None of these maps are perfect, but they will give you a good idea of which routes are possible and which are not.

weekender -- you are right, finding a "reasonably affordable house" would certainly be another thread. in order to get the best advice, your query should include the following info, in order not to vex would-be helpers, and encourage them to spend time on working out options for you:
• decide time-frame (believe me, mid-late June better than July for many reasons: avoid highest temps, avoid biggest crowding, get better rates
• tell us Specifics! since 10 days is SO short, tell us possible dates AND times: i.e., ARR 6/ 23 10 am, dep Tues 7/3 noon (u can't count arrival day unless arrive before noon & don't count departure day at all).
• Name islands u are interested in AND the # of beds you will need (i.e. dble for parents 3 singles for kids ... also whether u can go with a 1-BR unit that has daybeds in the bigger main room; these are more usual in the islands than 2 BR accommodations. SInce u seem to have age-range in family perhaps older teens could have a room adjoining 1-BR unit.
• Be specific about budget range you find "affordable" or "Reasonable" - and since many helpers here are from Europe, do not cite in US$ but in Euros; this conversion site http://www.xe.com/ucc/ is instant!
• IF u want to add friends, how many rooms/beds does that entail?? Also, be aware that in many Cyclades islands, whole-villa rentals are FAR from the beach & car rental is necessary (this is because all on-beach property was filled up in 60s-70s with smaller family-run places, thus "villas" for upscale market had to be built inland).
-- If you'll give us specifics (even if tentative), we shall be more able to advise you toward choices that will work for your bunch.

Lee, you are right—none of those maps are perfect, including the one I provided, which doesn't include some of the Sea Jets summer routes. I certainly wasn't criticising your map, which is much like the tube map I use when visiting my daughter in London.

Weekender, I agree with travelerjan about being specific as possible about dates, but one word of caution: to an American, 7/3 means July 3rd, but to a European it means March 7th, because they put day before month. Sometimes it's obvious, but does 7/6 mean July 6th or June 7th? I am an American who retired in England after military service, so am used to seeing it both ways. On international forums it's better to spell out the month so everyone knows what you mean.

@travelerjan thank you- this info about rentals is already helpful! was planning to plug in all the specifics into homeaway but if you think it might be helpful to post them on forum as a thread? might do that when have the specifics

@Heimdall i know about dates i lived in eastern europe before coming to the US some years ago

Heimdall, I never thought you were, not at all.

weekender, glad to hear you understand the importance of specifics. Even if you don't have the Exact dates, at least DO say whether in your "approx 10 days" tentative thinking, you included the day you will board the plane in USA, and the day you board your homebound flight. If so, you do not have 10 days, but only 8 ... and that Greatly affects what advice we would give.

I asked a similiar question a few months ago - here is the link to that discussion if you want to check it out:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-our-base.cfm

@gidlaurie thank you! did you end up staying in one place or moved?

weekend - still have not been - planning for this Spring!
Never too early to plan!

Yes weekender I DO think you should post specifics on a thread IF you are asking for help, which you are. Otherwise, people will expend time and effort thinking up scenarios and recommending accommodations which are not appropriate, because you did not give all relevant facts. A waste of time on BOTH sides.

Great info here. Thank you. I am inspired to do some planning

bookmarking