sjbang

Hi, we are planning a honeymoon end of May (5/24 to 6/3), and thinking of Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. Are these the best islands to visit? Would you suggest a different island? We are looking for a nice relaxing time on a beach with some culture and history. Should there be bad weather, are there enough things to do in Mykonos and Santorini that do not involve the outdoors? thank you!!!

Heimdall

Are these the best islands to visit?

Everyone has a favourite island, so a question like that will get a multitude of answers. All I will say is if you are on a budget there are better islands from which to choose. Mykonos and Santorini have the edge when it comes to upmarket hotels and restaurants. Mykonos has excellent beaches, and Santorini spectacular views. These two islands also have the best historic sites in the Cyclades, with Delos near Mykonos and Akrotiri and Ancient Thera at Santorini.

You shouldn't have to worry about weather in late May/early June. When I go that time of year I expect warm sunny to partly cloudy days and cool evenings. Some years I have encountered a day of rain, other years none at all.

Heimdall

Hmmm.....Forgive me if I am mistaken, but Jess_Er seems to have joined Fodor's to plug a villas website. ;-)

sjbang

Thanks Heimdall! How expensive will Mykonos and Santorini be? Hotels, I've gotten quotes for, but what about food and other things to do? Is there another island you would suggest?

Do you think we will find plenty to keep us busy for 4 nights on each island? Do you think 2 nights in Athens is enough? How would you break up 10 nights? Sorry for all the questions, but this is our first (and probably only) trip to greece so we definitely want to do it right!

Heimdall

If you can manage the hotel bills on Mykonos and Santorini, then you will be fine. Both of these islands have expensive restaurants, but if you look around you can find economical ones as well. Check the prices on the menu before you sit down for a meal. Other things, like sun beds, are more expensive on Mykonos. I make do with a straw beach mat which costs about €2-3, and lasts me the entire trip.

I think a 4-4-2 split is just about right, saving Athens for the end of your trip. For a first (and possibly only) trip to Greece, Mykonos and Santorini are as good as they come. I could go back to Mykonos over and over again just for the opportunity to see Delos. Check out my photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/heimdal...7627791957268/. Santorini is the ultimate honeymoon island, and somewhere everyone should see at least once.

Not wishing to confuse, I have stuck with the two islands you asked about. If you wish to learn about other islands buy a guidebook or check one out from the library. Greece has hundreds of inhabited islands, divided into several different groups: Cyclades, Dodecanese, Sporades, Northern Aegean, Crete, and Ionian. There are also many beautiful places on the mainland, but you have only 10 days.

vicki12713

My daughter and I are planning a trip to Greece in early June this year. Love the ideas and the pictures make me very excited!

sjbang

This is all great info, thank you SO much! Your pictures are gorgeous! I wish we were there much longer to explore all of Greece. Just out of curiosity, why would you save Athens for last?

suec1

Well I'm a little late to the planning party but I'll offer a suggestion anyways. I was planning a trip similar to yours (that I will now need to postpone a year) but after alot of research I was thinking Santorini, Naxos and Athens. Santorini and Mykonos are both major tourist choices (and cruise ship ports) so I decided to pick one "major" and one "minor" just to get a different feel, maybe more of the "real Greece"? Anyways, Naxos seemed a good choice, easy transportation to Santorini and Athens, cheaper, and a good choice of hotels and places to explore on the island. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be wonderful!

Odin

On our one and only trip (so far) to Santorini, we mainly ate in Greek places rather than the expensive places for example in Oia. For us, eating at Amoudi in one of the local tavernas run by Santorini locals was the highlight, Santorini wine & local produce (esp the bitter greens called horta, fava, local tomatoes and fresh fish) is what it is all about. Same with accommodation, we did not pay thru the nose but had very good basic accommodation with spectacular caldera views. You can walk down to Amoudi from Oia, walking back up to Oia after dinner is rather hard work though.

Heimdall

Just out of curiosity, why would you save Athens for last?

Two reasons:

First, if you can get a connecting flight straight to the islands, you save yourself one trip in and out of Athens, picking up an extra day on the islands. If you are flying home from Athens you will have to go back there anyway.

Second, there is a small chance that weather or strike could delay your return from the islands, so a couple of days in Athens at the end of the trip provides a buffer against missing your flight home. Delays don't often happen, but if you are on an island you are stuck when they do. When in Athens there is always a way to get to the airport even when taxis, buses, and metro aren't running. In that case your hotel can arrange a private driver (usually a striking taxi driver in his own car). ;-)

sameep_jain

Hi Sjbang,

Sorry for being selfish and putting my own question here. But, which hotels did you book and on what basis ?

We are also going for our honeymoon and for 9 days.. > just that we travel from the 1st May to 10th May.
Confused as to on what basis shall we look for the hotels. The location, basically.

P.S: cant give you any of my opinions when Heimdall and Odin have already replied to you..