Help with a small island in Greece
Jul 23rd, 2014, 07:30 PM
#1
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Help with a small island in Greece
My husband & I have been to Greece twice Athens-Delphi-Rhodes-Corfu-Crete-Santorini & Paros. I am trying to plan a 2 week trip mid to end of Sept 2015. I figure 2 days in Athens at beginning & 1 before flight home. I would like to spend 10 nights on an island. I thought of Lesbos-Patmos-then friends we met in Greece the last time suggested Zakynthos or Kefallonia.
We are more mature travelers & since this is our third visit we don't need to race around. Just have a nice little beach-a town we can walk to to eat & just watch the water. Any suggestions. I will take all considerations & research all/
Thanks all
We are more mature travelers & since this is our third visit we don't need to race around. Just have a nice little beach-a town we can walk to to eat & just watch the water. Any suggestions. I will take all considerations & research all/
Thanks all
Jul 23rd, 2014, 10:04 PM
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First of all, beach towns are rare in the Greeks islands, and the reason is quite simple. Since Antiquity, the Pirates were a major problem to the islanders, so in order to hide from them they built their towns away from the sea, hidden behind a hill or a mountain or on a cliff, so when a Pirate ship approached the island, they couldn't see any town to raid, and they were just leaving. You will find only large towns or even cities, which built by the sea in the Greek islands, as they had (and have) walls and castles to protect them from the Pirates, but these cities are found on wealthy large Greek islands like Chios, Lesbos, Crete, or Corfu.
What we Greeks do when visiting a Greek island is, staying in an old town away from the sea, and we rent a car to see the island and go to the beach, that's probably the best solution.
But if you still want a seaside old town, there are some great -small- towns which are by the sea, like:
-Methymna in Lesbos island
-Syme in Syme island
-Castellorizo in Megisti island
-Vathy in Ithaca island
-Gaios in Paxoi island
What we Greeks do when visiting a Greek island is, staying in an old town away from the sea, and we rent a car to see the island and go to the beach, that's probably the best solution.
But if you still want a seaside old town, there are some great -small- towns which are by the sea, like:
-Methymna in Lesbos island
-Syme in Syme island
-Castellorizo in Megisti island
-Vathy in Ithaca island
-Gaios in Paxoi island
Jul 24th, 2014, 12:14 AM
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There are two or three points that need clarification here:
If all you need is "a nice little beach-a town we can walk to to eat & just watch the water" why it has to be an island and why a small one? Would it matter if this was mainland or a larger island (the ones you mentioned up to now are not small islands anyway...)
How lively you want it to be and does weather matters? The destinations you have mentioned cool down faster than other islands further south, not only due to position but due to micro-climate too. Also while many package holidays continue till first couple of weeks of October, Ionians has more closed down feeling towards end of September on my opinion. Lesbos, Patmos etc have a way more low key tourism and might be too quiet on your dates. Depending on your specifics, this may be a good or a bad thing.
Looking accommodation exactly on the beach or not? What kind of accommodation? What type of beach you are after? Sandy one, pebbly one, some sunbeds/sunbrellas necessary or totally unorganised beach is fine?
Not interested at all on surrounding area, sights and activities?
Willing to spend a few hours on public transport from Athens/some complicated travel logistics or making this as easy as possibly with direct flights?
If all you need is "a nice little beach-a town we can walk to to eat & just watch the water" why it has to be an island and why a small one? Would it matter if this was mainland or a larger island (the ones you mentioned up to now are not small islands anyway...)
How lively you want it to be and does weather matters? The destinations you have mentioned cool down faster than other islands further south, not only due to position but due to micro-climate too. Also while many package holidays continue till first couple of weeks of October, Ionians has more closed down feeling towards end of September on my opinion. Lesbos, Patmos etc have a way more low key tourism and might be too quiet on your dates. Depending on your specifics, this may be a good or a bad thing.
Looking accommodation exactly on the beach or not? What kind of accommodation? What type of beach you are after? Sandy one, pebbly one, some sunbeds/sunbrellas necessary or totally unorganised beach is fine?
Not interested at all on surrounding area, sights and activities?
Willing to spend a few hours on public transport from Athens/some complicated travel logistics or making this as easy as possibly with direct flights?
Jul 24th, 2014, 02:28 AM
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I won't disagree with the suggestions above me.. Syme, Kastelorizo, Antiparos etc are great! Love them! I just want to add some on your list. Corfu, Alonissos and Skopelos. It is a tough choice! Good luck!
Jul 24th, 2014, 03:43 AM
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What about Naxos? It has gorgeous beaches further out on the island if you rent a car, and lots of beautiful countryside to explore. St. George fits your description of " a town where we can walk to eat and just watch the water", although the beach in town is just OK.
Jul 25th, 2014, 07:42 PM
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Thank you so much. I have actually been looking at Naxos.
We would probably rent a car for a few days. My husband will be 81 next year & there are some age restrictions in some countries(We are going to Serbia in Sept & thers is 90!!)
Pebbly beach is normal. I know.
I have been looking at different places on airbnb-VRBO but I really would like a pool/ A lot of hotels I've seen in Greece are pretty inexpensive. I would like an island with an airport so it shouldn't bee too small.
Again Thanks & I will enjoy researching this info
We would probably rent a car for a few days. My husband will be 81 next year & there are some age restrictions in some countries(We are going to Serbia in Sept & thers is 90!!)
Pebbly beach is normal. I know.
I have been looking at different places on airbnb-VRBO but I really would like a pool/ A lot of hotels I've seen in Greece are pretty inexpensive. I would like an island with an airport so it shouldn't bee too small.
Again Thanks & I will enjoy researching this info
Jul 25th, 2014, 09:20 PM
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I have been intrigued with Kefalonia since seeing Captain Corelli's Mandolin. I know much was destroyed by an earthquake, but it still looks beautiful. What did your friends say about it? Why did they recommend it?
Jul 26th, 2014, 09:34 AM
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Benecia, re Naxos --
St. George on Naxos is right for you, it's a sandy beach, nice for walking, has several tavernas right on the sand … island has year-round population so still will be vibrant in late September, but best to stay at this beach area since it's adjacent to Port Town. Here's the local webcams, with a view of beach… http://www.naxosisland.eu/index.html
There are 3 "upscale" hotels with pools there (1) Nissaki Beach Hotel is at end of beach closest to town … just walk about 10 minutes along seafront to tavernas, cafes etc. Drawback; its pool area is closed-in sort of, no view. (2) Naxos Beach Hotel, far end of St. G. beach, about 100 yards back from beach, well landscaped pool area -- a farther walk from town attractions but u say you will have car. (3) Galaxy, a bit farther, and inland more. A mid-range hotel with pool, right next to Naxos Beach hotel, is Hotel SPiro.
Advantage of Naxos as others have said, it has a good bus network so you can easily get to lovely outer beaches (I love Plaka beach) without driving … you can also take a public bus to far tip of island and back & enjoy the mountain scenery without having to steer the hairpin turns!! Also, there are a couple of good day-trips @ about €18 or so, for all main sites.
St. George on Naxos is right for you, it's a sandy beach, nice for walking, has several tavernas right on the sand … island has year-round population so still will be vibrant in late September, but best to stay at this beach area since it's adjacent to Port Town. Here's the local webcams, with a view of beach… http://www.naxosisland.eu/index.html
There are 3 "upscale" hotels with pools there (1) Nissaki Beach Hotel is at end of beach closest to town … just walk about 10 minutes along seafront to tavernas, cafes etc. Drawback; its pool area is closed-in sort of, no view. (2) Naxos Beach Hotel, far end of St. G. beach, about 100 yards back from beach, well landscaped pool area -- a farther walk from town attractions but u say you will have car. (3) Galaxy, a bit farther, and inland more. A mid-range hotel with pool, right next to Naxos Beach hotel, is Hotel SPiro.
Advantage of Naxos as others have said, it has a good bus network so you can easily get to lovely outer beaches (I love Plaka beach) without driving … you can also take a public bus to far tip of island and back & enjoy the mountain scenery without having to steer the hairpin turns!! Also, there are a couple of good day-trips @ about €18 or so, for all main sites.
Jul 26th, 2014, 11:26 AM
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Sassafrass
There is a change in the bed rock across the north of the island, the fragmented nature of the rock opinion the north helped to cushion the effects of the earthquake. Fiskardo is particulary beautiful and unspoilt in its architecture but totally overrun with tourists. We have sailed and moored there but only out of season, even then it was busy. Amongst sailors, there are legends of the insanity of high summer.
Good options which are a short ferry from Fiskardo are Ithaca and Meganissi. Both are the sort of Greece where old widows wear black and fishing is the main industry. Everyone has a tale to tell and time to tell it. Little Vathy and Kuoni are simply wonderful.
https://www.gicthevillacollection.com/ithaca/intro
There is a change in the bed rock across the north of the island, the fragmented nature of the rock opinion the north helped to cushion the effects of the earthquake. Fiskardo is particulary beautiful and unspoilt in its architecture but totally overrun with tourists. We have sailed and moored there but only out of season, even then it was busy. Amongst sailors, there are legends of the insanity of high summer.
Good options which are a short ferry from Fiskardo are Ithaca and Meganissi. Both are the sort of Greece where old widows wear black and fishing is the main industry. Everyone has a tale to tell and time to tell it. Little Vathy and Kuoni are simply wonderful.
https://www.gicthevillacollection.com/ithaca/intro
