We will be traveling next June to Greece with two families with kids that are 11, 14, 14, and 16. We are going to spend about 4 nights on Santorini and want to go to one other island that we can get to fairly easily for 2 or 3 nights. We are looking for more than just a nice beach like cool towns, interesting sites, etc. and maybe one that is more in contrast with Santorini, if one logistically exists. We even thought about a three day cruise, but we're not familiar wit the Greek cruise lines that offer those. Any suggestions?

Crete has everything you mention, and it's only a few hours away by hydrofoil.

Although weadles is right, Crete is a big island for just 2-3 nights.
The hydrofoil goes to Heraklion which is not the place you will want to stay ;-) The best place is Chania which is 3 hours drive, so i wouldn't recomend it for such a short period of time.
You can go to Naxos or Paros after Santorini, or Sifnos which is lovely in my opinion.

Hmmm... I guess I didn't read your original post carefully enough. Cristine is right. With only 2 nights, Crete is probably not the right island. We stayed in Chania and loved it, but it is a few hours from where the ferry arrives in Heraklion, and two nights there is not enough.

Cristine27,

Of Naxos, Paros and Sifnos it sounds like you'd choose Sifnos. Would Sifnos have enough for our families to do and see and if so,any thoughts on where to stay? Which town? Hotel? Money is less important than finding the right place to stay. Or if you think Naxos or Paros is better for us, any recommendations? Many thanks for your help.

Naxos, Paros, or Sifnos? Any recommendations for just picking one?

I would still go to Crete for the archaeological sites and the "largeness" and "Greekness" of it. Lots to choose from. You don't have to see it all, after all.

I have not been to Sifnos. Between Naxos and Paros I think there is more to do on Naxos--it has beautiful beaches, lovely interior villages and a nice sized main town. People seem to have a bias for one or the other, they are both delightful islands and plenty to do on either really. Prior to our trip to Greece I asked on this board for activites on the 2 islands. You might check out what advice I was given
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...name=yestravel

oops, sorry , not an expert in the ways of this board. The url in my post doesn't bring you to the thread on non beach activities on Naxos versus Paros. If you search thru my posts you'll come upon it.

I would also second Crete, albeit it's huge, the largest of the Greek islands and really a country in itself. There is lots to see and do there and the topography is amazing. Having said that, are you heading back to Athens afterwards? I would be tempted to cut Santorini by one night and add it on to Crete. Naxos would also work.

Hello folks, it seems as if I'm always recommending Naxos, Naxos Naxos. It's mainly because it offers answers to so many different traveler's needs. (I also love Sifnos but it's not right for your group & schedule).

Naxos is only 2+ hours away from Santorini via daily ferries at different times. It has 15++ MILES of white sand beaches (unlike Santorini's crushed black lava "sand&quot. It's a Large and Green island filled with interesting inland villages, ruins, and awesome landscapes. Driving around, and hiking is fun for all the family. It's NOT totally hyped & touricized like Santorini --you actually can experience Greeks going about their lives in the countryside and town, especially in May-June, before the high-season influx.

And it's a whole heckuva lot more fun for teens than Santorini --Where nightlife is for older folks t& beaches as i said, suck, and you can't let the kids be on their own. You can in Naxos. These kids want some autonomy and it's easy and safe in Naxos.

The best base, for your needs, is Ag. Giorgios (St. George) beach which directly adjacent to Naxos Town. It's a shallow beach, many "studios" and apts. so you can fix your own breakfast & other meals if desired. It offers water sports. PLUSSSS, one can WALK to the many attractions of Naxos Town in 10 minutes so there's no need to drive children back & forth all the time.

The best NON-COMMERCIAL website for overview of Naxos is run by the island itself. it's 3ws then naxos-island-greece.com -- sections on beaches, hotels more more. The "hotel" section gives separately the St. George accommodations, with photos of exteriors/interiors & maps of locations. The Village section shows the beauty of hillside hamlets... a rental-car day tour will thrill you.

Did I mention prices are about HALF of Santorini's?? Once you check it out, I recommend you lop a day off your Santorini time & instead do 4 days in Naxos. Your family will rejoice, and so will you.

PS: Cruise line promotion/hype is the main reason Santorini is so famous--and thank heaven Naxos' port can't accommodate the depth of cruise ships, so it hasn't been ruined yet.

I agree with travelerjan's information on Naxos - it may well be better to reduce your visit to Santorini by one night and add it to Naxos. I disagree that cruise line hype is the reason that Santorini is so famous. I think Santorini stands alone from the other islands because of its landscape - there aren't very many places like it on earth and shouldn't be missed. Yes, it is expensive compared to the other islands but that's economics for you. If I was travelling with a family, I would stay in either Imerovigli or Oia and not Thira town. These towns are quieter and you only feel the effects of the cruise ships when the day-trippers arrive on the buses.

Since Santorini is a volcanic island the landscape is harsh; Naxos or Paros would be a nice contrast. I agree with above poster; take a day away from Santorini and give it to one of the other islands. Santorini has incredible views but tennagers may not want to see and look at it for long.

In Santorini, we're planning on staying at Vedema. We know it doesn't have the views but some good friends were there last summer with their 14 year old son and raved about it. The moms are also concerned that the two boys may go flying off of a cliff if we stayed somewhere with a view. We're also planning on using some Starwood points which helps our decision.

I can't thank everyone enough for your input. I'm leaning toward Naxos, but will wait for the others to read these posts and get a consensus.

Vedema does look lovely - I hear Angelina Jolie is a fan. No view of the caldera but you can always go out to one of the restaurants. Don't forget to watch the sunset!

This is great info. We are tentatively planning a trip to Greece with another family for summer 2008 - the boys will be 14, 14, 17, and 17 and the girls 21 and 23. I was thinking Athens, Santorini and one other island that is not Mykonos.

BKD, I hope you will report back after your trip!

BKD i think Sifnos is really a charming island but probably not the right one for you. Personally i would choose Sifnos just for a more genuine 'feeling' of Cyclades. Naxos is a bigger island with all the positives and negatives of it!
Most people on these boards seem to like it a lot so i can't say anything more about that!

Now for Santorini.. Vedema is a very nice hotel BUT if it was my FIRST AND ONLY chance of seeing Santorini i would DEFINITELY stay in the caldera. Santorini is so famous for the caldera view so i think you should reconsider and stay there. It's the best feeling to wake up in the morning and have this incredible view at your balcony.
Even now that i have gone so many times to Santorini, i wouldn't dream of staying inland because frankly it's nothing special.

Again, thanks.

Any hotel recommendations in the caldera?

Also, we're going to be coming to Greece from Turkey and I'm thinking about going to Rhodes from Bodrum. That part is easy. How do you get from Rhodes to Santorini? Does anyone know?

t

This summer we've stayed here and we had no complaints:
http://www.greekhotel.com/cyclades/s...amare/home.htm
(We paid in high season August 130€ so for June i think you'll get a much better price if you contact them by email)

Now, from Rhodes to Santorini i don't think that you can go by air directly.