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Another post trip report!

Been meaning to do this so here it is as I utilized information off this forum for my great trip!

I flew into Athens and directly out to Naxos with arrival and departure 2.5 hours apart. I was worried about this as not sure how long it takes to go thru immigration but all went smoothly. I had a taxi waiting at Naxos airport arranged by Kalgeris Studios where I stayed. Kalgeris Studio is well located on St. George beach and a short walk to the main town, Chora. Nice room and staff, great views. The city bus service went to the main places I wanted to go as a first time visitor (Chalki, Apiranthos, Apollonas). Did go on one of the hikes in the Chalki area had some navigational issues (but probably just personal). Favorite meals in Chora at Meze 2 located on waterfront as well as Kastro up higher in old town. Had booked day excursions to Delos/Myconos and also to Santorini on the MV Alexander. Long days each and some wild rides for part of each excursion, inexpensive at 50 euro for the first and 65 for the second. Wished more time on Delos and less on Mykonos. Santorini spectacular to see from boat entering caldera. 5 nights not enough time on Naxos due to the 2 days of excursions. I caught the 9:30 am ferry back to Pireaus and caught the 4:15 fast ferry to Aegina (of note the docks for these 2 are very close to each other).

I highly recommend visiting Aegina (Ag in ah). Sights easy to get to by city bus including Temple of Afea and Paleochora (need plenty of time here). I did take the short cut trail from Afea to Agha Marina which was a nice alternative to busing there. Had a nice lunch with view over the water. In the main town, The Temple of Apollo (right across from the hotel I stayed in). One of the site employees insisted on walking me through the site personally he did not speak English but we communicated well without common language. Next I ferried on to island of Agistri (15 minutes from Aegina). Very small, quiet. I stayed at Rosy's Little Village on the water. Very basic rooms, very friendly people including Rosy, great food prepared on site (organic foods, also gluten and dairy free options if needed, luckily not me but important to many). Water beautiful right in front for swimming mostly rocks, small strip of sand. Sun beds, umbrellas, sun chairs provided by Rosys. I did not look for any sites just stayed at Rosys entire time with everything you need for relaxing.

After 2 blissful days returned to Athens for 2 nights. Visited Acropolis early am surprised that Acropolis pass to see several sites is 30 euros not the 12 euros that i have seen reported. 20 gets you into Acropolis and Dionysus theater. The short walk up to Filopappos Monument provides a fabulous view of Acropolis and also Athens, Port of Pireaus with an interesting little Byzantium Church along the way. Lunch at the Acropolis Museum with a great view of the Parthenon and tasty, imaginative food. For an afternoon treat had a drink and a fruit plate at cafe on Diogenes Street overlooking the Lysicrates Monument and just people watched. I stayed at the Phillipos Hotel and was rewarded with a room with a balcony with view of Acropolis for the price of a single room. All I did was request a balcony with a view and viola I got more than I expected! Great location just a couple blocks from the Acropolis. Had a drink at the rooftop garden bar/restaurant at their sister hotel the Heroidion which is closer to Acropolis. Great nighttime view. (I enjoyed the Phillipos Hotel much better than the Acropolis Select where I stayed in April).

I was traveling alone and had such a great time talking to local people, all friendly, as well as other single tourists from various countries. I enjoyed each place I stayed and all my connections went smoothly (flights, ferries, excursions, buses, prebooked taxis on Naxos and in Athens). The input I got from this forum contributed to my great trip,THANK YOU!

Posted by
3311 posts

I am delighted everything worked out so well, Carol! My mind is like a sieve these days, but I think I was the one who tipped you off about the short-cut trail on Aegina, and also Rosy's Little village -- that looks SO great, I haven't been there but friends told me about it -- I'm planning to get there at the end of a trip one day. About the Athens landmark-site tickets .. no you were not misinformed, the prices just went up a week before your trip. It was sticker-shock but overdue... the Athens ancient-site prices were HALF what's been charged for years in Paris, Rome, London, etc. And aside from Acropolis, a lot of the other sites can be appreciated as a "walk-by." Thanks for feedback on Phillipos ... I, too, like the hotel locations South of Acropolis much more than the trafficky places to the North. And you even got to my Diogenes cafe! Well done.

Posted by
156 posts

Yes Janet I planned my trip utilizing your gems as well as some from stanbr and I do mean gems!!

Posted by
1350 posts

Glad you had a great trip. Thanks for your report.

Posted by
3311 posts

stanbr & I are a "tag team" but I owe him more than vice-versa ... I shamelessly use links to his SUPERB photos to illustrate my suggestions (I just now looked at my own recent photos of a family get-together & they look like pix taken by a cross-eyed drunk.)

Posted by
6428 posts

Thanks for this, Carol. Took me back to our trip a year ago. I hope to get to Naxos or a similar island in the future. We stayed at the Herodion and liked the rooftop bar/restaurant very much. From the rooftop, after dark, we could see right across to the top floor of the Acropolis Museum, with the sculptures lit up from inside -- quite an effect. Not to mention the Parthenon in the other direction. The restaurant closed for the season while we were there, late in October, but we had a couple of good dinners.