elyse

My husband, myself, and three daughters in their twenties are going to Greece for the first time, for two weeks. We enjoy snorkeling, museums, driving, gorgeous scenery, and seeing many islands. Please give me all your suggestions. Thank you!!

brotherleelove2004

Get a copy of T. Cook's "Greek Island Hopping" so you can make intelligent choices, but don't try to cram in too many islands. 2 weeks will fly by, especially when you subtract your travel time between them if they're too far apart. Best advice is to stick to islands in one island group, such as the Dodecanese, Cyclades, Saronic, No. Aegean, E. Aegean or Sporades Island Groups.

elyse

Thank you for your thoughts. Especially when it's my first time, it's easy to do so. I may get back to you as I have more questions.

travelerjan

After you've done a bit of homework as advised above, and have some islands you want to ask about, you'll get the most useful help if you share important aspects (1) WHEN are you planning to go? Advice may differ dramatically for a trip in late May- June vs. Late July-august (the latter being High Season, when all islands are jammed with European holiday-makers) and (2) what's your general budget range per night for accommodations (I'm guessing you'd want a double & a triple).... useful if you can give sum in Euros ( http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/ is an instant currency-conversion site).

neckervd

May be you have a look at http://www.greeka.com/

elyse

Thanks all, I knew I'd get useful advice from this forum. I always do. We are traveling the last two weeks of June (June15-July3). We are not on a strict budget. Safety is important to me.
While my family is active, I am recuperating from a number of surgeries that limit my ability to hike. Scenery is my first priority, and I love looking at art. We like the beach, but will not spend huge amounts of time on the sand. In looking at websites, my first impression is that I would like to visit Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini. Simi, Thassos, Skiathos, and
Corfu, as well as two days in Athens. Am I crazy? What do you think is do-able?
Thanks a lot,
Elyse

jamikins

That is definitely not possible in two weeks. You aren't allowing any time for the logistics of travel...the islands you selected are not all on the same ferry routes so will be difficult to get between. With two weeks I would pick 3 islands on the same ferry line and Athens. That will give you time to actually see the sites on each island rather than just travelling between islands.

I would fly directly to santorini, then ferry to Naxos or Paros, then onto Mykonos and finally Athens and fly home from there.

greg

Ferries between given two islands do not connect everyday, and they don't always run on a scheduled day, either. And they travel slow and takes a good chunk of a day. Look at www.gtp.gr ferries section to get a sense of travel time (if not summer frequency) for upcoming days. Putting all together, you will need a minimum of three nights per island just to ensure you have at least one full day even in case of canceled boats. Once you read the "Greek Island Hopping guide," you would get the sense of how the ferry network is put together and would understand why it makes it so much easier to stick to islands in a group. Almost all planes fly out and into Athens and not between islands.

travelerjan

Agree w greg; your problem is looking only at websites, and not at guidebooks, maps and ferry networks, which deal with realities. You have listed islands that are in FIVE different groups, most of which have no intergroup linkages. (1) Cyclades - Santorini & Mykonos (altho in June not always convenient between the 2) (2) Dodecanese - Rhodes & Symi (3) Ionian (far NW) - Corfu (4) Sporades - Skiathos (5) Thassos ... close to no other islands. Please go & consult the recommended guide.

dulciusexasperis

Go back to what Brotherleelove told you to begin with. Pick ONE group of islands at most. Otherwise you will waste too much time moving from A to B.

I would also suggest considering either ONE island if it is a larger one with plenty to see and do such as Rhodes or Crete, or a couple of smaller islands where you can reasonably expect to see/do most of what is interesting to you in a few days. Forget the 'many islands' idea.

Here is a good website to start looking at various groups of islands and their attractions. http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/

I've yet to find Matt Barrett to have got it wrong.

Two weeks is not a long time. To waste days moving from one island to another as well as obviously losing your arrival and departure day to begin with really doesn't make a lot of sense. 'Island Hopping' is best considered when you have a month or more to play with.

Fly into Athens and immediately (if possible) connect to an island to start your vacation. Return to Athens 2 days before your flight if you want to include some time in Athens itself. It is always better to have time in Athens at the end of your trip rathe than the beginning. It allows for unforeseen circumstances like a weather delay (ferries) or an air traffic controller strike, etc.

Sit down and count just how much time you actually have. Use a calendar to lay it out maybe.

Day 1 leave home.
Day 2 arrive Athens. Often when people say 2 weeks they fail to factor in that if they are countingn day 1 as being the day they leave N. America they will not arrive until day 2 in Europe.
Day 2 connecting flight to Island One.
Day 3, 4, 5, on island One.
Day 6 fly/ferry to island Two.
Day 7, 8, 9, 10 on island Two.
Day 11 fly to Athens.
Day 12, 13, in Athens
Day 14 fly home.

That actually isn't even enough time on either of two islands unless they are quite small such as Santorini. It also lets you see that really, you only end up with 7 days on islands.

For my money, it would be straigt to ONE island and stay there for 8 full days.

brotherleelove2004

What good is our 'useful information' to you if you ignore it? Not only are you trying to combine islands in 5 different groups, but you've included one in a different sea! Your proposed itinerary is extremely unrealisitic for a 2-week vacation. Here is a map of Greek ferry routes. It's not 100% complete (Santorini>Rhodes does exist) but it's the best one I know.

http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.co...erry-chart.htm