Beach Towels

Any beach area town will have stores with all the supplies, including towels, that you'll need. Many people use rollable straw mats, which are easier, since they do not need washing. You can just use a very small hand towel from your hotel if you go the mat route. With the dry air in Greece, you won't be wet for very long.

Did you ask the 'landlord' if they provide them?

I was not looking for them when there so have no recollection of seeing them, but suspect they would be available.

We're traveling around Greece for 26 days and staying in several places (some airbnb's) so don't want to count on lodging towels, but Im sure we'll find something :) Thanks

Microfibre travel towels could be a good investment. RS store sells them and probably places like REI etc.

Emma, no, I agree. I wasn't planning on using accommodation towels (I hadn't even thought of that! ...about which Im not sure I should be proud, or embarrassed).

As I read the responses, I realize I was thinking more in terms of something to sit on and dry off with. A small towel for drying would be fine, and then maybe a blanket for sitting (there are 5 of us) - this would be easier and less messy. But again, just thinking it through here has made me more cavalier about finding something. Thanks

Jessica, except for Athens, towels are widely available, and often very cheaply ... in Nafplio, venture a block or two outside of Old Town, and they'll be dirt cheap ... 4 - 5€. I remember a friend & I at St. George beach adjacent to Naxos Town, neither one of us had brought a beach towel, we vied for title of Ugliest Beach Towel @ €4. My friend won but I was a close runner-up. However, in other places I have bought 2-3 other towels (one is blue/white Greek flag, another says "Ellas" in Greek letters, another is all dolphins) which I proudly sport at my local health-club pool and elsewhere, to admiring comment.

BTW, you say you're doing carry-on (I assume a rollaboard 20" or 22" suitcase), you also can bring on a "personal bag" the size of a sizable "tote" ... For my Greece trips I bring a tote with shoulder length handles, about 14" x 20". Inside, I carry my "dagbag, phone, magazine, paperback, snacks, AND my lightest-weight beachtowel, which then becomes my neckpillow for sleeping....

Thanks Janet. We are bringing backpacks (osprey 46's), and stuff-able backpacks (setosummit) that weigh ounces for overflow weight + under the seat stuff

Great idea Emma.

Btw, I still laugh about a post you wrote where you described the different guide-book devotees (rough, lonely planet, RS, TA, etc) as being at war with each other, and said something like ".. and here come the RS folks with their sensible shoes.." ;p

Sarong with money belt: LOL

Sand? I don't remember seeing any sand on the beaches. I must admit I didn't get to the beach in Nafplio though. Also, will you have room in your bags for beach towels while you're touring in Greece?

We pack a small, lightweight duffel in our luggage and just check it through to our destination on the way home. Since we only have carry-on bags otherwise, it still counts within our luggage limit as one checked bag. That way if we buy some extra stuff we don't have to worry about getting it all back into the carry on luggage : ) We usually rent a car so having an extra duffel also comes in handy for all the miscellaneous stuff that will otherwise float around in the trunk.

We always take a couple large RS microfiber towels that weigh next to nothing. Takes up little space. It has multiple uses: great for the beach, useful for rolling wet clothing in after washing in sink before hanging clothes to dry, serves as a great "tablecloth" for picnics, etc.

Many useful ideas. Yes we will be carrying the towels around Greece - they can fit in our bags, I was just concerned about how much they might add to the girth and possibly weight apropos of airline restrictions. Trying to keep our backpacks light and small-looking (Osprey 46 Porters)... We will probably look for something cheap there and then leave them in Greece...
I believe there are sandy beaches in some places, like Naxos, Crete, and maybe Nafplio, all of which we will visit.
Thanks for the ideas everyone

Good luck Jessica with those Ospreys ... yes you probably will be able to get under the weight limit (i think about 45 lb) and maybe the measurements limit... but remember those overhead bins are VERY hard to stuff something like an Osprey megabackpack into ... they won't charge you, but they may take it away at the plane's entry door.

Thanks Janet. We travel with the Osprey 46 exclusively (even the 4'7" 10 year old), domestically and abroad, and so far so good getting them in overheads. I wouldn't call them mega - they've always slipped quite easily into overheads (they have that burrito feature, where you can cinch the bag to make it more compact). Im ok with a gate check if need be. But I do like to be conservative in anticipation of issues

Everywhere we stayed had beach towels provided so no need to lug around

Joann, you probably stayed in more upscale places .... if one stays in a small family-run place (10 - 20 rooms), beach-size towels are your own responsibility. Furnished towels come with higher room rate.

We are staying at Kymata on Naxos and I emailed them and they said they supply towels for the beach.

Beth

I seem to recall a mix of sandy and pebbly beaches in that area. In June, you may find that the sand is too hot to walk on, so a thin microfibre towel or a sarong may not offer much protection when sitting down. You are unlikely to find a blanket that’s large enough for 5 of you to lie or one that doesn’t weigh much.

There are plenty of shops selling towels near the beaches anywhere in Greece.

Some hotels permit you to use their towels by the pool, but not take to the beach, but I haven’t come across any apartments that permit this.

I don’t know why Americans are so adverse to taking a checked in bag of a sensible size so that you can take enough provisions for your holiday, such as beach towels and your favourite brand of sunscreen etc. It means less laundry whilst you are away and as all bags have wheels these days, carrying it isn’t an issue. I think RS has brain washed everyone!!

I always always pack a sarong !!! So useful ! You won't care about drying off , it's hot and you'll be dry fast , daring can be a cover up and a chair / lounge cover. Sarongs are lightweight and dry fast ( if you buy a towel you still will be packing it around and you don't want damp and sandy in your bag .

Ornoft/ the folks at Kymata are so nice you'll love them .

Thanks everyone! Who would have thought beach towels would garner so many responses.
I think we'll just look for something there; blanket, towels, whatever is easiest

Jennifer - We checked bags for awhile domestically, then stopped, and prefer not checking them. I actually had no idea what RS' opinion is on the subject. I just find all the lines and waiting very tedious. Id rather walk in and walk out, and carry less.
That said, if I packed all the things I want to bring and my bag weighed too much, I would check it ;) I had an unpleasant experience with the sunscreen we bought in Italy last summer so I am debating adding that weight this time ...