It's the bare minimum for Santorini.

Yes, you'll definitely need a car if you book the Dolphin Suites. It's quite far from the village center.

I'd stay nearer the port area in September... you say you want quiet locales, but in September there isn't any "Noisy" locale, and you 'll find more going on there ... The port is tiny, and there are several nice places overlooking it, across a curving bay. Heimdall's favorite is Mike's place. I stayed next door in what is now ?? Sunday Hotel?? has a restaurant ... several beaches an easy walk on the other end of the town stretch and down a slight hill.

As for walks, the seafront is the start of the "Agora" (market lane) tdhat leads right from the pier to the center of island, where there's a very atmospheric square with cafes, where old guys with mustaches hang out playing cards, then a central "fort" dating back from Pirate days, then the lane (flagstoned & lovely) continues thru a quiet residential area all the way to the west beach for glorious sunsets (almost no buildings on that beach, due to fierce gales at certain times of year)

Thanks, brotherleelove and traveljan! I've since increased the nights on Santorini to 5 (and will reduce Antiparos to 3).
And I'll take your advice, traveljan, and stay close to the port on Antiparos.
Thanks again!

Dolphin on Antiparos is at the most beautiful part of Antiparos, Agios Georgios, passing by some amazing villas, one of them owned by the actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. It's also the hopping off point for trips to uninhabited Despotiko, where an archaeological site is being developed into an open museum.

One of the best restaurants on the island, Captain Pepinos, is located at Agios Georgios. Yes, you will need a car if you stay there, but the trip into town is only 6 miles on a paved road, taking about 10-15 minutes. I do like to stay in town myself, but wonder if, since you will be staying in three busier islands you might enjoy the contrast of Dolphin's idyllic location.

If you decide to stay in town, a hotel comparable to Dolphin is Kastro Apartments, which has a pool and sits on a hill with views over the sea to Paros. It's about 5 minutes walk to the nearest beach, Psaraliki II, which is my favourite.
www.kastro.net

A good overview of the island can be found on Dutchman Hans Huisman's website: http://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/antiparos.html. The photo of Hans and his friend sitting with Lilian, owner of Mike's Place, is one I took myself. I was amused to see that my Robin Lane Fox book, which I had set down on the table, appears in the photo. ;-)

Travelerjan, I don't recall, did you make it to Agios Georgios, where Dolphin is located, during your stay on Antiparos?

Milos is great for couples and very romantic, its very "chill" and you will be able to relax! If you have time you should definitely visit! Don't fall in must-see visits, if you want to relax visit less known islands because popular destinations will be overcrowded!

<i>" if you want to relax visit less known islands because popular destinations will be overcrowded!</i>

Not in mid-September, tonib. All the islands on the OP's list, with the exception of Santorini, will be quiet by then.

Heimdall, many thanks for mentioning Kastro; I'd mentally tagged that as so attractive & wanted to bookmark but had forgotten the name (brain-fog).

Nope, didn't get to Agio Georgios, and regretted not doing so, I'd heard it was SO lovely -- I just got too busy showing my "newbie" around, and then socializing w Stanbr & spouse & suddenly time was up. Since I don't drive right now, I'd have to taxi there, but everything is so reasonable on Antiparos, why not. This year, Greece isn't in the cards for me (mystery exhaustion syndrome my MDs are working on), but I'm hopeful for 2018 and -- since I'm not squiring newbie travel pals to Famous Sights anymore -- I'll just indulge myself with a relaxing Antiparos stay.

I've never stayed at Kastro, but have chatted with owner Magda and some highly satisfied guests, including a retired US Army Infantry colonel. The pool is newish, maybe about five years old. The hotel is on the opposite side of town from Mike's, Sunday Hotel, etc in a quiet location, but only a few minutes walk from Kastro Square. I was very impressed with what I saw on my visit to the hotel.

There are buses to Agios Georgios that leave from near the Pounta ferry docks, with a hand-printed timetable on a whiteboard. They run frequently during high season, but not often enough for someone staying there in mid-September. It's easy to go there for a few hours in the morning or afternoon, as long as you don't miss the last bus. There has never been a taxi on the island, but I've heard someone applied for a taxi license last year. Antiparos has several car rental agencies along the harbour, which require an IDP (from AAA) for US driver's license holders.

Unfortunately, travelerjan, we are both getting older, with the ailments that go along with it. I haven't decided yet whether I will go to Greece this year, and if I do it will be a last minute decision. My future travels from the UK where I live will be mostly visits to my family in Wisconsin and in-laws in Cape Town, South Africa (if only the beaches in Greece were as nice as those in Cape Town, or if the water there was as warm as in Greece!).

Thank you for sharing your experiences and suggestions. It's these kinds of tips and reminders that help motivate me to keep travelling as much as possible for as long as I/we can. We're starting this trip with a three-week hike along England's South West Coast Path, so a little downtime on the Greek Islands will be a nice balance.
You've all provided some wonderful ideas for places to stay in Antiparos and Paros. Any suggestions for hotels or apartments in Naxos? I was weighing staying near Plaka for the swimming, but it may be a little remote in September.
If this trail is getting too long, I can start a new one.
All the best of health to you, travelerjan and Heimdall, and everyone else.

Oh swanny, you are too cruel! I was just reading in the NY Times about the wonderful walks in the Cotswolds, from one country pub to another, something I've ALWAYS wanted to do! And realizing with a sigh, that it's not gonna happen, my gimpy left knee would howl at those stiles!

Heimdall, I hope you get to your family visits ... It was thanks to my terrific son & his new car that this year I managed the "Sibling Bermuda Triangle" ---so-called because one can get stuck & never reappear -- Indiana to Louisville to Ohio. Now my chief hope is a late-Spring week to UK ... a few days in London & a side-trip to Cambridge to visit a dear e-mail pal who doesn't travel anymore because his wife's not able. He's a retired prof and a fellow Cretophile, he & I met thru Fodors & TA back in 2004 or so, and have been trading verbose e-mails and exchanging books ever since! The internet has its flaws but it has brought me wonderful friendships of shared interests.
.... Including you I hope.

Have fun in Cambridge, Jan — it's a beautiful city. Your prof friend will be able to take you to parts of the colleges that few tourists ever see. Some of the colleges have original manuscripts on display from the great thinkers who studied there.

When my daughter was little I used to take her to the Fitzwilliam Museum, and she always asked to see the Egyptian mummy! Later she worked at the university for several years.

I have only been to Paros and it has quite a few traditional Greek villages, many beaches and good food selection. The highlight was Lefkes village which is hidden between the hills. I wrote a report on it, if you want to see more: http://www.travel-monkey.com/paros-i...-to-santorini/

Originally, I planned to go to Santorini but found the accommodation to be extremely expensive. In that sense, Paros is a good alternative with similar landscapes but more affordable stay.