Ls6989

Hello! Traveling to Greece for the first part of our honeymoon and need some assistance with our itinerary...

Tue 8/25: Fly out of US
Wed 8/26: Arrive in Athens, fly to Mykonos (arrive by 12pm)
Wed 8/26 - Sun 8/30: Mykonos
Sun 8/30: Ferry to Santorini
Sun 8/30 - Fri 9/4: Santorini
Fri 9/4: Fly to Athens (early flight at 7:25am)
Fri 9/4 - Sat 9/5: Athens
Sat 9/5: Fly to Naples (2pm flight)

We are deciding on a few things:
1. Should we spend 4 nights in Mykonos and 5 nights in Santorini or vice versa? This will then give us 1 day and 1 night in Athens.
2. Should we spend the same amount of time (4 nights) in both Mykonos and Santorini, and then this gives us 1.5 days and 2 nights in Athens.

We know Athens is a beautiful city, but we are mainly looking to relax on the islands. In Athens, we want to visit the "must-see" places, as the Acropolis, Plaka, and maybe Kolonaki. If we arrive in Athens, drop off our luggage at the hotel and head to the Acropolis by 10am, is the whole day/night enough time to take in the city a bit? Our other option is to leave Santorini for Athens on Thursday mid-day.

Please let share your thoughts/experiences!

Thank you!

HappyTrvlr

I would gibe Atena more time. Just the Aceopolis, the Acroplois Museum and the Agora below take a lot of time. Depending on your travel dates, it may be very warm when doing the above, so ypu may want to take a break.

WWK

What time do you arrive in Athens? I hope you're not cutting it too close for that Mykonos flight. For example, the JFK Delta flights usually don't arrive until 9:30 AM if they're on time.

About the other questions: I agree w/the poster above. You need at least two days in Athens to begin to see the sites, especially because it will be broiling hot in August.

Ask your hotel if they can arrange tickets to the museum and Acropolis in advance. We've done this in the past, and you avoid long lines that way.

Also try to get a very early start to minimize dealing with crowds and heat. In July two years ago, the temperature was hovering around 100 degrees by noon.

Ls6989

@WWK - we are arriving on the JFK flight that lands at 9:35am and we were planning to take the 10:50 AM flight to MYK. We have purchased our international flights but have not booked the flight to MYK yet. Do you recommend against that? We are hoping to get to the island as fast as possible and have read that Athens is an efficient airport so about an hour should be enough time. We will also be towards the front of the plane if that helps...

We have decided to stay in Athens for 1.5 days and 2 nights so we can enjoy more of the city and walk around as well as get an early start as you recommended! We are staying at the Hilton Athens so we will check to see if they can arrange this for us.

Also - there is another topic (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...alfi-coast.cfm) that I started and you had responded with very helpful commentary and I asked a few questions in return. If you wouldn't mind reading it and responding again then that would be much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

WWK

Ls6989,

I think you're cutting it close with that 10:50 AM flight. What if the JFK Delta flight is late getting in? YIKES! If it helps, we often sit up front, too, due to husband's miles, and still need time to get through customs and to other gate. What's the next flight to Mykonos?

If you need to hang around the airport a few hours, you can grab lunch at The SOFITEL, which is a really nice hotel.

Ls6989

@WWK - yes that's a valid point. The flight options are 10:50am or 1:25pm. We just really didn't want to sit around for 2+ hours... =/ thanks for the lunch recommendation too!! We will wait a bit and decide which one to take...

Heimdall

I agree 10:50 is cutting it too close, but if you decide to chance it, check in online and print out your boarding passes before leaving home (do that even if you opt for the 1:25).

Layovers aren't all that bad at Athens Airport. As WWK mentioned there is Sofitel, also a little museum upstairs in the terminal building with artefacts found during construction of the airport. If you have time, there is a factory outlet mall just outside the airport: http://www.athensattica.gr/en/you-ar...13001320067719

Ls6989

@Heimdall - Thanks for the suggestion - we will definitely print out the passes beforehand! We will wait just a bit more to decide... but we are planning to purchase the Flex tickets that can be changed/refunded, so if we are cutting it close or miss the flight, then will they hold it a few minutes for us or put us on the next one? Or, if we purchase the later one, can we standby and get on the early one if there are seats? Thanks!!

Heimdall

Any last minute change of flights will depend upon seat availability, so there's no guarantee that will work. Personally I would book the later flight, and not have to worry about it.

WWK

Just a heads-up that JFK has closed one of its major runways with work all through the summer, so this adds to the likelihood that planes will not depart on time.

Take Heimdall's (and my) advice and book that later plane - if it's available! Flights to the islands get booked months ahead and fill up fast.

Two+ hours will go quickly, especially since you need to be at the gate for Mykonos at least an hour ahead.

Good luck!

Ls6989

@WWK & @Heimdall - Okay friends, you have convinced me! We will take your word for it and take the later flight at 1:25pm. The last thing we want is for our honeymoon to start off by us missing our flight!

By the way - for our return trip from Santorini to Athens, should we take an 11:40am or 2:30pm. My thoughts is perhaps the later one that we can still enjoy one last lunch in Santorini. Also, if we arrive a bit later maybe our hotel room may not be quite ready...

THANK YOU! Your input has seriously guided our entire trip!

WWK

Leaving from the islands I like to take the earlier flights if possible. That way if there's any kind of weather or mechanical problem, you still have a shot at getting out later in the day.

Also, you have such a short time to visit Athens! The HILTON will keep your bags if you're early, so don't worry about that.

Heimdall

If you take the 11:40 to Athens you won't be in the central city much before 2pm, so you don't have to worry about being too early for check-in. That will give you a little more time for sightseeing during your very short stay in Athens.