Greek Islands in October - who's open?
 

Hi, I'm on my way to Crete this week, flying in to Heraklion and have only a couple nights booked in Stalis. I'd like to find a quiet flat to rent for a week or 2 (maybe $300 to $400 USD/week) on another island but it seems that many places are closing for the season. Kos, Paros, Naxos, and Corfu seem attractive, but not necessarily do-able this late in the season.

Any suggestions re: areas open in Oct, and how to reach them from Crete would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

We are going to both Santorini and Mykonos in the next 2 weeks.

Naxos (unlike many islands) has a substantial permanent population, so if you book lodgings in the main (port) town, there will be plenty of things open ... Naxians themselves go out to eat in Naxos town all the time, so it keeps going. The vineyard harvesting will be underway, there is apparently a harvest wine festival ... and autumn walks and drives in the dramatic landscape (marble mountains! temples! ancient statues!) are wonderful. And the beaches & the sea....

We went from Crete to Santorini and then on to Naxos in October a couple of years ago and they were not only "open" but heavenly! Loved Santorini (touristy yes but for a reason) for a weekend, liked Naxos but spent too long there (nearly a week and we liked but didn't love it- sorry, travelerjan, I know you adore Naxos!), before ending up in Athens for our final few days before flying home. Took the ferries to Santorini from Heraklion and to Naxos from Santorini,and flew from Naxos to Athens.

OK, then just go to Naxos for 3 days, y ou'll love it, then fly (1 flight per day) to ATH airport, and pick up a car for 40€ or so, and drive 2+ hours on Greece's MOST modern divided highway, over the corinth canal to got 3 days in heavenly NAFPLIO .... SO historic! So romantic! (known as the proposal capital of Greece, because so many men 'pop the question' there on the seafront, at sunset) ... here's a fine noncommercial site to show you why people consider it the most beautiful Old Town in Greece ... http://www.visitnafplio.com/visitnafplio.com/Home.html == it's on a peninsula, surrounded by water, feels like an island, but so convenient -- and in the fall it will be buzzing, because it's the favorite getaway for savvy Atheniens.

You do not provide much to work with such as what kind of "flat" you are after and what kind of surroundings/activities might be of interest to you but Paros,Naxos and Cuclades in general are accesible from Crete through Santorini. For Corfu you will need a flight through Athens and possibly the same applies for Kos unless you want to spend time along the way on complicated ferry logistics. That said, Crete is very large and very diverse. I would stick with Crete.
Explore around a bit, you can even use public bus network to reach some places.Get hints from locals and other visitors,or even better hire a car and drive around and when a place seems to be the right one, stop and require on accommodation.
I am not familiar with Crete, but it definately offers all kind of places, warmer weather and large local population, so you have plenty of options to choose from. I am very familiar with Paros and Naxos and up to an extend Kos and Corfu, but I think Crete might fit the bill better on October.

My brother just posted some pictures this morning. He is sailing the islands and it looks rather choppy and cold. Mykonos and Paros were in his pictures so DebitNM hope it warms up for you.

Travelerjan, I have the feeling Naxos may be a good choice for me, too. I left Stalis for Rethymno, and am looking for somewhere less touristy. Booking a flight now.
Thanks to everyone for the helpful info!