Planning 1 week in the greek ilses in June and am thinking Mykonos-Naxos-Santorini. Traveling with my 14 & 15yr old children and am wondering if Mykonos might be "too much" for them -- We wont be into the night life this trip
Also, I am struggling with accomodations. With 4 people, 2 rooms get expensive and wondering what options and restrictions apply. Originally budgeted $200E/night hoping to splurge in Santorini. Any suggestions for locations and establishments would be WONDERFUL. My head is spinning.

this website should help

http://www.greecetravel.com/

I can't help with Mykonos, but on Santorini there are many hotels for that amount or less, depending on where you choose to stay. If you want a beach at your doorstep the best choices are Perivolas, Perivolos and Kamari beaches. If you want to be centrally located where there's nightlife and the largest concentration of restaurants and shops, Fira and Firostefani are your best choices. If you want timelessness and traditional architecture, Oia is the village for you.

In Oia check out the Delfini Hotel, Studios Margarita, Olympic Villas, Anemomilos Hotel, Musses Studios, Thea Studios and Ether Studios.

thanks - believe it or not, that's where I started about a month ago. Good time to go back!

If you want teens who are happy and not surly all the time, good idea to give them chance to socialize & be somewhat independent, in a safe way... to me this suggests NOT Mykonos, but the beach areas of Santorini & Naxos.

SANTORINI -- The beaches are where the teens will be .. beaches themselves are not terrific, but there are hotels with pools---and in Perivolas there's "Salty Beach Club that has pool right on beach and nice for mom to lie around while kids run around.

NAXOS -- St. George (ag. Giorgios) beach has dozens of hotels either on the beach or with view of same...you could get a "studio" with kitchenette, 1-2 BR, and bed/couch in LR area... you can do your own breakfast & sandwich lunches..easier than always eating out. Also, plenty of kids on beach, water sports too.
Because this beach is directly adjoining Naxos town, you walk to the harborside cafes,, tavernas, shopping, sightseeing. You don't need a car and aren't always chauffering kids around. IF you want to linger over coffee in a cafe, kids can walk back to lodgings safely... everybody's happier.

This island link shows many hotels -- locations, facilities, and you e-mail d directly to them for availability & rates.
http://www.naxos-island-greece.com/n...os-hotels.html
You'll find it at least 50% less than most comparable Santorini hotels.

As for Mykonos, again, a big no. They can't go to clubs nor do you want them to. Besides, you have only ONE week. For heaven's sake. Try to relax a little.

Naxos and Santorini are a perfect combination, particularly for a week. Naxos is laid back,and has something for everyone, in its antiquities its winding streets, tavernas, villages and shopping. Santorini is much more touresty but is a must see, particularly the arival on the ferry.

When we brought our two teen in 2003 they liked Santorini but told us later they would have been just as happy to spend even more time on Naxos.
Naxos prices will not break the bank even for 4 people. On that trip we used Hotel Glaros right on St George beach and rented two of their delux rooms on the top floor. There are only 4 room up there and are very private and are surrounded by balconies with sea views. At that time the rooms were about $50 Canadian per night each. They are certainly higher than that now but no where near your 200 euro budget. This arrangment provided us with securety and privacy at a good price.

Travellerjan also has a good point, you can take a studio with two bedrooms at Glaros Studios or Hotel Spiros which is also a studio hotel. These are both near the beach although Spiros is a newer hotel with a pool. Both are cheaper options than two rooms in a hotel.

For Santorini we used Blue Dolphin hotel which has a wonderful view of the caldera. We had a two bedroom with kitchen apartment and it was by far the most economical hotel for 4 we could find near Thira. It was however twice the price we paid in Naxos.

familytravelor

We took our twin 15 year olds to Mykonos and they said of all the islands we visited this was the one they loved most.

Sure, the island is very cosmopolitan and has a number of same-sex couples but also many families, just like ours, who do visit and enjoy it very much. It'll be good for your kids to learn and appreciate the differences. Ours did.

I'm puzzled at traveljan's remark that Mykonos may not let them socialise and be independent in a safe way. What is unsafe about the island compared to others?

Also, you have already said you guys won't be into the nighlife so it already appears your family has no intention of visiting the islands clubs and bars. Good grief, even if you did you'd know pretty quickly those you may not wish to visit. There are many bars and clubs in Mykonos town that don't JUST cater for the those into the 'alternative' scene.

From Mykonos we took the short trip to Delos and the hour long sail to Tinos. Had we had more time we'd have tried to check out Syros, 2.5 hours sailing time from the island.

Mykonos is a fun island, nice people, and Mykonos town is quiet during the day which is great time to explore the little lanes and alley-ways.

Also, don't forget that there are family beaches too. We used some and loved them.

So, don't strike the island off your list. If your kids are anything like ours then they'll enjoy it.

joe

Three islands in one week are too many, IMO. Which to strike off? Not Santorini, for sure, so that leaves Mykonos or Naxos. I don't feel Mykonos would be "too much" for your teenagers, but Naxos, with its beautiful beaches, would probably suit you better.

I agree that a studio or apartment with two bedrooms would be your best bet. Sometimes a studio means just one bedroom with a kitchenette, so look closely at what you are offered.

Hi

I agree with Heimdall - 3 islands in 1 week is WAY too much. If you do go to Mykonos, try the Vencia Hotel - http://mykonos-accommodation.com/vencia-hotel.htm. Clean, basic rooms with a lovely view of the sea, swimming pool and town. Book ASAP and ask for rooms with this view. The pool should keep the teens amused while the grown ups laze around. A low cost alternative to Mykonos and Naxos is Paros. We stayed at the Sunset View - http://www.sunsetview-paros.com. It was fantastic!

Mmmmm I was kind of puzzled too about traverjan's mention of your kids not being able to be independent and solialize in a safe way on Mykonos.

We've seen loads of kids the same age as yours having a ball on the beaches. Whether you agree with it or not, some of them were in groups without adult supervision and behaving like most kids that age do. They were happy and having fun.

Also, there's a water park complex on the island which I bet they (and you!) would love.

We are now at retiral age and we visited a number of the bars and were treated with nothing but kindess and friendliness by both locals and fellow holidaymakers. Oh, and yes, there was a good mixture in all of them of nationalities, sexualties etc. That's what the island is all about. Everyone seems to get along just fine.
As Joe said, don't take the island of your list of 'possibles'.

milley

I love Mykonos - and first visited when I was 15! However, it is an expensive island, and I too think that 3 islands in a week is too much.

Carolena

Very interesting to read all the comments about Mykonos. We visited last summer with our two teens ( 18 and 16) and they didn't like it much at all.

They thought town was way too touristy, and every evening it was wall to wall people pushing and shoving through the tiny alleways to get to restaurants and bars.

Santorini on the other hand, despite the heavy summer crowds, was wonderful. We took a private day trip to the volcano, swam in sulphur springs, went fishing, and had a magical dinner down at Amoudi ( sp?) Bay.

When did you visit weadles? July and August it can be as you described in the evenings. My favourite times are June and September when it's quieter.

I love the island and I am sure familytravelor and the kids will too.

Bill

I love mykonos but not during peak season (mid july to late august).
I never felt afraid there and i can't understand this kind of comments. It's like any other island. I would feel much more afraid in Rhodes (Faliraki area) with lots of drunk people than Mykonos!
Will you have a car in Mykonos?
Some years ago we've stayed in Pension Arhontiko and it had lovely inexpensive rooms although you'll need a car to get there. (5-10min by car from town).
(ask for rooms by the pool which are the loveliest).

Sorry i forgot to give you the link:
http://www.mykonos-arhontiko.com/

To respond to all the 'backchat' about my implying that Mykonos wasn't safe for teens --- I didn't mean that at all.

I simply was thinking of the fact that most people wander around in the throngs in the confusing (tho lovely) agora lanes of Mykonos Town at night... and it's easy to get lost even if you've been there several times.

And most people (not me but most) stay out of the central part of Mykonos Town, thus have to take a bus or cab back to lodgings. Thus, if parents wanted to go one way, and teens another way, after dinner in M-town, the parents might fret just a little about the kids getting back to their beach hotel on their own. I DON'T mean it wasn't safe, not at all, just that it was a little more complex for kids to be on their own.

By contrast, if staying at Ag. Giorgios Beach adjacent to Naxos town... from the Naxos Town waterside you can visually SEE the hotels at start of Ag. G BEach, and it's a 10-minute walk at most. Just simpler, that's all.

There are very strong opinions on Mykonos. I actually like it there. Who says you have to dance on the bar? That's just one aspect of Mykonos. I have teens and I know they would LOVE it. It's youthful and exciting. We're not going there this summer because we want to see Crete. We're also taking the kids to Santorini for two nights because....well, I personally think it's one of the natural wonders of the world. Why not Mykonos and Santorini? My personal favoritie is Patmos, but it's quieter. I don't think my teenagers will enjoy it as much as Crete and Santorini. There's nothing worse than a bored teenager.

dgg:
There's nothing worse than a bored teenager.

You said it right!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------