I know. I know. It's 2007. We're planning a year in advance--slaves to the American Airlines frequent flier regime.

We would like to spend 9 or 10 nights seeing Athens and a small number of islands. I have been to Athens and Corfu previously but my husband has never been to Greece. We'd like enough time to see the city (sites plus real-life Athens)and to visit more than one island for cultural sites as well as some sitting on the beach.

Below is my suggested itinerary. I would appreciate your comments on the amount of time and selected islands. I don't know what I'd do without my Fodor's friends input. Every 6 months I'm back with my vague questions and you all always are invaluable.

1--Arrive Athens
2--Athens
3--Athens to Mykonos
4--Mykonos
5--Mykonos to Santorini
6--Santorini
7--Santorini to Paros
8--Paros with visit to Naxos
9--Paros to Athens
10-Leave Athens

A trip for 9 to 10 nights including Athens means probably 6 or 7 days on the islands. In that time you wish to stop on Mykonos, Santorini, and Paros, with a visit (day trip?) to Naxos. That gives you about two days per island. Consider that checking in and out of hotels and travel by ferry will eat up the better part of a day with each island transfer. That leaves you only a full day on each island to see the sights or relax on the beach.

Recommend you limit yourself to two islands. Assuming Santorini will be one of them, you can then choose from Mykonos, Paros, or Naxos for the second. Any of those three would better than trying to squeeze too much into a short trip.

Thank you! So Santorini is the must-see of those islands? That sounds fine. Of the remaining three (Paros, Naxos, Mykonos), which would you recommend?

Naxos, naxos naxos. Put Naxos into the search terms -- or "stanbr" to get his wonderful posts on the island.

Chicagoahc, I made Santorini a given because it is top of most travelers' lists, and views of the caldera from Oia and Fira are spectacular. I met up with brotherleelove on the island at the end of May this year. Travelerjan stopped by while BLL was out and I was in my room recovering from an overnight flight, so we just missed each other.

I like Naxos, and spent four days on the island earlier this month. It is good for short visits, as most of the tourist development is concentrated in a small area stretching south from Naxos Town. It has some great beaches, especially Plaka.

Paros is a more complex island, with major centers in Parikia, the port town, and Naoussa, an old fishing village, now developed for tourism. There are several other beach resorts, and the nearby island of Antiparos with its beaches and stalactite cave.

Mykonos is an upmarket island, popular as a port of call for cruise ships, and the favorite of many wealthy Athenians. There are many upmarket hotels, restaurants, and shops. It has a beautiful chora complete with winding passageways and windmills. Delos is easiest to reach from there.

All three islands are very busy in high season, but less so in June. All three have good beaches. Go to Paros for variety, Naxos for beaches, or Mykonos for upmarket chic. The choice is yours.

Personally I would visit them in this order of preference: Santorini, Naxos, Mykonos, Paros. If you go just to Santorini and Mykonos you are going to 2 of the most touristy islands and may not get a real feel of the greek islands. Naxos would mix it up a bit.

The problem with visiting them in that order is that you'd be backtracking. Better: Santorini>Naxos>Paros>Mykonos.

Frankly Naxos has become very touristy as well. The harbor is lined with restaurants offering "authentic Greek meals", and the street leading from St George to the square is lined with scooter rental companies - Mikes Bikes, etc. Even Plaka Beach, which used to have long stretches of empty sand is now mostly taken up with beach chairs and umbrellas.

Yes, it is still possible to find unspoilt parts of Naxos, I suppose, the mountain villages for example, but any easy to reach Cyclades island with good beaches and/or scenery is going to be touristy these days.