Mykonos plus another Island. Which one?
Mar 24th, 2015, 11:48 AM
#1
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Mykonos plus another Island. Which one?
We are looking for another island to go to in addition to Mykonos. We have already been to Santorini, so we prefer another island.
Was looking into Crete, but the boat/plane transfer looks a bit much with a 4 year old in tow. Please recommend another island or destination that is easy to Mykonos. Our itinerary is starting to look like this:
________ 4-5 nights
Mykonos 3-4 nights
Loire Valley - Paris 6 nights
We are interested in relaxation, resort, beach, good food. I should mention that Mykonos is locked in, and that we have been to most sights in Athens. Thanks for any recommendations.
Was looking into Crete, but the boat/plane transfer looks a bit much with a 4 year old in tow. Please recommend another island or destination that is easy to Mykonos. Our itinerary is starting to look like this:
________ 4-5 nights
Mykonos 3-4 nights
Loire Valley - Paris 6 nights
We are interested in relaxation, resort, beach, good food. I should mention that Mykonos is locked in, and that we have been to most sights in Athens. Thanks for any recommendations.
Mar 24th, 2015, 02:23 PM
#5
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Naxos is perfect for small children. You can stay at St George beach which is very shallow and safe. There will be lots of kids there and your child will have new friends in minutes. St George is also lined with hotels in every price range so it is easy to get back to the room when necessary.
St George is also part of Naxos town so you are an easy 10 minute stroll into town for shopping and dining options.
Here are images.
St George Beach Hotels Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632162394787/
St George Beach Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632113170279/
Naxos Town
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094558042/
St George is also part of Naxos town so you are an easy 10 minute stroll into town for shopping and dining options.
Here are images.
St George Beach Hotels Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632162394787/
St George Beach Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632113170279/
Naxos Town
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094558042/
Mar 24th, 2015, 04:23 PM
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Unlike Mykonos or Santorini, Naxos is not a big boat cruise destination. You will not see insane swelling of the main towns during the day.
Naxos is not connected by frequent jet planes to Athens or other parts of Europe, either.
Naxos is on the main Bluestar ferry trunk line with daily reliable ferry boats to Piraeus.
Putting together, Naxos has the kind of beaches you have seen in Greek travel brochures, no flag waving large tour groups, lower cost food or lodging in general compared to Mykonos or Santorini, and does not seem to attract as many young party goers like Mykonos or large number of honeymoon or wedding parties like Santorini, yet it is not a hard to reach out of way island.
Naxos is not connected by frequent jet planes to Athens or other parts of Europe, either.
Naxos is on the main Bluestar ferry trunk line with daily reliable ferry boats to Piraeus.
Putting together, Naxos has the kind of beaches you have seen in Greek travel brochures, no flag waving large tour groups, lower cost food or lodging in general compared to Mykonos or Santorini, and does not seem to attract as many young party goers like Mykonos or large number of honeymoon or wedding parties like Santorini, yet it is not a hard to reach out of way island.
Mar 25th, 2015, 03:13 PM
#8
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Naxos has everything, historic sites, beautiful architecture, charming villages, excellent gastronomy and gorgeous beaches. lt's also the largest island of the Cyclades, there are tons of things to do and see. Did I mention that Tripadvisor ranked Naxos the 6th best island -in the World-. Go, really.
Mar 26th, 2015, 06:26 AM
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Thank you for all your responses. We are going to make Naxos happen!
Can you share any hotel/resort recommendations in Naxos? Our budget is EUR150-250.
Also can you touch on the travel between islands? When we were in Santorini, we booked our ferry back to Athens at a tourist vendor when we arrived because it was so complicated to book online. By that time the only tickets available were first class. I wont complain of the comfort, but it was very expensive.
We arrive at CDG on Sunday 12:30 pm from NY. The flight to Naxos(JNX) is not until 8:40 pm, then it would have to stop in Athens for a few hours, getting us to Naxos early the next morning. That is 2 days of travel from NY to Naxos!
Would it make more sense to find a flight to Athens from Paris, taxi to Piraeus, then ferry? Any other way to Naxos?
Thank you!
Can you share any hotel/resort recommendations in Naxos? Our budget is EUR150-250.
Also can you touch on the travel between islands? When we were in Santorini, we booked our ferry back to Athens at a tourist vendor when we arrived because it was so complicated to book online. By that time the only tickets available were first class. I wont complain of the comfort, but it was very expensive.
We arrive at CDG on Sunday 12:30 pm from NY. The flight to Naxos(JNX) is not until 8:40 pm, then it would have to stop in Athens for a few hours, getting us to Naxos early the next morning. That is 2 days of travel from NY to Naxos!
Would it make more sense to find a flight to Athens from Paris, taxi to Piraeus, then ferry? Any other way to Naxos?
Thank you!
Mar 26th, 2015, 06:33 AM
#11
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I haven't fully checked this out, but the ferry ride between Mykonos and Naxos is less than an hour and quite inexpensive. If all else fails, why not take a ferry both ways, if you can get better flights between Myknonos and Athens?
Mar 26th, 2015, 07:15 AM
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There are no direct flights from Paris to Naxos, so you will go through Athens anyway. There may be direct flights from Paros to Mykonos during high season, possibly with easyJet or Ryanair.
It's difficult to give any advice without knowing what date you are travelling, and what time of day you arrive in Athens. Personally I would go to Mykonos first and then Naxos.
It's difficult to give any advice without knowing what date you are travelling, and what time of day you arrive in Athens. Personally I would go to Mykonos first and then Naxos.
Mar 26th, 2015, 07:28 AM
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As for hotel recommendations in Naxos you can see several good hotels in the album I posted above. Best value Luxury for cost would be Boutique Hotel Glaros. Next would be Naxos Resort Beach hotel and following up would be Galaxy. Of you want more modest hotel but with kitchenette look at Kalergis. The kitchen comes in very handy with little ones around.
As Heimdall says it is very hard to be helpful when we don't have specific dates. I see you say Mykonos is locked in so you will need to get to Naxos first. I was under the impression that there as a late afternoon flight to Naxos but failing that you can take the bus from the airport to the port and catch the blue star ferry which departs around 5 and arrives Naxos around 10:30 It sails daily and is huge so you should be able to just book tickets at the airport or at the port. Again specific dates may make a difference to price and class availablilty.
As Heimdall says it is very hard to be helpful when we don't have specific dates. I see you say Mykonos is locked in so you will need to get to Naxos first. I was under the impression that there as a late afternoon flight to Naxos but failing that you can take the bus from the airport to the port and catch the blue star ferry which departs around 5 and arrives Naxos around 10:30 It sails daily and is huge so you should be able to just book tickets at the airport or at the port. Again specific dates may make a difference to price and class availablilty.
Mar 26th, 2015, 07:56 AM
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Hi! our dates are June 28-July 11. So it will be high season.
Mykonos is locked in. We would have to do Naxos first.
Do you suggest we purchase rountrip tickets to Mykonos from Paris? So fly into Mykonos, ferry to Naxos, then ferry back to Mykonos for the next 4 nights?
Mykonos is locked in. We would have to do Naxos first.
Do you suggest we purchase rountrip tickets to Mykonos from Paris? So fly into Mykonos, ferry to Naxos, then ferry back to Mykonos for the next 4 nights?
Mar 26th, 2015, 08:34 AM
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We stayed this past May at Hotel Galaxy and we just loved it. The front desk woman was super helpful and friendly. The pool was lovely but I don't remember how shallow. Easy 5 minute walk to beach and yes, very shallow and slow drop off with lots of children romping. Several restaurants to choose from on the beach. Many more restaurants in Naxos town - about a 10 minute walk from hotel.
We took the ferry to and from Pireaus - figured it was part of the Greek Island experience. We took the afternoon one to Naxos, arriving at past 11pm and it was more tedious than I expected so flights might be a better idea (but it was the end of a super long travel day). At the end of our stay, we ferried back to Athens on a day time sailing - it was more pleasant but still 5 hours long. We bought our tickets for the ferries when we arrived in Athens, not really ahead of time - the ferries to Naxos are big. If you decide to fly - but your tickets for that ASAP - the planes are small and booked far out. Enjoy!
We took the ferry to and from Pireaus - figured it was part of the Greek Island experience. We took the afternoon one to Naxos, arriving at past 11pm and it was more tedious than I expected so flights might be a better idea (but it was the end of a super long travel day). At the end of our stay, we ferried back to Athens on a day time sailing - it was more pleasant but still 5 hours long. We bought our tickets for the ferries when we arrived in Athens, not really ahead of time - the ferries to Naxos are big. If you decide to fly - but your tickets for that ASAP - the planes are small and booked far out. Enjoy!
Mar 26th, 2015, 09:21 AM
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Many British travellers who holiday on Naxos fly to Mykonos because that is the nearest international airport. The same would apply for flights from Paris. The last ferry from Mykonos to Naxos on June 28th departs at 4 pm according to gtp.gr.
Flying to Athens can work just as well, depending upon your arrival time at Athens Airport. There is a Blue Star ferry leaving Piraeus at 5:30 pm, but it doesn't arrive on Naxos until 11:35 pm because that is a day it makes an extra stop on Syros.
There are four flights from Athens to Naxos on June 28th, but only the one departing at 8:20 am is bookable at the moment. The others are blank in the boxes where prices are shown, perhaps because the flights are already sold out. You could keep checking to see if that changes.
Flying to Athens can work just as well, depending upon your arrival time at Athens Airport. There is a Blue Star ferry leaving Piraeus at 5:30 pm, but it doesn't arrive on Naxos until 11:35 pm because that is a day it makes an extra stop on Syros.
There are four flights from Athens to Naxos on June 28th, but only the one departing at 8:20 am is bookable at the moment. The others are blank in the boxes where prices are shown, perhaps because the flights are already sold out. You could keep checking to see if that changes.
Mar 26th, 2015, 09:34 AM
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Having been to both, Naxos and Paros, I also think that Naxos would fit your needs best. It is a beautiful island with plenty to do. We stayed at Kavos, which is a small boutique hotel with private/separate bungalows with a kitchenette. Getting to the beach was not a problemm for us as we rented a car. Otherwise, it would be a 10 min walk down a hill to a most beautiful beach.
Mar 27th, 2015, 02:29 AM
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I found a hotel in Naxos which looks great. It's called "Agios Prokopios Hotel" and it's situated in the town of Agios Prokopios, not far from the Capital. It has nice rooms with their own balcony, a swimming pool, a garden, and free WiFi. It's also 2 minutes' walk from the sandy beach of Agios Prokopios. It's cheap for what it offers, 180€ for 4 nights the "Double Studio" room, and it has excellent reviews in Booking.com 8.9 from 199 reviews.
