival of colours.

Well, we were interested in Saint John also, and now eventually we have zeroed in on Petasos Beech.

Hotel Belveder in Santorini.

Though we havnt done the bookings as yet, I think, I would do it by tomorrow. Ofcourse, I would be checking this forum again before I go ahead with the booking.

Enjoy your Holi celebrations! It sounds like fun as long as you aren't wearing your best clothes.

sameep_jeep

The Petassos Beach is an excellent choice and has a great location, i am sure you will love it.

Some of the nicest rooms are the ones overlooking the Platy Gialos beach.

oh great.. thanks a lot Clausar and Heimdall ..

Hotel Belvedere in Santorini. Sounds good ?

Also, I am going through the travel agent. Fantasy Tours or Kivotos of Aegean Travel
Though I have heard (from fodors only), that they are one of the best in the business, both of them are providing me with a similar package at a similar cost. Which one should I prefer ?

Hi again,

we were planning for a half day cruise in Santorini to experience the island. not sure which one to choose. Had come across Spiridakos yacht cruises and Santorini Sailing.

I am not looking at private cruises (would be way above my budget). Need suggestions.

Hi Jessica,
Thanks so much for the wishes and the information. Well, the thing is, we have already booked everything and now looking at cruise options in Santorini and Mykonos which can help us explore the islands.

I think your best bet is to wait until you get to the islands and check what is available. Those that are running that early in the season are unlikely to be full, so you should be able to book on the spot.

Hi Sameep,

Just a small suggestion...i saw you are staying in Fira in Santorini.. i guess Oia would be a more romantic option..though i havent been there myself, ive heard a lot from the reviews here..

P.S-i am going for my honeymoon too and i am stayin at the delfini villas , Oia..cheers and best of luck for ur forthcoming wedding..

Hi Kunal,

Thanks for the wishes.
Well, we have already booked the hotels. So no use, changing things.

Heimdall,
Dont want to waste time there trying to figure out, which is the best. Was planning, I would find the best possible option before leaving and then probably either book it online or when I reach there.

Sameep have you booked your ferry tickets ?? Which site did u use ??