Family Trip to Greece Advice requested

Jewels, you need to take into account the travel time between your stops. If you leave Naxos on Saturday, you won't be dropping off your luggage at your Athens hotel until late Saturday morning at best. Then you're proposing to do a day-trip to Delphi on Sunday. That leaves just part of Saturday for all that Athens has to offer. Athens is not my favorite city, and it's not a place I'd choose to hang around for a week, but the museums, the Acropolis... Really, you aren't giving the city enough time.

I'd suggest dropping Hydra, the island people mostly go to when they don't have time to get to one of the more distant islands. Add one of those nights to Athens and one to Naxos. I'd try to continue on to Naxos or Santorini on the day you fly in. That does involve a bit of a gamble on the flight time. If you tell us what time your flight is due to land in Athens, and your arrival date, folks here can tell you the earliest flight to Naxos or Santorini they would even consider--assuming there are any suitable ones, that is. Since you'll already be at the airport, going on by air makes the most sense to me.

I have been to Hydra, but not the other two island. I loved it, but agree with acraven's assessment to give it miss and put those days elsewhere. By trying to fit in too many places, you'll miss the very things you want to see. The beaches on Hydra are accessed by either a long walk or a small boat and are rocky.

I loved Athens, but many do not. However, if you do Delphi, that leaves just a very short time to see the major sites in Athens under your current itinerary.

Totally agree w others advice .... Hydra is mainly promoted as a daytrip from Athens as a passing glance at an island, and not much for your girls... add the 2 nights to NAXOS, a dream island for teens if you stay at Ag. Giorgios Beach /St George, directly adjacent to town, they can wander about, Safely, be a bit independent without you worrying a lot, just let them have a phone & mandate periodic calls. The other good beach for your family, Ag. Prokopios, will already be closing down somewhat by mid-late Sept. And if u rent a car, Naxos is FAB to explore & hike .. hillside villages, marble mountains, ruins in orchards, many beaches, the Castle (Kastro) up top has real cannons ... if you want a boat trip, there are ones to tiny "beach islands" nearby, or to Antiparos, with kayaking & such. WHY have a pool when the Aegean in August is SO perfect!!???? You will never see bluer water, easier to swim and float in, so crystal-clear you can see your toenails who needs a pool. Tiny Museum (3 rooms, 2 guards) at top of Naxos is the Worlds Best Collection of mysterious pre-Minoan marble figurines... do not miss. Weekly up in the kastro, there are concerts of tradtional Naxian music AND dance (performed by village teen group). Also, Naxos beach places often have the kind of lodgings you describe -- "1 BR studio unit" ... bedroom for the grownups plus big main room w. 2 daybeds, kitchenette, table & Chairs and large balcony. IF on ST George beach you want a view of the water, close to the sands .... look at Villa Naxia, Sun Beach, Studios Galazia, Studios Kalergis, Studios Thomais, Diogenis Studios, IppoKampos Beachfront Hotel. None of these are "fancy" with big lobbies or deluxe airs ... but they ARE on the beach or just steps off. Any pool hotels are back from the beach.

We are going on a similar trip with family (but young adult children) this May and I know how challenging it is to not to try to do everything. I wanted to go to Hydra too but eliminated it--no sandy beaches for my gang and closed ferry that makes the trip like being in an airplane (I know from previous travel in Italy). This is what I would suggest. I would give one Hydra night to Santorini and one to Naxos and delete Delphi. I would have three nights in Santorini because that would give you two days and you are going to be jet lagged. Otherwise only one day. I would delete Delphi because you don't presently have even a full day in Athens and seems silly to travel when you haven't seen what is in Athens. I too really want to see Delphi but am not this trip. There but only so much time.

Fly to Athens. Arrive early enough to fly to Santorini same day. Arrive late afternoon.
Santorini 3 nights, take either 10:30 am ferry or 3:30 ferry to Naxos.

Naxos 4 nights. Ferry or fly to Athens.

Athens 2 nights.

This really will give you only one full day in Athens (Sunday) with traveling (5 hours I think on ferry versus 45 minutes on plane but hour into Athens regardless). I am thinking from your original allocation of days that you are less interested in Athens. But an alternative would be to stay on Naxos for your original 3 nights and give one Hydra day to Athens.

Beth

Thank you so much for your advice. I just snatched our tickets as the price dropped this morning. Now we're arriving in Athens late Sat so we'll have to spend the night and catch the Santorini flight out the next morning. Any advice on decent hotels near the airport, preferably w/shuttle service?

What does "decent" mean? (diferent things to different people!) What is your budget per night? Holiday Inn Attika has a shuttle service but room rate is 130E+ for a double, don't know if they have connecting rooms, u may need 2 rooms, & put 1 parent/1 girl in each. ... my fave B & B St Thomas B & B has just 3 units ... one is 2-room, would work for yr family, has pool, taxi €10-15 from airport, 10-15 minutes. Another alternative, Peris Hotel, used to have complimentary shuttle, doesn't advertise it now ... its also about 15 mins from Airport. No dinner, but short walk to a couple of tavernas.

We have some of our group coming in late the day before the rest and so looked into hotels near the airport. St. Thomas seemed rather charming but no shuttle. Peris hotel has a shuttle but no charm. I emailed both places which responded promptly.

We have ended up at neither since they decided to just keep going to Santorini and stay near the airport where they will meet the rest of us the next day.

Beth

There's a Sofitel hotel right at the airport, a few minutes' walk from the terminal, but it's expensive.

Dick when they said "decent" and were concerned to get a free shuttle, I assumed (perhaps wrongly) that they were not interested in paying Sofitel's pricey rates.

The Avra Hotel in Rafina runs a free shuttle which takes about 25 minutes. We’ve used it a couple of times recently and it is efficient and reliable. The hotel itself is fine and does a good buffet breakfast. There are several restaurants within five minutes walk.

http://www.hotelavra.gr/how_to_come/

Alan

Skip Delphi; there is plenty to see and do in Athens and you will be more relaxed before your departure.