Which Greek Islands for Romantic Luxury
Mar 14th, 2006, 02:44 PM
#22
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This isn't much, but I'm pretty sure there are daytrip excursions from Rhodes to Bodrum and Marmaris. I'm not sure how much you'll be able to experience in so short a time. Never having been to Marmaris I can't offer any insight. I've been to Bodrum, however, and think it's an interesting coastal town. I enjoyed walking along the waterfront and looking at all the beautiful Turkish wooden boats moored there. Also, the 15th century castle built by the Crusaders was especially interesting. There are some great carpet shops in Bodrum if that's something you'd like to experience, and believe me, it's an experience. Never have I been in the presence of such expert hagglers as the Turkish carpet merchants! It was great fun.
Mar 15th, 2006, 12:07 AM
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brotherleelove:
thanks so much for dispensing such great advice! you are amazing!!!
i understand what you're saying a/b taking the ferry from santorini to crete and arriving in heraklion. but what about if we fly into chania w/ aegean and then hydrafoil to santorini- would that be more enjoyable?
could you please do me the huge favor of describing the following islands/cities with a few adjectives so we get a sense of whether we can think a/b adding it?
-crete (maybe i've only come into crap photos of crete, but hmmm...it looks kinda "rustic" compared to santorini. is it?)
-rhodes (have always wanted to do bodrum....how far away is it from rhodes?)-- maybe we can do rhodes, bodrum, santorini??
-los: wonder what it's like
-naxos: ditto
sorry if it seems like i'm asking the same question again. i am surely not one of those people who asks the same thing twice just to get a different response...it's just that we usually enjoy a change of scenery after 3 or 4 days (we try to "save time" by being selective a/b things to do...e.g. skipping everything that soundes like the eiffel tower...) and also we go to europe at least twice a year and tend to delve deeper when we revisit if we like it the first time...)
having said all that (sorry to be so verbose)...if you still think only Santorini is up there w/ all our favorite places like positano and cap ferrat), i'm not opposed to cutting all but 4 days from santorini and finding something else to get into for the other 4 days (i noticed aegean flies from athens to rome? so like goto museums in rome or shopping in milan)..
to give you an idea here is our itinerary from last year which i admit was too busy:
-paris again for trade show
-fly into nice, drive to santa margherita, stay for 4 nights- do portofino and cinque terre (CT i personally hated.)
-drive back to french riviera and spend 4 days based in nice doing lunch in monte carlo, villa rothschild in st. jean cap ferrat, chapelle matisse in st. paul de vence, and dinner in cannes.
as you can see, we can "blow through" picturesque towns pretty fast. we're trying to have a more relaxing one this time.
any more brilliant ideas would be so welcomed! thank you thank you!!
thanks so much for dispensing such great advice! you are amazing!!!
i understand what you're saying a/b taking the ferry from santorini to crete and arriving in heraklion. but what about if we fly into chania w/ aegean and then hydrafoil to santorini- would that be more enjoyable?
could you please do me the huge favor of describing the following islands/cities with a few adjectives so we get a sense of whether we can think a/b adding it?
-crete (maybe i've only come into crap photos of crete, but hmmm...it looks kinda "rustic" compared to santorini. is it?)
-rhodes (have always wanted to do bodrum....how far away is it from rhodes?)-- maybe we can do rhodes, bodrum, santorini??
-los: wonder what it's like
-naxos: ditto
sorry if it seems like i'm asking the same question again. i am surely not one of those people who asks the same thing twice just to get a different response...it's just that we usually enjoy a change of scenery after 3 or 4 days (we try to "save time" by being selective a/b things to do...e.g. skipping everything that soundes like the eiffel tower...) and also we go to europe at least twice a year and tend to delve deeper when we revisit if we like it the first time...)
having said all that (sorry to be so verbose)...if you still think only Santorini is up there w/ all our favorite places like positano and cap ferrat), i'm not opposed to cutting all but 4 days from santorini and finding something else to get into for the other 4 days (i noticed aegean flies from athens to rome? so like goto museums in rome or shopping in milan)..
to give you an idea here is our itinerary from last year which i admit was too busy:
-paris again for trade show
-fly into nice, drive to santa margherita, stay for 4 nights- do portofino and cinque terre (CT i personally hated.)
-drive back to french riviera and spend 4 days based in nice doing lunch in monte carlo, villa rothschild in st. jean cap ferrat, chapelle matisse in st. paul de vence, and dinner in cannes.
as you can see, we can "blow through" picturesque towns pretty fast. we're trying to have a more relaxing one this time.
any more brilliant ideas would be so welcomed! thank you thank you!!
Mar 15th, 2006, 01:03 AM
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weadles:
thanks so much for posting your itinerary!! thanks for asking brotherlee about the hydrafoil, too!!
that is funny i was planning to do pietro (if we indeed goto crete) and then perivolas too (although may i ask why you chose that over kitikies? just curious b/c that was a hard decision for me....)
oh man, thanks for articulating the importance of FOOD on a TRIP!! lol, it's totally true!! who wants to eat crap food on their VACATION!!!??!! so is croatian food bad, anyone? i hear you can buy a house w/ water view there for like $30,000.
thanks so much for posting your itinerary!! thanks for asking brotherlee about the hydrafoil, too!!
that is funny i was planning to do pietro (if we indeed goto crete) and then perivolas too (although may i ask why you chose that over kitikies? just curious b/c that was a hard decision for me....)
oh man, thanks for articulating the importance of FOOD on a TRIP!! lol, it's totally true!! who wants to eat crap food on their VACATION!!!??!! so is croatian food bad, anyone? i hear you can buy a house w/ water view there for like $30,000.
Mar 15th, 2006, 05:14 AM
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Princessre:
You sound like my type of traveler! first, I must ask, where did you stay at the places you first mentioned. That will give me an idea of your tastes in lodging as well as locations.
For example, were you Le Sirenuse or the San Pietro in Positano, Chateau Eze in Eze, etc? These are some of the most romantic beautiful locations and lodgings in the world. We do the Vista Palace near Monaco. (well, that's my opinion). Brotherleelove2004 and Thanos (from Mykonons) will give you excellent advice, but as native islanders they have toured the hotels but not stayed in them. They certainly know which are the top ones. For reviews from travelers visit tripadvisor.com, but approach with skepticism. Some of the very broad vague reviews that are just glowing without specifics seem highly circumspect. Research a lot. That being said, Sanotirini appears very different than Positano but I must see it. Nothing is supposed to compare so how can I say it is like Positano. And if you didn't mind the crowds there, then it will be similar. Isn't it crazy when the cruise ships are in port? Perhaps, it is more comparable to Eze as the villages are perched high up with great views. Amazing pools and sunsets at the hotels perched on the cliffs in Oia. There is no San Pietro or Le Sirenuse to compare lodgings to Positano, but there do seem to be some small first class hotels (chose Oia not Fira) which you will find mentioned throughout this board.
We also do not stay in one place that long. On the recommendations of friends of ours who are truly world class travelers, typically renting a 90 foot yacht or traveling very high-end in the Med and staying in some of these places, too, we are also going to Elounda Beach Hotel in Crete. But unlike the coast of Monaco, etc. this can be a destination resort where most people do not venutre forth. You can tour and rent a car if you like. I see it as a place to decompress in luxury before flying back to Athens and then catching the connecting flight. Unlike others, I am not going back to Athens the day before since we are flying and not taking an unpredictable boat.
Just to throw an idea out there for you as an alternative, you may also want to consider the Chateau de la Messardia (I amy have spelled that wrong) in St. Tropez. I love the village, enjoy it especially on market days, and the beach clubs are an experience unto themsleves. However, it is probably booked up by now. The Byblos in town is also luxuryious, but a bit too hyper and disco-like for me and I doubt I would sleep well there, but it is very cool, and you would go to the beach club during the day anyway. It is right in town. Just another thought to muddle it up!
If Greece is a definite, FYI we are also staying at the Grand Bretagne. Recommendation of our travel agent who said "I can only stay there." So who am I to argue. But, we are doing that in the beginning of the trip.
Curious as to what you decide.
You sound like my type of traveler! first, I must ask, where did you stay at the places you first mentioned. That will give me an idea of your tastes in lodging as well as locations.
For example, were you Le Sirenuse or the San Pietro in Positano, Chateau Eze in Eze, etc? These are some of the most romantic beautiful locations and lodgings in the world. We do the Vista Palace near Monaco. (well, that's my opinion). Brotherleelove2004 and Thanos (from Mykonons) will give you excellent advice, but as native islanders they have toured the hotels but not stayed in them. They certainly know which are the top ones. For reviews from travelers visit tripadvisor.com, but approach with skepticism. Some of the very broad vague reviews that are just glowing without specifics seem highly circumspect. Research a lot. That being said, Sanotirini appears very different than Positano but I must see it. Nothing is supposed to compare so how can I say it is like Positano. And if you didn't mind the crowds there, then it will be similar. Isn't it crazy when the cruise ships are in port? Perhaps, it is more comparable to Eze as the villages are perched high up with great views. Amazing pools and sunsets at the hotels perched on the cliffs in Oia. There is no San Pietro or Le Sirenuse to compare lodgings to Positano, but there do seem to be some small first class hotels (chose Oia not Fira) which you will find mentioned throughout this board.
We also do not stay in one place that long. On the recommendations of friends of ours who are truly world class travelers, typically renting a 90 foot yacht or traveling very high-end in the Med and staying in some of these places, too, we are also going to Elounda Beach Hotel in Crete. But unlike the coast of Monaco, etc. this can be a destination resort where most people do not venutre forth. You can tour and rent a car if you like. I see it as a place to decompress in luxury before flying back to Athens and then catching the connecting flight. Unlike others, I am not going back to Athens the day before since we are flying and not taking an unpredictable boat.
Just to throw an idea out there for you as an alternative, you may also want to consider the Chateau de la Messardia (I amy have spelled that wrong) in St. Tropez. I love the village, enjoy it especially on market days, and the beach clubs are an experience unto themsleves. However, it is probably booked up by now. The Byblos in town is also luxuryious, but a bit too hyper and disco-like for me and I doubt I would sleep well there, but it is very cool, and you would go to the beach club during the day anyway. It is right in town. Just another thought to muddle it up!
If Greece is a definite, FYI we are also staying at the Grand Bretagne. Recommendation of our travel agent who said "I can only stay there." So who am I to argue. But, we are doing that in the beginning of the trip.
Curious as to what you decide.
Mar 15th, 2006, 08:54 AM
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Princessre: I can't answer all your questions but I will answer what I know.
Yes, you can fly to Chania and take the Hellenic Seaways highspeed ferry (it is NOT a hydrofoil) to Santorini, but you'll have to get to Heraklion since there's no ferry service from Chania. If I were to go to Crete this is what I'd do. And you can either rent a car to drive to Heraklion or take the early morning bus.
Crete is the largest island in Greece. Every sort of terrain and situation can be found there, urban and country, cities, rustic mountain villages, seaside resorts, remote beaches. It's a waste of time to compare it to Santorini, that's like comparing apples to oranges.
Ios is small with a charming port village as long as you're there in the off-season. During the summer months it's a 20-something and backpacker's 24/7 party island.
Naxos is a lovely island with an interesting main village, nice beaches and is large enough that you can enjoy some exploration, either by car, bus or motorscooter.
My best advice for a 7 day vacation is to SLOW DOWN, choose Santorini and one other nearby island from which you can fly back to Athens (for convenience). Mykonos, Naxos and Paros all have airports. Olympic flies to all four and Aegean flies to Mykonos and Santorini.
Leave Rhodes and Turkey and Crete for another time.
NYerr, I AM NOT a native islander, I have no idea how you got that impression. I live in Oregon, was born and raised in California. I've been to Greece several times but have no Greek ancestors that I'm aware of.
Thanos, on the other hand, is Greek and does live on Mykonos.
Yes, you can fly to Chania and take the Hellenic Seaways highspeed ferry (it is NOT a hydrofoil) to Santorini, but you'll have to get to Heraklion since there's no ferry service from Chania. If I were to go to Crete this is what I'd do. And you can either rent a car to drive to Heraklion or take the early morning bus.
Crete is the largest island in Greece. Every sort of terrain and situation can be found there, urban and country, cities, rustic mountain villages, seaside resorts, remote beaches. It's a waste of time to compare it to Santorini, that's like comparing apples to oranges.
Ios is small with a charming port village as long as you're there in the off-season. During the summer months it's a 20-something and backpacker's 24/7 party island.
Naxos is a lovely island with an interesting main village, nice beaches and is large enough that you can enjoy some exploration, either by car, bus or motorscooter.
My best advice for a 7 day vacation is to SLOW DOWN, choose Santorini and one other nearby island from which you can fly back to Athens (for convenience). Mykonos, Naxos and Paros all have airports. Olympic flies to all four and Aegean flies to Mykonos and Santorini.
Leave Rhodes and Turkey and Crete for another time.
NYerr, I AM NOT a native islander, I have no idea how you got that impression. I live in Oregon, was born and raised in California. I've been to Greece several times but have no Greek ancestors that I'm aware of.
Thanos, on the other hand, is Greek and does live on Mykonos.
Mar 15th, 2006, 09:34 AM
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BROTHERLEE: thanks so much- it's alot to think about...i'll have to confer w/ the husband and will probably have better questions to ask you-- if you don't mind-- once we make some decisions...
NYERR: yay! i'm always looking for ideas from travelers like you. st. tropez and byblos sound awesome. i've only ever been to st. tropez once-- the florist who did my wedding was based there, and she made us drive there to see her "decorations" which consisted of ONE "choice" for everything, thanks alot. anyway, she does all of bono's dinners and parties, so i was v. upset but couldn't get mad at her; therefore i have been probably unfairly prejudiced against st. tropez for a few years. it's time to bury the ax, perhaps. in any case, how would we get from santorini to st. tropez efficiently, i wonder? any great ideas?
not that you can tell from all that namedropping (haha), we usually stay somewhere truly sick (4-500+) or somewhere cheap and boutiquey ($125 to $175). i HATE paying $200-300-- that is THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD. anyway, we do do the sirenuse in positano everytime. we've done cote d'azur different everytime-- probably because we haven't truly fallen IN LOVE with any hotel....we've done la reserve de beaulieu sur mer (amazing), palais maeterlinck once (rather poetic), and le grimaldi for $125 before the uk tabloids ruined it. that was MY go-to, dammit.
in any case, do YOU think crete sounds rustic? i will cry if i get stuck in a cave w/ yogurt and lamb. kids-- i'm totally kidding. a question for you: is elounda nicer, or is perivolas nicer? we might stay at a b&b for one part of the trip, and do a proper hotel for the other part. that way, i can justify more shopping. =) (does anyone know where there are fendi stores in greece- athens??)
oh, and has anyone stayed at BLUE PALACE? i think it's relatively new, but it looks gorge! ARE YOU READY???!!!i found out a/b this deal where you can get 50% off their rack rate if you use 1,000 starwood points per night! i'm all over that!!!
NYERR: yay! i'm always looking for ideas from travelers like you. st. tropez and byblos sound awesome. i've only ever been to st. tropez once-- the florist who did my wedding was based there, and she made us drive there to see her "decorations" which consisted of ONE "choice" for everything, thanks alot. anyway, she does all of bono's dinners and parties, so i was v. upset but couldn't get mad at her; therefore i have been probably unfairly prejudiced against st. tropez for a few years. it's time to bury the ax, perhaps. in any case, how would we get from santorini to st. tropez efficiently, i wonder? any great ideas?
not that you can tell from all that namedropping (haha), we usually stay somewhere truly sick (4-500+) or somewhere cheap and boutiquey ($125 to $175). i HATE paying $200-300-- that is THE WORST THING IN THE WORLD. anyway, we do do the sirenuse in positano everytime. we've done cote d'azur different everytime-- probably because we haven't truly fallen IN LOVE with any hotel....we've done la reserve de beaulieu sur mer (amazing), palais maeterlinck once (rather poetic), and le grimaldi for $125 before the uk tabloids ruined it. that was MY go-to, dammit.
in any case, do YOU think crete sounds rustic? i will cry if i get stuck in a cave w/ yogurt and lamb. kids-- i'm totally kidding. a question for you: is elounda nicer, or is perivolas nicer? we might stay at a b&b for one part of the trip, and do a proper hotel for the other part. that way, i can justify more shopping. =) (does anyone know where there are fendi stores in greece- athens??)
oh, and has anyone stayed at BLUE PALACE? i think it's relatively new, but it looks gorge! ARE YOU READY???!!!i found out a/b this deal where you can get 50% off their rack rate if you use 1,000 starwood points per night! i'm all over that!!!
Mar 15th, 2006, 10:15 AM
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Brotherleelove2004
OREGON! I thought you lived in Santorini, perhaps not year round, but for extensive periods of time. Also, you seem to do a lot of travel in the area and are extremely familiar with so many other islands. So, how do you know so much about Santorini, etc. I do know of a professor that spends 3 months a year in Tuscany, purely vacation, has a home there. However I had no idea of your ancestry, there are many displaced people all over the world, so living on Santorini would not make you Greek necessariy. Your english is always letter perfect so I am not that surprised, however if I had to guess your roots, I would have guessed Philadelphia because of your screen name!
OREGON! I thought you lived in Santorini, perhaps not year round, but for extensive periods of time. Also, you seem to do a lot of travel in the area and are extremely familiar with so many other islands. So, how do you know so much about Santorini, etc. I do know of a professor that spends 3 months a year in Tuscany, purely vacation, has a home there. However I had no idea of your ancestry, there are many displaced people all over the world, so living on Santorini would not make you Greek necessariy. Your english is always letter perfect so I am not that surprised, however if I had to guess your roots, I would have guessed Philadelphia because of your screen name!
Mar 15th, 2006, 10:37 AM
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Princessre:
Okay, that Starwood deal blows me away. I may need to rethink. What was the 50% off rate. We are Leading Hotels of the World Members (you probably qualify, too) and can get the 4th night free at Elounda Beach when we are going (maybe anyone can get that - go to www.lhw.com). You have to check your travel dates. I don't know why you can't go to Santorini for 3 nights and Elounda for 3-4. Is a night in Athens necessary? You can fly to Santorini from Athens, take the flying Cat to Heraklion, Crete and then fly back from Heraklion to Athens early enough in the AM to catch the flight home. I like that Santorini is so radically different than Crete. I have never been to either, but Crete sounds like it can be almost anything you make it. It can be a luxury 5* or rugged backpacking and anything in between. If not Crete, than maybe Mykonos.
I personally do not know anyone who stayed at Blue Palace but the brochure and internet make it look and sound amazing. There are some posters here who have said they are going early in the season so you can check back.
The Reserve de Bealieau is SICK! Full when we wanted to go. That's how we ended up the Vista Palace which was cantilevered off a cliff with Monaco to the west. And my two favorite hotels are Le Sirenuse and the Lanesboro in London.
My husband would be happy in a cave with a goat eating his Greek yogurt and honey. That's why he doesn't get to make any travel plans.
Sometimes if you are traveling, you need to offset the outrageous expensive with the charming local place. We are staying at Esperas in Santorini, it gets unanimous rave reviews. But if you like paying a lot more (and I am sure there is a difference in what you get) you can stay at Katikies or Perivolas in Santorini.
St. Tropez is for another time. It is not easy to get to. Funny how the smallest thing can turn someone off.
Okay, that Starwood deal blows me away. I may need to rethink. What was the 50% off rate. We are Leading Hotels of the World Members (you probably qualify, too) and can get the 4th night free at Elounda Beach when we are going (maybe anyone can get that - go to www.lhw.com). You have to check your travel dates. I don't know why you can't go to Santorini for 3 nights and Elounda for 3-4. Is a night in Athens necessary? You can fly to Santorini from Athens, take the flying Cat to Heraklion, Crete and then fly back from Heraklion to Athens early enough in the AM to catch the flight home. I like that Santorini is so radically different than Crete. I have never been to either, but Crete sounds like it can be almost anything you make it. It can be a luxury 5* or rugged backpacking and anything in between. If not Crete, than maybe Mykonos.
I personally do not know anyone who stayed at Blue Palace but the brochure and internet make it look and sound amazing. There are some posters here who have said they are going early in the season so you can check back.
The Reserve de Bealieau is SICK! Full when we wanted to go. That's how we ended up the Vista Palace which was cantilevered off a cliff with Monaco to the west. And my two favorite hotels are Le Sirenuse and the Lanesboro in London.
My husband would be happy in a cave with a goat eating his Greek yogurt and honey. That's why he doesn't get to make any travel plans.
Sometimes if you are traveling, you need to offset the outrageous expensive with the charming local place. We are staying at Esperas in Santorini, it gets unanimous rave reviews. But if you like paying a lot more (and I am sure there is a difference in what you get) you can stay at Katikies or Perivolas in Santorini.
St. Tropez is for another time. It is not easy to get to. Funny how the smallest thing can turn someone off.
Mar 15th, 2006, 10:45 AM
#33
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When I first went to Santorini I ended up renting a house, and I stayed for 6 months. 2 years later I did the same thing for another 6 months. since then I've been back several times, the most recent of which was last year, so my information is current.
I've been to a few of the other islands. I get a lot of my information off the internet just like you do. Google is my friend
. A lot of what I discuss is available to everyone if they're willing to do the research, but for those who prefer to ask others, here and on other websites, I pass on what I've either learned first-hand from personal experience, found on the internet, or extrapolated from a combination of "all of the above". I know next to nothing about many of the islands and I'm a complete dunce when it comes to the mainland outside of Athens, but I do know how to read schedules and timetables and find hotels and maps, and if you check with my postings you'll see that most are limited to these subjects. I love Santorini so I've spent a lot of time learning about it, how to get there and what to do and where to stay once you've arrived, and also how to make connections to the surrounding islands by air and ferry. Over the years all this research has come in handy, and I've been fairly accurate in my recommendations, as many will agree.
But I'm not some Greek Island guru. I'm just another traveller who happens to enjoy the process of sharing information in this venue. Sometimes it's necessary to use generalizations but I try to be as specific as my knowledge and experience will allow. I try to avoid expressing opinions about destinations I haven't seen firsthand, but sometimes the information that accumulates leads me to a conclusion that I will pass on if I truly feel it's justified.
I know Oia well. I'm less familiar with the other villages since they don't attract me, except to say things like Fira is where to go for nightlife, how crowded it can get in the summer months, descriptions of the bus system, beaches, restaurants, etc. Lots of little bits of info accumulated and worthy of being passed on. That's it. That's me.
Schuler, I live near Eugene.
Princessre, if there are any other questions of yours that I can answer, of course I am happy to do so. Also, I advise you to post your questions about Crete over on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Western Europe Branch. There are contributors there who love Crete and will be more than happy to help you.
I've been to a few of the other islands. I get a lot of my information off the internet just like you do. Google is my friend
. A lot of what I discuss is available to everyone if they're willing to do the research, but for those who prefer to ask others, here and on other websites, I pass on what I've either learned first-hand from personal experience, found on the internet, or extrapolated from a combination of "all of the above". I know next to nothing about many of the islands and I'm a complete dunce when it comes to the mainland outside of Athens, but I do know how to read schedules and timetables and find hotels and maps, and if you check with my postings you'll see that most are limited to these subjects. I love Santorini so I've spent a lot of time learning about it, how to get there and what to do and where to stay once you've arrived, and also how to make connections to the surrounding islands by air and ferry. Over the years all this research has come in handy, and I've been fairly accurate in my recommendations, as many will agree. But I'm not some Greek Island guru. I'm just another traveller who happens to enjoy the process of sharing information in this venue. Sometimes it's necessary to use generalizations but I try to be as specific as my knowledge and experience will allow. I try to avoid expressing opinions about destinations I haven't seen firsthand, but sometimes the information that accumulates leads me to a conclusion that I will pass on if I truly feel it's justified.
I know Oia well. I'm less familiar with the other villages since they don't attract me, except to say things like Fira is where to go for nightlife, how crowded it can get in the summer months, descriptions of the bus system, beaches, restaurants, etc. Lots of little bits of info accumulated and worthy of being passed on. That's it. That's me.
Schuler, I live near Eugene.
Princessre, if there are any other questions of yours that I can answer, of course I am happy to do so. Also, I advise you to post your questions about Crete over on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Western Europe Branch. There are contributors there who love Crete and will be more than happy to help you.
Mar 15th, 2006, 11:48 AM
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I live my entire life not so many kilometres from Santorini and realise after reading Lee on Fodor that I know not much about my neighbour island.
I fish many times so next trip we go I will ask Lee for best areas around Thira if we decide to travel south. I bet he will be able to tell me! he he he
thanos
I fish many times so next trip we go I will ask Lee for best areas around Thira if we decide to travel south. I bet he will be able to tell me! he he he
thanos
Mar 15th, 2006, 12:25 PM
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BrotherleeLove2004:
My girlfriends and I are flying into Athens for One night, then taking a ferry to Santorini for 2 nights, and then Mykonos for 2 nights, and then back to Athens for One night. If you don't mind can you recommend a hotel in Fira, Santorini and Mykonos? We want to be in the center of all the action if affordable...
My girlfriends and I are flying into Athens for One night, then taking a ferry to Santorini for 2 nights, and then Mykonos for 2 nights, and then back to Athens for One night. If you don't mind can you recommend a hotel in Fira, Santorini and Mykonos? We want to be in the center of all the action if affordable...
Mar 15th, 2006, 12:36 PM
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Mar 15th, 2006, 02:18 PM
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nyerr: check it out!! it's a starwood promotion. i've got to see whether it works or not.
but you know, the elounda deal is pretty smokin', too.
cool that you compare santorini to eze. i love eze.
are the beaches in greece rocky (therefore i need a hotel pool no matter where i stay, right), or is it the black sand that some talk a/b?
does the sea look forbidding, or does it look friendly?
brotherlee: i love that you've learned so much a/b santorini. it must be a magical place to hold your attention like thus. what kind of fish can you catch there-- do you have to charter a boat or can you just roll up your pants?
but you know, the elounda deal is pretty smokin', too.
cool that you compare santorini to eze. i love eze.
are the beaches in greece rocky (therefore i need a hotel pool no matter where i stay, right), or is it the black sand that some talk a/b?
does the sea look forbidding, or does it look friendly?
brotherlee: i love that you've learned so much a/b santorini. it must be a magical place to hold your attention like thus. what kind of fish can you catch there-- do you have to charter a boat or can you just roll up your pants?
Mar 15th, 2006, 02:35 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2004
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The beaches vary from island to island. Santorini's beaches are black sand or black/red rock. Be sure to wear flip-flops or you might burn the bottoms of your feet if it's really hot.
Most of the islands in the Cyclades have sandy beaches.
Princessre, I've never fished on Santorini. I'm vegetarian. There are plenty of locals who do, although I've never seen one doing it with a rod and reel. They use nets. There is a wide variety of species to be had, judging from the selections set out on ice at the fish tavernas around dinnertime. Also, be advised that I have yet to hear of a heated hotel swimming pool on Santorini. As far as I know they're only heated by the sun, so it might be a bit on the cool side mid-September since the sun has lost much of it's heat by then due to the low angle in the sky.
By the way, FYI if anyone wants to avoid a bonehead mistake like the one I made my last trip to Santorini, if you plan to stay at any of the Katikies properties, the correct pronunciation is not 'Ka-TEE-kees,' which is what I thought. The correct pronunciation is 'Ka-tee-KEE-ess.'
Most of the islands in the Cyclades have sandy beaches.
Princessre, I've never fished on Santorini. I'm vegetarian. There are plenty of locals who do, although I've never seen one doing it with a rod and reel. They use nets. There is a wide variety of species to be had, judging from the selections set out on ice at the fish tavernas around dinnertime. Also, be advised that I have yet to hear of a heated hotel swimming pool on Santorini. As far as I know they're only heated by the sun, so it might be a bit on the cool side mid-September since the sun has lost much of it's heat by then due to the low angle in the sky.
By the way, FYI if anyone wants to avoid a bonehead mistake like the one I made my last trip to Santorini, if you plan to stay at any of the Katikies properties, the correct pronunciation is not 'Ka-TEE-kees,' which is what I thought. The correct pronunciation is 'Ka-tee-KEE-ess.'
