My wife and I are planning a 2 week trip to Greece this fall. I have spent lots of time reviewing various threads and trip reports on Greece and the islands over the past month. Many reviewers have provided excellent feedback on the posibilities and I would like your feedback/comments on our proposed itinerary, hotels and mode of transportation. We prefer budget hotels so we can spend our money on other activities and exploring the islands. We are retired and in good health and enjoy walking and touring as well as some R & R at the beach/pool. On the islands we might rent a car for a day or so for touring as well.

We arrive in Athens (overnight from Canada) on September 14 at 10.20am and plan to fly immediately to Santorini for 3 nights (I haven't booked our flight yet because I would like to know how much time I should leave between our arrival and departure to Santorini..recommendation?).

My choice for a hotel in Santorini is Hotel Anemomilos 70 Euros for an apartment - they say has a view of the caldera and basic kitchen facilities. Anyone familiar with the apartments here and are some more desirable than others? I know this Hotel is across the street from the caldera.

Sept 17 we plan to leave by ferry for Paros/Naxos. I'm thinking about 2 nights in each. Based on the ferry routes it looks like we should go to Paros first then Naxos? Any merit in 4 nights in say Naxos and a day trip back to Paros?

In Paros I'm thinking of Hotel Dina (Euro 50) and in Naxos I'm thinking about Hotel Anixis.........what about the sister hotel on the beach? Other suggestions?

From Naxos we would take the ferry to Mykonos where we plan to spend 3 nights and do a day trip to Delos. Suggestions on hotels on Mykonos would be appreciated.

From Mykonos we would head back to Athens (thinking of the ferry) where we would spend 4 nights. We would like to stay in central Athens near the main attractions and have 3 full days to tour. Hotel recommendations?

Currently we plan to leave attractions outside Athens for another trip where we could include some time in Turkey.

We leave Athens on September 28 for London for a week and will start planning that part of the trip once I get the Greece part organized.

Many thanks in advance.

If you're arriving in Athens from Canada after having first landed in another EU airport you will have already passed through Passport Control and Customs, so if this is the case you'll need about 2 hours to collect your luggage, make your way upstairs to check in for your flight to Santorini and find your departure gate, all without having to rush. If you are on a non-stop flight from Canada to Athens add another hour to that.

I don't know the difference between apartments at the Anemomilos but there is NO caldera view except from the two private villas. There is a lovely sea view from the rooms and apartments in the main hotel but it's not into the caldera, in spite of the fact that they're just across the street. If you want to see a photo of the view from the apartments and rooms let me have your email address.

If you take the Hellenic Seaways highspeed catamaran from Santorini you have to go to Paros first because it doesn't stop at Naxos, but you can take the Blue Star car ferry instead and go to Naxos first. It takes 2 hours. Paros is closer to Mykonos so it makes sense to go to Naxos first.

Centrally located hotels in Athens: Pan, Arethusa, Metropolis, Amazon, Omiros, Hermes, Acropolis View, Attalos, Cecil and Tempi.

You have a good plan... I think if you look at the Blue Star ferry Route, It goes first to Naxos then to Paros. It's good to get the BLue Star (regular ferry) rather than a "fast-ferry". The latter doesn't save that much time at all, and doesn't have outside decks for that fabulous caldera view & snapshots upon departure. Blue Star just takes 2 hours: usually 7 am & 3pm departures... your call.

SANTO HOTEL - I believe ANemomilos has a view of the OTHER side of the island not the caldera. Here's a photo from their website: http://www.anemomilos.com/oia-santorini-map.html BrotherleeLove has new recommend for a budge caldera view with a pool -- http://www.lauda-santorini.com/

NAXOS -- Anixis is cute, I've stayed up in that Kastro area at neighboring hotel Panorama ... however, it's a hike up & down... if you want to stay convenient to town but also have a BEACH view, here's my favorite budget beach hotel, has kitchenettes & balconies, ask for the front apt on top floor (twin beds) or next to top floor (double bed), view as shown on website pic .. http://www.naxos-saintgeorgebeach.co...xos/index.html ... you won't beieve how cheap; tell owner Janet from Philly sent you. How convenient? Look at this Sky map: http://www.skymap.gr/?ElementId=59724&Category=0 -- scroll right, until you see the beach. Building is directly behind Beach Taverna Yialos. For Hotel Anixis, look in Kastro above Zevgoli, it's on the "ring path" around Kastro.

PAROS -- Hotel Dino is a good idea.
MYKONOS -- Recently recommended on another website by "old Mykonos hands" is Hotel Galini, VERY convenient, on quiet tree-lined lane in heart of Mykonos town. http://www.galinimykonos.com/

ATHENS -- Try my fave, Hotel Phaedra, ask for top floor balcony either looking on Acropolis or on nextdoor Churchyard. Dynamite location. On this map, it's 50 feet from Lysikrates Monument: http://www.athensguide.com/map/athens.htm Use e-mail on website, tell her Janet from Philly sent you. ALso 2 good budget choices 1-2 blocks from Syntagma square, for Metro or airport bus: Hotel Metropolis, Hotel Myrto.

Lee, we were posting at the same time! I plugged your newest find, Lauda!

brotherleelove2004

Thank you for the flight info.......it's direct from Montreal so I'll add an hour. My email is "[email protected]" for the photos...thanks in advance. The tips on the ferries and hotel suggestions in Athens are also appreciated. You have provided excellent advice/info on many of the Greece threads and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that they have been extremely helpful in planning this trip.

Any comments/suggestions on the Naxos/Paros/Mykonos hotels?

Regards,

mg

For a clean, inexpensive room on Paros check Alexandra's Rooms. http://www.alexandrasrooms.gr They're only a 15-minute walk from the ferry dock (keep the water on your left shoulder). Check-in is in the shop "Colors". The rooms are set back off the street between Colors and the Hotel Paros. My room was immaculately clean, had a fridge, TV, A/C and fantastic hot water pressure. It was the one in this silly video on the top floor where the orange umbrella is seen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di1_GFIdT8g

There is also a nice room with a large private terrace overlooking the sea and sunset. That's the terrace you see with the table on the hotel website.

There's a long stretch of beach just across the street and there are several nice restaurants very close by.

We spent four weeks in Greece last May and had a wonderful time and I know you will too. We we went to Samos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini and Crete then on to mainland Greece. We also consider ourselves budget travelers (or at least try to be). We stayed at Pension Sophia in Paros for 30 Euros a night, Antony Studios in Naxos for 55 euros, Madonna Studios in Chania for 80 euros per night. In Santorini we splurged and spent 110 euros per night at Lithies Traditional Homes in Firostefani. We had a beautiful room but more important a wonderful view of the Caldera.

I think its definitely worth splurging in Santorini for a view -- as that's what its all about there. I guarantee having your own patio/terrace and a beautiful view is what you'll remember - not the $150 dollars or so that you saved getting a budget place with no view.

I was way too lazy to ever do a trip report (although I meant to) but please let me know if you have any questions.

Travelerjan & collK I really appreciate the time you've taken to provide me with many hotel choices and travel hints. I will review all of them along with Brotherleelove2004's earlier suggestions.

Many thanks.

mg