Husband Desperately Seeking Itinerary Help
 

Hello!

Well, I am taking on the challenge of planning a suprise trip for my wife and I to celebrate our 15 year anniversary next year in Europe. This forum has been very helpful and I have the basic details put together but still have some questons. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. The tentative plan looks like this:

Day 1 Travel to London
Day 2 Arrive and tour London
Day 3-4 London
Day 5 Travel to Istanbul
Day 6-7 Istanbul
Day 8 Travel to Athens
Day 9 Travel to Santorini
Day 10-12 Santorini
Day 13 Travel to Mykonos/Naxos?
Day 14-15 Mykonos/Naxos?
Day 16 Travel to Athens
Day 17 Travel home

So here goes my questions that I invite you all to offer an opinion on:

1. How does the itinerary look, opinions?
2. We are torn between the Athens hotels of Fresh Hotel, the Art Hotel and the Magna Grecia. Advice
3. How do you suggest we move around Greece - when going from Athens to Santorini to Mykonos/Naxos back to Athens should we travel by air or by sea?
4. Speaking of, do you suggest our second island after Santorini be Mykonos or Naxos
5. In Santorini, we are torn between two hotels of Ikies and Anastasis Apartments, any opinions?

I think that is good for now. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. And remember, do NOT tell my wife, this is a complete surpise!

Saying "we are torn..." a few tmes implies she's in on the 'surprise'!

Can't help you, but I do wish to say what a sweetie you are! I'm the trip planner in the family.

PS: Congratulations on 15 years, too!

I highly recommend the Magna Grecia in Athens. It is a restored botique hotel , great location in the Plaka close to everything and great rooftop view of the Acropolis. Staff were wonderful

Just my opinion, but I think you are trying to do too much. Your plan invloves 7 days of travelling. I would cut something out - maybe one of the Greek islands and spend more time relaxing on the other, or cut out Istanbul and spend more time in Greece.
What time of year are you planning on travelling?
Regarding travelling around Greece, I would travel by ferry to the islands and by air when you return to Athens. Have a look at Aegean Airways. The flying dolphins are fast but prone to disruptions due to bad weather. The ferries are slower but more reliable.

Carolena

Hi. You have an exciting trip planned. What time of year will you travel? Below are some ideas that may help.

Athens - We stayed at and were happy with the Electra Palace Hotel. There are two - we stayed at the one in the Plaka. The hotel is well located, comfortable and the service is very good. At the airport, I think you will find it hard to beat the Sofitel. It is less than a block from the terminal. It is very comfortable and amazingly quiet.

Santorini - An excellent choice. I think it is best to fly there from Athens. Have the hotel arrange to meet you when you arrive. Upon departure, take the ferry. Arrange both the ferry and the flight (check Aegean Air) on the internet well in advance. Aegean has very low rates for very advanced purchase. They provide electronic tickets which work very well. We stayed at Katikies in Oia. Pricey, but excellent (two years ago.)

Mykonos/Naxos. Very different places. Naxos has beautiful beaches and a rural, peaceful atmosphere with low prices. Mykonos is a jet-set party type island. We picked Naxos where we rented a tiny car and enjoyed exploring. No regrets here. Either way, it is a ferry trip.

I suggest that you post your questions about Santorini lodging under the Greece page where a poster named brotherleelove will likely see it. He is very knowledgeable about Santorini. We found his advice very helpful.

Wow, this Forum really works. Thanks for the replies already. To those who have answered:

TuckH - you are very astute. My wife has no idea but as I plan this surprise trip I am thinking of us both being there which is likely why I phrased things like "we are torn" even though she has no idea. My English Teacher Mom would not be impressed :)

pbing - thank you for helping me make an Athens hotel decision

Carolina - "opinions" are exactly what I am looking for and I appreciate yours. We will be travelling next year from the end of May to the middle of June. I know it seems like we are packing lots in and I may have to reconsider, but we are coming from Canada and do not get many opportunities to take a trip like this so there is the temptation to do as much as possible, although I do agree I need to balance "seeing lots" and "relaxing".

How wonderful! What a great surprise!

I second GBC's recommendation of the Electra Palace in the Plaka.

I would travel by air from Athens to Santorini.

In Santorini, I would stay in Oia, but there is no beach there. So make sure you get a great beach resort on your second island, especially if you are traveling in the swimming season. That way you could add some time to just relax on your vacation. Personally, I loved Elounda on Crete.

You have not scheduled any touring time for Athens. Will your wife be okay with that? Perhaps you have been there before. Maybe you should take out either Turkey or London to give more time to Athens and/or beaching...

I think it depends on the season, where you've been before, and what you think your wife's preferences will be.

Congratulations on your 15th!

I also think you are trying to do to many places with your time. I would drop stopping in London and concentrate on Greece and maybe Istanbul. London is easy to get to and if you have never been there easily deserves more than a few days. Greece and Turkey on the other hand require more cost and time to travel to so I would spend my vacation there.

As much as I LOVE London - I'd probably drop it as well. It does make a good "get over the jet lag" stop enroute, but you won't have enough time to do it any justice. So If you just want to stop one night and take a morning flight to Istanbul - that would be OK - you wouldn't be "doing" London but could have a nice dinner and rest before pressing on.

That would give a few more days to massage into the rest of your itinerary.

Otherwise - I'd recommend at least 5 days in London.

My wife and I believe that when we travel we really want to get our money's worth. So we try to see alot and usually do.

That being said, I think that you are trying to cram in too much in a short period of time. Now, if you were traveling by train or boat it would be a different story. But it looks like mostly flights. With that in mind, you have a lot of time spent in the air.

It looks like Istanbul and Greece are your main targets,so I have to agree with the others on trying to target them and leave London for later.

It is sometimes nice to have one or two central bases of operations, that way you aren't spending your vacation packing and unpacking.

Just some thoughts.

dave