We are going to Greece September 26 and returning on Oct 17. So far I have only booked my flight. We arrive in Athens On Sept. 27... here is our tentative Itineray thus far.. now I need to book hotels and car rental.

9/27 - Arr Athens 10:15 am Delta
Sleep Athens
9/28 - Do Athens all day
Sleep Athens
9/29 - Pick up rental car Leave Athens
Drive Nafplion
Sleep Nafplion
9/30 - Do Nafplion and area
Sleep Nafplion
10/1 - Leave Nafplion
Drive to Gythio
Sleep Gythio
10/2 - Leave Gythio
Drive to Finikoundas
Sleep Finikoundas
10/3 - Leave Finikoundas
Drive to Olympia
Sleep Olympia
10/4 - Leave Olympia
Drive to Delphi
Sleep Delphi
10/5 - Leave Delphi
Drive to Kalambaka
Sleep Kalambaka
10/6 - Leave Kalambaka
Drive to Athens
Sleep Athens
10/7 - Leave Athens
Ferry to Mykonos
Sleep Mykonos
10/8 - Mykonos all day
10/9 - Leave Mykonos
Ferry to Santorini
Sleep Santorini
10/10 - Santorini All Day
10/11 - Leave Santorini
Ferry to Crete
Pick up rental car
Sleep Crete
10/12 - Crete all Day
10/13 - Crete all day
10/14 - Leave Crete
Drop of rental car
Fly to Rhodes
Pick up new rental car
Sleep Rhodes
10/15 - Rhodes all day
10/16 - Rhodes all day
10/17 - Leave Rhodes 7 am
Fly to Athens
Leave Athens for US at 12:10pm

For any of you experienced or well seasoned Greek travelers...how does this look ? Where would you change this to make it better. Also, you can see the cities we plan on being in so does anyone have hotel suggestions for any of this cities or near to these cities? All help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a bunch....

Was anyone else besides me exhausted just from reading this itinerary? I mean, 13 stops in 20 days? I guess it's doable if that's the way you choose to travel, but I think the phrases beginning with "sleep....." are quite telling. By Sept. 27 that's all you're going to want to do. This is an itinerary for a "looker" and not a "doer". I don't say these things to be mean but to point out that you just might be biting off more than you can digest in the time allotted. My suggestion to you is to cut your itinerary in half and slow down to enjoy yourself......quality, not quantity. And leaving your flight from Rhodes to Athens to just a few hours before your flight home departs, well, good luck with that. I hope your flight's not delayed.

Can't add anything to brotherleelove's post. Your itinerary would drive me insane.

I've spent the last 12 years or so "doing" Greece, in one or two week trips, visiting some of your destinations. Obviously it's easier from the UK, I can book a relatively cheap package holiday, then hire a car to explore that area. While I can see the temptation to see as much as you can, after travelling all that way, I agree with the others, slow down, take a little longer and soak up the laid back atmosphere of Greece.

I believe you guys are probably right however my hubby loves to do things the Rick Steve's way and this is one of his itineraries. We did Italy, France and Spain this way and although it does seem to be hectic (I usually need a vacation from my vacation when I get back) I must admit we do see the the good stuff in each city. And many people are usually amazed at how much we see in such a short time. Although 3 weeks is not short but the amount of stuff we will see will be a lot for that amount of time. Me, personally, I would like to slow it down a bit but then again I went to Italy last Sept with a few girlfriends and I did indeed slow it down a lot for them but all they wanted to do was shop in Florence and Rome...mind you they had never been to these cities and I had been and I wanted them to see some of the highlights like the Ufitzi in Florence and David and the Duomo..the were not the least bit interrested in seeing anything. And in Positano they just wanted to hang around the beach but I did manage in talking them into a boat ride over to Capri and they did enjoy that but they wouldn't have gone if I hadn't thrown a fit. And if any of you have been to Positano you know the beaches are not sandy like our beaches here in Florida and besides they can lay out at the beach here at home so why not take in new sights.

I guess my point is, that while layed back is preferable the likely hood of my getting back to Greece is slim to none and if I had a choice of Stephen's (my hubby) too faced pace way or too layed back I think I'd choose the former over the latter.

Now that I have explained myself... does anyone have hotel ideas for these cities?

hello Areala

You will be taking services in ferryies from beginning second week in October. In first week October 2004 there were very strong winds in Cyclades and I know our ferryies suspended for 2 days and not arriving Mykonos. No arrivals or departures.

I think you must remember this for your plans please, as poissiblity of delay. Our seas are sometimes not gentle and quiet.

Also, if you click on my name you will see some posts I have made here of hotels in Mykonos that may help you in your search.

thanos

Hi,
I say if you're young, go for it. It makes me tired, but I am getting older and my idea of a trip to Greece is one island for 10 days or more. Anyway, you should not have any trouble finding hotels at that time of the year. Book Athens coming and going, and I agree, get to Athens the day before your plane leaves for the states. If you do not book hotels, then you can easily change your plans. On the islands hotel personel meet the ferries and they will have photos of their hotel and the price and they will take you to the hotel by car. We have done this in the past and it has always been very sucessful. In Kalambaka and Nafphlion we walk into hotels and easily got a room. Other times we will call ahead in the morning to a hotel in a town where we know we will end the day. We call hotels listed in the usual guide books, including Fodors. On one trip we needed to get 3 rooms in a hotel in 3 different towns and we always got nice places to stay, very easily. If you have your heart set a certain hotel like the Katikies, in Santorini, then you must book in advance. Have a great time and write a trip report.

..i too share everyones exhaustion just looking a tyour itinerary..We were in Greece at the bginning of October..we had a airline tickets for flights between a number of the island and had no trouble but I know that there were a number of ferry passengers who were stranded in Santorinini (lucky them!!) as the seas were too high..Have you considered either just limiting this trip to the islands or just the main land?