So_Sloan

My fiance and I will be getting married next year - late April 2014. We have decided we would like to take a 14 day honeymoon (including travel days) to Europe a week later, so early May. We are Western New Yorkers so a flight from NYC is our plan of attack. I've noticed that this is also a good time of year to get decent rates as well. Our honeymoon budget is roughly $8,000.

We would like to travel downward through Europe for the first half of the trip and then spend the second half somewhere in the Greek isles. Being able to have days to explore and days at a beach would be fabulous but we don't know where to start. I am Italian and have family in Abruzzo so I would love for my fiance to experience some of my family's (loud and food-crazed) culture as well. I know we could spend our entire trip in any one European country but being able to travel through at least three countries is our goal.

Itinerary suggestions are greatly appreciated since the last time I was in Europe (only Italy) was when I was 10 yr old and my fiance has never been to Europe. Also, hotel or villa ideas for our final destination of Greece would be welcomed.

Thank you in advance!!!

BigAleinstein

I have only been to one Greek Isle, so I cannot offer advice on that account. But for a honeymoon of 14 days and limited or no experience in Europe, I suggest an easy pace without minimum amount of stops and traveling between destinations. I would suggest a few days in Rome, a few days with your family and then fly to Greece.

I am not Italian but have enough Italian friends and have visited THEIR families in Italy. And once you say hello, your life is not your own, it is theirs. They will take you everywhere, feed you, and do everything but change your diaper. Thus you will need Greece to recover.

Stick to two countries you will be better off.

greg

I do not think you have time for more than two countries in 14 days especially including Greece which is time consuming to travel into and out of. However, it is best for you to be able to use tools and methodology to quickly grasp what can fit into your time frame.

For flights, you can use any of your favorite booking engines. For traveling within Greece, you can also use booking engines such as Expedia, www.aegeanair.com, www.olympicair.com/en. For boats, you can use www.gtp.gr/RoutesForm.asp. You cannot get boat schedule that far into the future, but you can get a sense of travel times, some idea of frequencies, and departure times by using June dates.

You might also really want to think if it is wise to visit your family at the beginning of the trip or at the end of the trip.

Heimdall

Congratulations!

Definitely save Greece for last, especially since you want to go to the islands, as May is only the start of the season, and shops, hotels, and restaurants catering for tourists just beginning to open. The water will still be cool, but you should be able to get in some sunbathing on sheltered beaches.

Pick an island with an airport and you can travel directly there by connecting flights from Italy. Check for flights with Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air.

parosblue

Good advice is given already to limit your destinations. You need to deduct a day for travel at either end, so you are left with 12 days. Three countries will be just too rushed. In fact you could deliberately stay in Italy, visit family, then head out on your own. If you want to get to Greece, make it your second stop. Look for islands you can fly to as well as locations that will provide you with what you want...eg the style and price range as well as your preference - beaches or sightseeing. The mainland is also very nice. You could drive from Athens and explore the Peloponesse peninsula. Also, there are islands near the mainland you can get to easily. But if you want to go to the more distant islands, you won't have time for exploring Athens and the mainland. You might want to book an open-jaw flight to arrive in Rome and depart from Athens. Pick up a book on the islands and resist the temptation to try to see too many places.