We barely scratched the surface with two weeks in Crete and plan to return
there. Two nights in Santorini was enough. Fly back to Athens instead of taking a ferry.

Osia, I looked for a hotel called S. Nicholas but all I get is a bunch of Christmas stuff.
Can you tell us about your hotel on Rhodes?

stanbr, you should have asked me on Naxos what Rhodes hotel we stayed at! We were at Pink Elephant Pension, and really I loved it... YOu can google it and see the outside & more. It's just inside wall of Old City, away from the noisy street where cruise ships come in. Breakfast includes yog. w. honey if you ask! Run by a neat Milanese lady who gave up corporate world for a hotelier life. Ask for room on "first" floor (i.e. not ground floor). You & L will lilke it! I can e-mail you some pix of around there & advise on restaurants.

If there is ANY WAY you can fit Meteora into your itinerary, you'll never ever forget it. It was the most unique, unusual and fascinating place I've seen in thirty years of travel to Europe.

http://www.meteora-greece.com/

Stanbr,

Here's the link I found to S Nikolis..

http://www.greekhotel.com/dodecane/r...s/features.htm

It looks really nice, I wonder what their prices are? I'm considering it.

Thanks Dixieland. I have found a few others within the old city walls that don't look as nice but do look less expensive. Travellerjan has recommende the Pink Elephant which promises to be clean and suitable for a budget traveller.

In reply to lhopp, current thinking is start in Athens, fly to Santorini, ferry to Crete and fly back to Milan (possibly via Athens). One problem I have is, the only flight I can find from FRA is at 6pm, requiring a 12 hour stopover and a wasted day. Any ideas welcome, will other flights open up closer to September ?