I am going to Athens(2 nights), Mykonos(3 nights), Santorini(3 nights) and Crete(5 nights) for my honeymoon during the first 2 weeks of July. Is this a good itinerary? Should we stay in Santorini longer?

Does anyone know how long the ferry ride is between Mykonos and Santorini?

Thanks for your help!

I think it looks great. Three nights in Santorini should be enough for you to see the island (as its relatively small).

Depending on what you would like to do at each of these particular places - you may want to add or take off a day and one of the other areas (though it looks promising as it is right now).

I'd suggest planning daily activities and what you hope to see and do at each of these places in order to determine if it would better suit you.

The Ferry ride from Mykonos to Santorini is about 4 hours - there are also high speed ferries as well.

Sorry I'm a bit out of it -

what I meant to say is the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini may take anywhere from about 3 hrs to 6 hrs depending on the boat you take.

There's a car ferry on Friday, 8:50-13:15, and again on Sunday, 13:15-18:15, from Mykonos to Santorini. There is also a fast passenger-only boat, the Hellas Flying Dolphin, that leaves every day at 14:30 from Mykonos and arrives at Santorini at 17:20. The Flying Dolphin then continues on to Crete.

It doesn't get any more romantic than Santorini, and Mykonos leaves many of us scratching our heads as to its immense popularity (although nightlife and shopping are great, but you'll get that in the other areas you're headed). Me, I'd drop Mykonos and opt for 1-2 days extra in Santorini and the remainder on Crete. The latter is huge, so you might want more time there. My $0.02. Note that no matter what you decide, it doesn't get any better than Greece!

Regards and congratulations, Bruce
Greece Travel Photos -- http://www.brucegcollier.com/galleri...level2_all.htm

Fabulous photos, Bruce. I'm going to Greece at the end of May, and you've inspired me.

I'm wondering about the travel between the islands during the itineraries I have read here in the Greece forum. Do most travelers take ferries between the islands (island hop), rather than set up a base (Athens or Crete) and travel out from there? If island hopping, you are carrying all your luggage/purchases along with you....?

It would depend on which islands and how many of them you were visiting whether or not it would be time-efficient and cost-effective to base yourself in one place and hop back and forth the way you've described. For example, if you were in the Cyclades you can take the Flying Dolphin from island to island, from Crete-Santorini-Ios-Naxos-Paros-Mykonos. There would be no reason to return to Crete after Santorini if you wanted to vist Mykonos next. Yes, you'd have to take your baggage and purchases with you if you don't plan to return to your original destination, a good reason to pack light. You can easily ship your purchases home from local post offices. I've done it before with no problems. Ask at your hotel for advice and assistance in this matter.

What islands are you planning to visit? If you let us know we'll try to help you figure out the best way to get around.

Thanks Brotherleelove. I've sent itinerary in a separate post to the main forum and have cut/pasted it below. What do you all think? Got to get to work. Will check back later. S

I've been following the forum and have read archives. Hope you all can help with advice. I will be in Crete for business from June 22nd till the 27th and wanted my husband to join me ahead for a bit of vacation. Here is a tentative itinerary--hoping to avoid too much running around while still capturing as much as we can in sightseeing. Want to see some historical/some landscape/lots of good eating. Maybe lay on a beach for part of one day. We will be departing from a minor city in the Midwest, and am contemplating this itinerary:

June 14 Depart USA
June 15 Arrive LON, Easyjet etc. to Athens
June 18 Depart for Santorini via Aegean
June 20 Depart for Crete via Flying Dolphin
June 23 Hubbie has to go home (HER-LON-USA)
June 24 (Could talk him into 1 more day?)
June 27 I follow same path

Too much traveling? Not enough time in Athens, Santorini, or Crete? Sub another island for Santorini? Leave out Santorini and see more of Greece? (We've never been there before)

It looks like a reasonable itinerary for a short stay. I'd say you've come up with something completely "doable." If you can add days on at the beginning I'd say stay longer on Santorini. If not, go for it.

Thank-you so much for all your advice. Bruce your pictures were incredible!

There has been a glitch in my itinerary. Due to the ferry schedule we will be staying in Santorini for 5 nights and on Crete for 3. This leaves us 2 full days to tour Crete. This seems too short a stay for such a large island. My travel agent said that a ferry from Santorini to Crete may become available so that we can stay longer, but she can't be sure. What do you think?

Santorini is an amazing island. Even though it's much smaller than Crete it's also still worth 5 days of your time. But if Crete is your last stop why not just wait until you're there to decide when to leave Santorini? Only then will you know if a ferry is available, and you can always cut your stay short unless you're paying for everything in advance. If you are, you don't really have much choice but to stick to the plan.

If you can make last-minute changes you can go to Crete without a reservation for however many extra days you'd have there and find a room when you get off the ferry from Santorini if your original hotel can't take you. There will be people meeting your ferry offering them, and there will be rental offices nearby as well. Keep an open mind, be flexible and enjoy the adventure.

My husband and I did our honeymoon in greece 5 years ago. It was fabulous. You will love it. We say we will retire there. I agree about Mykonos - don;t really get it. We went to Rhodes Mykonos and Santorini we also stayed longer in Athens mainly to do some day trips while being based in Athens. Santorini is very romantic. I think your itinerary is fine but maybe replace Mykonos with another island. Rhodes has a medieval feel to it. Check out www.greektravel.com for more information on the islands