I posted earlier that we are spending 9 days in Greece over Thanksgiving, and was told that I should not travel to the islands. I have been looking through guide books and am quite confused and would love some feedback from travelers who have been to Greece.
We do not mind renting a car, we are staying in Athens for 4 nights, but would love to hear from you about an itinerary to travel the mainland for the rest of our stay there.
We are also contemplating going to Crete, but if it looks like we can have a wonderful experience on the mainland, we may save the islands for another time....

THANK YOU

If you mean Canadian Thanksgiving the weather on the islands will still be good, and most things still open. If you mean US Thanksgiving I would stay on the mainland where the weather is better for the most part and there is no off season. Late November on the islands is nothing like the summer.

Well, Athens itself has a lot to offer, and Nafplio is a delight, easily worth several days for the town itself and the many interesting day trips around. And then there's Delphi, and....

If you haven't already seen it, you might find some useful information in my trip report. The section on the mainland starts with post # 125.
With Gratitude for a Glorious Solo Month in Greece

BTW, shall we assume that you are no longer contemplating Machu Picchu? Many of us find it helpful when people come back to threads they start to let us know that they've seen our responses and what they've decided. It's certainly not required, just a courtesy.

Thank you....I am new at posting so thank you for the heads up about taking a thread off.....

No worries!

I can think of no better plan than Athens and Nafplio for the mainland!