Having not visited the Greek Islands since I was tiny (a while ago now ...), can anyone help us with some advice. We're planning a holiday in September & would like to go somewhere non-touristy, with fabulous snorkelling, little sandy coves, beautiful seas, olives groves & pine forests ..... all those cliches & many more. <BR> <BR>At the moment we're thinking maybe Skiathos or Kephalonia or the Cyclades - but any advice at all would be gratefully received. <BR> <BR>Thanks everyone.

If you want olives groves & pine forests, skip the Cyclades. <BR>

Just returned from Greece and Skiathos. The things you are looking for can be found on Skiathos but you have dig under the top layer of tourist garbage to find them. Maybe that's a bit too harsh - maybe. The tour operators have found Skiathos is a big way. Of course, your definition of "non-touristy" and mine may be different. But if you keep heading to the north side of the island you'll find sandy coves, snorkelling, beautiful seas, olive groves and pine forests. To best avoid the ticky tacky tourist areas, you'll want a scooter or car and be prepared to hike down to beautiful beaches. Micros Ansellinos (sp?) beach has a wonderful taverna that we kept returning to. Kastro was a great hike and the snorkeling was terrific - also a taverna there. Go later in afternoon and you'll avoid the daily excursion boats. Only a handful of people hike down - we shared this beach with about 5 other people. Lalaria beach was incredibly beautiful but can only be reached by boat. There are daily excursion boats that take people there. This was one of the most beautiful beaches (not sand but white rocks)I've ever seen and worth boarding a boat with 30 other people to visit. (We rented a power boat and arrived after the tour boats left. We shared this gorgeous spot with three sailboats and two other private boats.) So, my first impression of Skiathos was YUCK, but I left feeling very differently.

We're going to Greece for the first time in mid-September. We'll be there for a week. Does anyone know what the temperatures will be like? Will we need sweaters or jackets at night? We'll <BR>be on a Royal Olympic cruise... Any suggestions? Thanks!

It depends wher you are but yuo should get low eighties during the day and quite warm in the evening. Take a cardigan or fleece for after dark, tho'

It really does depend on where you are. We were there in mid September also. In Athens we were most active in the morning before it got too hot, but in the Cyclades, when the wind kicks up, it can get chilly. Not that you'll need a parka but do take a sweater just in case. Also it can get a little cool on the ship. <BR>

This seems to have gotten a little bit off of the Skiathos-Kephalonia-Cyclades question, but I'd like to put my vote in for Kephalonia. It's a really beautiful island. If it's even a little too touristy for you, Ithaca (Ulysses's island, from Homer's Odyssey) is right next door. Go down to the ferry port on Kephalonia, and you'll probably find a fisherman to take you across to Ithaca.