collins26

I need some advice please. I have never been to Europe before and am planning a trip for 8 days to Amsterdam and Greece for our honeymoon. I have several questions. How long is the flight from Amsterdam to Greece? Will 4 days (Monday - Thursday) be enough time in Amsterdam to do some light sightseeing, try some great restaurants and get a good idea of what the city is like? Also, we can't decide between Mykonos or Santorini in Greece - both look fun! Please give me your recommendations - while in Greece we are interested in relaxing on a beautiful beach with a cocktail, eating great food and with minimal sightseeing. Thanks!

suze

I was in Amsterdam for the 1st time for 5 days last year. That seemed a good amount of time for an introduction. I enjoyed the Leidseplein (district) best. I found this website very helpful in planning:

www.amsterdamhotspots.nl

Cicerone

I assume your question relates to flying into Athens. A non-stop flight from Amsterdam takes about 3 and a half hours. From there you will need to get a ferry to the island of your choice.
Just my opinion, but if you really are not interested in sightseeing, Greece is a LONG way to go to sit on a beach. You might be better off going to a beach location nearer your home. To go to Greece and not see Athens seems to me to miss the whole point.
Same is true of Amsterdam, where going to museums is one of the best things to do, as the city has excellent art and history museums; esp if you will be there in the late fall or winter, when it is pretty cold. If you really only want to do light sightseeing, 4 days is probably too much. Otherwise, 4 days is plenty for Amsterdam, you should also be able to get in some time to see/bike in the countryside. Amsterdam is fairly far north, so it never really gets very warm, the warmest months are July and August and even then, to get into the mid-70s is considered a heat wave. (Although the last two summers have been warmer, on average Holland is quite cool.)

Sjoerd

Just to let the last poster know that tomorrow it will be 86 F in Amsterdam! We usually have a period in summer with temperatures in the mid-80's in F.
to collins26: when is your honeymoon? Greece is too cold after early October for a nice beach holiday. For partying, Mykonos is best, for a romantic trip with great sunsets, go to Santorini.

ira

Hi,

I respectfully suggest that if this is your first time in Europe go to Paris for the whole 8 days and take a few day trips.

Intrepid

I agree with the 3-1/2 hour timeframe for non-stop flights from Amsterdam to Athens. I disagree that going to Greece and not seeing much of Athens means you are "missing thoe point." There is a lot more to Greece than Athens just as there is a lot more to the US than New York and a lot more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam.
Be aware that the types of beaches you may be used to (assuming you are from the US and are used to the fine sand type beaches) bare not necessarily what you'll find in the Med...pebbles and even gravel is often more prominent on the beaches there..not exclusively, but more common than in the US I think.
I would tend to vote for Santorini vs. Mykonos if you are only going to do one island..both are wonderful but I think you may find Satorini more picturesque.
Four days for simply light sightseeing in Amsterdam should be plenty. Have a great trip.

collins26

Sjoerd: Our honeymoon is end of May 2004 so I am hopeful we will have good weather in both places. Thanks for the advice.

Could anyone elaborate on biking the countryside around Amsterdam?

Sjoerd

Have a look at
http://web.inter.nl.net/users/Paul.T...ycle-list.html
for bike trips around Amsterdam. Tours # 9 and # 10 on that site are probably the nicest.
For organised tours have a look at:
http://www.letsgo-amsterdam.com/UK/indexUK.htm
Congratulations and have a nice honeymoon!

luvtotravel

You've picked two wonderful destinations, although they could not be farther apart. You have limited time, and I highly suggest you fly between Athens and an island and leave the ferries to when you have more time.

My two experiences in Amsterdam: early May, got off the plane in early morning to temperature in the low 30s. I needed a jacket just about the entire time there. Mid-June, one week stay, daytime temperatures ranged from 70s to 80s -- beautiful, even though one day was unreasonably hot.

With a week in Amsterdam, the second time going there, it seemed just the right amount of time to allow us the opportunity to wander the city, take in local color, visit museums, and take day trips outside the city. I would not have minded spending the summer there -- really.

Santorini is a magical place for a honeymoon, and May is a beautiful month, before the crowds hit. You'll find plenty of hotel recommendations by searching through posts on the board; my favorite is Sun Rocks Villas, room #31.

Have you looked into direct flights from Amsterdam to Mykonos or Santorini? Don't know if there are any. Worth a search so you can skip Athens and save it for another time -- after one visit to Greece you'll surely want to return.

TracyB

I think that whatever you plan, you will have a great time...I have been to Amsterdam several times, and could probably spend a whole month exloring the city and the surrounding towns...However, seeing as you only have 4 days, you will just have to make the best of it...In September my husband and I are going to Amsterdam for the 11th time for 10 days, and 9 days in Greece...3 in Athens and 6 in Santorini..So we are doing a similar thing to you...We also would like to do some relaxing, and a few cocktails with the nice view....Travelling is such a personal choice and everyone has there own opinions of what they would and would not do...So just do as you please, and if it doesn't work out, you will know better for next time!!

Athena39

I am surprised that no one has mentioned that Mykonos has been almost totally taken over by the gay community. I only mention this so that you will be prepared for what you will see there.

brotherleelove2003

There are only 2 good beaches on Santorini for relaxing with a cocktail, and in my opinion neither one of them is all that great. They are black sand or pebble, hot and crowded in the summertime. If you want to relax on Santorini, go to the timeless village of Oia, rent a room that overlooks the caldera and sit back and enjoy one of the most unique views in the world, something you will never forget. By the way, many people think of the Greek islands as tropical, which they are not. Most are semi-arid and some almost barren of significant vegetation. Santorini is no exception, but it is still one of the most amazing places on earth. Better beaches by far can be found on Mykonos, and you don't have to waste time on a ferry, you can fly from Athens to either Santorini or Mykonos. 8 days is such a short time, so plan carefully and make sure all your reservations are reconfirmed before you leave.

funtraveller

I agree with Brotherleelove2003 about Santorini. I travelled to both Santorini & Mykonos in June 2000 and had an outstanding time in both places. The beaches in Mykonos were outstanding. The food was wonderful. 3 days in picturesque Santorini is enough. We took day tours, volcano hike, boat cruise, etc and thoroughly enjoyed it. In Santorini, we stayed at the Andromeda villas in Imerovigli and highly recommend it. Never ate a bad restaurant. Have a wonderful, memorable trip - and marriage.

Weespxx

Hi Honeymooner

I'm an American living in a village outside of Amsterdam - have been here for 6 years.

There are a number of options for lovely bike trips:

North of Amsterdam there are winderful small villages and where I am (Weesp), there are also some incredible areas:

IE - for a 35 km ride (4 - 5 leisure hours) start in Weesp (you can rent bikes at the station) and bike on the Gein river to Abcoude. Continue along past Baambrugge and then to Loenen a/d Vecht, through Vreeland (stop at the wonderful cheese dairy which also has great ice cream), through Nigtevecht, over the small pont (bike ferry) and through Nederhorst ten Berg back to Weesp along the Vecht river). On Fridays and Saturdays, the Thee Tuin in Weesp is a gorgeous place to relax and have a drink.
Check out www.specialbite.nl for restaurant ideas. Amsterdam is not the only place for good places to eat!

In Amsterdam, Leidseplain is extremely touristy - maybe that interests you, but I hate the area. Try areas like the Jordaan, the Pijp, and Amsterdam South.

Have a ball and feel free to mail me at [email protected] if I can help further

newyorkais

Hello.

Try www.transavia.com for direct flights from Amsterdam to the Greek isles. It's a Dutch airline, a subsiduary of KLM.

Have fun!!!

Ross.

propertravel

Hi Collins 26,

Congratulations on your marriage.

If you stay 3 days in Amsterdam than you can do both Santorini and Mykonos.

You can also fly direct to the islands with Aegean Airlines of Greece as far as I have seen on their inflight magazine in last may.

Mykonos is fun, and early seasons can be real calm so you can spend time together. Apanema and Tharroe of Mykonos are my favorites.
I hear a lot of santorini and they have beautiful hotels too. Within islands you can use fast ferries called Flying Dolphins.

And on your anniversary next year you can come to Turkey. I would recommend Kalkan for a treat.

have fun on your Honeymoon...

If you need any further info on Mykonos hotels you can write me.

[email protected]