Hotel in Oia,Santorini in September

$400 = €306 You shouldn't have any problem finding something for that, or less. Check Rimida Villas, Strogili Houses, Atrina Houses, Onar Villas, Delfini Hotel, Filotera Villas, Chelidonia Villas, MyBlue, Ifestio Villas, Aris Caves, Old Oia Houses, Marizan Villas, Golden Sunset Villas, Theodora Suites, Fotinos Houses and Esperas Houses. Oia is very small and there are lots of shops, markets, galleries, cafes and restaurants within the village that you can easily walk to no matter which hotel you choose.

Thanks, Lee! What do you think about Caldera Villas and Fanari Villas?

Both excellent properties. I just forgot to mention them. Fanari has an excellent sunset view while Caldera Villas has an excellent caldera view. Fanari has an on-site restaurant while Caldera Villas is just below an excellent restaurant, Skala. By the way, Myblue's Dream Blue is one of the most fantastic self-catering properties in Oia.

Lee, we are planning on arriving Athens on Thursday late afternoon, then spending Friday and Saturday seeing the sites there. Then would fly to Santorini on Sunday morning and check in in Oia Sunday afternoon. Does that seem like about the right about of time to see the main sites in Athens? We don't really want to spend a ton of time there. Our flight back out of Athens to US leaves Athens Saturday morning at 9 am. So I'm assuming we should fly back to Athens on Friday. Do you concur? 9 am seems way to early to try to fly back from Satnorini that same morning. I know many think one should do Athens at the end; we're inclined to do it at the front end and relax the rest of the time. Is that just the wrong way to go about it? Appreciate your insight on that. We are also thinking about seeing Mykanos and Delphi. Would likely keep the hotel in Oia, take a fast boat to Mykanos, and spend a night there; then see Delphi on the way back to Santorini. Does that make sense? Thanks again!
-Alan

Lee, I meant to say Mykanos and Dehlos (not Delphi). Thanks.
Alan

You'll be able to see the most obvious attractions in Athens in 2 full days: Parthenon, etc., Acropolis Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, shopping in the Plaka, drinks and/or dinner at sunset at the top of Lycabettus Hill. I fly to Santorini from Oregon, and I do it all at once. My butt's dragging by the time I get there but I'd rather wake up that first day in Oia than in a hotel in Athens. Jet lag will pretty much waste your first day anyway. Not only that, but if the weather or a mechanical breakdown happens you'll be scrambling at the last minute to get back to the mainland. It's best to tough it out and save your last 3 nights for Athens so you can get to the airport without worry. Backtracking wastes valuable time. Instead of returning to Santorini after Mykonos, just go back to Athens as suggested above. You can fly or take a fast ferry to Rafina and a bus into town.

Thanks, Lee. I have a few more questions, if you can keep putting up with me! 1. hotel recommendations near Athens airport 2. hotel recommendations in Athens near the sites 3. hotel recommendation in M 4. restaurants in Athens 5. safety in athens 6. Is Dehlos a not-to-be-missed? Thanks again, I really appreciate your input.
-Alan

1. The Sofitel is actually right at the airport but Peri's Hotel and the St. Thomas B&B are close and they'll pick you up or drive you back to the airport between 7am and 11pm. If you're arriving by ferry just take a bus or the Metro to the airport and call them. 2. Too many to mention without knowing your budget there. Check Magna Grecia Hotel, Plaka Hotel, Amazon Hotel, Metropolis Hotel, Ochre and Brown Hotel, Grand Bretagne, King George Palace Hotel, Athens Gate Hotel, Philippos Hotel. 3. I don't know much about current hotels in Mykonos but I really like the Mykonos Thea Hotel if you have a car or want to be away from the Mykonos Town Madness. 4. Sorry, no recommendations. I just eat in the Plaka for the sake of convenience. Try searching on TripAdvisor.com in the Athens forum. 5. Athens is safe as long as you use common sense, but if there happens to be a demonstration going on just avoid Syntagma Square and you'll be fine. 6. If you are going to Mykonos then yes, Delos is not to be missed.

Hey Lee, if I may pick your brain as well, we also will be in Oia & Athens @ the end of September. What do you think of Atlantida Villas in Oia and the Marriott Athens Ledra in Athens?

You can do a lot better than Atlantida. The owner is a bit too slippery for my taste. I don't know the Marriott Ledra and I prefer to avoid chain hotels, but if you are the sort of tourist who needs something familiar from 'back home' then it would be fine, I guess.