Hi, will be travelling to Greece in September 2003...Spending the first 3 nights in Athens...Have the choice of 3 nights Santorini and 2 nights Mykonos or 3 nights Athens and 5 nights in Santorini....Also, am looking for a hotel in Santorini with great views of the Caldera....The 3 I am looking at is Santorini's Balcony, Chromata, and Sun Rocks Residence...Is anyone familiar with these hotels, or can you recommend a great place to stay?? Any suggestions would be helpful as I cannot decide whether I want to island hop or just relax in Santorini with my husband...Thanks

I think 5 nights in Santorini is too much -- not all that much to do, and really no swimmable beaches. We did Athens, Santorini, Paros and Mykonos several years ago -- 3 nights Athens (2 on the front end, one on the back), 2 nights Santorini, 3 nights Paros, 3 nights Mykonos, and thought it was a great combination. Our favorite was Paros, least favorite Mykonos (too many very rich very young partiers). We stayed at Chromata in Santorini -- quite nice, with the rooms carved into the side of the cliff, like caves. Very nice pool, nice breakfast. Well-situated for walking. Bathrooms were a tad weird, however, as showers were carved out from the cliff wall, with no real shower walls, leading to constant flooding. All in all, however, we were very pleased with Chromata. We took the hydrofoil from Athens to Santorini to Paros to Mykonos and then flew from Mykonos back to Athens.

On Santorini, if you want stunning caldera views, I'd go for the best, which is either Perivolas or Katikies in Oia. I stayed at the former. I booked through i-escape.com which worked well.<BR>I agree that 3 nights is enough. Depending on how you are getting back you could either spend 2 nights on Syros, which was a very different side of Greece (few tourists, lovely neo-classical buildings); or you could do a short round trip from Santorini to the tiny isle of Folegandros, and stay in the Anemomilos, which I also loved.<BR>Michael<BR>[email protected]

Hi Tracy<BR><BR>I agree with the others to visit more than Santorini. I LOVED Santorini, it is beautiful, but it is pretty quiet. Unlike Barbara, I loved Mykonos also, and it gives a nice contrast to Santorini because it has a happening nightlife - it's a lot of fun. <BR><BR>Enjoy!

Thanks alot for the responses so far..It is nice to talk to someone who has been there before..I think we will do the 3 nights Santorini, and 2 nights Mykonos with 3 nights in Athens at the start...The only thing is that we would have at least liked to touch Turkey, but that may have to happen on a different vacation...If anyone else has any other ideas, would love to hear from you...Thanks again!!

Tracy -- I stayed at Sun Rocks in 1999 and loved it. If you stay there, try to get room #31 -- a suite. I liked the peace and quiet of the area yet we were close enough to Fira that we could walk there. Another time I stayed in Imerovigli and found it to be too remote. A lot of people like Oia, but my vote goes to Firostephanie (probably spelled wrong).<BR><BR>Eight nights in Greece is not long. Don't try to hit too many places or you will spend a lot of time in transit, unpacking, and repacking.<BR><BR>I've been to Mykonos twice and enjoyed it both times. Some people find it to be a party island, and some people like me enjoy the day time without the night life.

Hi,<BR>We were in Greece 2 years ago and loved Santorini and Mykonos and were not that fond of Athens. We stayed at Sun Rocks in Santorini close to everything and lovely views. We stayed Dorion in Mykonos very nice hotel and the staff went out of the way to be helpful...you will have a great trip<BR>