Greek Islands in June Itinerary Help Please!
Feb 14th, 2011, 07:35 PM
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Greek Islands in June Itinerary Help Please!
My husband and I will be on the Greek Islands for first time this coming June. We're very experienced travelers and not afraid to have an adventure, and we're SO excited about finally taking this trip! We’ll be traveling for the first couple of weeks with two good friends. We’ll be with them in Athens, Santorini and Mykonos. We’ve already worked out all the details for this part of the trip.
After our friends leave us on Mykonos, my husband and I will have five nights by ourselves before we have to return to Athens to fly home. We’re looking for a small, quiet, non-touristy, romantic island! We’d prefer to stay in a small B&B, or apartments or suites. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and definitely not expensive, but clean and comfortable with a relaxing vibe and a good view of the ocean! We just really want to experience the “real” Greece after the touristy Santorini and Mykonos! We’re interested in good food and wine and local people. I’m a professional musician and I’d be very interested in hearing authentic Greek music if there is any. (NOT discos, but true Greek music!) We’re also very much into snorkeling and swimming. Good ocean views are a major factor for us.
Does anyone have any island suggestions for us? There are just so many islands to choose from and it’s almost daunting trying to figure this out! Since we’ll traveling from Mykonos, and only have a limited amount of time, we’d rather not spend a whole day traveling somewhere. Is Lipsi someplace to consider?
Also, do people have recommendations for places that you’ve actually stayed at?
Would love to hear some suggestions from people who’ve been there!
Thanks so much.
After our friends leave us on Mykonos, my husband and I will have five nights by ourselves before we have to return to Athens to fly home. We’re looking for a small, quiet, non-touristy, romantic island! We’d prefer to stay in a small B&B, or apartments or suites. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and definitely not expensive, but clean and comfortable with a relaxing vibe and a good view of the ocean! We just really want to experience the “real” Greece after the touristy Santorini and Mykonos! We’re interested in good food and wine and local people. I’m a professional musician and I’d be very interested in hearing authentic Greek music if there is any. (NOT discos, but true Greek music!) We’re also very much into snorkeling and swimming. Good ocean views are a major factor for us.
Does anyone have any island suggestions for us? There are just so many islands to choose from and it’s almost daunting trying to figure this out! Since we’ll traveling from Mykonos, and only have a limited amount of time, we’d rather not spend a whole day traveling somewhere. Is Lipsi someplace to consider?
Also, do people have recommendations for places that you’ve actually stayed at?
Would love to hear some suggestions from people who’ve been there!
Thanks so much.
Feb 14th, 2011, 07:52 PM
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Well I am not sure that Naxos can be considered as non touristy but compared to Santorini and Mykonos it certainly is less crowded and much more authentic. Naxos has a permanent population so the Greeks you meet there live there. A day trip to the mountain villages will give you an experience of what Greece used to be like. Naxos is much larger than Santorini and Mykonos so it can absorb tourists without being crowded. It has excellent beaches, some antiquities and a delightful old market area in the main town capped by a Venetian Kastro.
For authentic music try the Venetian Museum where they have a sunset concert 2 or 3 times a week featuring folk music and sometimes have Greek guest concert musicians all in a 1500 era Venetian mansion setting.
We have stayed at Hotel Glaros right on St George Beach which I understand is being renovated this winter. It is a family run hotel, it was a c class, small with great views. Whatever the renos do, it will still have great views.
Naxos pictures
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577950188puzxSj
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577942756YgKLfl
Have fun planning
For authentic music try the Venetian Museum where they have a sunset concert 2 or 3 times a week featuring folk music and sometimes have Greek guest concert musicians all in a 1500 era Venetian mansion setting.
We have stayed at Hotel Glaros right on St George Beach which I understand is being renovated this winter. It is a family run hotel, it was a c class, small with great views. Whatever the renos do, it will still have great views.
Naxos pictures
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577950188puzxSj
http://travel.webshots.com/album/577942756YgKLfl
Have fun planning
Feb 16th, 2011, 06:44 PM
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Thanks Stanbr! I AM having fun doing my research on this trip! I'm still checking out Naxos, but I keep coming back to Pollonia, Milos. I realize it's around a 5 or 6 hour ferry ride, but I really don't mind as we'll have 5 days to chill on an island somewhere! There doesn't seem to be much there, but the water and the landscape seems to be pretty stunning. Anyone else have any other suggestions? Thanks.
Feb 16th, 2011, 07:27 PM
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I'm staying in Pollonia with 4 travel companions, May 26-29. I was on Milos about 4 years ago and promised myself to come back when with someone, and able to have a car. However, Milos IS hard to reach from Mykonos, at least 2 ferries ... a ferry from Paros to Sifnos 2 x a week, then u hop to Milos. OR go to Santorini, then Milos. Not easy. It would take a full day... maybe more, if connections don't work. Whereas, Naxos is 2 hours away from Mykonos.
About your music needs ... I don't know; all the music I've heard in Milos is Europop or Disco. Stanbr is right, much likelier to get authentic music in Naxos. And I've always found a lot of the "real Greece" there. One reason why, in 10 trips, Naxos is the only place that has always been on the itinerary. In 2009, I went for 4 days, ended up staying 9 .. just goes to show. After Milos, we're going to Santorini (for just 1 day), then -- on to Naxos of course!
In June, St. George beach will be populated but not crowded. If you want a cute & quiet place at the far end, 10 meters off the sands, take a look at this one: http://www.thegreektravel.com/naxos/sunbeach/index.html
It's walkable to town, bus system is great to reach all beaches, you only need a car when you want to drive all around the island.
Naxos couldn't be more of a contrast to Santorini & Mykonos. Go 5 mlles away from the beach and everything changes. Drive into the mountains and all you will hear are roosters & donkeys. You may be delayed by flocks of sheep or goats taking up the road. One May my sister & I sat on some rocks for half an hour, and just watched a guy shearing some sheep.
Look at stanbr's pictures. Really. Naxos has it all ...
About your music needs ... I don't know; all the music I've heard in Milos is Europop or Disco. Stanbr is right, much likelier to get authentic music in Naxos. And I've always found a lot of the "real Greece" there. One reason why, in 10 trips, Naxos is the only place that has always been on the itinerary. In 2009, I went for 4 days, ended up staying 9 .. just goes to show. After Milos, we're going to Santorini (for just 1 day), then -- on to Naxos of course!
In June, St. George beach will be populated but not crowded. If you want a cute & quiet place at the far end, 10 meters off the sands, take a look at this one: http://www.thegreektravel.com/naxos/sunbeach/index.html
It's walkable to town, bus system is great to reach all beaches, you only need a car when you want to drive all around the island.
Naxos couldn't be more of a contrast to Santorini & Mykonos. Go 5 mlles away from the beach and everything changes. Drive into the mountains and all you will hear are roosters & donkeys. You may be delayed by flocks of sheep or goats taking up the road. One May my sister & I sat on some rocks for half an hour, and just watched a guy shearing some sheep.
Look at stanbr's pictures. Really. Naxos has it all ...
Feb 16th, 2011, 09:08 PM
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Wow Jan, you certainly are making a very good argument for Naxos! Thanks for your suggestions. I was looking at a ferry schedule today and it looked like there was a direct ferry to Milos from Mykonos. But I'm totally open-minded to researching more into Naxos. The main thing we really want is a room with an sea view. And peace and quiet and not crowded. But some place where we can have a drink or two at night and not have to walk up a goat path for 15 minutes to get to our room!
I couldn't tell from your link if the Sunbeach had sea views. Do you know if they do? And if not, do you know of any places that do have a view. We just really want to stare at some water for a few days. (And of course a sheep or a goat would be fine, too!) We live in New York City and don't get a lot of any of that!
Where will you be staying in Milos?
I couldn't tell from your link if the Sunbeach had sea views. Do you know if they do? And if not, do you know of any places that do have a view. We just really want to stare at some water for a few days. (And of course a sheep or a goat would be fine, too!) We live in New York City and don't get a lot of any of that!
Where will you be staying in Milos?
Feb 16th, 2011, 09:34 PM
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I'm staying at Captain Stavros n Pollonia, Another good place is Mary Elen, they all have "sea views".
Here's a map of Naxos & St. George beach showing location of many hotels & studio units .. http://www.naxos-greece.net/site/gfx...hotels_map.jpg Sun beach is #34 ... It is 10 yards from the sand, 10 yards, 30 feet, hard to get much closer, of course there are sea views each unit has a balcony, all you have to do is ask for a unit with guaranteed water view.
I'm not going to try to sell you on Naxos. You said what you wanted ... authentic, good food, some night life, greek music, good beachs, don't want to have to spend a day going there, and Greek-traveller and I tried to fill all your requirements, and it came out Naxos. But if you want to go somewhere else, fine. I've told you what I can and he's given you plenty of pictures. We can't make up your mind, only you can.
I'm from Philadelphia now but I lived in Manhattan for 35 years, that's why I like Greece. Sea views everywhere.
BTW, it would help your advisors if you'd be more specific than just "june" the weekend of June 11-13 can be quite busy, "holy Spirit" (Pentecost) weekend, first big getaway weekend, like our memorial day only warmer, athenians flock to islands.
AMORGOS has a nice beach, Aegali. There's a good place right on the beach Lakki Village. It is a very quiet island. Nightlife in June consists of dinner. Lots of great walks. A very stark island, dry, mountainous. So peaceful I was thre for 3 days and it felt like 7. Take books.
Here's a map of Naxos & St. George beach showing location of many hotels & studio units .. http://www.naxos-greece.net/site/gfx...hotels_map.jpg Sun beach is #34 ... It is 10 yards from the sand, 10 yards, 30 feet, hard to get much closer, of course there are sea views each unit has a balcony, all you have to do is ask for a unit with guaranteed water view.
I'm not going to try to sell you on Naxos. You said what you wanted ... authentic, good food, some night life, greek music, good beachs, don't want to have to spend a day going there, and Greek-traveller and I tried to fill all your requirements, and it came out Naxos. But if you want to go somewhere else, fine. I've told you what I can and he's given you plenty of pictures. We can't make up your mind, only you can.
I'm from Philadelphia now but I lived in Manhattan for 35 years, that's why I like Greece. Sea views everywhere.
BTW, it would help your advisors if you'd be more specific than just "june" the weekend of June 11-13 can be quite busy, "holy Spirit" (Pentecost) weekend, first big getaway weekend, like our memorial day only warmer, athenians flock to islands.
AMORGOS has a nice beach, Aegali. There's a good place right on the beach Lakki Village. It is a very quiet island. Nightlife in June consists of dinner. Lots of great walks. A very stark island, dry, mountainous. So peaceful I was thre for 3 days and it felt like 7. Take books.
Feb 17th, 2011, 12:19 AM
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Truth is, if you are looking for the "real Greece", you are unlikely to find many suggestions on this board, which is aimed at tourists who gravitate toward touristy islands. The harder the island to reach, the less touristy it will be. Look into Anafi and Folegandros, both neighbors of Santorini. Consider Atsypalia, the next stop after Amorgos on the Blue Star route, but only if you have plenty of buffer time in Athens at the end of your trip. It does have an airport, though, so you have a quick alternative to the ferry for returning to the mainland.
Another authentic island to consider is Tinos, a place of religious pilgrimage for Orthodox Greeks. It's on the ferry route between Mykonos and Rafina, Athens' second port. I wouldn't go there around Holy Spirit Day, though.
If you want to keep it simple, then Naxos would be a good choice, but IMO it is also a touristy island.
I'll save my best suggestion for last: Antiparos, staying at the San Georgio (Agios Georgios) end of the island. You will need a car to get around, but it is absolutely stunning there, with a few hotels and tavernas overlooking the sea. Most of the development is expensive villas, some owned by 'A list' celebs. Antiparos is easy to reach from either Mykonos or Santorini — take FlyingCat 4 to Paros, and Antiparos is only 30 minutes away by bus/ferry or excursion boat. See http://www.dolphinantiparos.gr/ for an example of what that part of the island is like.
Another authentic island to consider is Tinos, a place of religious pilgrimage for Orthodox Greeks. It's on the ferry route between Mykonos and Rafina, Athens' second port. I wouldn't go there around Holy Spirit Day, though.
If you want to keep it simple, then Naxos would be a good choice, but IMO it is also a touristy island.
I'll save my best suggestion for last: Antiparos, staying at the San Georgio (Agios Georgios) end of the island. You will need a car to get around, but it is absolutely stunning there, with a few hotels and tavernas overlooking the sea. Most of the development is expensive villas, some owned by 'A list' celebs. Antiparos is easy to reach from either Mykonos or Santorini — take FlyingCat 4 to Paros, and Antiparos is only 30 minutes away by bus/ferry or excursion boat. See http://www.dolphinantiparos.gr/ for an example of what that part of the island is like.
Feb 17th, 2011, 07:45 AM
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Thanks everyone! You guys are great! We're going to be in Greece from May 27-June 11. This part of the trip is from June 5-10. Heading back to Athens on June 10. I can't wait to spend some time this evening checking out your suggestions. You're right, travelerjan... I think I have PLENTY to work with for now! Thanks again!
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