Help with June '06 Greece Itinerary
 

My fiance and I are getting married June 18, '06, and we are getting a VERY late start (to say the least) on making our honeymoon plans. After much debate we've decided on Greece. We did some research in guide books and came up with the following itinerary. Please tell me what you think.

Day 1 - 6 (June 22 - June 27): Santorini
Day 7 - 12 (June 28 to July 3): Naxos; possibly day trips to Mykonos, Paros, or Dilos (but not all three)
Day 13 - 15 (July 4 - July 6): Athens

A Greek friend of ours suggested the Katikies Hotel in Oia (Santorini), but I think it's booked. Does anyone have suggestions for hotels of similar quality in Oia? We prefer ocean views in an advantageous part of town.

Please recommend places to stay in Athens and Naxos. We would be interested in hotels and possibly apartments as well. We would like to stay in a place on the water on Naxos. What are the "must do's" in Naxos?

Please recommend day trips to Mykonos, Paros, and Dilos. We would be interested in active activities like scuba diving, water-skiing, kayaking, hiking, and would like to see interesting ancient ruins, beautiful architecture and scenery, art galleries, museums, etc.

Are day trips from Naxos to these islands a good idea or will it be too time-consuming, exhausting, and difficult? Please let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Jay

Congrats on your upcoming wedding. You've picked a wonderful area to honeymoon. You are indeed very late in making arrangements- especially for Santorini where June honeymooners are everywhere. I would start by searching www.tripadvisor.com for available rooms in Santorini (they have a good search engine which checks expedia, orbitz, travelocity, etc. simultaneously). Once you have some options with availability, then post them and get feedback on the best choice. I am afraid Katikies will be booked (but I LOVE that hotel). It never hurts to check- try tripadvisor and also www.slh.com. I would recommend staying in Oia if possible. I think it's the most picturesque and romantic of the towns. Some comparable hotels to Katikies are Perivolas and Canaves Oia, but availability will be an issue, I'm afraid. For Athens, you can't beat Grand Bretagne if it's in your price range. It's a large hotel so you may find rooms available. You can check it on Tripadvisor, too (just put the hotel name in the search box). As for your second stop, you may consider Mykonos if Naxos availability is scarce (or if you prefer more nightlife). Mykonos has a great little town with lots of restaurants and bars, and is a popular honeymoon stop, but has so many hotels that it may be a good option. Good luck! Post again when you get some hotel options to choose from and we can weigh in more.

Thank you Europhile! We're purposely avoiding a stay on Mykonos because we aren't very interested in night life and would prefer a more authentic Greek experience and lesser crowds. I know that Santorini will be very crowded but we're willing to tolerate the crowds for all of the benefits that island brings. Thanks again for your recommendations!

Jay

Also in Oia check Fanari Villas, Oia Mare, Esperas, Volcanos Villas and Lampetia Villas.

If a pool isn't a "must" there's Chelidonia Villas, Delfini Hotel, VIP Suites, The Residence and my current favorite, Aspaki Suites. These are VERY special. The owner of the Aspaki has a new group, The Oia Castle They're so new there aren't any photos yet but I received an email from someone who stayed at The Aspaki and was given a tour of Oia Castle who says they're fantastic. One unit has a private pool.

http://www.artmaisons.gr/

Thanks brotherleelove!

Jay

Congratulations!
For Santorini I would suggest you to look the Icons 5*. Located in Fira, one of the best hotels the island has to offer. In Athens I would check the Divani Acorpolis 5* or something moderate like Kaningos 21 which is a 4* boutique hotel. Both of them are located in the center of Athens and in walking distance from the Flea Market and the Plaka area. Concerning availability you can check with GetawayCruises.com to get a rate.
Have Fun and enjoy your Honeymoon.
Phillip P. Radopoulos Marnellos

Thank you Philip!

We just returned from our visit to Oia ~ 4 nights at Aspaki. Naxos, 4 nights at Hotel Glaros, and 3 in Paros.

I think next time we will stay in Naxos and make an overnight trip to Paros. There is so much to enjoy in Naxos if you take your time. The drive across the mountains is stunning. There are wonderful towns to visit, and beautiful beaches to explore. You won't be bored!
We enjoyed eating at Meze2. Because Naxos is not tourist dependent, this restuarant is open all year round is a favorite of the locals. Be sure to try the Salatouri. The best dish we ate on our entire trip! It's a fish salad. It wasn't something I would have ordered, but it came highly recommended. Boy are we glad we gave it a try!!

Try to visit the castle in Naxos town around sunset! The view from inside the castle is awesome as you ponder how many generations have watched the sunset through that window.

Thank you Fishshe! How did you like the Aspaki hotel? Having read Brotherleelove's glowing endorsement, I would love to hear how you liked it. Thanks!

Jay

Aspaki was wonderful. The apartment itself was comfortable, nicely decorated, comfortable bed, full kitchen. But the deck and view were the main event. No words can describe what it is like to be perched on the edge... with the full beauty of the caldera at your feet. Stunning... surreal...I just can put words to it. The Endless Blue Suite provided a 360º view, and no matter which way you looked there was something captivating to see. At night the village of Oia glows with lights. That was unexpected and a huge delight. We enjoyed being out on that deck so much that we hardly left Aspaki at all. The trips we planned to see other parts of the island just didn't happen. We couldn't leave. It really is a special place. And while I am sure that other hotels in Oia have a wonderful view, or fantastic service, there is something unique about being in your own private house. It was really a very unique and special place.

Now you know what kept me in Oia for 6 months.........twice!! ;)

We love Esperas in Oia on Santorini!! Not only is it a wonderful place to stay, but the people who run it are wonderful. It has a great pool, and wonderful dining tables looking over the water. Each "cave" has it's own terrace also.