asmama

Point noted! WWK nothing rude in what you said..I hear you! That's why I like Fodorites ..for being very honest and putting things in perspective. So no worries.

Heimdall..Yes I realized that last night and no don't want to do it via Athens. So Crete is out. I have to admit I am so enamored by Santorini that I cant go to Greece and not go to Santorini.

Mariha2912 and travelerjan...your input is valuable and I have read and re read it several times

So this is what I am thinking

March 26th : Arrive Athens am, Fly to Santorini
March 27th : Santorini
March 28th : Santorini
March 29th : Fly to Athens am, Car rental, head to Nafplion , overnight @ Nafplion
March 30th : Nafplion and vicinity as per suggestions above, head back to Athens pm, night @ Athens
March 31st : Day trip to Delphi, night @ Athens
April 1st : Local Athens, night @ Athens
Aprils 2nd : Cape Sounion, night @ Athens
April 3rd : Depart from Athens

Inputs please!!
THANKS a TON

txtree

I still think this itinerary is wildly ambitious, but perhaps it's my own aversion to trying to do too much. In any event, I wouldn't return to Athens in between Nafplion and Delphi. Why not:

Mar 29 - Fly to Athens, rent car, drive to Delphi w/ overnight there
Mar 30 - finish touring Delphi in am, drive to Nafplion, perhaps stopping in Mycenae or Nemea en route
Mar 31 - Epidaurus, Corinth en route back to Athens

Just writing that makes me exhausted! I really suggest skipping Cape Sounion and spending that time in Athens instead. And if it were me, I'd put Santorini at the end instead of the beginning. So more like:

Mar 26 - 28 - Athens
Mar 28-29 - Delphi
Mar 29 -31 - Nafplion (Mycenae, Corinth, Nemea, Epidaurus)
March 31 - April 3 - Santorini

That way you can pick up the car in Athens on Mar 28 and drop at the airport on Apr 1 when you fly out to Santorini. And that way you'll have plenty of time for everyone to take a deep breath for three nights on Santorini!

mariha2912

I agree with txtree it is wise to allow a few more leisure days towards the end of the trip, but usually we advice people to visit islands first, then be back to mainland before one's flight home, it is less risky to be a few hours driving than having a sea to cross trying to get to the airport on departure date. I would feel more comfortable getting Santorini "out of the way" at the start of the trip.
That said, I agree this back and forth in Athens is not wise use of your time asmama. If you plan to hire a car, fly to/from Santorini, then hire a car and visit both Nafplion and Delphi, then save all your Athens days for the end of the trip.
If you arrive on Santorini around noon on your first day, I would consider dropping one night there and adding it on Nafplio. I don't think you can take all sites in Nafplion area in one overnight and have time for Nafplion itsself. And I wish you all the best for decent weather, otherwise Santorini on foggy or rainy days might be a waste of time.
I have some (unofficial right now) information that summer schedule on archeological sites and museums will aply as of April 1rst. Let's keep out fingers crossed this is the case, otherwise your itinerary is very hard to accomplish. In winter schedule museums and and archeological sites will close by 3PM or 4PM. On a summer schedule closure time will be around sunset time. One more reason to leave mainland towards the end of your trip.
If you have all your island and driving done, you may be a bit flexible planning your days in Athens. You may allow an evening doing nothing or taking it easy and you may decide last minute on Cape Sounion.

WWK

Great advice above, but don't leave Santorini for the end of your trip unless you are flying directly home from there. You run the risk of delays/cancellations flying into Athens from the islands, which could make you miss your flight home the next day.

About Cape Sounion: It's only about an hour or slightly less from Athens airport. If you decide to go there, it would be possible to overnight and leave from there for the airport the next morning.

My kids found Cape Sounion tantalizing when they were your kids ages. You could spend the morning in Athens, then leave for Cape Sounion in time for a late lunch and exploration. There's a pretty beach ( though March/April is not really beach weather) in front of The Aegeon Hotel, and a decent taverna for dinner only steps away.

littlejane

In Athens can I suggest a visit to the old Olympic Stadium - not that old (1896), but the stadium where the modern olympic games were held. It's a short taxi ride from the centre of Athens and a fun place for kids - our 6 year old enjoyed it, especially the audio guide which makes it all very atmospheric and is fun for kids to operate. It doesn't require any leaps of imagination, so will make a nice change from the ruins

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction...ns_Attica.html

asmama

Thanks much all of you. Will take your advice and add another night at Napflio. Cape Sounion and Old Olympic stadium should be a good change for the kids so will keep that on our schedule. As much as DH too would like to keep Santorini for the last just the fear of flight delays etc have kept Santorini first.

I am scouting for hotels in Athens and Napflio...reasonably priced but close to the major attractions. Any recommendations?

Also in Santorini, it seems like Imerovigli has the best sunsets so debating between this town and Fira. Given that we are in the low season, will Imerovigli be deserted? again recos would help me.

WWK

asmama,

What is your budget for hotel rooms?

asmama

On an average $150/night would be good. Assuming Santorini will be on the higher side if we want to be overlooking the Caldera so Athens and Nafplion don't need anything fancy.

travelerjan

Imervogli is NOT the choice for low season... you should be at most, on fringe of FIra Town, or you'll hve to be hopping into a hire-car just for a cup of coffee. If you want a Santorini unit accommodating a family, with a caldera view, seomething like Agnadema Apts might be the best of both worlds for you http://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/agna...c2529d84a3eb6d --- caldera view, apt accom., 15 minute walk on rimside path to the lively center of Fira, And while rooms have caldera view, the "inland side" of the premises is just off FIrostephani "main street" the road the bus takes to Oia -- so u can just go out hat door & bus to Oia. Blue Dolphins Apts v. nearby has similar apts http://www.bluedolphins.gr/studios-4...tes-santorini/
--- and let me assure you --- having been to Santorini 4 or 5 times, having stayed all along the Western side, I can testify that the sunsets are equally lovely from balconies in Firosteplhani. The ballyhoo about which is the best sunset is just that.

asmama

Thanks Travelerjan!
Agnadema is sold out! Blue Dolphin does not have the bigger rooms.

Would you know about Splendour resort/Caldera Studios?
I had tentatively booked a couple in Imerovigli, but cancelling those

Just curious ...How difficult is it reach these hotels on the cliff with luggage and kids etc

Heimdall

Asmama, when a hotel on the Greek Islands shows "no availability" on its website for the end of March it usually means it is still closed for the winter. What you need to do is find a list of hotels that are open all year round. Try this: https://www.santorini.com/hotels/allyear.htm

Heimdall

BTW, when using the all-year hotel link in my last post, it would be wise to confine your search to hotels in Fira, the only village on Santorini with much life that early in the year. It's also the most central location for visits to other parts of the island.

Look for a hotel with a caldera view, and don't worry about sunset (few hotels have both). If the weather is cloudy you won't see the sunset anyway, and if it is clear the sunset lasts only for a few minutes. You can easily find somewhere to view the sunset without having to stay in your hotel.

I would be surprised if any hotel is "sold out" at the beginning of April. Those that are open should have vacancies.

travelerjan

Agree with Heimdall ... "no availability" may just mean the owner is still on his own holiday ... 2 other places in Firostephani with family facility to try: Vallas Apts, Kafieris Apts,

asmama

I guessed...was wondering why they are sold out at this time of the year! Quite a bunch of these hotels from the list above (all year.htm)also show no availability on booking.com. So Assuming that they are not open at this time of the year

What I have so far
Santorini:

Blue dolphins Firostephani
Splendour resort firostephani
Caldera studios - Fira
Looking for something better in FIRA ...so help me please


Athens

Best western Athens
Electra Palace

NApflio
Amalia Napflio

Any thoughts on these above pr other recos would help.

Heimdall

Just a suggestion: google the names of those hotels and go on their own websites. Booking(dot)com is generally allocated a few rooms by each hotel, and when those rooms are gone the booking website shows no availability on the "site". In that case "site" means the website, not the hotel itself. If you contact the hotel directly, you may find they still have rooms.

I sometimes use booking(dot)com for searches, but prefer to deal directly with the hotel whenever possible. The hotel appreciates it, because all your money will go to them, rather than a percentage to the booking website. Another advantage of finding the hotel's own website is that there is usually a telephone number and email address. If you use a low cost telephone service, e.g. Skype, it may be a good idea to ring the hotel during Greek business hours.

I have a feeling travelerjan's recommendations are coming from booking(dot)com and Trip Advisor reviews — you can do that yourself. Jan, if you have actually stayed in the hotels you are recommending, I apologise.

Heimdall

Asmama, I just saw this thread on Trip Advisor, which may be of interest to you:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Cyclades.html

Post #2 is by Ingela, a Swede who lives on Santorini. I met her several years ago, and she really knows the island!

WWK

Asmama,

Take a look at AVA HOTEL and SUITES in Athens. We have stayed there many times, and it's one of our favorite hotels in Greece. Since you are going in March/April it may- just- fit your stated budget.

AVA is a small boutique hotel with great staff, and lovely big rooms with small kitchenettes. Some of them have large terraces with views of The Acropolis. I don't think they have connecting rooms, but there is a pullout in some of the larger suites, I think.

Location can't be beat. Right in the heart of The Plaka, and a very short walk to The Acropolis in one direction, Hadrian's Arch in the other.

Also look at: ATHEN'S GATE hotel ( a few streets away from AVA, so same central location) and THE PLAKA HOTEL.

Any of these will give you an excellent, central location for exploring Athens.

travelerjan

SANTORINI - to respond to Heimdall -- I have stayed in Kafieri, friends of mine have stayed in Blue Dolphins & I visited them there, I have suggested Vallas and Agnadema to people who were planning trips and got their feedback via e-mail after their trips, saying they liked their stays. I also know Ingela personally, and her advice is very savvy.


In ATHENs -- I like AVA, walk by it every day when in Athens, would stay there if it was in my budget, I like that area, just SOUTH of Acropolis, just off the Pedestrian Promenade, small streets not trafficky, right near Acropolis Museum. In same area: Hotel Airotel Parthenon many friends have stayed there and recommended it to me, just off walkway from Acropolis Museum ... Another friend liked Hotel Herodion, block next to Acrop. Mus. said ask for higher floor to get balcony w. view of Acropolis. Have been into Athens Gate, larger hotel, upmarket, faces on very busy (6-8 lane) Amalia avenue... a friend said ask for room at back.

NAFPLIO -- Amalia is v. nice v upscale hotel right off seaside promenade. I myself stay up high, looking down on town & sea, at Hotel Leto -- simple, balconies w. great views, but does not have family suites.

Heimdall

Fair enough, travelerjan! Personal experience is always best.

asmama

Thanks so much for the hotel recos...has been great help!
Also the links to Ingela's post have been extremely resourceful! Thanks much!

So I finally have the following hotels-

Blue Dolphin at Santorini, Amalia at Napflio and Athens Gate Hotel. Was tempted by Enigma suites since it was in Fira but given your reviews for Blue Dolphin and the price difference will keep BD.

1)For the last night I wanted something close to the airport for the early am flight. Looked at Holiday Inn and Sofitel. While the latter seems most convenient its pretty pricey given we will be there only to sleep.
HAs anyone stayed at the Holiday inn? How is their shuttle service to the airport?

2) Also, We will be in Athens on my daughter's Birthday. Anyone know a special place we can bring it in...she is not much of a foodie but enjoys good ambience wanted to make it special for a lifelong memory. Would spending the evening at Cape Sounion be a good idea? or Local Athens somewhere?