Just starting research but want to book Flights

The maximum # of destinations you can reasonably aim for in 14 -16 days would be THREE islands plus 1-2 days in Athens. You list SIX islands including one which is virtually a country (Crete) ... I would not attempt crete unless you're willing to rent a car for the time you are there, and have at least 4 FULL days (5 nights).

Hey Janet...thanks.

I am not sure we will hit all those islands...that is what I am researching.. good to know your thoughts on how many.

and I am pretty confident we would rent a car in Crete.

The problem is of course wanting to do it all and we can't. So we need to narrow it down. I was going to be posting to get opininos but wanted to do my research first for which islands. (we are not big city people..mainly like outdoorsy, pretty scenary nice towns..and 'different' places we can't do/see anywhere else).

It's always best to save Athens for the end to avoid any problems returning to the mainland for your flight home.

Visit Santorini and either Naxos or Paros for a diverse island experience.

Save Crete for another time. It takes a minimum of a week with a rental car just to barely scratch the surface.

Hi Stacey,
I have recently finished structuring our May trip to Greece, except for some inter-island flights. Here's some of what I've learned and what we're doing. The common recommendation is to end in Athens if you are flying home from there: the reason being to avoid any transportation glitches. This fits with my natural inclination to sleep at or very near an airport the night before departure.
We arrive at 5:00 p.m. and will spend the night at an airport hotel. We will fly out to Rhodes the next morning.
After 5 nights in Rhodes, we'll head to Crete. As has been pointed out to you, Crete is really big. I 've allotted 12 days for it. There's a tremendous amount to see and do, including historic sights and museums, as well as many outdoor scenic areas.
From Crete, we head to Santorini for 3 nights. The flights from Santorini to Athens are really cheap . . I got us tickets for 19 euros/pp + the fee for checking bags. Check out Aegean/Olympic Airlines for island hopping. We've been to Athens before, but I gave us 2 nights so that we can catch a couple of things we missed.
We have 23 days, not including the ones for flying to and from Europe; and I decided that including another island would make things too hectic. Therefore I'll second the opinion that you need to cut down the number of destinations. I think, based on intense study of my guidebook, that many of the islands have similar attractions: gorgeous beaches, archaeological sites and museums, historic towns and quaint villages.
I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about what else I've learned in my preparations.

Thanks both of you..and Rosalyn..that was great from what you have researched. Wish I had 23 days ! :-)

And the statement that the islands all have quaint villages, beaches etc...is why I want to look for anything different.

I would love to know what book you used to do your research.

I may or may not fly from Athens, as there are flights out the connect from the other islands..but it just might make it easier. I am sure I will have more questions for you and thanks for offering to share.

Stacey, run over to your local library and take home an armful of guidebooks. For a good OVerview (pictorial), look at EYEWITNESS: the GREEK ISlands. I have shelves full of Greek Guidebooks & books on Greek ar cheology etc ... but if I had to pick just ONE ... it would be ROUGH GUIDE to Greece. Separate sections on Island Groups (Cyclades, etc) PLUS sections on food, culture, language history (this last is Terrific! adds tremendously to your experience). Few photos -- but that's what the internet is for. A guide book, unlike websites which are often promotional, exists to help you SIFT, and sort, and learn the candid facts that shiny travel brochures never mention (like which places are totally touristy and tacky).

As for your trip, since it's short & you want to see a lot, I STILL encourage you to spent your last 1.5 days in Athens -- you will enjoy if you stay in the right place... I favor the SOUTH side of Acropolis site, because it's quiet, green trees, almost car free... there is a splendid pedestrian promenade all along the s. side, lovely at sunset, children in strollers, balloon man, charming, like a movie. If you stay at a hotel like Herodion, it's only steps to the Acropolis Museum, and to the entry to the Acropolis site... and wonderful topfloor terrace. Sister hotel a few 100 yards away, Hotel Phillipos, is also nice, lower room rates. (you can look for bargain on booking.com then contact hotels direct; u may get an upgrade even). Here are Stanbr's photo album of Acropolis area -- i think it will change your mindset about "big city" Athens -- the Plaka area is mostly OLD buildings, low skyline, narrow lanes, quaint. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632121475515/

BTW, when you say "there are flights out that connect from the other islands" --- mystifying, if you are talking about going directly back to USA. There ARE a few flights from certain Greek islands that go to European destinations .. but not US-bound flilghts -- not even ones that connect in Paris, Frankfurt etc, for US flights. Hard to advise on aspects like this that are unclear.

Thanks Janet...gotcha and love the pics and recommendation for area already.

And on the book for that "one". :-)

The flights were more that I could get a connection from HER to somewhere...like Vienna or Dorseldorf etc.

BUT I am thinking I will just go to Athens. like you said...

Appreciate it.

I used the Cadogan Guide, "Greek Islands." Pretty much the only place you can get Cadogans is on Amazon. They are my favorite guidebooks, because they are very comprehensive, including information on small, out-of-the-way places that other guides omit. I don't use them for accommodation and restaurant recommendations. I got almost all my hotel reservations from booking.com.

To Rosalyn --
I just have to give a shout-out for the Cadogan books, if you can get them from the library. There are 2; for the islands and for the Peloponnese I think. Why? THey're wonderful bedside books, to be read simply for the joy. The prose is wonderful, the insights of the Author (Dana Vacaro?), just pleasure. I think they're both not updated since ??? 2008?? but as for history, and ancient landmarks, those don't change, and mostly no change in the ambience of a given location.