Best way to visit Meteora and the Monasteries?

Thanks Janis for all the tips!

If we get a chance to return there, we will probably just rent a car and drive. The roads are well marked in Greek and English. I also think you can take a bus from Athens to Kalambaka. Kalambaka is the town at the foot of "Meteora". There are hotels in the "downtown" area of Kalambaka and several cafes, restaurants, etc. available. Don't remember the names, but food always good except at a restaurant named Panorama.
In town you can get a taxi to drive you to the parking area where you can walk to a specific monastery, and they will wait for you. Not expensive. I think local tours are also available.
It's wonderful. Have a great time.

We stayed in the Orfeus hotel in Kalambaka for 65 Euro per night and it was just fine and well located. We arrived by train from Thessaloniki. The day before our trip up to the monasteries, we hired a taxi driver to pick us up at our hotel. I went to the line of taxi drivers and the first two did not speak English. The third one had to get approval from the others before he would agree to take us. It would have been difficult without an English speaking driver. He drove us to four monasteries and waited for us and was with us for four and 1/2 hours. We paid him 100 Euros because we were very pleased. It is an awesome place.

While Greece is not known for it's train system, the train from Athens to Kalambaka is much nicer than the bus. It does involve one change along the way, but a bus would involve several. Once in Kalambaka, you can use a tour company, taxi, or take the public bus up to one of the further monastaries and walk downhill back along the main road, hitting 2-3 monastaries along the way. Two nights, with an uninterupted day would be ideal. Both Lonely Planet and Let's Go have a nice range of dependable rooms.

Wow! Thanks to all for the specific, detailed help which is just what I need. Gives me something to dream about until next year! Thanks again.