wildblueyonder

Brilliant - well done, travelerjan! However, the rooms are (from reading reviews on booking.com) very, very small! I've bookmarked the site though - thanks!

I also found Santorini's Balcony http://www.santorinisbalcony.gr/, which looks quite nice, though mixed reviews and nearer 400 euro for 2 nights.

I still prefer the place we have booked at Kamari! But I'm not looking for perfection, honest! We spent most of our family holidays in caravans!

gogogreece

Another tip if you want "semibudget" on the caldera with separate rooms and 2 baths. Look up Ilioperato under Imervigli on Travelerjan's first web site recommendation. We have stayed there 3 times in the last few years when traveling with other people. Our non-budget friends truly enjoyed the place. The view is to die for. It is early enough to get a good price now, Address your reply to Ireni, tell her Louisa from the USA gave the reccommendation, and ask if she can offer a discount for an early reservation. It is simple place, some with 2 baths, but stress you need a large unit on the first or top level--the least steps as possible. The pool is down three flights, where we usually stay. I do believe there is one larger unit on that top level. Someone met us at the taxi stand and took care of some the luggage. i never heard of dampness in a unit on the caldera. Remember it is an arid climate.

You seemed surprised on the number of trips we have taken. Be aware my husband is Greek, but I am the lover of travel there. Until recently we could travel standby on 2 different airlines, because of relatives who were pilots!! A pretty good feat for a school teacher's salary. Unfortunately, Europe is no longer the bargain it used to be, so we only go now every two or three years, but once in Greece it is a usually for a month or so.

travelerjan

I don't know why I keep trying to meet your challenge since you are already OK with Kamares -- but did you check Kafieris Apartments? Our group booked there in late May 2010, there is one room with double bed and large single plus a balcony. There is a picture of it on the website http://www.kafierisapartments.gr/accommodation.htm -- the room with yellow bedspreads. Do not say it is a small room, because I have been in it myself. A double room in 3rd week of May was €60, so with a 3rd person, probably up to €100. TA has some good reviews, a couple of sour notes dating back 2-3 years... we found it very acceptable and great views, roof views as well. Very walkable to Fira, quiet at night, just steps from 3-4 good restaurants. But I am sure there is some flaw I've overlooked.

wildblueyonder

gogo and traveler, thank you so much for your suggestions. You are both being very kind (and patient!) in trying to come up with great accommodation. Ilioperato and Kafieris Apartments both look lovely - and both have been bookmarked. But, for now, I think I'm going to stick with where we have booked (Chez Sophie). I showed the websites of your suggested hotels to my husband and he barked, 'what's wrong with what you've already booked?' He gets a little tired of my constant searching around! I'll try again in a couple of months! I'm actually also quite interested in the Apanemo http://www.apanemo.com/index.php at Akratiri, but it is a little more than I wanted to pay (for apartment) - but it does have a lovely view.

gogo - we hadn't been to the US until 2004 and have now been 5 times ... for between 3-4 weeks each trip. We drove across the country in 2008 - NYC to San Diego. I think that's it for us though, unfortunately.

gogogreece

Lot's more to cover here in the USA than Greece. The best part of any trip can be the planning. Leave hubby out of that part, he can pay the bills! Did the cross country thing camping with the three kids. Once driving that was enough. Young then, young at heart now.

littlejane

Hi there

I wasn't really suggesting a room on the caldera, more that I would suggest staying in a town on the caldera (so that you would be able to sit in a cafe, go for walks along the caldera, maybe even have a meal at sunset watching the sun set over it).

I know on previous threads brotherleelove has suggested tons of reasonably priced rooms in Oia. We stayed ourselves in the nissosthira in fira town some years ago and found it just fine - triple rooms EUR85 in June www.nissosthira.gr

There is lots to see around Kamari during the day, including the red beach, the ruins of Ancient Thira etc but at evening time there's no place I'd rather be than Oia or Fira for those famous santorini sunsets.

You will enjoy it no matter where you stay, just my suggestions.

WWanderer

Wildblue, your head must be spinning! I think you'll have a great time. Do you have a link that shows your booking near Rethymnon? Just interested for future.

Also for the future--I've heard that Oia is the place to be in Santorini--is it really pricey? (I've not been there, and don't like touristy places, I'd rather experience something a bit more authentically Greek, but some day I guess we'll go see what all the fuss is about.)

brotherleelove2004

Oia has some very expensive accomodations but there are still a few that come with the view for €100/night or less as well as a few more w/o the view. Check Old Oia Houses, Stelios Rooms, Thea Studios, Fotinos Houses, Delfini Hotel, Aspa Villas, Lauda Hotel, Villa Kallisti, Casa Sofia, Anemomilos Hotel, Maria's Place and Casa Francesca/Musses Studios. Of course prices do vary depending on when you are there.

wildblueyonder

Just to update you! I've now booked a room at Manos Small World, Firostefani - with glorious caldera view!

littlejane

thanks for the update! you will love it. have a wonderful time.

Les

Just my 2 cents ...
Mykonos is getting a lot of bad press in this thread, so let me just voice my opinion.
Last May, we spent 3 weeks in Greece, splitting the islands and the mainland roughly 50/50. We spent 3 days on Mykonos, entirely in Mykonos town, and loved every minute of it. We're not shoppers, but we didn't notice that the shops were particularly more expensive than elsewhere (as some have stated), and we certainly didn't find it boring. We're a mid-sixties couple who aren't particularly interested in the beach scene or wild night life, but walking around Mykonos town (there's lots to see), along with a day trip to Delos, pleasantly filled the 3 days.
Remember, the posters on this forum are individuals, and have individual opinions. Make sure you understand (as much as possible) where a poster is coming from, and weigh their opinions accordingly.

HappyTrvlr

I totally agree with Les. We enojyed Mykonos too and din't encounter the party scene where we stayed.

Heimdall

Hi Les,

After scanning the 51 previous posts, I fail to discover the "Mykonos is getting a lot of bad press in this thread". There were a couple of suggestions that a budget traveller would be better off on Paros or Naxos, if that's what you mean. I, myself, enjoy visits to Mykonos, but would not consider it a budget destination. Look around carefully and you can find a room on Mykonos for around €40/night in May, but a similar quality room can be found for around €25 on Naxos and €30 on Paros. Bottled water, which costs about 60 cents for 1.5 L in a supermarket on my favorite island is more like €1 on Mykonos. Certainly bargains can be found on Mykonos -- you just have to look a little harder than on some other islands.

You do have a good point, though -- we regular posters have our opinions. Mykonos is one of the most popular islands (even among Greeks), and that many people can't be wrong. Personally I try to present the facts, and am happy to be corrected if I get something wrong.

Les

Heimdall, hi again.

After re-reading the above posts, I agree that the only vaguely negative comment that stands out about Mykonos was Brothereeloves comment, "Unless you're interested in expensive shopping, nightlife and sunbathing I think your time will be better spent on an island other than Mykonos..."

I guess I was thinking of comments in other posts on this forum, such as ParisAmsterdam's comment in the Suggestions required for trip to Greece and Turkey thread, "Skip Mykonos. From the description you give of yourselves I don't see the point. There's a beach and some bars. Snore."

I've read other negative (I don't mean to imply terrible) comments about Mykonos on other threads in the forum, and apparently confused them with this thread. Sorry.

My point is that Mykonos should not be dismissed as a destination simply because it draws lots of tourists in the high season. There's a reason for that!

Heimdall

Hi again Les,

No question that there have been many negative comments about Mykonos on other Fodor's threads. There is also a lot of stereotyping of Mykonos by people who assume it is party central all summer -- not true -- that description applies mainly to August.

All those negative comments prompted me to revisit Mykonos a few years ago to see if my pleasant memories of the island were still valid. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay, especially the excursion to Delos, a site I could visit again and again without ever tiring of it. Incidentally, if you view Delos on Google Earth you will see that the main area covered by tours is only a small part of the island, and there is evidence of much more to be unearthed in other parts.

Mykonos is probably not right for someone looking for a quiet, inexpensive holiday, although outside of high season even that is possible. I enjoy walking around Mykonos Town, looking in the shops, and people watching. Mykonos is probably the best people watching island in Greece. I've discovered some inexpensive restaurants, and the delightful beach at Agios Ioannis (Shirley Valentine Beach) which is still not overrun by sun loungers and umbrellas.

For those who don't enjoy Mykonos, fair enough. You are entitled to express your opinions, but please remember that everyones' tastes are different.

travelerjan

Les, I think sometimes the reason there is advice to choose somewhere besides Mykonos is for reasons of TIME. Last year you had 3 weeks to visit a number of Islands, Mykonos was 1. On my first trip (30 days) Mykonos was one of my islands; I've been there twice more for a couple of days... but my Greece trips are usually from 22-28 days.

On the other hand, the "skip" advice is usually directed to people who have only 10 days or even as little as 7 days, and they fix on Santorini & Mykonos as their 2 islands. When there is so llittle time, and the inquirer says that Santorini is his/her "Must-see", often a 'regular' here will suggest that the newcomer choose an island that's more of a contrast than Mykonos.