to go to Santorini and Mykonos instead of Hawaii. She wants white beaches and green water (and a resort on the beach). I've tried to show her the specatcular resorts on the different Cyclades islands, but she still isn't sold. Can anyone share some stories or particular islands that might be a compromise? I love the cliffs and the views that the islands all seem to provide and don't need the white beaches, but I understand where she is coming from. Thaks for any help.

Ben

Hey Ben,

Take her to Hawaii this time, but only if she agrees to go to Greece next time.

Hi,
Have you been to Hawaii? The Greek islands are wonderful and I would rather go there than Hawaii, but if it is a resort where you are pampered and all you do is sit in the sun while a cute guy brings you a drink(which isn't bad), then I think Hawaii should be first. Greece is different, unless you go to Elounda Resort in Crete. Greek islands have a more informal atmosphere. Some of the islands have wonderful ruins to explore duirng the mornings. The beaches are nice, but there are not Hawaii. I love the travenas where you get a beer with the best tomatoe salad, Greek yohurt with honey for breakfast, and wonderful fresh fish simply cooked for dinner. The best calamari I ever had was at a sea side restaurant on Santorini. We walked way down to this traverna where the owner's son had just caught our dinner. After dinner the music played and we danced Greek dances. There were about 7 of us there that night. The down side was the walk back up to the hotel. Try searching Corfu. I have never been there, but it is more lush, like Hawaii. The Cyclades have very little greenery. Have a great vacation.

That sounds like "Katrina's" at Amoudi below Oia.

There is such a world of difference between Hawaii and the Greek Islands, it's hard to answer this.

I spent a week in Hawaii once, and while it was interesting and the beaches were indeed beautiful and the inland scenery amazing, I don't have much of a hankering to go back.

I spent three weeks in the Greek Isles and would go back again and again. In addition to the amazing scenery and beautiful beaches, there is so much history and all that a foreign culture offers (I know, I know, Hawaii is a "foreign culture," but not one with the depth of Greece IMO).

Besides, the food is better in Greece. You haven't lived until you've taken a boat ride across the isthmus to Kushadasi in Turkey and had fresh grilled octopus that the captain just caught along with a thimbleful or two of raki under a full moon.

Hi
Give some thought to another Greek Island, such as Corfu. It's lushly tropical, it has some fancy resorts.
It has a varied history; at one time or another it was English, Turkish, and Venetian, in addition to being Greek. The water isn't green, but it's purple.
Think of Homer's "wine-dark sea".

Hi Ben,
I was about to share with you some of the techniques I employ when trying to convince my wife of something when it occurred to me that none has ever worked. My best advice would be to emphatically agree with her, which (if she's anything like my wife) would immediately cause her to doubt the wisdom of her decision and reconsider.

I've never been to Hawaii but I haven't been anywhere that I want to return to more than the Greek Isles, especially Santorini...Mykonos is nice too...but you have to want to experience the Greek culture to really enjoy it. If you just want a nice beach vacation then lots of places will do.

Aja,

Break up with your fiancee, she doesn't understand you like I do. I'll go to Greece with you. When can we leave?

LOL, Nina, I was thinking the same thing.
I hope you go to Greece Aja1.
Find a site on line with beautiful photos.

Such great responses! If I had known you could meet women on this sight I would have come years ago!

I think I have convinced her, but need to close the deal, I'll look at Corfu too. She's just having a little trouble giving up the "Carona commercial" picture in her mind...she and I both know she'll have a good time...I cannot wait!

Thanks Again!

At least she has some opinion. And Hawaii is very nice.
My husband, on the other hand, has actually taken off in an airplane for a 10 day vacation with me and not known where we were going.

I try to get him to be interested enough to at least pack the right clothes, and to his credit, he is very agreeable.

I think the answer depends in part of the time of year you plan on travelling...let us know!

If she wants white beaches and green water, then forget Hawaii and Greece and go to Anguilla in the Caribbean! The whole island has spectacular talcum powder white beaches. It has some of the fanciest resorts in the Caribbean, but our favorite is Rendezvous Bay Hotel--cheaper and with the best beach on the island. The other reason I love Anguilla is that there's absolutely nothing to do but enjoy the sand and surf and great food--and the people are the loveliest folks you could hope to meet.
Seriously, when are you planning to go? Don't forget, Greece has the Olympics this year, so it'll be a madhouse. I prefer Greece to Hawaii, as lovely as it is, probably because I'm Australian, and Hawaii is more similar in vegetation and ambiance to what I had growing up, whereas Greece seems a lot more exotic and different, with its lovely whitewashed villages, great food, marvelous antiquities--and I like going somwhere where the language is different--it's more of a break from everyday life. What's not to like about Greece?
However, I think a previous poster had the right idea--go to Hawaii this year and Greece next year.

We are going in September...thus Anguilla is out (that is where she wanted to go, but all the nice places are closed). Hawaii it seems is the only tropical type island that is "open" in Sept.

If you're looking for a tropical island with good September weather, consider Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

I have been to both Hawaii and Santorini/Mykonos. I definitely prefer Greece. It is a beautiful country.

I was just in Greece this past September for my honeymoon. Santorini was my favorite place. It is beautiful and the weather was perfect. (85 and not a cloud in the sky) Mykonos is very different, but nice too. It was VERY windy and a bit colder in Mykonos.

Good Luck closing the deal!!

Oooh, tell me more about Greece in September...crowded? Easy to navigate ferries? Were you happy with your decision to go to only 2 islands? How long did you go for?

Aja1 - We were in Greece for 2 weeks. Our Itinerary:
- 2 nights in Athens - JV Athens Hotel
- Flew to Mykonos
- Mykonos - 5 nights - Royal Mykonian Hotel
- Took Ferry from Mykonos to Santorini
- Santorini 5 nights - Katikies Hotel
- Flew from Santorini to Athens
- 1 night - Athens Airport Sofitel

We did not want an active vacation, so we only went to 2 islands. I am happy with the islands we chose. I would have rather spent more time in Santorini. 5 nights in Mykonos was a bit too much in my opinion. 3 nights would have been perfect. Santorini is an amazing place and our hotel was fantastic (www.katikies.com). You MUST go there.

Santorini and Mykonos were not too crowded when we were there. We were told that they had just gotten past there peak season (June - August). I am not sure how crowded it will be this year, due to the Olympics.

The ferry service from Mykonos to Santorini was good. It was nice and a cheap way to see the part of the Greek Isles. They leave from a pier right near the town of Mykonos...very easy process.

I ended up booking my entire trip with a greek travel agency - Fantasy Travel (http://www.fantasytravelofgreece.com/). They arranged everything and did a fantastic job. They also saved me about $2K from what it would have cost me to book it on my own. They told me that they get "greek" discounts.

Let me know if you have any additional questions.

We'll be using Fantasy Travel too, I've been emailing with Dina. I've seen the Katikies Hotel and it does look good, I'm also interested in the Astra Apartments...surely you had or have seen their website www.astra.gr
Thakns again for the info!

Ben

I would think about doing Naxos in addition to or instead of Mykonos not only will it be less money but it has some very lovely beaches. In Santorini the two nicer hotels I've stayed at are Esperas in Oia and Veggera in Perissia one of the black sand beaches. If you want to see some of my pictures of Naxos and Santorini you can go to http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/4a4b1/669be/