Hi all,
My husband and I will be traveling to Greece in mid April of 08. We'll have a total of 9 nights there. I'm tentatively planning 3 nights on Santorini, 4 nights on Crete and the last 2 in Athens.
Does that sound like a good way to do it?
Does it matter which island we do first?
I'm thinking that we'll probably fly between islands.
Thanks for your input!

Bettina, I don't think you can fly between Santorini & Crete, at least not in APril. I think your best bet would be to fly to Crete, then take the fast-ferry to Santorini, then fly to Athens.

Since fast-ferry goes only out of Iraklion (Heraklion), I suggest you fly to Chania. You can see the sights there, then rent a car -- to drive down rim of a Gorge like topolian maybe? or go down thru Spili to see a ruin like Phaestos? Then drive past Heraklion to Knossos if u want to, & drop off car either at yr hotel or at ferry Dock by arrangement (ferry goes at 945 am: allow time).

If u book early enough you can get the bargain flights on Aegean Air (19-27E+ taxes/fuel charge= about 40E apiece).

Thanks Travelerjan,
That sounds like we wouldn't need the car the whole time we're in Chania, just to drive to Iraklion?
Also I'm wondering if we should spend 6 nights on Crete and only 2 on Santorini
(seeing we'd pretty much be losing the first and last day to travel?
What do you think?

YES YES YES, shorten the Santorini stay and lengthen the Crete stay. I always hesitate to suggest this since so many message boards are full of ThiraManiacs and don't go anywhere else much whereas I have been to 18 islands -- enough to know that Crete is a COUNTRY, whereas Thira is a small island (12 miles long); we need to give Crete some respect for its wonders.

I'm guessing from your response that your Int'l flight/transfer to Crete flight wouldn't get u into Chania until late afternoon. TIme to stroll the Old Harbor,enjoy the sunset there and have a great fish dinner at Apostolis at far end of the crescent.

You'd need the whole next day to explore the pleasures of Chania itself; and with your limited time I suggest u stay right in Chania, on its west side by the old Wall, near the sea. Hotels & pensions abound on Theotokopolou St -- a no-cars venue. For view of Chania & Crete Joys, see this beautiful slide-show by one of Fodor's super GreeceGurus, Stanbr:

http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow...IfhIZX6W_oSgrr
I would say, after that 1 day & 2 nites, u decide whether u want to move on.. a car enables u to see so much "off the beaten path". Google Stanbr's trip report on going to Crete this year (I have been too lazy to do my own).

"Losing last day to travel" -- do u refer to going from West Crete to Heraklion?? You can make this a very enjoyable excursion--- driving down the inland road as far as Rethymnon, with a stop there ONLY to see the Fortezza ... then maybe a detour off the main road to see the unforgettable Melidoni cave.

Whether u spend the night in Heraklion depends on timng of yr flight to Athens. You can arrange to drop the car either by your hotel (leaving key at desk) or at the airport.

MY link to Stanbr's slide-show didn't all come through so here it is again:

http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/559511069PIlVxI

Travelerjan,
Thanks again for your help.
I have read stanbr's trip report and I'm thinking of staying at Pension Nora.
He seemed to find it a great spot.
He does give a lot of helpful info too.
I'm now thinking we'll arrive in Athens on Friday, fly to Crete.
Stay in Crete until Wed.
Ferry to Santorini and stay there until Friday.
fly to Athens and stay there until our flight home on Sunday morning.
Could I wait until we get to Crete to arrange a car rental?

Yes, you can wait until arrival to rent a car -- if you can drive stick shift. If you can drive only automatic shift, best to arrange online in advance; there are few available. I did so this year because our stick-shift drive couldn't go. we used Autoway, and got a fair price, and had delivery to foot of Theotokopoulu st. in Chania, and dropped car off next to our heraklion Hotel.

Be sure one of u has an International Drivrs license --AAA issues ($15) same day if u call up and go over. Renters usually don't ask for it, but if u have an accident, even a fender-ding, lack of that license could void coverage. PS: don't count on your US car-coverage because, godforbid, anything happens, they are in US, office closed when u would be needing them.

This is all precautionary; there has been no incident in the 9 car rentals I've participated in so far.