Summer Trip to Greece

Are you flying into Athens from the States or are you based in Europe ?

How many nights do you have for your trip?

Give us sufficient information so we can provide you with useful thoughts. What is your budget, how many people are your traveling with, are you looking for an urban or beach experience.

Give us sufficient information so we can provide you with useful thoughts. What is your budget, how many people are your traveling with, are you looking for an urban or beach experience.

I’m traveling with2 18 year old girls,(my daughter and her friend) and my 73 year old parents.

We are out of NY and we’d like to stay at least 9 nights.

There are direct flights to Athens from both JFK and Newark. We flew via Newark last May and then to santorini. We ended in Athens.

You can’t see Athens, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini in 9 days.

It takes a half day at least to move from place to place.

You also have the challenge of very different ages and a pretty large group.

We were in Greece 14 days and stayed in four places. (3 days, 4 days, 4 days, 3 days). It was a good pace.

I’ve traveled to many countries with several cities included with these people. We gel very well. Do you think 12 days would be enough? I don’t want to leave my puppies for longer than that. If I had to cut one outs of the plan it won’t be the worst thing.

Do you have 12 days after you arrive in Greece or does that include your travel days?

I can have 12 days.

High season is July and August so if you can go anytime in June it will be less crowded.
Experienced travelers get out to their first island on arrival in Athens. Generally its best to go to the furthest island first so that would be Crete. Frankly Crete is so large and varied that you could spend your whole 12 days there.
If you choose one side of Crete you can have a great vacation if you just concentrate on one smaller area.
I recommend the West centered on Chania. Its a special city where your imagination can take you back 500 years. It is also good for day trips to the surrounding area. You do not need a car as the bus system is very good. frequent and inexpensive.
Western Crete http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632115757899/

Gramovossa, Balos and Elafonissi https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698932695812

Ancient Aptera, Melidoni Cave and village. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157672118379637
Chania http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632117917828/

Because you are planning on 3 islands you can plan for 5 nights in Crete before you move on to Santorini.

Santorini is spectacular but the cruise ship crowds and the expense means three days is enough.
Santorini http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632154800782/

Now you can move on to Mykonos for 2 nights and then back to Athens for one night before your flight back home,

To be honest Mykonos has marketed itself as a high end destination and is as expensive as Santorini without the caldera view. If it were me I would skip Mykonos completely and add two days to Crete to bring it up to 7 days plus three for Santorini which leaves you two days for Athens. It is certainly worth two days.
Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632121475515/

Hey Sunip,

Since you will fly into Athens from JFK, take a connecting flight directly to Santorini upon landing in Athens airport then start your trip in Santorini and end it in Athens. You will be flying out from Athens anyway going home so end your Greek trip there.

Here is a 12 Day itinerary:

Santorini - 4 Days

Mykonos - 2 Days

Crete - 2 Days

Athens - 4 Days

You might have to fly visiting the Greek islands because the ferry rides are long