Greece - Should I spend more time in Mykonos or Paros?

Paros suits you better.

Try to include historic Delos for your Dad, either from Mykonos or Paros. I would spend less time on Santorini and more on the other islands or Peloponneasean Peninsula if he wants more history.Look at Napflion.

Choose Paros ... and you shouldn't do 5 full days Santorini... not that much history unless you want Dad to have to climb a huge bluff to see rubble of Ancient Thira ... and of course from your reading you must know that the beaches there are not what you want. It would be far more relaxing to have 3 full days Santorini, 3 full days Paros. Unless you have made some kind of pay-in-advance reservation in Santorini, with a month to go, you should be able to "tweak" your reservation there to start later or end earlier... So that you don't have a useless one-day period on either side. Don't be afraid to ask; you are the boss.

Paros has quite a few ancient sites, in its fascinating port town and elsewhere, AND a good museum. You can rent a car cheaply to get around and explore. And there are nice sandy beaches. Check out some good guidebooks -- go sit in Barnes & NOble or Borders and look at a few ... It can help you more than "reading your eyes out" will not necessarily tell you what you need to know, if the reading is only commercial sites on the internet.

Here is a very good noncommercial UK website about Paros --- showing you all its many beaches (I like Parasporos and Krios) ... ALso a good wrap-up of sights. http://www.greekisland.co.uk/paros/paros.htm

If you stay in Paros, it has a one-day excursion to Delos/Mykonos, so you could check it out. Delos for your Dad, Mykonos for you. win-win.

I think Paros sounds like a better fit for you and your father. It has lots of beautiful beaches and plenty of historic sites to explore. If you go, take travelerjan's great advice and split the time you have between Santorini and Paros, so that you can get a real taste of each place without having to pack up and move again after one night. And if you do decide on Paros,don't stay in the not-so charming port town of Parikia. Head for Naoussa, which is a very picturesque fishing village with lots of white stone houses, winding cobblestone alleys, great shopping and food, and a submerged Venetian castle right in the harbor.

There won't be much of a nightlife scene at the end of September on Mykonos, so factor that out of your equation. Since your father likes photography and is a history buff, the island of Delos, 30 minutes from Mykonos harbor, is the one ancient site in the Cyclades I wouldn't miss. There are many photo ops around Mykonos Town as well, with it's windmills, Little Venice, and winding passageways.

Paros would also be a good choice, but you need more time to see it and it's little sister Antiparos than the time you have allocated. During summer there are excursion boats to Delos from Paros, but they stop at the beginning of October, or possibly even earlier if the season is slow. Although there is a good bus service on Paros, by the end of September timetables will be reduced, and you will need a car to see the island properly. Bring an IDP which you can obtain from any AAA office.

My main concern with your plans is how you have divided the time. I can understand why you may wish to stop in Athens after a long international flight, but going straight to Santorini by connecting flight and saving Athens for last will eliminate one hotel transfer and give you an extra day of sightseeing. I am only a couple years younger than your father, so know how tiring travel can be, but the flight from Athens to Santorini takes about the same time (50 minutes) as to get from the airport to central Athens. Likewise, your "swing day" on Mykonos or Paros makes little sense, as you will be using up most of that day travelling and checking in and out of hotels.

If you can change the reservations on Santorini, recommend you go straight there for about 3-4 days, then move on to either Paros or Mykonos. The time saved will allow you much more time on that second island and for Athens at the end of the trip. Athens has so much to see, it is a photographer/history buff's dream. You won't have the heat and crowds of the summer, so sightseeing will be very pleasant.

That's exactly what I meant, Heimdall, only you say it so much better!!

NCSweetpea (and I Loove that name; my son lives in NC, he's a contemporary of yours) ... I hope hope hope that you will take our urgings seriously. So often people come to these advice forums LAST, after they have already made arrangements, and just want approval. What we are telling you is that you CAN make adjustments ... YOU are the boss. These days, with the tourism slump, hoteliers are willing to accommodate!! Believe me. I have done it. Don't be timid. And it will make your trip so much more rewarding, and also your dads... he's MY contemporary!) . If you want "coaching" feel free to contact me (click my name); let's get this done, OK??

Thank you all for your great advice. We did make a reservation using VRBO early for the 5 days in Santorini. But, it is an individual private place and if it isn't rented prior to our reservation then maybe we can still adjust our plans. I needed someone to remind me that I'm in charge - so thank you! You have given me something to think about. I can't wait to share this advice with my Dad!