SusanP

Thanks, brotherleelove, that's very helpful, except both those links are the same, for the bus.

brotherleelove2004

oops!

http://www.santorini-web.com/map.pdf

SusanP

Thanks!

SusanP

OK, looked at my budget again, and with these great hotel prices, I can do 13 nights in Greece. So now I have to decide how to split the nights. I was thinking 3 nights Santorini, 4 nights Naxos, 3 nights another island and 3 nights Athens. On the other hand, I generally don't like to move around so much, so I might do 3 Santorini, 6 Naxos and 4 Athens. Any suggestions either way? (I'm looking at some other islands to see if one really pulls me so that I'd do the first itinerary.)

And thanks for the pictures, Jan. I did email you back.

zoecat

bookmarking

Great info- thanks!

travelerjan

Susan, if you wanted to move on from Naxos, you could just hop on one of the many handy daily ferries (1 hour) to Paros... and from the harbor get the 10-15 minute ferry to Antiparos ... low-key, low-cost, lots of charm. Our expert Heimdall has been spending lots of time there for 30 years. You can go kayaking there! And it's small, so you could get a fair taste in 2 days. Also, 2011 may be the last time it IS low-key... Tom Hanks & wife bought a place, then Madonna snapped up 28 acres to assure privacy for her luxury villa abuilding -- I have to get there too next June before it all changes.

Sigh. Back when I was a young chick we used to go to Martha's Vineyard on the cheap, rode bicycles everywhere. Then Jackie Onassis came, and all her NY Times friends and BOOM!

Re the Hotel distance to Naxos Town about 8 minutes to the start of the waterfront ... This SkyMap makes it totally clear: http://www.skymap.gr/?ElementId=59724&Category=0

HOtel on Beach is directly behind Yialos & Kavouri tavernas on the beach. BTW, at start of harborside, cafes Day & Night & Cream are ideal spots to enjoy (and photo) the sunsets.

Heimdall

Antiparos indeed is a wonderful island, but gets quite busy from mid July to August, and with high season prices won't be particularly low-key or low-cost.

The celebs tend to stay in villas on the south end of the island, keeping a low profile - they can do that on Antiparos, and when they are seen, people tend to leave them alone. Tom Hanks has been staying on Antiparos for many years - his wife, Rita Wilson, has family connections with Greece. Last summer there was a story in <i>Paros Life</i> that Madonna had bought some land on Antiparos, but I didn't hear any more about it when I was there in June. Since we are name dropping, Brad Pitt has visited, and Prince Albert of Monaco has been there more than once. I don't think there is any danger of Antiparos changing much in the near future, though.

That said, Antiparos would be a great place to stay for a couple of days, or to just day trip from Paros. Many people come to see the stalactite cave, or to take a round-island boat trip. Several beaches are within walking distance from the port, and the island has bus service to Soros and San Georgio at the southern end, where the beautiful villas and best beaches lie. There are no high end hotels on the island, mostly rooms, studios, and apartments.

SusanP

Travelerjan, so what is your Athens suggestion for E60 in the heart of the sightseeing area? Sounds pretty good!
Thanks.

travelerjan

Susan I'm a real budgeteer, so don't expect fancy lobby or hallways, but Hotel Phaedra has nice clean rooms and balconies that either overlook a church or on the other side on 3rd or 4th floor... a view of acropolis. It's right in the Heart of Plaka ... has a rooftop terrace with no bar, just tables, so you can bring your own snackies up for breakfast or evening relaxing ... in May-June it's 60€ ... ask about July. Also, Hotel Metropolis ... same deal with rooftop terrace .. on Metropolis St, right down from Syntagma about 3 blocks... you can see it a long wy off because its front is covered with the world's largest Bougainvillea vine... from the front door up to the 7th floor terrace. Ask for a front room 3rd floor or above, with balconies ovelooking the Cathedral (i.e. the Metropolis). I stayed there this year. On this map http://www.cretetravel.com/Athens/At...Athens_map.htm Phaedra is between #35 and #63, Lyssikrates St.... and Metropolis is right across Street frm #17. Don't buy their breakfast ... go across the street to Starbucks,get their lattes & croissant & take it up to your balcony!
--- Google them, take a look, read the TA reviews, decide. These are good clean plain budget hotels with ideal locations, for people on a budget. I travel on under €75 per day for everything.

SusanP

Jan, Do either or both of these have elevators? That's a lot of flights without one.

SusanP

Also, one other thing, not sure if it was on this thread or not, but for Santorini you recommended Hotel Margarita, then came back with the Sunset Hotel. Looks as though Margarita may be a bit cheaper, but more importantly, I like the pool and the pickup from port. Any reason why Sunset is much better?

travelerjan

Margarita is waaay downhill from the Caldera ... Sunset is ON the Caldera. You have to go to the Website of Margarita and look at the map, and then Sunset, and look at the view ... IF you want a caldera view AND a pool, you can Go to Villia Ilias, Or pay a lot more. Since you haven't stated any Euro range of what you want to pay, cannot advise. It's your call.

Here is a useful list of some more-upscale Firostephani hotels, most of which offer pools. There are not exact rates for all the hotels, but a fair sampling. You will see that the pool + view is a costly option (tho not as much so as Oia). It brings a perspective:
http://mykonos-accommodation.com/san...irostefani.htm

A lot of us have champagne tastes on a house-wine pocketbook ... but I've learned to like house wine pretty well!

travelerjan

About port pickup ---

If you look at websites, most of the Firostephani hotels will pick you up at the port... some will deliver you back. This is done via a mini-bus shuttle that serves several hotels. It will save you something, since a taxi from the ferry port to Fira can be about 12-15€. However there is another solution too... a Santorini Shuttle service @6€ per person to/from FIra or FIrostephani tp or from seaport or airport http://www.santorinitransfer.com/san...axi-rates.html

There's a phone AND e-mail contact, if you want to book before arriving. For a departure ride, if your hotel doesn't provide, you can just call during your stay.

SusanP

Jan, OK, that explains the differences for Margarita and Sunset. I love to swim, so the pool is really tempting. Can I hop on a bus from the Sunset to get up to the Caldera view?

In Athens, I looked at the reviews for both Phaedra and Metropolis. They seem similar. Is the location significantly better for one over the other?

I really appreciate all this feedback!

elnap29

Thank you everyone for these contributions! So helpful as we begin to plan our 2011 trip (thinking somewhere in Italy, then to Greece). We must go in March or April. Can anyone tell me what the weather will be like in Greece at this time of year? Since it isn't tourist season, will we have difficulties? Or will it be to our advantage?

Heimdall

Hi elnap29,

March is still winter, so weather will be cool, including a chance of snow even in Greece. April is the same as in all temperate climates - unpredictable. Bring warm clothes, and it will be a good time to visit archaeological sites. Don't think about a beach holiday - it will be far too cold.

travelerjan

Susan Susan -- the Sunset IS on the Caldera view; the Margarita is not ... and no you have to walk from Margarita, up to a path to see the caldera. Look at the map on the Margarita website -- it shows 2 RED rectangles. The one on the Caldera is Kafieri Apts ... the one lower down & to the right is Margarita. Sunset is not shown but it is to the right (north) of Kafieri along the grey path (footpath).

As for the 2 Athens hotel... salt 'n peppah. Metropolis closer to Syntagma. Phaedra a farther walk from Syntagma but closer to Acropolis. 6 of 1 half dozen of other. Phaedra is quieter because it's on a no-cars street. Metropolis is on a busy street, but has the advantage that -- if you are taking the green line to the ferry port -- it's closer, you just walk to your right about 4 blocks to Monastiraki square & station. I couldn't stay at Phaedra in May 2010 because Mrs. M. rented out 18 of the 21 rooms to a college study group durign the time I was to be there.

SusanP

Oops...sorry to be confusing! Of course, I meant Margarita when I asked about getting a bus from there up to the Caldera view. I had looked at the map, but now that I know what the red squares are, it makes more sense. Guess I have too many hotels swimming around in my head!

Looks like the pool and view combination is too expensive. I definitely need to be under E100 and prefer to be closer to E75 (and it doesn't look like it will be a problem to be considerably lower than that on the other islands, which is why I can do more nights). I just need to decide whether I want the view or the pool. Santorini is all about the view, so I have to consider that.

I was leaning towards the Phaedra for Athens, plus have a few others to look at that Brotherleelove recommended.
Thank you for the added input!

SusanP

Brotherleelove, I was also looking at the hotels you listed for Santorini. I see on TripAdvisor that you reviewed Villa Fotini. Can you tell me more about it? Is it really 20m to the Caldera view and 5m to the bus stop? And 30m to the pool that guests can use?

The website shows a price of E25 for a single! I'm sure there are stairs involved - but how many?
Thanks!

brotherleelove2004

Villa Fotini is right on the main road out of Fira leading towards Oia so the bus passes right by. There is traffic noise. I think it's a little further to the caldera view but not by much. Same for the pool. Some rooms will have a 'so-so' sea view although it's not into the caldera but towards the sea on the east side of the island. It's the cheapest hotel I know of. Just don't expect anything but the basics.