I just returned from a 10-day trip, one night in Athens to fly in and one day in Athens before flying out.

Flew from Athens to Mykonos for 2 nights, then 4 nights in Santorini, then 3 nights in Crete.

Not enough time on the islands, especially Crete. Probably should have rented a car in Santorini but did rent a car in Crete. All the islands seem beautiful but Santorini is pretty unique.

Did a day trip to Cape Sounion. Beautiful coastline.

The mainland areas in stanbr's pictures look beautiful.

PK, about Paros -- hard to recommend without knowing preferences and budget -- do you want a "clean & plain" budget accom with a nice balcony and no frills, or do you like a 24-hr manned front desk, more staffing, bar & restaurant, pool, what? And what budget range per night in Euros?

To get to those other 2 places, you need to take a bus from the central bus area near the ferry, in Parikia. Also, the bus routes spread out lke fingers of a hand - so you don't get to Naoussa, then get a bus to Piso Livadi, you have to go back to Parikia for that bus. We don't have info on your ages and spirit of adventure, but Paros, not being mountainous, is very traversable by quads (4-wheelers) or scooter. Since you've also been changing your mind back & forth, We also don't know how many days you plan to be there, which could affect advice. If you are settling on Paros as your main thing, I also like Heimdall's prefrence for staying in Antiparos. That island is almost totally walkable to beaches ... there are v. nice places to stay in port area, across the bay from the ferry, easy walk to several beaches... and the "agora" winding mazey lane thru center of ilsand is SO pleasant. Yuo could stay in Antiparos, and if you stayed near the ferry, very quickly get over to Paros for daytime or for nightlife & then ferry back.

Appreciate hearing more info on preferences & €€ & how many days where, before spending time sifting my lists for accom. recommends.

Actually there are buses between Naoussa and Piso Livadi, so you don't have to go back to Parikia. The bus continues from Piso Livadi to Drios, passing by the long, sandy Golden Beach.

I save a printed bus timetable every time I go back to Paros/Antiparos, and I have one from mid-September 2015. There were seven daily buses between Naoussa and Drios from early morning to late evening.

There are also buses from Naoussa to Santa Maria, a beach resort on the NE corner of Paros. The main bus route, of course, is between Parikia and Naoussa, running at least hourly throughout the day.

Travelerjan reads all the TripAdvisor reviews, so I will leave hotel suggestions to her. If you were to stay on Antiparos I can recommend several different hotels where I have either stayed or know the owners.

Travelerjan, I am still trying to figure out the logistics of where to stay on the island/s. So we now have tickets, leaving on Sept 1 and returning on Sept 15. I was thinking 2 days on Naxos and 4 days on Paros, so that we (my hasband and I are in mid 50s, very athletic and mobile)) could get the feel of the both islands. My budget is flexible, simple is clean and balcony would be nice. I do not require a 24-hr service, actually prefer to be left lone, but would like maid service. Would like to be near a swimming beach, but not too close to ferry, something secluded but within walking distance to transportation and restaurants, markets. I wander if staying on Antiparos will make it more challenging to get to restaurants and transport to other islands?
Heimdall, thank you for the transport information.
Is the general nonsenses that it is better to stay on Parosos and take a day trip to Naxos, or it is worth 2 night stay on Naxos? Also, is Antiparos doable in a day?
Thank you again. PK

Hi pknaster,

Let me suggest a few places on Antiparos to give you an idea what to expect:
http://www.kastro.net
http://www.mariasplace.gr
http://www.artemisantiparos.com
http://theologosbeach.gr

All these hotels have daily maid service with someone cleaning your room while you are out, but otherwise leaving you alone. Each room will have a balcony or terrace. The hotels are all 5-10 minutes walking distance or less from two or three different beaches.

Antiparos is well known for its variety of cafes, tavernas, and restaurants. In fact many people come from Paros to dine and enjoy the evenings on Antiparos. There are many interesting shops in the town, including designer clothing and jewellery, but none of the tourist tat you find on some other islands.

Antiparos is only 30 minutes from Parikia, the port and main town of Paros. There is a ferry that runs every half-hour from early morning until after midnight to Pounta, which connects with a bus to Parikia. There is also a direct boat from Antiparos to Parikia that runs several times a day. That makes it easy to use Antiparos as a base, but go to Paros for sightseeing whenever you wish.

If you would rather stay on Paros you can come to Antiparos for the day—many people do just that. You could also choose an island boat trip with Captain Ben or Alexandros.
http://captainbenantiparos.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2b8nzBEWKo (17 min video)

I would recommend two nights on Naxos rather than going there from Paros on a day trip. Naxos has lots to see and do too, and a day trip wouldn't do it justice.

Guess who is on Antiparos right now?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...lson-pals.html

YOu have a contradictory wish, which is not unusual for people who do not yet know a place and who are building up a "dream scenario" in their mind. to me, "secluded" and ear to restaruants, markets, transport are mutually exclusive. Reminds me of someone last year who wrote asking for a beautiful white-sand beach in high season that is basically unpopulated ... yet in a few minutes walk of gourmet restaurants and lively nightclubs. (not possible to be unpopulated in high season -- but if it WERE so, where would the gourmet restaurants and nightclubs get the customers to keep going??). So you must have a spirit of compromise.

In Paros, IMHO, its hard to get lodging right on a good swimming beach and still be in a place that's got your other attractions. Here is a website that describes its beaches, but which I think is a bit kinder to Parikia beach than perhaps I would be. http://www.greekisland.co.uk/paros/paros.htm If you stay in Naoussa there are some beaches that are not too far ... but Naoussa again in my opinion is now a totally-tourist place, so by midsept it feels emptying out. In these islands the port towns always have liveliest feel in the fall. The other beaches have housing strips but are not real year-round villages.

Naxos has one of the largest year-round populations, doing other things besides tourism, so Naxos town will be lively, with tavernas full, with locals not tourists. I still maintain that St. George Beach is the place to be in Sept. -- it is not "near the ferry" ... I guess about a mile away. On St. George beach you can stay at the "far end," and feel away from it all. Villa Naxia is v. nice, moderate price but nice appearance, units have a kitchenette but the place offers breakfasts if u wish. RIght in center of beach, Hotel Asteria has 3 floors of rooms w. balconies all facing the sea... a front terrace for breakfasts & lunches. A "swimming beach?" Well, it's shallow to wade into, you wade out about 100 yards to get waist-high then it drops off. Very clean water. I swim there most days -- and also take a bus out to Ag. Prokopios beach (about 15 minutes), which has steep drop-off about 10-feet out.

I do NOT feel that a day trip to naxos is worthwhile. Go back and look at Stanbr's photos. Too many delights to explore. Do you know that mountain villages have wine festivals in September? Right on the crescent of harbortown shops, there is one that specializes complete in Naxian products -- cheese, olive oil, wine etc. The people there can tell you more about the harvests.

Antiparos is do-able in a day, and enjoyable for 3. You want us to say what you want to hear. All I can say is ... Stanbr & spouse have been to Greece about 14 times in this century -- and Naxos is the only island they visit on every trip, for at least a week of it. I have been to Greece 12 times since '99, and have stayed on Naxos 13 times, never for less than 4 days. (This is not because we are one-island loyalists ... each of us are familiar with more than 20 other islands). Heimdall apparently has been coming to Greece for decades, his "home island" is Antiparos ... and recently he's also stayed on Naxos. So you can tell what we love the most. Trip Advisor does too-- last year it named the 10 best Islands in the WORLD to visit. In the whole of the Mediterranean/Aegean, TA listed just one. Naxos.

You Asked my opinion; here it is: Fly to Naxos & stay 4 nights. On day 5, take first morning ferry to Paros, drop your luggage at a storage facility right by the ferry pier. Spend an enjoyable day exploring the town -- it has an amazing cathedral, and ruins here & there -- maybe having a swim at Parikia beach. Take a late-day ferry to Antiparos, and check in at a secluded-feeling place, quiet, fab views right across the tiny bay looking at the "mini-pier"... Mike's Place (Heimdall's choice) or next door Sunday Hotel (ask for upstairs canopied balcony w. harbor view). Next day, walk all over the town, and go to the beach. Dozens of good places to enjoy simple greek food (as in Naxos). 2nd day, do the same. Day 7, fly back to Athens.

A few thoughts on the 4 day tour of the mainland. We did that some years ago. Here's how each day panned out.

Day 1, board bus, head to cultural place, bus, lunch, bus, retail therapy, bus, hotel, dinner.

Day 2 repeat above
Day 3 repeat above
Day 4 repeat above.

Now, we realise we didn't choose well. We saw the places you mentioned being interested in and they were fabulous, just be very careful choosing the tour company.

Cathies gave good description of the bus tour... and alas, it is typical of bus tours available from all 3 major companies offering tours from Athens. Too little time on-site, too much time on bus, OR taken to stores for shopping (kickback??). For that reason, there is just one tour i recommend -- a 2-day 1-nighter that does Corinth Canal Mycenae Epidaurus & Nafplio ... but leaves you free on yr own from afternoon day #1 until after lunch day #2, to enjoy & explore Nafplio.

PK, time grows short u have decisions, this back-forth on forum not very time-efficient. Might be ok if you were going next season, but you leave in 4 weeks! Click my name to get my profile & e-mail; maybe quick direct contact can untangle things so you can do some booking pronto!

Thank you for your great suggestions and recommendations. Travelerjan, thank you for your time; now I am much clear what islands to visit. Booked Villa Naxia in Naxos for 4 nights. Heimdall, decided to stay on Antiparos for 3 nights and need your recommendations (in addition to others) for a hotel. I am considering Mike's Place, Theologos Beach, ThalaSea, Artemis (low reviews rating. If you have other suggestions, please let me know. Scrb11, what tour co. did you use, I would like to avoid it if possible.
Thank you all for the wealth of information.
PK

Hi pknaster,

A couple of other suggestions for hotels are:
http://www.mariasplace.gr
http://www.antiparosgreece.com (Kastro Apartments)

Maria's Place is owned by a lady named Athena and her husband. I have friends who always stay there when they come to Antiparos. Kastro Apartments is on the edge of town on a hill overlooking the sea, with the island of Paros in the background. I've never stayed there, but have chatted with the Magda, the owner and some of her very satisfied guests.

If you want to stay in a very beautiful part of Antiparos where you will need a car, think about http://www.dolphinantiparos.gr . This hotel is in the Agios Georgios settlement at the southern end of Antiparos, overlooking uninhabited Despotiko Island. You can get a boat across to Despotiko there to see the archeological site, or to the beaches. The southern part of Antiparos is mostly made up of expensive villas, some of them owned by well known people. It also has some of the best beaches on the island.

A little background on the hotels in your shortlist:

Mike's Place is run by a lady named Lilian whom I have known for many years, and where I always stay. Mike was the name of her father, who originally built the hotel. About 10 years ago she completely renovated this small hotel to a very high standard.

Theologos Beach is right next door, owned by a man named (you guessed it) Theo, short for Theologos. He is a very popular man on the island, and I stayed with him while Mike's Place was being renovated.

ThalaSea is owned by Yannis and Marianna, who ran Yannis Cafe until they built the hotel. The cafe was a rendezvous for islanders and regular visitors, and Yannis is the man to ask if you want to know anything about Antiparos. Yannis is probably my best friend on the island. You can see photos of ThalaSea during its construction on my Antiparos Flickr album:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/heimda...57627739415280

Now that Thalasea is completed it is beautiful, and furnished to a high standard. It is on the road overlooking Psaraliki beach, and only a few minutes walk into town.

Looking back through the thread, I see that I already recommended Maria's Place and Kastro Apartments. Every hotel I recommended is somewhere I have stayed or know the owners, not something I read in reviews.

I like Mike's Place because it is small and in a quiet location. Lilian, the owner, is kindness personified. If it weren't for my attachment to Mike's Place I would probably choose ThalaSea or Kastro Apartments, but you won't go wrong with Theologos Beach either.

When I was flying out from ATH, I took some pictures. After about an hour flying north towards Zurich, I saw this beautiful blue-green lake surrounded by mountains below.

Took a picture and now after checking the GPS coordinates (my camera is set up to record the GPS), the plane was over Evritania, which after research is called the "Switzerland of Greece."

Hadn't heard of that region discussed much when people were talking about Greece. Looks like a place worth visiting.

scrb, if you'd like to inform other potential Greece-goers to a possible beauty spot, I suggest you start a NEW thread with something like "mountain paradise in Greece".. If you put it at the end of a long thread about a certain person's ferry & hotel questions on her trip, most people will not click on it, and will never learn of your wonderful discovery from on high...

Well I haven't been, just flew over it and then Googled some pictures.

But if and when I visit, I will.