Best Greek Island for One week holiday?

[where2next4me]

Hi all

 

We have visited a few Greek Island (Corfu Rhodes) and liked the laid back atmosphere and food. We are considering spending a week on just One Island which is top for being not too commercial but busy enough to not get bored.

 

www.cruise2010.net

[boone2]

Loved Crete but that was a few years ago before it was as commercialised as it is now. My sister goes at least once a year to Cephalonia, loves it there. Any Greek isle is wonderful to me. loved Corfu, have had 2 land based vacations there and loved RHodes on our cruise 2 years ago, in fact we are thinking of spending our winters in the Greek islands. Naywhere without snow is a bonus, however I do believe there have snow in the mountains of Crete

Terry

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I haven't been to Crete in a long time, but I would gamble on it, depending on the time of year.

 

Or, you can try the Peloponnese, which is like a big island, and is really still quite authentic. You can choose a couple of centers where you can base yourself, and rent a car. I've spent a week there, and would do it again in a heartbeat. You can even take a ferry from Athens to Poros, rent a car from there and proceed.

[TLCOhio]

Hi all We have visited a few Greek Island (Corfu Rhodes) and liked the laid back atmosphere and food. We are considering spending a week on just One Island which is top for being not too commercial but busy enough to not get bored.

 

www.cruise2010.net

 

Finding that right balance between "relaxing, but not boring" is not easy and a good way to summarize your challenge. You've got lots of great options in the Greek Isles.

 

Mykonos seems to have a wide variety of activities, shopping, beaches, food, variety, etc. If you are located in a quieter part of Mykonos, you can manage things to avoid the crunch of crowds when the bigger cruise ships are in port.

 

We did a day-tour around on the Peloponnese "island" from our base in Athens before doing our cruise. Lots of great options there in that large geographic and historic area. We also did the Greek Isles of Milos (nice small villages, remote beaches, unusual rock formations, historic digs, etc.) and Patmos (Grotto and Monastery of St. John, small villages). How much is history of interest for your trip and experience?

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[whp]

Hi all

 

We have visited a few Greek Island (Corfu Rhodes) and liked the laid back atmosphere and food. We are considering spending a week on just One Island which is top for being not too commercial but busy enough to not get bored.

 

www.cruise2010.net

I love Santorini with the view's. My wife likes Corfu. Depends on what you like and want to do. If you can afford it stay at Suites of the God's in Santorini. The view is breathtaking. A four star plus hotel.

[Hlitner]

The answer would depend on what you want on your island. But as a general recommendation we would agree with a few of the others about Crete. It's not a romantic island like Santorini but Crete has the advantage of being a larger island with many different options from beaches to caves (we used to love to explore) to ruins (i.e. Knossos). Crete is a place where you rent a car and just do whatever feels good at the time.

 

Hank

[TLCOhio]

The answer would depend on what you want on your island. But as a general recommendation we would agree with a few of the others about Crete. It's not a romantic island like Santorini but Crete has the advantage of being a larger island with many different options from beaches to caves (we used to love to explore) to ruins (i.e. Knossos). Crete is a place where you rent a car and just do whatever feels good at the time.

Hank

 

Great points by Hank on the trade-offs of a larger island with more options such as Crete . . . VERSUS . . . smaller with more character/style such as Santorini or Mykonos. Another factor might be what other islands are close and nearby to do a "day-trip" to there if you are seeking a little more variety from your "base" location.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

[murfturf]

I'm resurrecting this old thread to ask a similar question:

 

I am looking for a vacation for our 15th anniversary - October (or November 2014) I am looking at Greek Isles or Med Cruises, but I am scared a little of how port intensive they are! I really want relaxing and romantic :)

 

I was thinking of just staying on a Greek Island, but I wonder if I should cruise first so I have a better idea of what we want? So Cruise for the anniversary - and pick our favorite island for a return visit? We've done that with the Caribbean - however have yet to return to our short list of "islands to visit!"

[Waihekean]

I'm resurrecting this old thread to ask a similar question:

I was thinking of just staying on a Greek Island, but I wonder if I should cruise first so I have a better idea of what we want? So Cruise for the anniversary - and pick our favorite island for a return visit? We've done that with the Caribbean - however have yet to return to our short list of "islands to visit!"

 

That's sounds like a good idea. There are cruises where the itineraries are just the Greek Islands and even doing one of those would be relaxing and quite romantic. Ooooh....I'am jealous. Have a wonderful trip....Sigh...

[kuldalai]

Rhodes would be my choice.

[Anapli]

Skiathos....

[RJHNorthyorks]

Crete is great but need to select the area you choose to stay carefully as some areas have been ruined.

We stayed in Elounda on our last trip and. Hired a car to explore the less commercialised bits of the island. We've also enjoyed Kos, Rhodes, Corfu and Zakynthos.

[Hlitner]

I'm resurrecting this old thread to ask a similar question:

 

I am looking for a vacation for our 15th anniversary - October (or November 2014) I am looking at Greek Isles or Med Cruises, but I am scared a little of how port intensive they are! I really want relaxing and romantic :)

 

I was thinking of just staying on a Greek Island, but I wonder if I should cruise first so I have a better idea of what we want? So Cruise for the anniversary - and pick our favorite island for a return visit? We've done that with the Caribbean - however have yet to return to our short list of "islands to visit!"

 

Much depends on your budget and available time. We would recommend Oct over Nov because you will have more cruise options and the weather should be a bit warmer. A good compromise would be to do both a cruise and land by extending your stay (either pre or post cruise). Europe can be pretty expensive on land so a cruise in the shoulder season (Oct and Nov) will often give you great value for your money. You can also look for cruises that begin and end in different ports (such as Civitavecchia to Istanbul) and try to spend some time at both ends on land.

 

Hank

[murfturf]

Much depends on your budget and available time. We would recommend Oct over Nov because you will have more cruise options and the weather should be a bit warmer. A good compromise would be to do both a cruise and land by extending your stay (either pre or post cruise). Europe can be pretty expensive on land so a cruise in the shoulder season (Oct and Nov) will often give you great value for your money. You can also look for cruises that begin and end in different ports (such as Civitavecchia to Istanbul) and try to spend some time at both ends on land.

 

Hank

 

Thanks that is helpful! We really need to have it the first week of November due to Halloween and school festivals - I'm in the PTA! And for my parents to watch the kids. I am leaning toward the cruise but I'd love to be able to tour without a 8-4 schedule. I am worried about weather too so maybe we can sneak this trip in earlier.

[texancruzer]

Great points by Hank on the trade-offs of a larger island with more options such as Crete . . . VERSUS . . . smaller with more character/style such as Santorini or Mykonos. Another factor might be what other islands are close and nearby to do a "day-trip" to there if you are seeking a little more variety from your "base" location.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Hmmmm found this post interesting. I thought Crete had a lot more character/style than Santorini.

 

While Santorini had stunning views and the architecture interesting, I found I got tired of the white and blue as it is everywhere.

 

Crete had beautiful countryside ( we did a tour into some of the smaller villages) We visited Aptera ( a Minoan ruin) as well as some Roman baths and a fort. We also visited an olive press for a private tour and a winery for a private tour. The harbor area of Chania was also charming and interesting and we enjoyed strolling the market area.

 

I would love to go back for a land visit..... don't say that about a lot of places... but will have to settle for another port stop there in October

 

A cruise will definitely provide you with a more varied set of options as to what you can experience, altho it will only be for a day.

[Hlitner]

Just to add to the fun of this thread we are not sure many folks understand that there are over 150 Greek Island that are developed and have people living on the place. Of those there are dozens that are great places to visit (we have only been to about 20). When it comes to Santorini, DW likes to tell folks its one of the most beautiful places she has seen throughout the world (I agree). However, the question is whether Santorini is a good place to spend an entire week and that is where we digress. Our DD recently wanted to spend a week's vacation on the Greek Islands and did a lot of research. In the end she decided to spend 4 nights on Crete and 3 nights on Santorini and simply used a daily high speed ferry to get between the islands. This might actually be a great compromise since each of those islands offers their own charms.

 

I should add that they did follow our advice and spent their Santorini nights in a high-end small hotel located in Oia. They had their own terrace facing the sea, their own swimming pool, etc. There are several of these very expensive small hotels/inns in Oia and it is probably one of those rare places where it might be justified in spending the really big bucks for a hotel room

 

Hank

[texancruzer]

In the end she decided to spend 4 nights on Crete and 3 nights on Santorini and simply used a daily high speed ferry to get between the islands. This might actually be a great compromise since each of those islands offers their own charms.

Hank

 

Now that sounds like a plan !