sfgvacas

My fiancee and I are trying to figure out where to go on our honeymoon next year. We are hoping to do a lot of historical activities as well as spending time relaxing on the beach. Will it be too cold for our trip which will be approximately Oct. 7-21st? Normally we like to spend a day relaxing and then a day going out and exploring. We have also been thinking of doing a 2/3 different locations.

I want this to be a special romantic trip that we can be pampered and enjoy local culture/history but also provide us ample relaxation after our wedding.

Does anybody have any suggestions that might fit our bill for that time period?

Thanks so much for the help.

Suspaul

Hi sfgvacas, first...congratulation on your upcoming marriage.

I can't provide lots of info but can tell you about our trip to Greece, both mainland and islands several years ago. We went early October and the weather was pleasant for the most part, a few days were warm but not hot and I usually wore a light sweater, always needed something very light in the evening. As far as the islands, I will comment that some places such as restaurants and hotels were closed for the year so I'd definitely check, not sure how comfortable it woul be hanging out on the beach either. Sorry I can't provide more definite info but it's a start.
Susan

danon

I don't think you will find beach weather in Oct. anywhere in
Southern Europe.

sfgvacas

Danon: Even on the islands? or Turkey?

JAX9000

I cruised the Greek islands in October and not even the swimming pool was a posibility. Don't get me wrong... it wasn't cold to be outside the water but I wouldn't dare.
If I may give you a suggestion, why don't you try Italy or some specific region in France (like the Loire Valley)? You can drive ad stop in small towns on your way, mingle with locals, etc.
Lot's of history, romantic strolls -but not beaches!

nytraveler

You need to realize how far north Europe is. Rome and Madrid are on a line with New York. Southern europe isn't on a line with FL - it;s more like DC or VA. Would you go swimming in the ocean in Oct in northern VA?

Odin

Early October is a perfect time to visit Cyprus, after the extreme heat of the summer. You can swim in the sea in October, the mountains are always cooler. And Cyprus has plenty of upscale hotels, historical sites, is open year round and is a popular wedding destination. The climate reminds me of Dallas except Cyprus does not have snow one day and 70F the next or tornados.

clausar

Crete and Rhodes are still warm in October, and the sun is shining more than in the rest of Europe.
nytraveler, even though Rome is on a line with New York, it doesn't have same weather. Winters in Rome are way much warmer without the snow of New York !!!

sfgvacas

I'm in NoVA and from MA and Ive gone swimming in cape cod in October though I'll never do it again.

I had read somewhere that is still possible to go swimming in the Mediterranean in early - mid Oct. and thats why I was asking on people's specific experiences.

Cyprus definitely seems like it may be a good fit.

Odin

Nice hotels to consider in Cyprus:

Anassa Hotel in Polis, this one gets featured in travel magazines
Four Seasons in Limassol (nothing to do with the FS chain)but beaches in Limassol are dark sand and clear water
Napa Mermaid Htl & Suites in Ayia Napa, beach is stunning here
Annabelle in Paphos, hotel beach is not good though but hotel is beautiful.

Historical sites are numerous, eg tomb of the kings, mosaics in paphos,curium, various monasteries.

95% of my family live in Cyprus and they go swimming until November, thats not to say it is warm water. The water is not like the Caribbean for instance, more like Hawaii in temperature even in peak summer.

Heimdall

You certainly <i>can</i> swim in Greece during October, and water temperatures will be warmer than in May or even early June. What does happen is that weather becomes less reliable, with more chance of cloud, wind and rain. Not the best time for a beach holiday, but there should be some days when you can go to the beach. This chart shows average sea temperatures by month in Crete: http://www.holiday-weather.com/crete.../#avg_sea_temp

qwovadis

greecetravel.com

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www.santorini.com

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Perhaps some rain with fronts then...

insuremytrip.com wise Congrats!

danon

I was probably mistaken thinking you are interested in Florida/ Caribbean type of "beach time".
As stated, mid- Oct. is often sunny and warm in several locations.
Enjoy your trip.

travelerjan

Rhodes is about the southern-most of all Greek Islands (Cyprus as u know is independent) and also has greatest number of sunny days, so likeliest to have OK Oct. weather. Lindos Bay is called a "suntrap" and water not too deep, so a good bet. On sunny days, swims would be fine, as long as you have a cover-up when you emerge dripping-wet. Also, because of its large population, and regular visits by cruise ships, Rhodes stays lively much longer than the "strictly summer" isles. There are nice boutique hotels right in Old Town or, if you wanted to be directly on a beach, also nice beach hotels directly outside O-T. At the end, see Athens; in Oct. will be humming, all the fall events happening, lots to see & do.

Thus you might consider this approach: Cyprus (5 days) Rhodes (5 days) Athens (3-4 days). For most time-efficiency, consider flying directly to Cyprus(78€) on arrival in Athens airport, then flying to Rhodes (€100?), then to Athens. You COULD decide to do an overnight ferry from Rhodes - Athens... BUT in fall the wind can make seas rough... ferry would sail but you might not sleep too soundly. This would give you relaxation at front end, to recover from wedding hurly-burly and long int'l flight, then at the end, when you're revitalized, enjoy Athens' famous landmarks, and some night life.

travelerjan

I just went back and looked at your message ... considering your interest in historical sites. In that case you might consider This sequence -- Rhodes 5 days (for swimming, relaxing, exploring), then Nafplio on the mainland (4-5 days) then Athens.

Rhodes, besides beach time, has lots of Crusader-era history in Old Town, plus some Classical-era sites. Here are 2 great photo albums of Old Town and an Island drive: http://www.flickr.com/photos/3258003...7615754423063/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/3258003...40277312/show/

Nafplio, just over the Corinth Canal, is the most beautiful Old Town in all of Greece... and probably has the MOST nearby famous Ancient Sites of any locality in Greece ... PLUS nice sandy beaches 10 minutes out of town. Here is the best website showing its highlights: http://www.visitnafplio.com/visitnafplio.com/Home.html and a Fodorite's super slide-show of same: http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh

With Nafplio as a base (Ippolito is a great boutique hotel there), you could explore the town and within a short drive, look at Iliad-era fortress like Mycenae or Tiryns (my fave), and the awesome theatre of Epidaurus.... plus check out the Sacred Games site (Olympic wannabe) of Nemea, and its surrounding vineyard country... then swim at Tolo Beach. To reach Nafplio is easy: upon flying back from Rhodes, pick up car at the airport and drive 2+ miles on modern intercity highway (not even a traffic light untll the Nafplio turnoff) ... and in Nafplio Old Town you have free parking by the sea, just steps from your hotel.

PS: Nafplio is a favorite weekend getaway for savvy Athenians so has good restaurants, chic shops, and busy nightlife. ALSO, it's so romantic that one nickname is "the proposal capital of Greece" because so many Greeks take their girlfriends there to pop the question. (I know one personally). Worth considering.... a Gem that most Americans are unaware of.

travelerjan

Whoops!!! I said drive 2-plus MILES to Nafplio -- i meant 2-plus HOURS, of course. By public bus it's 2.5 hours max, so driving is faster naturally, and it's a very straightforward drive, Major road, no GPS needed.

sfgvacas

Thanks for all the Greece/Cyprus information!

Yeah I dont want a Caribbean beach thing. My fiancee and I have gone down the past 2 years and it's easy from NoVA to do short trips there.

We want to do something different so I thank you for your suggestions!

Odin

Here are some historical sites in Cyprus, very similar to other islands in that region:-

Kourion theatre & shrines to Apollo near Limassol (engl: Curium)
Paphos castle & floor mosaics in nearby excavated ancient villas & Paphos archaelogical museum
Kolossi & Limassol castles although rather empty, they are from the crusades
Ancient site of the kingdom of Amathus near Limassol
Neolithic settlement in Choirokitia
Numerous churches in the mountains with beautiful icons and some are Unesco sites
Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, Larnaca
Monastery in Ayia Napa
City walls of Nicosia and interesting Venetian architecture

brotherleelove2004

Rhodes is not the southern-most Greek island, Crete is, except for tiny Gavdos. Rhodes is the eastern-most island except for Kastellorizo.

Sassafrass

Mariosguide1, a bit late on the advice. The wedding was three years ago.