teachopal1

I want to thank everyone for helping me with advice on our trip to Greece in June (12-26.) Unfortunately my husband and I haven't narrowed down and/or made reservations for hotels or ferries because we can't agree on just where to go. We are arriving in Athens June 12, but plan to visit it on our way home (last leg of the trip.) Due to time constraints (and not wishing to RUN everywhere) we think we should tour only two other places-they are Crete, Santorini, or Rhodes. We are now seeking advice on the two other places that would be the most accessible time-wise in traveling, and in really seeing the area. Thanks so much in advance!!!!!!!

elina

How about staying in the mainland? Tour Peloponessos. Or go north to Volos and from there take a hydrofoil to Skopelos and Skiathos. (Skopelos is the island where Mamma Mia was filmed.) I was there three weeks 20+ years ago and really liked the island.

travelerjan

Have you researched these islands at all?? Here's a quick online resource (very visual, very candid) to give a concise overview -- http://www.greek-islands.us/

You can manage 2 islands well if you are willing to do some flights -- and even 3, if you are willing to limit your luggage (limit 22 lbs). Here are some options (and if they don't add up, it's to allow some 'slack' for transport between destinations):

Fly CHANIA CRETE, explore island (5-6 days); ferry from Heraklion port to SANTORINIi (3 days); ATHENS (3 days)

Fly RHODES (3 days) Fly Sky Express (small plane/luggage limit) To Heraklion CRETE & drive around crete a bit (5 days); fast-ferry (or Sky Express) to SANTORINI (2 day) fly to ATHENS (3 days)

Fly RHODES (5 days) Ferry (7 hours) or Sky Express to SANTORINI (3-4 days) Fly/ferry to ATHENS (3-4 days).

Fly SANTORINI (4 days) - Overnite ferry to RHODES (5 days) Overnight ferry (5 pm - 6 am) to ATHENS.. or FLY Aegean (3-4 days).

As you can see, you have many options! However, it is not our job to do lengthy keyboarding here to do a "pitch", promoting a particular destination over another.
Especially, we cannot make recommendations without any idea of your preferences... and it sounds as if you do have preferences, AND differing ones, since you say you cannot agree.

What are YOUR priorities, and your husband's priorities, since it sounds as if they are not the same. And in that case, who "wins" or do you compromise? Does one person want to flake out on the balcony or by the pool of a deluxe hotel most of the time, while the other wants to hike, scuba, scramble over ancient ruins. How do you rank the following: ancient sites - medieval sites - churches - beaches/pools - shopping - nightclubbing - exploring small villages. These are questions you need to settle; we cannot do this for you.

Also, it would be tremendously time-consuming for us to spell out the lengths and frequency of all the available flights and ferry routes. We also have lives to live, places to go, people to see. For that, it is time for you yourself to do some work; here's how:

This is a superb ferry website: learn how to use it. http://www.gtp.gr/RoutesForm.asp Put in your departure port (Heraklion?) and your destination (Santorini); put the Month at "6" but leave the Day at "any". You will see all the sailings, and the trip durations. Here is the link for Aegean Air http://www.aegeanair.com/default.aspx and her is for Sky Express http://www.skyexpress.gr/ as back-up, here is new Olympic website http://www.olympicair.com/Home.aspx?a_id=549 and here is Athens Airways: http://www.athensairways.com/cgi-bin...i?ZF=2&LANG=EN ... only Sky express goes BETWEEN the islands u name; the others, u must go back to athens.

Look at your various sequence options, then research your transportation possibilities. No point in fantasizing about a scenario that is not feasible from a transport viewpoint. DO book your Athens hotel choice IMMEDIATELY, for the last 3 days or so... do NOT book other hotels until you know that your between-island transportation will work.

Get back to us with some more info, AND more sharing about preferences, so we can help without spending time on advice that may prove irrelevant. Happy planning!

teachopal1

Thank you Elina and Travelerjan. Yes, I know that we have much to do, but have been spending most of our time taking care of ill family members, and we are so late on making arangements that I am panicking. We are both in our mid 50's, and do like to explore, hike, see cultural and historical sites, beautiful vistas, etc. Beaches, pools, and nightclubbing are not really the types of attractions for us, although spending time near the water to relax is not out of the question. I typically do all of our vacation planning, but the last trip we made to Europe in 14 days covered Rome, Florence (and Sienna), Venice and Paris-my husband said it was too exhausting moving around and visiting so many places in just 16 days. That is why I looked for advice on this forum-so many experienced travelers, like yourself, have some authentic and practical advice that is hard to ferret out of travel books and sites. Your information and links, as well as advice, is extremely helpful and appreciated.

HappyTrvlr

Athens, Crete(stay in Chania) and Peloponessean peninsula( stay in Napflion) would fit your interests.

yorkshire

Just go to Crete. Fly there upon arrival in Athens, then fly back to Athens for your last few days. Easy peasy.

wug

I also vote for Crete as one of the places you choose. Stay around or in Chania and rent a car for the days you want to go out exploring. I'd vote also for Santorini. Fly from Athens to Crete, stay there 5-6 days and then take a boat to Santorini for a few days. You can then fly back to Athens from Santorini for the last part of the trip. I love the Peloponnese as well, as Happy Trvlr suggested, it's just not as direct as Crete/Santorini/Athens, so if you're wanting to keep the moving around to a minimum, that'd be my vote.
Crete is very big so you won't see it all in one trip. Pick the highlights you want, take time to enjoy the beauty of Crete, just don't try to do it all.
I'm heading to Greece in May and Crete is one of the places I'll be visiting. It'll be my second time there and I still won't cover all I want to see. Let us know what you decide and definitely write a trip report.