Hi friends... Would appreciate suggestions for an itinerary and recommendations for hotels, etc. We're 2 couples visiting in mid to late Sept. We would like to split up our visit with a short stay in Athens (2 nites) followed by 2 or 3 islands. We are mostly looking forward to Santorini and would probably opt for at least 5 nites there and maybe pair that with Paros or Naxos and possibly visit Crete. Would that be too much in 2 weeks? We are all interested in culture, hiking, beaches and occasional tavern crawls. After Santorini, we would like to stay in less touristy areas and meet the people, see the sights, eat the food, see the ruins, drink the wine, etc.

As far as accommodations, can anyone tell me about Lena's House in Oia? It looks real neat with great views and seems reasonably priced for Santorini. Also looking at Lithies Villas in Firostefani... Can anyone offer up the difference as far as views and the rooms between the 2? (sunset view or no?). This is just a start as we have many more questions and are going to secure hotels and such in the next few weeks. Thanks so much in advance.

You should probably consider heading out to Santorini as soon as you can and hold Athens to the end of the vacation. Conventional wisdom says that stuff can happen in Greece and it is better to be in Athens at least one or two nights before your flight home.
Personally I think that Santorini is a must see for first time visitors to the Islands as the views are spectacular. Naxos and Paros make perfect partners with Santorini because they are so different. Yes you will still find while buildings with blue trim but Naxos and Paros are far less touristed and far less expensive.
Naxos is our first choice and you will find a good beach adjacent to Naxos town so you can have a beach holiday with the added benefit of being no more than an easy 10 minute stroll into Naxos town for its dining shopping waterfront and its old market topped by a kastro.
It has a permanent population most of whom rely on agriculture for their living so you can experience mountain villages and a way of life that is charming.

While we really do like Crete it is so large that you need the full two weeks just to partially explore one half of the island. I would leave it until you decide to come back again.
Naxos photos
http://travel.webshots.com/album/570796960FtMsPF

You got good advice from stanbr who is one of the resident Greece experts here. I've only been once but was very satisfied with the way we split our two weeks. We had more time on the main land than you are planning. We did two nights each in Santorini, Naxos and Paros, and then Athens and Delphi and Napflion. Rented a car just for the last few days. Just a suggestion as the main land does have a lot to offer. Although a year later thinking back on my trip, it IS the islands that made the most impression.

www.pbase.com/annforcier/greek_islands www.pbase.com/annforcier/greek_mainland
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

Last May we stayed at Lithies Traditional Homes - it was quite wonderful and we were very pleased - the views from our terrace were beautiful, the furnishings quite luxurious (I think it was the most comfortable bed of our entire trip), they included pick up and drop off at the ferry, wonderful breakfast, etc. etc. However; if I were to go to Santorini again I think I would stay in Oia - we were just there for one afternoon but it was so charming. Not to say it wasn't beautiful in Firostefani, it was, but there is a different atmosphere in Oia. Such a difficult choice - hope this helped and didn't confuse you more!

Why don't you take some of the time away from Santorini and go to the Peloponessean Peninsula, an easy drive from Athens? Napflion is beautiful. Five days in Santorini seems too long.

Nafplion looks very nice, HappyTrvlr. A great recommendation that we may add to the itinerary. Gonna look further into it. CollK.... Lithies looks like a great place, but like you, I think I would prefer Oia... and no you didn't confuse me. I'm just curious if I should sacrifice the nicer accomodations and stay in Oia. Thanks for your info. stan and isabel.... would you prefer to visit both Paros and Naxos or just one? I'm thinking now based on everyone's help the rough itinerary would be: 5 days Santorini, 2 days Paros, 2 days Naxos, 2 days Nafplion then 2 days Athens?.... In which order would you recommend we visit? Also.... again if anyones heard of Lena's in Oia please comment. I appreciate all of the help.

Paros and Naxos are both lovely and both have a lot going for them. Even though they are an hour apart by ferry it can eat up over half a day to make that island hop. Once you check out of your hotel wait for the ferry take the ferry and then find a new hotel you will be shocked at how much time you just wasted.
I would say pick one of them and stay at least 2 or 3 days. While Nauplion is my favourite city, the logistics for you to get there are not good. You may be able to get a flight from Naxos to Athens and rent a car from the airport. However flight schedules (are up in the air) right now with Olympic air having not yet published summer schedules. If you can not get that flight then its ferry time and that is 5 hours so you will blow a full day trying to get to Nauplion which really only gives you one day there.

Unless you want to be run off you feet you may want to plan less hops and more time in your selected locations.
Anyway here are our Nauplion pictures
http://travel.webshots.com/album/551991579dJbWvh

Yes...I think Lithies is a great place. Maybe for your first time to Santorini Firostefani might be best. Its close to everything but still pretty quiet. Its charming too -- just different from Oia. We had great sunsets from our terrace at Lithies - Maria (the manager) brought us snacks while having wine on our terrace. On one of the nights we looked down at Dana Villas and watched a wedding at sunset. Pretty magical.

If you like to hike, the highlight of our time in Santonini was the hike from our hotel to Oia. Its about 6 miles (I think) on a marked path along the caldera. The views are just spectacular the entire way - I think I took a million pictures. We took the bus back which was really easy.

Looking at your itinerary if it were me I would drop Paros - I know people on this forum really like that island but we were kind of underwhelmed with it. To be fair it might be because it was cool and windy but I still didn't see anything too exciting there (although I actually did like our little Pension and it was really cheap).

On the other hand we really enjoyed the Greece mainland - Nauphlion was great (and seems to be spelled a zillion different ways), its a very charming town with lots of places to see nearby (Mycenae, Epidauros), fortresses to climb, etc. We also took a nice drive to Galatas (not much to see there) and took the water taxi over to the island of Poros for lunch which was kind of charming and the ride on the coast was very scenic.

So if it were me this is how I would tweak your itinerary, 5 days Santorini (I think 5 is too long so maybe add a night on to Naxos or Nauphlion), 3 days Naxos, 3 days Nauphlion, 2 days Athens.

We also really enjoyed Crete (Chania) but you would definitely have to drop something if you were to go there. Hope this helps!

ooops...now that I'm thinking about the path to Oia, I don't believe it is marked but is pretty easy to follow. We did have a bit of a tough time finding it in Imerovigli. It really isn't hard to find or to follow we just seem to be directionally challenged every once in a while.

CollK... Really torn between Lithies and staying somewhere in Oia. Ideally, we would like not too busy like Fira.... but not too isolated. From what I've been reading, Oia seems to be the compromise. Please correct me if I'm wrong. We would definitely prefer the great volcano/caldera views. Not sure what offers hot tub without breaking the bank, but I guess that would be asking for too much. Anyways, taking into account CollK's and everyone elses replies, we came up with itinerary and as always, feel free to chime in. It is always appreciated:

9/20- Bos to Athens overnight flight arriving noon 9/21.
9/21-Athens to Santorini
9/21 til 9/26 - Santorini (Oia or Lithies in Firostefani)
9/26 til 9/29 - Naxos (recommendations on towns and accommodations?)
9/29 til 10/2 - Nauphlion (Pension Eleni)
10/2 - Athens then depart 10/4

If anyone has suggestions on accomodations or places to visit we would appreciate it. As far as transports from Naxos to Athens, is ferry all that's available as we would like to get to get to Nauphlion fairly early and not waste a full day floating and driving. Thanks again for all of your help...... ps. isabel. Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I have the same camera and hopefully I can get those kinds of images out of it someday. Cheers.

I don't find any mention of what your maximum daily room budget will be. That will help in determining if a room with a hot tub will break the bank or not. That being said the least-expensive one I know of in Oia is the Cave House Suite at the Delfini Hotel. Check it out.

http://www.delfinihotel.net/santorin...ation-oia.html

In Naxos we always choose to stay at St George beach because it is directly adjacent to Naxos town a short 10 minute stroll away. St George is a good beach but if you want great beaches it is easy to catch the bus out to one of the west coast beaches.
We prefer to be near town for sights, dining and shopping.
There are lots of good simple hotels at st George with prices ranging form 50 euro a night to 200. No point in recommending a hotel until we know your budget,

Gosh...its a tough choice between Oia and Firostefani but they are both beautiful that I'm sure you'll be happy either way. If you decide to stay in Oia, the Delfini Hotel looks great. The town of Oia is just super charming and staying there would mean you' d be able to enjoy it before and after the crowds invade. Hard for me to advise as I just spent a quick afternoon there and I liked Firostefani as well but if I ever go back I think I would stay in Oia next time round.

I think your itinerary looks good. We really enjoyed Nauphlion and surrounding areas so I hope you do too. We stayed at Hotel Leto and it was nice - nothing fancy but well located, our room was small but had a nice balcony - we paid 70 euros last May.

brotherleelove.... I was awaiting your input as you are legendary on TA and Fodors. To answer yours and stanbr's question as to room budget, I would say it would be about 150 euro in Santorini. Delfini looks awesome as does Marizan villas as well. Much to decide. We discussed our trip further today and the other party discussed the possibility of taking a nite out of Athens and Santorini or Naxos to hop to Syros, Sifnos or Andros for a couple of days. Now my head's really spinning. Is that taking on too much and can anyone offer up anything on these islands? CollK.... I checked out a place called Pension Eleni in Nauphlion. Good reviews on TA and 45 euros a nite.

Try looking at the VRBO site for Santorini-hotels can be very expensive. Santorini is awsome.Chris

We stay at Eleni in Nauplion. It is very convenient to the upper parking lot and is quiet at night. Ask for a room on the upper floor. It has some rooms that open directly on the road and I did not think they were desirable. The ones on the upper floor are very well appointed some even have sea view. They have very good rates as well.
You are already just about at your max for hops and Syros Sifinos are on different ferry routes so if you decide to go that way you will probably have to drop Naxos, although I believe there is one ferry a week from there to Paros.
I am still a big believer of do less hops, enjoy your trip a lot more.

Another slight negative to Lithies - although they have a beautiful view you can see telephone lines-which might not be the case at the hotel in Oia. Just something to think about -- it didn't really bother us but I did notice it when we first arrived.

I agree with stanbr about not adding another destination - I think you have a great combination right now with two islands, Nauplion and then ending in Athens.

i loved ikies traditional houses in oia and pension marianna in nauplion! both have outstanding views and wonderful breakfasts.

btw, i don't think 5 days in santorini is too long. i stayed for 5 days and felt like i could have stayed longer. there is plenty to do in santorini.

VRBO is one of my favorite web sites Benicia... unfortunately, they aren't offering much in Oia... at least not in our price range. stanbr.... I think we'll stick to the original plan. Thanks for clearing that up. citychic..... Ikies looked great, but again, I think outta price range. Checked out Pension Marianna in Nauphlion and it seems like a plan. Will check it out further. Now I gotta try to find some digs in Oia. Thank you again, friends. Keep the helpful posts coming.