Sloopy

Narrowing down our September trip to Greece. We are two senior adults looking to settle in one place and immerse ourselves in Greece, food and culture and beautiful scenery. We are spending 3 nights in Santorini (Oia) on arrival and then making ourselves "at home" in one of these two places. We like to be in town or very close to walk to shops, dining, etc., but close enough to walk to the water. Also, we require a balcony or terrace with a nice view, be it a nice street, square or the sea. We are looking for moderate-prriced accommodations. Can you please help us make a decision or one of these two and also accommodations. Thanks to you all.

HappyTrvlr

Chania offers all that you are looking for, with many options for dining, exploring the countryside, etc. We spent two weeks in a cottage we rented through Maria at www.diktynna-travel.gr , an incoming Crete travel agency.We haven't been to Sifnos yet so can't comment on that island.

travelerjan

CHANIA -- It's the perfect place for Autumn... large permanent population means the Old Town is always humming ... It is delightful walking, wonderful shopping both for foods and handicrafts, entertainment in the evening (try Kafe Kriti for old-timey instruments!). And it's a bus-ride away from wonderful traditional Village of Vamos, and enchanting walks.

The most enjoyable accommodations are on, or just off, Theotokopoulou Street on the West side of town, just along the Venetian west wall. From 9 am on (thus allowing for deliveries) this is a pedestrianized flagstoned street, runs directly to the seafront park, which has ample parking should u rent a car. I t's just 1 street back from the harbor, beautifully handy, quiet at night. A delightful Hotel with front balconies, with a view down the street to the sea, is HOTEL PALAZZO (breakfast included), where we are staying in May. PRobably about 50-55€ per night in Sept... maybe less.

Since you plan to stay 10 days, you may want lodgings called "self-catering" (with small table, a niche with hotplate, sink, etc). Right nearby there are many of these -- you could book ahead, or just book 2 nights in Hotel Palazzo, and check out the others on the spot (that's what I'd do). Right down the street toward the water are these 2:
HOTEL HERA - (check this review) http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ure_Crete.html and JASON STUDIOS: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...ure_Crete.html
-- There's a fine pastry/produce mrket right on the street, and a farmer's market 1 day per week along the seafront (also a MAJOR city indoor market which alas is more touristic than in the past, but still a good source for dairy, breads, spices etc).

If you want to swim... walk to the left along the harbor about 1 kilometer (go PAST a rocky, mossy seafront) and you'll find the small, clean, sandy Town Beach. In Sept, the water is divine. AND you'll be with Chanians enjoying the water. Dads drive up on motor scooters from work, swimtrunks under street clothes, jumping in water with their kids. We had so much fun just sitting among the families one sept at 6 pm, that we went across the street, bought "take-away" food and had our suppers lounging on sunbeds.

Several times a day a bus goes 20 Km east to Vamos http://www.vamossa.gr/ a traditional village that is not a "tourist trap." Some preservation-minded friends organized a nonprofit running a store, so locals could keep up with Cretan ways -- beekeeping, wine-making, weaving, handicrafts etc. In season you are invited to take part in grain harvest, grape-picking, wine-making. You can book for cooking classes. In summer there are guided daily walks. OR at the shop, they give out a FREE d-i-y map of a stroll through tiny hamlets and woodlands to the shore. IF you wish, Khalives, a beach village, has lovely sandy beach, also walks uphill & inland to towns that time forgot -- Gavalachori is one.

... Oh, and about SIFNOS. One of my VERY favorite islands ... however by September, it will be "closing down" just a bit. If you choose it, I have a splendid pension to recommend up in the central hills... the center of the island's bus system ... A friend of mine always stays in Ano Petali at Pension Geronti (has a website) ... and I personally stay right next door at the 2-unit paradise run by Mrs. Geronti's daughter Nikoleta ... vine-covered patio over-looking fields, towns and the sea. Large room, kitchenette, comfy double bed, divine shower... about 35€ per night. Sifnos is criss-crossed by flagstoned paths linking each village... until the 1950s, the only links. Heaven for hiking. In Sifnos in September as I say, fewer options for nightlife, but always some good restaurants. Car rental good idea if staying for some time.

libero7

Chania would be perfect, just the place to relax and get to know bit by bit. The Samaria Gorge is nearby for great walking as is Rethymnon which has a stunning old town (ignore the concrete hotels on the beach where all the package tourists congregate).

SusanP

Hmmm...so many great places to consider! I did a search for Sifnos and read a little about that. Jan, you answered on one of those threads and made Sifnos sound wonderful as well. How are the bus connections there?

And are ferry connections OK for that?
I've tried checking out schedules, both on Blue Star Ferries and another site that I read about, but even though I put in a date a couple of weeks from now, it comes up with nothing on one, and on Blue Star it would only show trips to and from Piraeus.

brotherleelove2004

This might help come up with a workable itinerary:

http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.co...erry-chart.htm

travelerjan

SusanP, whoa!

We have just finished helping you develop a Santorini-Naxos-Paros-Athens route... and now you've jumped ship, and want us to discuss, persuade and figure out the logistics of an entirely DIFFERENT itinerary, dropping your previous destinations like discarded candy wrappers!! Think of their hurt feelings!

Seriously Susan, you have 13 nights in Greece; Crete is a lot to tackle, even just Chania area -- especially if you are on your own, cannot rent a car, and want to pair it with an island that's harder to get to. I also was allured by Sifnos, but did not get there until my 4th trip, because of ferry schedules. Lee's link shows the problem: Crete links to the Central Cycladic isles only through Heraklion 1 per day ferry to Santorini ... to reach Sifnos on the Western Cycladic route, you'd have to do Heraklion- Santorini-Milos-SIfnos... a time consuming maneuver.

Why not think of next year's trip as a fact-finding mission, the first chapter in your lifelong Book of Greece? That's what happened to me! (for this book-in-progress, see my webpage, (not quite updated through June 2010) http://www.techforecast.com/janet.htm

SusanP

Jan, I wasn't exactly jumping ship! After all, it is almost a year away! I'm new to Greece travel, so I was just looking at other possibilities to be sure I made the right choice as to itinerary.

I wasn't really considering Crete, just looking at Sifnos. But that's exactly what I wanted to know, whether ferry connections might be a problem. That's good to know; I will go back to my Santorini-Naxos-Paros-Athens idea! I am still considering staying longer in a couple of places and doing Santorini (3), Naxos (6) and Athens (4), but although I like to stay a little longer in places, I hate to miss Paros! Decisions, decisions...

SusanP

Oh, and Lee, thanks for that link!

travelerjan

Susan, since you are responsible only to yourself, you can just go with the flow ... reserve for 3 days in Naxos, see how you feel, once you're on the scene it's so easy to make arrangements more spontaneously, even in July.

SusanP

So even in high season I wouldn't have to worry about getting reservations on the fly? I don't know if I want to do that. I'm all for going with the flow regarding my itinerary in each place, but I like to have my hotel set. Location is important to me, so I would hate to have to take something too far from where I want to be because that was all that was available.

yestravel

We were in the islands (Crete, Naxos, Paros and Santorini) during the month of September a couple years ago. We had a hard time getting reservations some of the time. On Crete I sat in our hotel making call after call trying to get a place to stay. It was really a bother to have to call place after place to hear nor oom at the inn and to waste vacation time doing so. This happened more than once, such that it was a deterrent for future traveling on the fly which we love to do.

SusanP

yestravel, that's exactly what I'm afraid of. I think I'll decide how many nights and where so I can have the hotel reserved.

Jan, you've given me great suggestions for hotels, so I want to get them!

yestravel

We did eventually find places to stay, but just felt like it was a huge waste of time to have to find them. What we tend to do when we think we might run into this, is leave a night or 2 here and there open and then fill it in either with a place we like or a new place. Plus we've found that many places will let u cancel a night or 2 if you've stayed part of the nites reserved. That's worked out for us many a time. Have a great trip!

Heimdall

You can find rooms on the fly if you aren't fussy (simple room with private shower & w.c.), but to be sure of getting what you want, it's best to book in advance. You'll probably pay the full rate rather than discounted prices offered on the spot, but at least you'll know in advance where you will be staying.

For what it's worth, when travelling to a new island in June or September I like to find accommodation when I get to the island, but for me a room is only a place to put your head down for a night's sleep. The rest of the time I am out exploring the island, or relaxing on the beach.

SusanP

Heimdall, yes, I know I will feel better if I have my room booked. I've gone over my budget again, and what I had budgeted for 10 nights in Italy will give me 15 in Greece. Yippee! The hotel prices are so much lower than Italy, and the ferry prices are inexpensive. I absolutely love Italy but am now very excited about Greece.

So, 3 nights Santorini, 4 nights Naxos, 4 nights Paros (probably with a daytrip to Antiparos) and 4 nights Athens. Seems like a perfect trip to me!

Heimdall

Sounds perfect to me, too! Have a great time!

travelerjan

Really sounds good Susan ... Now here's another tip, from someone who "ran between the raindrops" this year, with all those 24-hour strikes. Fly IN to Athens and Fly HOME from Athens on a Fri-Sat-Sun-Monday. That's becuse these "job actions" , if they are still occurring by next year, occur 99% of the time in Midweek, T-W-Th. If you are out on the islands during a strike,not much impact at all. Only if you are going in/out of Piraeus, or something in Athens or out of Athens airport. And in July, mabe not at all. May-June is more iffy.

Heimdall

Travelerjan is correct that most, if not all, strikes this year have been midweek. In my June trip I travelled in and out on Saturday and Sunday, and had no problems at all. This year there has been a series of strikes protesting cuts in civil service pay, cabotage in the Greek shipping industry, etc. I could be wrong, but I think by next year things will settle down.

SusanP

Thanks for that info. As it happens, I will fly out of NY on Friday, so arrive in Athens on Saturday, and will be flying home on a Sunday. Guess I chose the right flight days without even knowing I needed to!