Greece- Where to stay

Could you tell us a bit more about the type of activities you like to do while traveling? There are many great islands and they all have fun, interesting, and unique things to do and see. I visited three islands this past October and had a blast, but be aware that October is the tale end of the season and the weather can get a bit chilly and rainy at times. Also, although the media can sometimes make Athens look like a war zone, I highly recommend spending a few days checking out what the city has to offer, especially since it sounds like you will be flying into/out of Athens.

If you have 7 days, I'd recommend visiting 2 islands. I see by your other post that you are intending to visit Santorini, which is a good choice for a first-time visitor. I'd fly there directly from the Athens airport, and spend 3 nights in Santorini. Then I'd pick another island, depending on your interests. Paros or Naxos will give you a completely different experience from Santorini, and both are on the ferry route back to Athens. It's a good idea to get back to Athens a full day before your departure, in case of bad weather or ferry problems. Another option: some friends stayed on Poros for a few days last fall and really enjoyed it. They used it as a base to visit the Peloponnese (Epidavrus, Mycenae, etc), leaving the island with their car in the morning and returning in the evening. They then returned their car at the Athens airport upon departure. With 5 adults (and your luggage), you'll probably need two cars to do this. There are more than 100 populated Greek islands, so you have a lot to choose from. With just a week, though, you'll probably want to stick to Cyclades or Saronic Gulf islands. Have fun planning!

susan, It would be worthwhile to stop for at least a couple of days in Athens, as there are some historic and interesting sights there (the Acropolis, etc.). However, with only seven days, I'm not sure you'll have time for that as well as some time on the islands. One suggestion would be to divide your time between Santorini and Naxos, which is a trip that I did last year. Both islands are beautiful and I'm sure you'd enjoy your time there. The easiest method would be to travel from Piraeus via Ferry to Naxos, Ferry from there to Santorini and then air from Santorini back to Athens for your flight home. In order to get some idea on the "character" of the various islands, you might find it very helpful to have a look at Matt Barrett's excellent website. I used one of the Greek Travel Agencies recommended on the above website to arrange transportation, Hotels and transfers on Naxos and Santorini. It took a bit of time to get everything sorted, but I was very pleased with the service they provided. Everything was well done and that portion of my trip went like "clockwork". Good luck with your planning!

I enjoyed staying in Athen when I was there in April, 2011. The city is excitng, fun and filled with history. I'd think about at least two days there. On my trip I drove a small SUV from Athens to Delphi, then to Olympia, then to Napflio, staying a night in each. Then back to Athens for two night, seeing the National Museum, the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum and various neighborhoods. I used Rick Steves guidebooks and audio guides. Due to the time of year it was recommended that I not try going to the islands due to the weather. Strikes are a consideration, also. AP

Thank you all for the feedback. I now have a better ideal on how to plan for this trip.