kellysk87

My fiance and I plan to spend our honeymoon in Greece next year (end of May 2016). I know it's still far away, but we've already started booking hotels and flights since the rooms tend to get booked really quickly that time of the year. We will be in Greece for 8 days, but because we'll be flying into Santorini at night, and leaving Greece in the AM, we really only have 6 full days to enjoy our honeymoon. We would love to stay longer, but our work schedule only gives us this window of time. I know we can always come back but this will be our first big trip together (and a honeymoon at that!) so we're trying to figure out the best way to utilize our time.

We plan to stay in Santorini no matter what, but we're trying to decide whether we should stay the 6 full days in Santorini (this already excludes traveling days) or split the time between Santorini and Mykonos. As of now, we plan to stay 5 nights in Santorini (4.5 days - flying in at PM, and riding out on a ferry the last day), and stay 2 nights in Mykonos (1.5 days - riding in on a ferry, and flying out in the AM the last day):

3 nights in imerovigli (hotel booked)
2 nights in Oia (hotel booked)
2 nights in Mykonos (hotel booked but refundable - Palladium)

We decided to include Mykonos because of the beautiful beaches and thought it would be nice to have a change of scenery. In addition, our hotel Palladium has very good reviews. However, we've heard and ready many reviews on how beautiful Santorini is, and how staying a week or even two weeks in Santorini alone is fine. We've read many great things about Mykonos as well, but based on what we've read so far, it seems like Mykonos has more of a party/busy feel to it than Santorini. While my fiance and I are still young (late twenties), we're looking for more of a relaxing, sightseeing, and wine & dining type of a vacation. There's also the travel time of ~3 hours we would have to add when going from Santorini to Mykonos. So now we're starting to think that maybe we should just spend our honeymoon in Santorini (only) to maximize our time. On the other hand, we're afraid 6 full days might be a bit long to just stay in Santorini and we should explore Mykonos while we're in Greece.

So having said this, should we stick to our current itinerary and split our time between Santorini and Mykonos or should we spend our 6 full days in Santorini only? If we should split our time between two islands, then what are some things that is a must-see/do in Mykonos?

Your feedback is much appreciated!!

Thanks.

HappyTrvlr

Why are staying in two different nearby locations in Santorini? It is a tiny island the two locations you've booked are very close to each other.
We preferred Mykonos to Santorini so I think you should see it too..or better yet Naxos or Paros for a less touristed location. If there is any way to add a few more days it would be helpful considering the length of the journey to Greece( assuming from the US.)

brotherleelove2004

Stick to Santorini. 6 days will fly by.

odie1

We just returned from four nights in Santorini (Oia) and could have easily spent another four nights.

My trip report is located here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-athens.cfm

No need to split between hotels, you will have the same view from each location. Buses are easy to take between towns, as are taxis. There is plenty to keep you busy besides just relaxing and taking in the magnificent views.

We did not go to Mykonos so can't comment on that but those that did and we spoke to after said it was crazy busy with partiers, the island was even drier and less green then Santorini, and it was incredibly windy. All said they preferred Santorini.

WWK

Where are you departing from? Could you leave on a Friday night and return on a Sunday? Of course you'll be jet lagged Monday morning, but it gives you almost two more days in Greece, depending on connections.

Just to give you an idea, my daughter and future son-in-law departed Boston on a Friday night, and returned to Boston Sunday by 6PM with a connection through CDG in Paris.

Now for your question... Since you are young and may not return to Greece any time soon, I think I would split the time between Naxos or Paros and Santorini.

Naxos or Paros have some of the most beautiful beaches in the islands. Neither is a big party island, so they are quieter and more relaxing than Mykonos, but both offer plenty to see and do for a few days.

Santorini really doesn't have many good beaches, but you can visit the caldera, tour the vineyards, visit both Fira and Oia, relax with a long candelit seafood dinner on the water in Amoudi (sp) Bay ( just below Oia).

BTW, I agree with the others that you don't need to base in two places on Santorini. I'd choose Oia over Fira.

WWK

Obviously, I meant that my daughter and son-in-law returned to Boston the following Sunday.

Hopefully it's early enough that you can change/cancel the hotels you've already booked?

kellysk87

Thanks for your input thus far!

To answer some of your questions in regards to why we have booked two different hotels in Santorini, we are booking most of our hotels via rewards points we've earned on our various credit cards and each credit card rewards points allows us to stay 2-3 nights at a time in selected hotels (different credit card companies are partnered up with different hotels) mainly because we don't have enough point to stay longer than 2-3 nights/hotel. We're trying to book all of our hotels via rewards points if we can to minimize the amount of out of pocket expenses

Since Palladium is refundable, if we decide to to stay in Santorini for 6 full days, we'll try to book the same hotel in Oia.

clausar

I love Mykonos, and at the end of May it will be pretty quiet.. The party scene starts later in the season... and you will only notice, if you intend to party !!

Most party places are outside Mykonos town, at various beaches.

Mykonos has one of the most beautiful Choras ( main town) of the Cyclades, and it is really worth visiting, but I am afraid that having 1,5 days at disposal won't be enough.

Stay on Santorini, and I am sure you will enjoy it.
If I had to choose between Imerovigli and Oia, I would choose Oia without second thoughts.. Oia is a real village while Imerovigli is just a place with hotels ( even though it is very nice).

Heimdall

Switch locations and you will lose most of that day in transit, so really you would have only one day to enjoy Mykonos.

Are you planning to fly home the same day you leave Santorini? That should work if you have a flight back to Athens with sufficient layover time. If you do want a second location, consider spending the last full day in Athens. That would give you a chance to see a few highlights of the city, and provide a buffer against the unlikely event you are delayed leaving the island.

mariha2912

You do not mention why you chose Santorini, what your interests are etc so it is hard to advice as different people have different traveling styles... But the way I see it, on a honeymoon you may want to seek for quality rather than quantity. No need to rush. I am not very fond of Santorini but I am a keen believer that if you make an effort to go somewhere, you may as well take your time and find out what this is all about. Santorini is a tiny island but still there is plenty to do and see to fill a week and anyway, you are on a honeymoon. You will want to take it easy and enjoy each other's company too.
Cost of a trip is always an issue, but time is money too. I would not spare half a day changing hotels on Santorini either...