Final Greek Island itinerary input - please
 

We are taking our first trip to Greece in July this year for three weeks.
Set in stone: Athens 3 days - ferry to Naxos 5 days - ferry to Santorini 3 days. I had wanted to go on to Milos for 4 days and onto Sifnos for the last 3 days and then back to Athens where we need to catch our plane home to the US. What I was not fully aware of until recently is the probability of the Meltemi winds during the month of July. I have read some posts of people getting stranded etc. So... not wanting to be sweating bullets while on vacation with my kids I am trying to devise an alternative plan that may provide more security for making sure we make our flight home from Athens, as we are using frequent flyer tickets. (which makes me more anxious as to getting us four back together). Here's what I'm considering: I'm wondering if I should just stick to islands that have airports? Santorini is in stone, as my husband has a ticket flying home from there - the kids and I will stay for an add'l week. Milos is one option - although a week seems too long there; am I wrong? or Paros - Milos combo? both have flights to Athens. Maybe I'm making too much of the winds and could possibly do Santorini - Folegandros or one of the little islands nearer Santorini and onto Milos to end the trip where I can just book a flight ahead of time on July 18th which currently has a rate of 47euros p/p which doesn't seem too terribly much more than ferrying anyway?
By the way, if one pre-books some of the ferry legs and the weather
causes cancellation, I assume you can use the tickets for the next available boat for this company and all is not lost?
Thanks to all!

Hi Suzbrownie,

Yes, you are making too much of the Meltemi winds. July and August are the peak months for island hopping, and if ferries were frequently cancelled it would be utter chaos. Fact is, the large conventional ferries are only cancelled when winds reach Beaufort Scale 8 or higher, which rarely happens. High speed catamarans (especially the small passenger-only) are cancelled from Beaufort Scale 7.

Given the above, you are wise to be concerned about the possibility of cancellation, especially since you are travelling with children on FF tickets. There are measures you can take to reduce the possibility of missing your flight home. Yes, you could stick to islands with airports, but there are few inter-island flights, so you would still have to travel by ferry between them.

If you save Santorini for last, then start your trip with Sifnos and Milos, you will have a built-in buffer in case of delay. Santorini and Naxos are served by Blue Star ferries, probably the least likely to be cancelled, so visiting them after Sifnos and Milos is best. Avoid depending upon Sea Jets Consortium's ferry Superjet if possible. This catamaran causes more problems than any other.

A week seems too long on Milos while you plan to spend a week in Santorini????

Well, what's more to do/see in Santorini than Milos?

Thanks to both of you. Unfortunately we are not able to change Santorini around to the last, as my husband's vacation will end there and he flies out on July 11 from Santorini. As of now we are booked for two nights there. I and the kids could either stay in Santorini a couple more days (however, we were recommended to only stay 3 days here - do you disagree?) and then head to Milos, for the remainder of our trip, where we could catch that flight back the day before we go home. Just wondering if anyone has feedback as to spending 5-7 days on Milos. It sounds like I would need to rent a car in order to get around that particular island, as well.

Thanks again!

Opinions vary dramatically about how long to spend on Santorini. I stay for 4 weeks at a time.

Think about choosing an island closer than Milos, such as Naxos or Paros. They're on the same ferry route as Santorini for the trip back to Athens/Piraeus, and the ferry (Blue Star) is very large, modern and stable, even in strong winds. Chances of a cancellation are slim.

By saving Santorini for last, I meant for your husband, who flies home from there. For you, saving Athens for last is imperative, and I would recommend planning at least two nights there, especially if you go to Milos.

As brotherleelove wrote, Paros and Naxos have the best ferry connections, both <i>from</i> Santorini and <i>to</i> Piraeus, as the Central Cyclades route is one of the busiest in the Aegean.

Connections from Santorini to Milos will probably be daily during July, but mostly with the unreliable Superjet, plus some older conventional ferries 2-3 times per week. When going from Santorini to Milos you are jumping from the Central Cyclades to the Western Cyclades ferry routes, and cross-route connections are less frequent. Milos to Piraeus shouldn't be a problem, as there are numerous highspeeds and conventional ferries on the Western Cyclades route.

Good to know about Santorini! The travel person we worked with early on in the planning said we should forgo Paros, as it is too similar to Naxos, where we plan to spend 5 days. Her recommendation was for Milos and Sifnos to give the family more diversity - So from your perspective, what is your general opinion and would we find more varied things to do on Paros or Milos for a 5-7 day stay?
One thing I don't understand is the ferry routes that I have come up with seem to take twice as long from Santorini to Paros as Naxos to Santorini?! approx. 2.5 hrs vs. about 5 hrs heading north - why is this?
Heimdall, we are going to do the sites in Athens with my hubby for the first three days before we set out for the islands. Do you think we need add'l days in Athens as well; if so what do you recommend doing beyond the main sites, markets, etc.?

Thanks!

The Blue Star ferry takes the same amount of time heading north or south, 2 hours between Naxos and Santorini, 3 hours between Paros and Santorini. A possible exception to this would be a ferry that makes different and/or more stops along the way, such as the AEOLOS KENTERIS II, but that's not the ferry to which we refer.

perfect - thank you!

Yes, Blue Star takes the same time both ways.

I would say there is far more to do on Paros than on Milos. Throw Antiparos into the mix and you have a stalactite cave and round-island boat trips. In fact, if you are worried about Paros and Naxos being too much alike, Antiparos would be a good alternative place to stay. I'm there up to a month every year, and feel the same about it as brotherleelove does about Santorini. It's possible to use Antiparos as a base for exploring Paros, too, since it takes only 30 minutes to get to Parikia from there.

Now, whether to spend one night or two in Athens at the end of the trip, it partly depends upon when your flight home departs. If it is a morning or early afternoon flight, one night in Athens gives you no margin for safety at all, since on most days the earliest ferry arrives on the mainland at 3 pm. So if the ferries were cancelled on the day you planned to travel, you would arrive too late the next day to make your flight. Two nights in Athens gives you that margin of safety, and in reality you would have only one full day for sightseeing.

In my first post I wrote "Yes, you are making too much of the Meltemi winds." I stand by that statement, as most people never get held up by high winds, but it does occasionally happen. Now and then ferries have mechanical problems, and there are sometimes one-day work stoppages (mostly mid-week). To put it in perspective, I've been island-hopping for about 20 years now, and have never been held up by high winds. Twice I've nearly missed my flight home due to mechanical problems, and both times were with a Sea Jets Consortium catamaran. So far I've never been held up by strikes. :-)

Thanks Heimdall, When it comes down to it, it really is personal preference; isn't it.
Your words set my mind at ease. I will take this all into consideration as I make these final preparations. I understand what you are saying about Athens now and that makes sense, as well.

Thanks again!