Santorini, Athens and possibly another island for 5 women traveling together.

it has no a/c will that be a problem this time of year?

Depends on how well you tolerate heat. Weather records for that time, this year, showed high in upper 80s and night lows at 70.

Unless you have been before, I would add a couple night to Athens, at the end, to see the historic sites there.

I don't think AC is an issue since the you generally the cooling sea breezes coming in from the sea. As suggested earlier Athens is worth a couple nights. I would stay in Athens at least three nights at the end. Makes it easier and more convenient to get to the airport. It is somewhat difficult to do day trips to the other island because the ferries are not that frequent. Not like buses and trains on the mainland. You need to look at the schedules. You have nine nights. I would do six on Santorini and three in Athens. Nice relaxing schedule.

Kelli — I assume (hope) you are flying directly to Santorini after arriving in Athens? I have travelled to various Greek islands in that time period & never needed AC — so you should be OK.

But I think even 6 nights in Santorini is too many. I would spend 3 nights, then ferry to Naxos for a completely different island experience. Stay on St George beach. There’s a hotel called Kymata that has a large suite with a terrace overlooking the sea that sounds perfect for your group. You may need another smaller room as well, but the the group could gather on the terrace. Look it up on Booking.com or search this forum for Kymata.

Spend 3 or 4 nights on Naxos, then fly back to Athens for your remaining time. This sounds like a fun trip.

Well, we spent three nights on santorini and were satisfied with that but have friends who happily spent a week. Personally, I agree with the suggestion to split your time with Naxos. We liked Naxos even more than santorini.

We were on santorini the same time of year as you are proposing in a house that did not have air conditioning. It was not too hot but 2 of 7 were kept awake by barking dogs. Both my daughter and I are very light sleepers and were quite happy to subsequently have a/c.

Beth

I agree with others to limit time on Santorini. We were there last Sept. Stayed 4 nights. We felt 3 nights was plenty. We enjoyed our week on Naxos. Sounds like you picked a great time before it gets too warm.

Kelisean,, first of all thanks for giving important facts up front! Dates of trip, time of arrival, how many, ages, fitness level --we "regulars" are so grateful to have the full picture. Now the question is, helping you plan the best, most enjoyable trip. You are planning far ahead, so you have time to learn a lot, & make wise decisions. The contributors so far have given very sound advice, based on experience, that jibes with my experience in 12 trips, 9 of them with 3-4 newcomers like you. Main points:

• Since departure day doesn't count, & arrival day is only 1/2, you have only 8 1/2 days. As other say, the most time-efficient strategy is to FLY immediately to Santorini ASAP after your delta flight arrives; allow about 2 hours. There's usually a noonish Aegean Air flight (and if you sign up for Ag. Air "newsletter" -- https://aegeanairlines.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/302/related/1 -- you will get e-mail alerts to ticket "sales"; around Jan-Feb tix go on sale for May at about 50% off -- but they go fast, so Pounce! The fligt gets uto santorini in 50 mins, vs 8-9 hours on ferry... precious hours for your short stay.

• SANTORINI - 8 nights waaay too manyi!! it's only 12 miles long... and since alas you'll be here on weekdays, that's when monster cruise ships dock -- often 3-4 daily, 8-9,000 cruisers!! -- invade & clog those lanes to overflowing. With good strategizing, you can mostly avoid them, get your fill of gazing at the Famous Caldera View... and after 2 1/2 days (3 nights) move on to an island that's authentically greek still, has no cruise mobs or package-tour throngs... and the beaches, scenery and beauty you seek. After all my trips and visiting 25+ islands many of them multiple times, Naxos remains my favorite.. and 2 other contributors here (whom I advised to go there) liked it too. see recommends below.

• SANTORINI LODGINGS - You say you're willing to spend upto $1,000 per night for accoms. for 5 with caldera view -- that would be $3,000 for 3 nights -- very doable, by thinking ahead. Also, I'd be leery of a AirBnb or VRBO when you don't know a place well... people can say that a place is in Fira, but it could be very inconvenient... do you have an exact location on a Google map? I bet not. Also, when you rent from such places, the deal is ironclad, and if one of your party had to drop out, or you had to change length of stay -- outa luck. Instead of Fira OR Oia, I always recommend Firostephani ... its at the N. End of Fira, has places all along the rim with caldera views and yet is totally bypassed by cruise crowds or tour busses by day or night, so always serene. It's an easy 15 minute walk to all the attractions of Fira Town, and there's a nearby bus stop to get to OIA & back. Have you looked at Booking.com at all??? I just now went to Firostephani booking.com and put in dates of May 28-29 -30 5 adults need 3 rooms and Whoops! up came many choices with caldera views, from $2,000 on up. One place I happen to know, and have enjoyed the view there, is SUNSET Hotel. It's inland side has entry right off the N-S road, very easyfor your friend w. knee replacements -- no climging down steep stepson clifside. They ave 3 twin-bedded rooms, A/C, for your dates @ $522 ea (= $1566) including GOOD breakfast. The layout there is, all these rooms have a caldera veiw tdhru window, and open on looong lovely communal terrace with upholstered settees. I have sat on that terrace, enjoying Santorini white wine (superb!) watching sunset, with NO crowds. NO prepayment required and FRee cancellation up til May 20. It's NO -risk, and a great location. (click on Map view... and you'll see exactly where it is & prices of surrounding hotels). No pool, but you'll be too busy to swim... save that for your Next stop @ Naxos. I've reached the maximm wordage on the RS forum, so the rest must come later.... but I urge you to book Sunset Hotel NOW, while 3 twin-bed rooms are still available.

Thank you for all the helpful information. The Villa Dali is listed on Booking.com and TripAdvisor. From google maps it is near le petite hotel. I will discuss options with my group.

Sincerely
Kelli

Kelli, back again...

SANTORINI ACCOMS - I just checked Villa Dali on Booking.com, & indeed it'squite a good location... seems it was recently converted from a private home... and the price seems lower than your quoted daily limit of $200 ($1000 for 5). A few concerns occur to me:
• Entry is from "rim path" which means you must walk down steep steps on cliffside to reach rooms.. is this OK with your "knee person"; you'd need to enquire owner re # of steps
• May 28-29-30 are the 3 days of week with MOST cruise ships (7-9,000 people pouring into Fira), so rim-path will be full from 10-4 in this area, near the top of cable car... just be aware.
• Was your "Tentative reserve" for 8 nights? Will rate change if you just do 3?
• May 2018 Greece heat wave mid 90s... no A/C no pool would be chancy, I speak from experience
• Booking.com says "partial refund" -- did you already "lock in" CC payment?? Please please tell me not.
• Description says 3 br, but jst 2 Q beds 1 full, 1 sofa bed. Do u want to rent a place where 2 of you mst share a bed? U could cancel on this basis alone.
• Since Sunset has FRee Cancellation, I recommend booking it too, as no-risk place-holder while u figure stuff out.

NAXOS -- Charlene's tip is GOLD ... Kymata is GREAT location in St. George beach (which is exactly where you want to be... in fact I'll be there myself June 5 -10 roughly). That top floor is perfect, + extra units, nobody shares bed, everyone shares terrace, u have A/C plus kitchenettes for breakfast snacks etc. St. George works so well because all 5 don't have to do same thing/same time; some can loll on beach htere, others can wander town... museums etc... others take bus to far beach like Prokopios. level walk to sea front ... great hikng potential. GOOD day-excursion tour or half-day, or easy rent-car @ $50 or less for round-isle whirl. This island is worth at least 3 days of your stay, maybe 4 (because thre's a day-excursion available to Mykonos). Also, in Naxos do NOT look for Villas ... for historic reasons (beachfront filled up with small pensions & budget hotels before an upmarket developed for villas) ... almost all of them are way back from beach, and may even require car to get places. With a group of 5 individuals, that is coordination hell, talk about herding cats!

After Naxos you have to return to mainland, and with your very limited days, I recommend following scenario:
FINAL-DAYS SCENARIO
• FLY back from Naxos (snag "promotional rate"Jan-Feb, $50?). To Central Ath by Metro or x95 bus (i prefer latter) depending on hotel localae. Taxi limit = 4 + luggage). 4 could take taxi, draw straw, loser takes bus.
• FERRY back ($45 reserved-economy); day ferry 9:45-3 chews up a whole day. Alternative: 6 pm-11:30pm, gives u whole extra afternoon for swims, walks etc. Catch? Must check out noon. Answer? Stash big bags in Hotelier's luggage closet. Get permission for quick use of vacant lavatory around 4:30pm to change from swim-duds to travel duds.
• ATHENS sightseeing - allow 2 full days. For Acropolis, to avoid crowds & sun/heat, either be at gate 8 AM for 2 hours before crowds arrive, or go at 5 pm, ditto. Do Museums Noon - 4, during worst of heat.

• ATHENS locale - My pref is SOUTH of Acropolis, near the pedestrianized promenade no traffic, less bustle, greener, no graffiti, close 2 all. http://www.orangesmile.com/destinations/img/athens-map-big.jpg is my fave online map (click to enlarge, side-slides to navigate}. Check Areas:Plaka - Makrigianni - Aerides (really plaka) - close-in Parts of Koukaki or Monastiraki (but not by its square). Lately booking.com has had GOOD values for apts in center; do check # of beds, also if owner is available for late-eve check-in.

PLANNING TIPS
• Logistics FIRST; agree w. group on # of days for each stop -- for accomodations, book the higher rate for FREE cancellations!! Anything can happen between now &next may.

Thank you Janet
We have had some changes since my last post. We are possibly 6 instead of 5. Group decided on 5 nights in Santorini then ferryover to Mykonos for three nights staying at a home in Elia beach. Then fly to Athens for one night before we fly home.

Are taxis all 4 seaters?

Thank you
Kelli

Yes taxis all are Mercedes 4-door, accommodate 3 psgr in back seat & 1 in front, no mini-vans except by online booking of private car service ... few have the larger vehicles so you'd have to do some searches, then figure out whether 2 taxis would be cheaper.... and that's when you are talking about Athens. Car service in islands are all the standard size. However, there are "shuttle services" in Santorini, some with vans that seat more. You could google "Santorini shuttle service" and check out costs. I don't know if there are any in Mykonos. The difference of course with shuttle service is that it may not go direct to your destination, since others may be using it, and you also may have to deal with its schedule.

Have you researched Elia beach? A quick Google search will show that it’s a nude gay men’s beach, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But there were lots of frisbee & volleyball games in front of us. Not the view I was expecting or wanted.

I know it’s your vacation but I cannot strongly enough recommend that you switch Mykonos for Naxos.

I have read TripAdvisor reviews and watched YouTube videos and had not read anything negative. I am traveling with 5 other women all related. The consensus was for Mykonos so that’s where we are going. My choice may be different if it was just my husband and I.

Sincerely
Kelli

Whether you consider it negative depends on your perspective, but Mykonos is a well known gay friendly destination. I would just be sure that everyone in your group is comfortable with that. My gay friends love it there but would not be my cup of tea.

Kelli, I just have to add my point of view regarding air conditioning. I personally would not rent a place without it. Especially given the age range of your group, some of your ladies might be very uncomfortable without it. I know I would be, it can get very hot there even in the Spring. If the place you ultimately choose doesn't have it, I would inquire about enough fans for all the bedrooms.

Kelli, I am late to the discussion, but I’ll chip in anyway. In June 2017, following time on the mainland of Greece, I spent 3 nights on Santorini and then 3 nights on Naxos, all my first visit to Greece. Really enjoyed them both, Naxos even more. Santorini was pretty but very touristy and crowded in the Fira to Oia stretch. I enjoyed taking a daylong tour of various other spots on the island, then returned the next day by public bus to a couple small towns I particularly liked. As has been mentioned, Santorini is very crowded with cruise passengers during the day. When I was among many other visitors watching and photographing the famous sunset in Oia, we all agreed the beautiful postcards must have been shot on a clear January day, as during the tourist season it would be tough to get those photos without having tourists in them. I have not visited Mykonos, but understand it is similarly beautiful but touristy. I loved Naxos, as Naxos Town is a real local Greek town, shared by locals and a modest number of visitors. Great selection of restaurants. Big advantage is that there is no cruise port, just a ferry port and a small airport. Not many cars either, lots of pedestrian areas. I enjoyed Naxos Town and again especially loved touring other parts of the island for a day, for which I arranged an experienced guide with a car. Greece is beautiful, and of course very historic, and Greek people are very friendly and helpful, with a very high level of English speaking. You and your friends really can’t go wrong. Enjoy!

I agree with poster Charlene, three or four nights is more than enough for Santorini. Use extra days for Paros or Naxos for a better experience.