Thanks again for your response travellerjan.

What do you mean when you say classical greece, sorry if I’m being stupid! We’ve only travelled to greece once and that was to santorini. We loved the food and Greek culture when we were there so are looking to experience more of that really. We’re big foodies so good food is a must!

We’re not massively into history but do like to see and learn a little and , like most people, are looking for great scenery as well. Will most likely have a car to travel around wherever we go.

Perhaps what travelerjan meant was that from Mykonos you can visit one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, on the uninhabited island of Delos, only 20 minutes by boat from Mykonos old harbour. There are also tours to Delos from Naxos and Paros, but it is doubtful they will be running in early May. Frankly with a 3 year old you probably wouldn’t want to spend several hours walking around an archaeological site anyway.

Mykonos is very pleasant in May (I’ve been there twice that time of year) and families do bring children there, but it’s not the first choice for young families. Naxos is a good choice, with a shallow beach at St George, and an easy walk into town from the hotels there. Naxos has a lot to offer in the way of sightseeing too, so is good for the whole family.

Naxos is a family favourite, but Paros and Antiparos are equally good. You can treat the two islands as one, since it is so easy to commute between the two. So easy, in fact, that Antiparos high school students attend classes on Paros, and many teachers in the Antiparos primary school commute daily from Paros. Stay on Paros for the best sightseeing, or stay on Antiparos to relax on a friendly island with good beaches and restaurants.

Great, thanks heimdall.

Ok I see what you mean. I’m thinking that maybe Athens, Náxos and Paros/antiparos should be plenty for us really. As you say can day trip other places if we really want to.

Ive been looking at Náxos Resort Hotel on St George’s beach (https://www.expedia.co.uk/Hotel-Sear...ate=2018-09-04)

Do you know this hotel at all and if it is any good. We’re looking for a hotel with a nice pool and good location so if there’s any others you can recommend that are reasonably priced then please let me know!

Doesnt seem to be much accomodation showing up for antiparos either, is there any that you could recommend? Again with a nice pool, etc?

IF you are looking for a St. GEorge hotel with a pool and an open view to the beach, Yes, Ithink Naxos Resort Beach Hotel is your best bet .. There are not many upscale hotels in this beach. There's one, Nissaki, that's on the end of the beach closest to town, but not my favorite because the beach outside the hotel is actually not swimmable you... have to walk south a bit anyway.. and the pool is wedged between 2 wings, all concrete surrounds with shrubs in tubs, whereas Naxos Resort Beach hotel has nice landscaping & path to beach about 75 yards. look at a google map.

There are lots of good places to stay on Antiparos. A hotel with a pool I would recommend is Kastro: https://www.antiparosgreece.com/ . Other choices from a trustworthy website can be found at: Antiparos Greece hotels, apartments, studios, holiday houses and villas

That’s brill guys, thanks again.

For Antiparos, I was actually looking at Kastro anyway! 😁 so that’s good news!

Just pricing up flights and I can see flights from Athens to Náxos but no flights from Paros to Athens. Do you know when they would be likely to come out?

Flights to Paros for next May don’t seem to have been added to the Aegean Airlines website yet, but rest assured they will be. Paros has a larger airport than Naxos, and there are more flights with bigger aircraft landing there. Sky Express also has flights between Athens and Paros. Keep checking and they will eventually appear. I never plan my trips to Antiparos this early.

Hi guys,

I’ve just booked my flights into Athens so can now plan the rest of my trip! For my itinerary I’m thinking the following:
- 4 nights antiparos (Kastro)
- 3 nights Paros (Staying in Naoussa)
- 7 nights Náxos (Staying in Náxos resort Hotel)

Does this sound like a reasonable itinerary? Also, what’s your thoughts on staying in Naoussa? I’ve chosen this area because it’s a different part of the island but am open to suggestions of better areas if you have any?

Travellerjan, do you know when the flight sale is usually on for Aegean? All of the flights are out now by the seems of it.

thanks in advance! Appreciate your help

Ian, that sounds like a good plan ... should be very relaxing.
FLIGHT SALES -- use this - https://aegeanairlines.custhelp.com/.../302/related/1 - to sign up for Aegean/Olympic "newsletter" (actually an e-mail alert), &make sure it doesn't go into your "spam" folder. In December they announce "sale prices" for Aegean flights to European cities; in January begin to announce discount prices for certain isles, Keep alert, also go on website, & when you see Paros -- POUNCE! These reduced-price tix go fast.
NAOUSSA - Former fishing village, now all tourism, very "quaint". Depends on what u want ... there's a tiny beach there, Piperi? but for other beaches, a car may be needed. I find this website -- Paros Island Beach Guides from Greek Islands Postcards -- is detailed & candid about attractions/drawbacks of various locations.

Sounds good to me! I would consider doing the itinerary in reverse, going to Naxos first and saving Antiparos for last. If you've already booked hotels, then carry on with your plans, which will work fine.

Were I to stay anywhere on Paros (as opposed to Antiparos) it would be Naoussa. There are several good beaches you can reach by taxi boat from Naoussa Harbour, including Kolymbithres with the rock formations, and Monastiri, which is next to Paros Aqua Park. Paros Park has many other activities, including an outdoor cinema:
https://www.parospark.com

You can hop on a bus from Naoussa to visit many more sandy beaches along the Paros east coast. If you are going in May Naoussa won't be too busy.

I agree w. Heimdall, Naxos first then Antiparos.

No big deal either way, but my reasoning is this: the Antiparos season is a little slower starting than Naxos and Paros, so when you wait until later in May more places will be open. Also, if you plan to fly back to Athens at the end of the trip it is easier to fly from Paros. It has a longer runway which allows larger planes with no takeoff weight restrictions. Antiparos is so close to the new Paros Airport you can see planes take off and land from Psaraliki Beach. There is a bus from the Pounta ferry that meets all the flights, so it is very easy to get to the airport from Antiparos.

Planes returning to Athens from Naxos can't carry a full load of passengers & luggage, and occasionally bags have to be left behind to reduce takeoff weight. It's only a rare occurrence, so don't let that deter you. Flights from Athens Airport to Naxos aren't affected.

Heimdall, you're so convincing! I'm set to be on Naxos May 6 - 11 roughly and was pondering, a bit of Antiparos after? You've sold me! BTW, "Stanbr" & bride will be on Naxos then as well... could we lure u over for a day?

Don't even know whether I will go to Greece next year, travelerjan, but if I do it will be later in May (for the reasons stated my my last post). Becoming a grandfather rather late in life has changed my travel priorities. I've already been to Cape Town, South Africa twice in the past year, and just returned from Sardinia a couple of weeks ago, travelling with family. I also have to fit in a trip to Wisconsin in Oct 2019 for a niece's wedding.

My Mistake Heimdall!! (aging brain, you know). My Naxos dates are JUNE 6 - 11!! ... but I still think we may hop to Antiparos & thence back to ATH. Thanks for updates.

Still a possibility for me, TJ, but I won't decide until after the New Year.

Brilliant, I will do that then. I was just thinking it’d be nice to travel around a bit and then set up base for a week. You’re suggestions make great sense though so thanks for the info.

I think I’m all set now so thanks again for the help and info 😁 congrats on becoming a grandfather as well Heimdall!

just have to wait 8 months now, that’s the only problem!

I was tempted to say 'save the best for last', but I know the Naxos fans will disagree.

Thanks for your good wishes, Ian_rose2002. My daughter made me wait a long time to become a grandfather, but it's been worth the wait. Taken in South Africa last April, if I can get the link to work:

Adorable!!! And with red hair, perfecto (my 2 Grandsons are both red-headed and I dote on them). I wish Fodor's had a "heart emoji" ...

Thank you TJ! She is already a world traveller, and not even 18 months old yet.