Exactly, Tengo.

If you have been reading the postings here for awhile -- where the same questions are posted Over and over -- you will see that securty about making your homeward flight is not the ONLY reason we recommend you do Athens last.

Athens has incredible treasures of history... the deep meaning in terms of art, archeology, culture. And when you hve been immersed in Greece for a week, 10 days, 2 weeks -- even in a super-touristic place like Mykonos -- you will be more in tune with the Greek culture/outlook on life ... and even the ancient stones will resonate more deeply.

Well I've been doing a LOT of looking and fares are bad no matter what. Right now, it looks like a possible option is go direct from Philadelphia to Athens (we could always rent a car one way to drive to Philly - only 2 hours from DC) - that gets us to Athens in the morning and we can fly to Santorini in the afternoon.

Prices late May are looking slightly better than early June. I was trying to avoid the Pentecost holiday. Is that a show stopper? I was planning on leaving no earlier than June 7, to arrive June 8 to avoid the holiday. If we're on an island, is everything closed that weekend?

Thanks,
Alice

Alice, the Pentacost holiday is no big deal! I am on the islands nearly every year during Pentacost, and try to avoid travelling to the islands at the beginning of the weekend, or back to Athens at the end. Apart from that, all I notice is the restaurants are a bit busier. As long as you have your flights and hotel room booked, you will have no problem.

Islands easy to reach from Athens, e.g. Mykonos and Paros, are busy for three days, and that's all. It's a bit like Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. If you are on Santorini over Pentacost you probably won't notice much difference. Hotels and restaurants are able to cope with the August high season, and Pentacost is nothing like that crowded.

THink of Pentecost as the Memorial Day Weekend in USA, a great getaway weekend for Greeks-- hotels heavily booked in nearer islands, and ferries back to mainland on Monday night are packed.

LOL, travellerjan! Great minds...

Thanks, Heimdall and travelerjan! This really expands my options, I will seriously consider going before that weekend. I can't remember where I read that it was to be avoided, but you're right, it probably was referring to closer-in islands.

Wish me luck! I'm going to find decent (well, semi-decent) convenient airfare if it kills me.

Alice