Heimdall

Getting back to timing for your flights, if you book both flights on the same ticket with Aegean Airlines, a 5:15 am arrival in Athens and a 7:00 am flight to Santorini will be no problem, especially if luggage is sent straight through to Santorini. Athens Airport is very quiet early in the morning, so it won't take long to get through passport control, especially for EU passport holders who are waved straight through. You will be given boarding passes for both flights at Dublin, so won't have to check in at Athens. If your flight to Athens arrives late and you miss the 7:00 am Santorini flight, the airline is required to get you on the next available flight. NB: if you book the two flights separately the airline doesn't have that responsibility.

You don't have to stay in a caldera village where accommodation is expensive. Most people who visit Santorini stay on the beach side of the island (e.g. Kamari or Perissa) where accommodation and dining is much cheaper. You can still take a bus to Fira, Oia, Akrotiri and other Santorini villages to see the caldera. Oia is a beautiful village, but you pay a premium for the views. That said, both times I've been to Santorini I stayed in Oia in a cheaper hotel I won't recommend.

Another advantage of the beach side of the island is you get away from the hordes of cruise ship passengers. It all depends on your travel style—I never spend much time in my hotel room except to sleep, so don't worry much about views from my balcony. Others enjoy waking up to a caldera view, and sitting with a glass of wine on their balcony in the evenings.

geetika

Martinabyrne, Aug/Sept is high season in Santorini and the accommodation priced accordingly. We're planning a trip for next May and someone suggested Old Oia Houses, studio and one bedroom cave houses with a terrace and caldera view. Prices start from 135 euros per night for the studios and 155 for the houses, though for your dates everything is at 170 euros/night. I believe houses with similar location are much more expensive, though I haven't really looked very much as yet.

KayF, I also heard about Filotera Villas but they're quite pricey now!

Heimdall, we're one of those who like to breakfast on the terrace, then relax with a glass of wine in the evenings

Old Oia Houses | Oia Old Houses

Heimdall

And for that a caldera view hotel in Oia would be perfect. As for me, I like to eat breakfast at a sidewalk table at a cafe, and go out in the evening for a glass of wine or beer before dinner. There are better places than Oia for that. Thank goodness we don't all have the same views!

martinabyrne

Thank you all for your replies: Yes Heimdall, I think we will book direct from Dublin to Santorini and I think that the flight from Athens is at 07.15 so that will be even better. I'm not fussy about a balcony with views or a pool in Santorini as we will only be there for such a short time and I expect I will be out with my camera most of the time as I want to see as much as possible while we are there. Thanks Geetika, I will look up Old Oia Houses and Kay F, I will check out Brotherleelove's recommendations on this site and Tripadvisor. I'm away for the next few days and will have no internet connection!!!!! ( the joys of some remote areas in the West of Ireland!!!) but hopefully I'll get back to my research next week. Thanks again! Martina