This year we'll be going back to Paros for our third visit and stay at Stelia Mare which Weadles mentioned. I just looked at their website for 3 nights midweek of the last week of August. A superior suite for 4 is $312/night including breakfast. There is a nice little beach about a block away.

Stelia Mare gets good reviews, and if you want to do a lot of sightseeing on Paros that would be a good choice.

Weadles and travelerjan, there are several storm drains that flow from town into St George Beach, and after a big rainstorm I have seen huge gullies in the sand. Trash on the streets would be washed down the storm drains into the bay, and that may account for what Weadles saw. Most of the time in the summer it doesn't rain, so that's not always a problem.

You are right Heimdall haven't been there at rainy times, I had noticed a gulley but always just a dry indentation ... water always has been clean when I've stayed there, usually late may/early June... invasion of Blond toddlers from Scandinavia often bareskin, I guess the families re so sun-hungry they let the tots go suit-less.

thanks everyone! lots to think about but I think we will definitely do Paros and Antiparos!

Travelerjan, one day I took the bus to Apollonas during a violent thunderstorm with heavy rain and lightning striking all around us as we reached the top of the mountain. More thrills than a rollercoaster ride! When I got back to St George the beach was transformed, with gullies about three feet deep. A lot of rainwater washed down into the bay that day. This was in late May.

bookmarking

Wow Heimdall, what an experience. BTW, those roads have improved a lot in past 15+ years. I remember my first bus ride to Appollonas... I have a little bit of acrophobia, and sometimes the narrow road had a sheer cliff on one side, and a sheer drop on the other --so I was moving from one side of bus to the other to AVOID the view. I especially remember a downhill segment that curved to the left around aforementioned cliff, it looked as if we could launch into the blue, and in the distance, across the abyss, I could see ANOTHER bus approaching (on this road too narrow for 2), and I just said to myself, well this driver does this route several times a day, so he KNOWS what's around the corner & doesn't look worried.... PS: we survived.

I remember looking out the window of the bus and sometimes not being able to see the edge of the road, just a sheer drop! It didn’t help that visibility was very poor. I was thinking the same as you—the driver has survived the trip up until now, so hopefully he will again today, and me along with him.

Heimdall, we have to stop kidnapping this thread, we're not helping now just reminiscing..he he he Bye for now!

Hiya... thinking about Naoussa v. Antiparos. What do you think of Paros Bay? Hotel Petres?

Flights to Athens booked

I recommended Hotel Petres to a couple of honeymooners & they were pleased with it ... has a pool I bellieve (and a tennis court?) rather upscale, but as I remember isn't walking distance to all the Naoussa nightlife, I believe you'd want a car rental. I'm a budgeteer; others may know more. As stated before, I'm an Antiparos fan for relaxed short-stay... I really love the evening ambience of the lit-up "agora lane". Also I checked back to top (you should remind us), you have 2 "kids" tho you never did say their ages -- if they are pre-school, I myself would look for a location where you didn't have to get into a car all the time. Plus, a pool place won't usually help with small non-swimmers, you can't relax when they're near deep water.

Thanks travelerjan. I agree about the pool and we don’t want a car. My boys are 5 and 8. They are city kids who are good with trains and buses and walking. My eldest gets carsick very easily and moans when he is in a car. Our last two trips to Greece we spent a total of 20 minutes in a car( to Naxos airport).

I am debating between Paros and Antiparos. We are going to stay in one place for three nights before we head to villa naxia on St. George’s beach on August 28. We love villa naxia... it’s our third stay. In Paros or Antiparos, We would like accommodation for 200 euros or less.stella mare looks lovely but above our budget. We are not concerned about breakfast as we try to keep Boston time so we can have dinner with the locals. (late!!). I would like to be close to town and a shallow beach. I’ve reached out to some places in Antiparos but haven’t heard back.

Naoussa is where I would choose were I to stay on Paros, but there is no question in my mind that Antiparos would be better for a family with 5 and 8 year olds. Everywhere around Antiparos Town, including 5 beaches, is within easy walking distance. Some of the best beaches are to the south of the island, but there is a bus that can take you to Soros and San Giorgio (Agios Georgios) for more variety. Soros Beach is one of the best. There is another bus (coloured red) that takes people to the stalactite cave.

Don't worry that you haven't heard back from Antiparos hotels yet—some wait until after the New Year to take their bookings. That said, Antiparos is very busy through the last weekend of August, so it would probably be easier to find a room were you to go to Naxos first. That would be better for flights back to Athens too, because the planes that fly back from Naxos have takeoff weight restrictions due to its short runway.

When u say 200 Euros or less, do you mean for 1 night? for 3 nights at height of high season no can do. Booking.com for Aug 25-26-27 shows a GREAT choice at the south edge of Antiparos Town -- Thalasea - 1 BR apt/2 rooms: king bed/2 twins (latter are probably daybeds in main room)... kitchenette ... it's south of the wee pier on a small road directly overlooking a nice shallow beach, walkable to everything. I swam at that little beach, not overly "organized" i.e., no tavernas .... in early June, the sunbeds were just stacked up to one side... in August you'll probably have to pay. $518 for 3 nights.

200 per night (or less). Thalasea looks great - I will check it out! I know Mr, OverIt would prefer it if we went to Naxos first. But query whether Antiparos and Naxos will be too similar? Paros sounds pretty intriguing if one wants to do more than just play in the water (we'll do that in Naxos for sure). Obviously I need to do tons of research.

ThalaSea Studios is owned by personal friends of mine, Yannis and Marianna Triantafyllos. Many of their guests are friends they made when operating Yannis Cafe. Yannis gave me the keys to look around the studios while it was still under construction, so I have been in all the rooms. I was very impressed! Yes, it is in a perfect location, just around the corner from the centre of town and across the road from Psaralyki Beach, which has sand with a few pebbles mixed in, and tamarisk trees for shade. There are reasonably prices sun beds for rent on the beach.

Here is the ThalaSea website should you wish to book direct: ThalaSea Studios & Apartments // Antiparos Hotels | Antiparos Rooms

We are cross-posting. IMO Antiparos is more of a contrast with Naxos than is Paros. I've stayed there about 20 times (I've lost count) and never had a problem getting back to Paros for sightseeing. Last time I was there I made a quick dash back to Parikia to buy an iPad charger when mine gave up the ghost. Many don't realise this, but people commute back and forth daily for work between the two islands, and Antiparos high school students even go to the high school at Parikia.

I think Mr OverIt has it right—go to Naxos first and them come to Antiparos to relax.

BTW, Yannis & Marianna were away for awhile visiting friends in northern Europe, but are home again and will probably answer your email promptly.

Honestly, traveleerjan and Heimdall, you plus brotherleelove are responsible for so much joy for my family. Your recommendations have created two wonderful trips and it seems like a third!

Thank you, Overlt! Lee is a friend of mine too. Those of us who go to Greece frequently often meet up and make friends. I haven’t met Jan yet, but we once had a near encounter. She stopped by on Santorini to look up brotherleelove while Lee and I were out exploring Ancient Thera.