My boyfriend and I are planning to travel to the Greek Islands from May 28-June 5, 2011. I would love some advice about the following:
1. What are the best islands? We live in NYC and are looking to get away from it all. We love good food and wine, but don't need to be in the center of a big party.
2. Is it easier/cheaper to book in advance through a travel agent? Or is it preferable to book on my own through expedia?
3. Do I need to buy ferry tickets in advance, or can this easily be navigated upon arrival to Athens?
Any and all advice is welcome! Thanks.
Greek Islands in May 2011
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All the islands are the best islands. It depends what you're looking for-nice beaches, ancient sites, etc. Even though Mykonos and Santorini are probably the most "touristy" of the islands late May/early June would not be a bad time to visit. Santorini has lots of wineries you could visit. Naxos, Paros are also worth taking a look at to see if what they offer appeals to you. Will you be flying in and out of Athens?
My advice would be to go to a bookstore like Borders, Barnes & Noble and browse through some travel books on the Greek Islands to see what catches your interest. With your amount of time I would suggest no more than 2 islands. Will you want some time in Athens too? The advice I got was you really need to spend at least 3 nights minimum on an island to get the feel of it. With such little time you'd want islands close to each other and with good ferry service or airport if flying so as to minimize transit time.
It's very easy to DIY a trip to Greece. You can book direct with the hotels-it may be cheaper than going through an agent. Once you decide on where to go you can research the hotels for each destination right here on the forum.
I asked about getting our ferry tickets in advance and was informed by regulars on this forum that it wouldn't be necessary. We will be in Greece from June 8-July 7, 2011. For ferry info, etc. check out www.openseas.gr
Hello,
My boyfriend and I are going to Greece From May 25-June 5 as well. We are coming from Detroit. I have done everything myself and have used tripit.com to put it all together in one itin.
We are spending 5 nights on Crete, Ammos Hotel and then moving to the Blue Palace. We are then ferrying to Santorini for two nights, hotel tbd. We will spend two nights in Athens at the Hotel Grande Bretagne at the end of the trip.
feel free to email me with any questions.
jvrab12@yahoo.com
At that time of year you do not have to buy your ferry tickets ahead of time. You can buy them at a kiosk near the ferry you are taking. Hotels do not need to be booked ahead of time except Athens unless there is a specific hotel you want or you are arriving on a national holiday. By not booking you can get a better rate or better room. You only have about one week so island hopping will waste your time. I would pick an island that has lots to offer so you won't need to island hop if you choose not to. The one that comes to mind is Naxos. Great beaches and large island with lots to see and do. If you want to see a 2nd island, Mykonos is close with frequent ferry connections. Amorgos is a great island to see and is very close to Naxos but the ferry connections may not be as frequent.