Hey there,

Myself and my boyfriend (mid-twenties) are planning a trip to Greece in May -- approximately 3 weeks. We are looking for some insight from all you avid travelers out there: best places (islands) to see, best places to stay, best excursions, etc. We are looking for some beautiful sights, fun adventures, and lots of memories.

All and any help would be greatly appreciated!

Help us help you by providing some specifics....

"Best" is non-sense. What is this supposed to mean???

Get a copy of T. Cook's "Greek Island Hopping". It's full of the best things to see and do in the Greek islands.

i suppose we are looking for others favorites... upbeat environments full of culture and breathtaking sights, inexpensive hostels or the like to lay our heads at night, adventurous excursions (hikes, outdoor sports, water sports, etc.) Also what are some favorite beaches along the way.

we will definitely check out that book, thanks!

Well, "best places to stay" or "inexpensive hostels"? Not exactly the same thing for a lot of people here...

Crete is fabulous as is the Peloponnes.
There are nice out of the way islands off the southern coast of the mani , part of the Peloponnes . Get some good travel books. Have a fabulous time.

Hmm... Your queries are still too generic, but here are a few pointers to get you started:

-Hostels are not that common in Greece. If you are not a camping person, you 'll have to look for rooms to let. Those depending on season, location and duration of stay can comme as low as 15 euro/person. On the islands often those rooms come with a couple of cooking rings and basic cooking equipment, so you may prepare some simple meals and save on food costs.

-Wherever there is sea, there is a type of watersport or sea related activity. Often hiking and excursions too.

-What type of beach you are after might help narrow it down somehow. Other people prefer secluded beaches, other people organised ones, other people sandy, other people pebbly...Some people are willing to hike 2 hours to discover a hidden cove while other people not so keen on the idea...

-The guidebook that brotherlee suggested is a very good one for first time visitors as it will give you an idea of how ferry system works in Greece. Often islands might look near by on the map,or combining X,Y,Z island seems appealing, but in reality ferries might not connect those places. A good strategy for island hopping is to visit islands following a main ferry route, maybe using a couple of ferry "hubs"-islands that might serve more than one route- to swap into an other direction.
Useful websites for ferry logistics are gtp.gr and openseas.gr among other sites...

-As yipper mentioned, you do not have to go on an island to get what you describe. Mainland has a lot to offer and with 3 weeks available I will definately make a point to explore one or two mainland areas. Parts of Peloponnese are stunning as is Pelion and north-west Greek coast among other locations. Of course this is up to you and you need to start doing your homework.
Some people love eyewitness and rough guides for a start, after you get accustomised a bit with Greece, I find lonely planet guide good too- and do not forget fodors ; ) Websites worth checking are visitgreece.gr greeka.com greek-islands.us

Please do some research and come back with some more specific questions. Happy Planning!

we are looking at crete, santorini, naxos, paros, mykonos and the mainland. does anyone have some affordable hotel suggestions or special excursions they did on these islands? Also, beaches -- anything that is breathtaking; sandy, pebbled, whatever.

Please state your maximum daily room budget in EURO, not adjectives such as 'affordable'.

rahr

"Affordable" doesn't make any sense.. you need to be much more specific regarding your budget.
Have a look at www.booking.com for accommodation.

I think you need to do some home work about Greece first, and then ask for help in the forum....

The places that you mentioned cover the whole of Greece....

I can honestly say I fell in love with this country before even visiting.Greece is a fairly temperate region, characterized by hot,dry summers Greece is endowed with a seemingly endless coastline and thousands of islands thrown in for good measure. Whatever your plans for touring Greece, make sure they include visiting several of the fabulous Greek Islands.Athens is a place that should be on your "must see" list,Delphi offers interesting excavations of ta major archaeological site,An interesting walled city on the sea in the south-eastern Peloponnese, Monemvasia offers a pleasant afternoon's diversion. Hope you enjoy your trip and return back with lovely memories.