Quark

HI, we are going to greece june 2008 for the first time. we want to go to santorini and mykonos and end the trip in athens for 1 1/2 days but would like to visit another island too. we will have 14 full days. I am thinking about flying into santorini as the first stop from athens. aegen air has fares for 10 euros plus taxes. we enjoy the beach, food, wine, and local culture. we're not much into clubs. can someone suggest another island, perhaps a little less touristy?

I've gone back and forth between naxos, paros, milos, crete and rhodes. the last two if chosen would then be a first stop, i think.

thanks for your help

wherenext

It sounds like a great plan. I returned from Greece last week and also was in Santorini and Athens. Our other island was Naxos. This is our 4 visit to Greece but not these islands.

We also flew into Santorini immediately from Athens. We did not go to Mykonos this time.

Naxos is less touristy in the sense that the tourism is not nearly as developed as Mykonos or Santorini. No big huge hotels, like on Mykonos, but lots of pensions and smaller places. It was crowded in town but mostly with Greeks and Italians and some Germans. Very few Americans and English.

We were told over and over to save Santorini for last because it is so striking. I think people were right. The beauty is not to be matched and it takes you a day to readjust to another place.

Naxos is a wonderful island. The beaches are fantastic and the interior villages unspoilt and wonderful landscapes. It would be a great addition to your holiday. However, it is not as flashy as Mykonos or as singularly awe inspiring as Santorini's Caldera...but a beauty none the less.

marginal_margiela

I love Rodos. You should stay at the posh Rodos Palace Hotel, right outside the the Amboise Gate to the Old Town.

There is a lot to see and do on Rhodes. The beaches are gorjus. You can explore the Palace of the Grand Knight and the Archaelogical Museum. Visit Falaraki and Lindos.

About the airfare on Aegean, the taxes are HUGE, more than the airfare itself. I flew Business Class and my fare was 198E one-way from Salonika to Rhodes.

The Great and Powerful Thingorjus

smartcookie

I would go to Naxos as well if I were you. If you're going towards the beginning of June, it's still considered low season. That's when I went in 2003 and loved it because it wasn't that crowded yet and hotel prices were very cheap, under $40 per night.

However, I don't know if it makes sense to fly to Santorini. It will probably take longer with all the checking in and getting luggage etc then just hopping on the fast-service ferry.

wherenext

It totally makes sense to fly! 45 minutes vs. 5-6 hours to Santorini. You don't need to leave the airport and go down to the port and the prices are near the same depending on how far out you book. Much easier to stay in the airport. Athens airport is pretty easy with security compared to others...especially Heathrow!

Heimdall

The most obvious choices for a third island are Crete, Naxos, or Paros for ease of ferry connections. If you choose Paros, you might also consider spending a few days on Antiparos, or at least taking a day trip there for the cave and beaches.

Milos is on the western Cyclades ferry route, and getting from there to Mykonos is not impossible, but a little more complicated.

Rhodes, IMO, is best done as a separate trip, flying there and back from Athens, then going on to Santorini. There are some ferries, and even a one-plane airline called Sky Express to get you from there to the Cyclades, but careful planning is required.

Firm ferry and flight schedules won't be available until next spring.

Weadles

I love Rhodes, but Crete makes more sense logistically since it's an easy hydrofoil ride or ferry from Santorini. We stayed in the old historic port of Chania last summer, and had a wonderful time exploring the harbor as well as the old Turkish quarter. I'd highly recommend it!

sheila

I don't know Rhodes, but I think you'd love Crete