WWK

Whatever you do, decide quickly if you will need a flight. There are few available for many dates in June.

We really loved Nissaki Beach Hotel on St. George Beach. But it's sold out for our dates this year, so we are going to Hotel Galaxy for the first time.

Good luck!

WWK

Summagold,

Just reread your post above. I'm assuming that the Delta non-stops to Athens from JFK are either sold out or too expensive. If you must connect through CDG, can you take another flight out of JFK so that you can connect earlier in CDG straight through to Athens?

Then you could possibly overnight at a hotel near the airport ( The Sofitel is very good!) before your early AM flight next day to Naxos.

SUMMAGOLD

Our flights on Air France is already purchased. We are arriving CDG 12:30pm on Sunday. The original plan was to stay in the French countryside for a few days then fly to Mykonos, then few more days in Paris. After much discussion we decided we would like to spend more time in Greece, since we have to be in Mykonos anyway. And save the French countryside for another trip.

The logistics of getting to the Greek islands is proving to be difficult. We will probably have no other choice but to spend one night at an airport hotel either in Paris or Athens to make Naxos happen.

Heimdall

In that case I recommend Sofitel at Athens Airport. It's directly across the street from the terminal building, less than 5 minutes walk from hotel reception to airline check-in counters. With an early morning start you have a choice of an Olympic flight to Naxos or a ferry from one of the Athens ports.

brotherleelove2004

You also have the option of heading to the port of Rafina by frequent airport bus once you've arrived at the Athens Airport, staying overnight at the Corali Hotel or the Avra Hotel, then taking a morning ferry to Naxos. There's one that leaves around 7:30 that will get you to Naxos before Noon. These hotels are within walking distance to the ferry dock.

SUMMAGOLD

All your comments are helping me tremendously. Thank you!

Port of Rafina goes to Naxos? not Pireaus?

If we stay at a hotel in Athens either by the airport or port, which is a better option as far as good food and drinks? I figured at least make the best of our one night stay in Athens.

brotherleelove2004

Yes, the port of Rafina goes to Naxos, not Piraeus. The trip from Rafina to Naxos only takes about 30 minutes longer than from Piraeus, and Rafina would be a nicer place to decompress after your long flight. But if "good food and drinks" are your main priority then staying in Athens is by far the better option. Food is available in Rafina, of course, but your choices will be limited, whereas in Athens they won't be. However, it will mean waking up earlier, around 5:30-6:00, to get to Piraeus to catch the 7:30 ferry. I'd go to Rafina.

WWK

Sounds like Rafina might be a good alternative. But if you're still thinking about what to do, you could also consider Vouliagmeni, which is only about 30 min. from the airport.

Hotel Margi is a very nice, very quiet hotel within walking distance of a gorgeous lake in one direction, the sea in the other. There are some excellent tavernas within walking distance.

And if you really wanted to treat yourself to a special dinner that first night ( but will you be awake?) you could go to the Athens version of NOBU next to the Arion Palace. Great food, and unbelievable view of the sea, especially at sunset!

spanos

Paros is like the twin brother of Mykonos, more laid back though. So my vote does to Naxos.

I would also suggest to check Syros. It's capital, Ermoupolis, is very beautiful, historical and has a different feeling than the rest of the nearby islands (mostly neoclassical architecture). Its very close to Mykonos and easy to reach. If you are tired of white cube houses, check Syros for a day or two (not more).

Heimdall

<i>"Yes, the port of Rafina goes to Naxos, not Piraeus."</i>

Not exactly, Lee. Piraeus is the main year-round port for ferries to Naxos, but Rafina also has ferries to Naxos between mid-June and mid-September.

In SUMMAGOLD's case there are two morning ferries scheduled from Rafina to Naxos: Hellenic Seaways FlyingCat 4 and Blue Star Paros. I wouldn't count on FlyingCat 4 until it's known which ferry Hellenic Seaways will use to replace Highspeed 5, which was damaged by fire on March 23rd.

There are three other morning ferries ferries to Naxos from Piraeus, all arriving earlier than the Blue Star from Rafina.

PetrosB3

You can get to Naxos from Piraeus, ofcourse. Once you arrive in Athens from Paris stay in a hotel in Central Athens, either next to Syntagma Square or Monastiraki Square. Stroll Plaka or Kolonaki and eat in a nice restaurant. Then get back to your hotel and sleep. In the morning head to the Monastiraki Station (Electric Railway Station) and get to Piraeus. The Station in Piraeus is situated right on the Port for the Islands, so once you arrive in Piraeus, you arrive to your ferry that will get you to Naxos.

SUMMAGOLD

Hi friends. Our itinerary is starting to look like this. It looks mighty ambitious with a 4 year old.

June 27 depart JFK
June 28 Athens 1 night (connect in Paris)
June 29-July 2 Naxos 4 nights
July 3-5 Mykonos 3 nights
July 6-10 Paris 5 nights

We may have to eliminate or slide the dates down and shorten time in Paris.

indesign

"Agios Prokopios Hotel" in Naxos. Stayed there and loved it. Close to a great beach and many restaurants. Had the best souvlaki ever at a small place on the main street heading to beach right near the turn on to road to hotel. I dream to go back for that amongst other things on Naxos. We had a great time traveling around on a quad visiting beautiful beaches, the lovely town, small villages. The island has a lot to offer.

SUMMAGOLD

Hi friends. Can you recommend a quaint village we can drive to from Athens? I don't think we can make Naxos happen. Too much logisitics.

Are there other ferry locations that go to mykonos besides Piraeus and Rafina. Any quaint towns in the Peloponnese? I should mention we have already been to Naflio and Delphi.

Thanks for any replies.

greg

If quaint means historical, about the only one I can think of is Monemvasia. There are many small town, but they are just that; small and rather modern. Monemvasia might not be a good place with 4 year old, however. Tolo is not quaint, but is a resort town and more suitable for a small child. But it is too close to Napflio.

Are you going to/from Mykonos by boat? If by boat, adding Naxos would not be adding anymore logistics than driving to Peloponnese.

Peloponnese route:
drive to Peloponnese 2-4 hours depending on location
drive back from Peloponnese 2-4 hours
boat to Mykonos
boat back from Mykonos

Naxos route:
boat to Naxos
boat to Mykonos 40 min to 2.5 hours depending on boat.
boat from Mykonos

WWK

excuse my typing with broken wrist, but yes, what happened to naxos? its less than an hour on the high speed from mykonos.

however, if youre looking for another destination after you return to piraeus from mykonos, think about hydra. its about two hours on the hydrofoil. lovely pedestrian friendly resort town with small boutique hotels,shops,gorgeous seaside walks.

Heimdall

Sorry to read about the broken wrist, WWK. Hope you will be okay for summer travels!

mariha2912

Hello greg!
As far as you are willing to drive, you could explore Argolis area a bit more indepth and pick a beach location as your base. There is Tolo but there are areas such as Drepano and the like too for a beach escape. Sadly I haven't visit this area for a long time but although many people tend to downrate Tolo, a friend of mine visited past July and loved it. An other friend visited on May and said it was somewhat missing the ambiance but your dates are good to have a lively ambiance and it does not seem an over the top resort. I discovered this video on youtube a while ago among others and I can say it wets my appetite for good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr97Xw69hdI

Having the car it will be easy to head to Ermionida or Porto Helli or whatever port is suitable to have a side trip to Hydra or Spetses too.

WWK

@Heimdall: thanks so much for the - ouch!- kind words. i hear that greece is standard therapy for broken wrists.