We LOVED Santorini. We'd never been to Greece before, and were so enthralled with the beauty there. We are not beach people, so we didn't miss that aspect of it. Stayed on Santorini 5 nights, and these are my notes with some pictures:

We liked the Gold Suites @ Imerovigli very much. Very small hotel, about 15 suites, excellent personal service, breakfast served on your private patio, best views anywhere on the island, small pool with nice food served.
There were several nice-looking hotels along that section of the caldera walk. The walk is romantic & gorgeous, especially at night. A nice wine bar is in a hotel, right on the pathway.
Imerovigli has a bus stop and is easily served by taxis. It's a tiny town, with a market and a cafe or two. In the middle of the caldera.
We found a fabulous restaurant that's on the walkway at the top of the caldera, about 10 minute walk from our hotel.
It's called La Maison, which is a bad name because it's not really French. It has an amazing location looking over the water. It's simple & contemporary, with an exciting menu and good service. I had a local fish, wrapped in seaweed and fried till crisp, with lime foam. And my appetizer was a wonderful scallop dish. http://www.lamaison-santorini.com
And another restaurant we liked a lot, was just before the La Maison, on the opposite side of the path. Larger and busier, but good food and service. (Can't remember it's name, but you can't miss it.)
Also, we took a half-day sunset swim/snorkel cruise. We chose a boat that only had 14 clients on it, arranged through our hotel. They grilled shrimp and chicken for dinner. Lots of drinks of all kinds available all day. Very nice.
We walked to Fira from our hotel. Really beautiful walk along the caldera. About 20 minutes from our hotel. The town is too touristy, being right at the ferry dock.
We took a bus to Oia for the afternoon, from Imerovigli. Oia a classier town than Fira. More expensive. Lots of jewelry shops. Still touristy, though. Too crowded for sunset. Better views from our hotel patio @ Imerovigli.




Our private patio, with breakfast delivered every morning.

This thread has been very interesting for me. My 20-something granddaughter just spent a couple of days last week on Santorini and put some videos online of the crowds gathered in Oia for the sunset. I have been reminiscing about my visit to the island in April,1984, when we (my husband, 12-year-old son and I) arrived by ferry from Heraklion (the Portokalis Ilios) where we had spent a week. When the ferry docked, many locals met us with offers of accommodation and we went with the Hotel Santa Irini on Perissa Beach for the drachma equivalent of $9 per person bed and breakfast. The room was Spartan with three single beds and a private bath, but spotlessly clean and perfectly adequate for our needs. The next morning, breakfast was a full English, surprisingly. The person in charge had a very interesting accent when speaking English and it turned out that he had been living in Glasgow for a long time and had returned to Santorini to help his relatives in the hotel. We decided to try to stay our second night in Fira, and when we checked out we learned that the total bill was $9, not per person! We then decided to splurge and booked the Atlantis at around $50 for the night. Not luxurious, but with a wonderful terrace overlooking the caldera. That day we visited Akrotiri and wandered around Fira. In one shop, my husband was invited by men who were having a drink to join them. One of them introduced himself as the mayor. The next morning we checked out of the Atlantis and went to the in-town office of Olympic Airlines to check in for our flight to Athens later in the day. They took our checked bags and told us to return to the office later to be taken to the airport. With time to spare, we decided to take a taxi to Kamari Beach to enjoy the warm, sunny day. The black sand beach was not crowded and we enjoyed a bottle of wine. Later we went back to the Olympic office, boarded a bus and went to the airport to await the arrival of the plane that would take us to Athens. While we were waiting, outside the building where everyone was smoking, we saw two men arriving riding donkeys. One of them dismounted, took his bag, and went into the building. The other rode off leading that man's donkey. (Note: our son had a serious allergy to cigarette smoke and our travels in Greece presented quite a challenge from time to time.) The plane arrived and we left. I would love to see Santorini again, but think I would like to go there very off-season.

Those are my thoughts. 7.5 hours is a long time. I've already spoken up and said I want to fly TO Santorini. I want to get the vacation started! I'm fine with taking the ferry back, but when we checked the ferry times, half of the trip would be after sunset. I'm trying not to overplan in order to give my friend time to research and pick what's important to her.

Thanks for the tip on the museum! And I'm really looking forward to the food too. I love Greek food (in Greek restaurants in the US).

Maybe the following belongs over on that recent 'Go Ahead & Brag' thread? Anyway, a memory from our most recent return to Folegandros via Santorini (October 2014):

'Welcome to Athens Airport for those about to fly to Santorini on flight #126. Olympus Airlines is now currently overbooked, I repeat overbooked.....and we offer a free bonus flight, a free overnight hotel plus 500 Euros cash to any passengers who are willing to fly on a subsequ....."
Mrs Z and I made like Usain Bolt to the desk before the airline rep had finished the sentence. *Be decisive, my fellow travellers.
I am done. The lucky day.

P.S. When we visited in October a few years ago, there was a ferry strike which stranded many people on Santorini. We were lucky a local concierge had told us about it, so we bought airplane tickets in advance. So, pay attention to the local news, just in case.

We had taken the 'fast' ferry to Santorini from Athens, and thought it was fine, but we were happy we hadn't taken the ferry both directions.

>Last night I was looking at options on Mykonos. I found a beautiful place but it was a bit isolated. Was looking at options in Mykonos Town<

starrs, I'd be very happy to help you with this. Can you give me a wee bit more info especially where you've found the beautiful place to lodge at. Even the hotel's name would be enough. I will happily also give you some ideas for the town of Mykonos.

Lee, thank you for your posting and in so many ways how you felt reminded me of when I discovered Mykonos, almost six decades ago. It was independent travellers in those days and there weren't many of those. General tourism had not yet arrived. I remember asking an elderly man how long it would take me to walk from Agios Ioannis to the town (no buses in those days and I wasn't brave enough to ride a donkey). He thought carefully and said 'four cigarettes'. I understood exactly what he meant!

Bill

Hi billbarr,
It's the Mykonos Pantheon -
https://www.mykonospantheon.gr/

The roads in the Pelion are mountainous so can take more time. If you visit a village such as Mouresi (lovely beach close by called Milopotamos, tavernas might not be open in October), it's a 5 hour drive from Athens or Vizitza is about 4 hours. Weather might not be great in October in the mountains. Otherwise Athens to Meteora & Delphi is pretty straightforward. Meteora to Pelion is around 3 hours or so depending which part you go to & Galaxidi is on the way back from Delphi to Athens.

Wow, Bill, almost 60 years ago! And I thought I was an "old-timer" at 34 years. Mykonos must have been amazing then, close to the beginning of it's reputation as the must-see, go-to Greek island of the jet-setters. And I love the anecdote about the 4 cigarettes! That sums it up in a nutshell.

Hi starrsI don’t know the Pantheon but there are now so many new island hotels it’s impossible to keep up! I do know its location though and many years ago visited Loulos beach, only a few minutes from it. You are a good bit from Mykonos town though (they say 20 minutes driving time but I feel it is a bit more).

Will you be renting a car? That could be a real benefit but only if you wish to get some time away from the hotel and the area it is in. Taxis to/from town will be pricey. I think it’s worth mailing the hotel and asking them about the frequency of their shuttle services as that could be crucial.

There is a bus service to Kalo Livadi from town, around 3 times a day, but the timetable isn’t showing at the moment. Unfortuately, I think by October they may have stopped operating it. Here’s the link: https://mykonosbus.com/bus-timetables/

Ano Mera, the island’s second town is much closer and there you will find a few historical sites. Mind, it’s a 20 minute walk and uphill all the way.

Apologies almost all of this is about the hotel’s location but it’s a very important factor to consider. Great if you just wish to relax and do nothing. If you want to explore then possibly somewhere closer to the town of Mykonos may be better. Possibly Agios Ioannis, 10 mins by bus to and from town, where the movie Shirley Valentine was filmed? Just checked and the hotel used in the movie is taking reservations up to 6th October, no doubt closing after that date. Manoulas Mykonos Beach Hotel and Resort

Hi Lee

I know you’ll understand when I say that although I’ve travelled to many places in this world, Greece is the only one that pulls me back year after year.

We were such innocents though. Four of us had just left school and had confirmation we’d all been accepted for university. As a well-done gift, our folks paid for the island-hopping trip. Not one of us had been abroad before nor been out of Scotland. It was planned we’d buy simple accommodation on arrival at each island. The first was Syros, the second Tinos where, unfortunately, we got food poisoning. Trying to stick to timetable, we took the short ferry ride over to Mykonos but we shouldn’t have. A few men were waiting at the port and one had two rooms available in his small house overlooking the town. He and his wife had us for a week rather than just a few days as the sickness continued through much of it. None of us ever forgot the kindnesses they showed us during those hellish seven days. Santorini was to be the final island but we never got there. We continued to return to the same family year after year and they ‘adopted’ us. In fact. it’s their kids who now come to visit me!

Yes, it’s now a completely different island but only to a certain extent. I’ve often heard that it was Jackie Kennedy who was responsible for it being ‘discovered’. Some local folks agree, some do not. I was never there when they came but would have loved to have seen them both. It is said that after Jackie married Onassis they visited Mykonos regularly and she used to buy unique Cycladic-styled jewellery from a local craftsman (now world-famous) and when back in America folks asked her where she’d got it. Those folks were equally famous people, celebrities etc. who then started to visit bringing with them large entourages. The ball had started to roll and for me it was very noticeable.

Always I say to folks to listen to the islanders because that’s how you learn, especially about local peculiarities etc. I remember being told about the large number of Mykonians who have a direct Russian connection going back centuries. Indeed, I once met a great-grandmother there who still used a Russian first name. Finding out why those windmills and houses were/are painted white. How the islanders suffered during WW2 and what they did to survive etc. etc. For me it’s all about listening, learning, confirming and passing it on. I feel sure it is the same for you.

That's exactly the information I was looking for! The two nights in Oia are that kind of nights. I think my friend would prefer to be closer to a town.

Now I have my homework assignment. THIS is the kind of thing I'd like to learn more about!

What a wonderful story about your Greek "family", and what lovely memories you must have. I made everlasting friendships on Santorini that continue to this day, although my closest friend there just died about 2 months ago. I was fortunate enough to have 2 wonderful 6-month seasons in Oia, Santorini before everything started to change into what is now an unpleasant and wildly-overcrowded caricature of itself. My god, there's even a McD's in Fira now! But still, yes, I'm always drawn back to Greece no matter where else I go. Nothing compares, does it? In fact, I'm just beginning to make plans for my next visit in 2020. Going to try some new islands this time.

I listened to both songs but i really couldn't find anything Greek about them.....not even Greek influence...... and i have Greek ears

You're welcome.

Hi starrs, I know you are looking at many options for the two days you mentioned earlier but if you decide Mykonos might be worth a visit can you give me an idea of the dates? Those help a wee bit when checking out what hotels might be available.

Not a problem. Happy to give you the details here if you'd prefer not to do too much homework!

I agree Lee but I think last October was my final visit. It was such a struggle, I need to rely on some of my family to get me there and for a month after I got home I just didn't feel very well. I always have the memories though and continued visits from my 'Greek family' who've always loved winter in Scotland. Every one of the children has gone to a UK university and their father always asked if each of them could spend a month with me before their first term began. He wanted to make it a wee bit easier for them to adjust a little bit before starting their studies. A wise man but oh my goodness I could write a book about the different things that happened with each of them. Such a lot of fun with the kindest young folks.

Like me, you can rely on websites like this one to keep you in touch with your beloved Greece. Between that and visits from your Greek family hopefully you'll keep the flame burning. I'm actually now thinking about not waiting until 2020. I've found some very favorable flight fares for this coming September and have located a fantastic apartment on Chios that's calling my name!