kerrylou

I am planning a trip with my 13 year old granddaughter to Greece for just over a week and need help setting up an itinerary. It would be nice to fit in one or two of the islands and spend some time in Athens. Any suggestions? I am a 66 year old fit and adventuresome grandma. Besides her interest in history she also likes to shop. The seven days excludes flying in and out of Athens.

brotherleelove2004

Assuming you want to spend some quality time in Athens you only have time for one island. Upon your arrival at the Athens Airport fly straight out to the island you choose and save your time in Athens for the end so you aren't backtracking or scrambling back to the mainland at the last minute for your flight home.

Santorini has lots to see and do and several flights each day back to Athens. It's one of many that qualify but it's also the most beautiful and unique island in the Aegean.

crazyh

It's important to know when you are going because the islands have different schedules for tourism depending on high or low season travel.

Off season offers less tourists, lower prices and still nice weather but many islands will not have everything open or have closed leaving shops, markets and businesses that serve locals which may not be that bad since you'll get more of a local flavor rather than a tourist flavor.

You really don't have a lot of time to do more than Athens and one island. Athens deserves a minimum of 2-3 days leaving you with 4-5 days for an island.

There are numerous islands that suit various needs.

Check out Matt's Greek Island Guide for info on most of the islands then make a decision based on you and your daughter's needs and interests.

For Islands:
http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/

For Athens:
http://www.athensguide.com/

Dogeared

I actually don't think you even have enough time for Athens and one island. But to each her own.

I do agree you need to say when you plan to go. You also need to say from where.

If you were travelling between May and October from the UK for example, I would probably suggest the best thing to do was actually book a package holiday to one island like Crete, Rhodes or Corfu. There is plenty to see and do on any of them.

If you were travelling from New York in March, then I would not suggest any island really and instead plan to visit mainland Greece. ie. Athens, Delphi, Olympia perhaps.

Heimdall

I wouldn't recommend a package holiday to Greece under any circumstances. I've been there, done that, and would never do it again. Wherever in the world you are, there will be flights to Athens, although maybe not from your nearest international airport.

Since your seven days doesn't include travel days, you could plan something like four days in Athens and three on an island. Your four days in Athens could include a day trip to Delphi or Nafplio with a local travel company, e.g. http://www.chatours.gr .

If you decide to go to an island, there are some in the Saronic Gulf that are near Athens, e.g. Aegina and Hydra, and can be reached easily by ferry. For a first-timer, Santorini is a popular choice, but would require flights to/from the island in your short time frame.

As others have said, you need to include in your post when you are travelling and where you are coming from to get the best advice.

kerrylou

We're coming from Canada and usually fly British Airways to London then change planes for Greece. It means we're quite jet lagged but I've done this before with my other granddaughter and it's surprising what resilience they have. I know 9 days all in isn't enough but from experience it's about as long as I can "handle" being with one little girl and about as long as I can keep her interest fully engaged! We are thinking about May or possibly September. July would be much easier for us because she wouldn't miss school but I have a feeling it will be too hot.

Heimdall

Early July wouldn't be bad if you don't want her to miss school. The islands, especially the Cyclades of which Santorini is part, are cooled by sea breezes, so usually don't get really hot, even in July.

Athens will probably be hot, but you can get around that by doing your outdoor sightseeing in the mornings and evenings, saving the afternoons for air conditioned museums or resting in the hotel.

Dogeared

I cannot approve of taking a child out of school to go on a vacation. There is simply no need to do so.

Why would you fly to London when there are direct flights to Athens?

Where I live in Canada, the temperature in July can be 30-40C. That is in fact the weather people want to have in summer to enjoy the beach etc. I don't see what this thing is about being 'too hot'. It will be no hotter than many parts of Canada in July.

kerrylou

I can fly on points using British Airlines which makes it possible to take these trips. I agree it's taboo to take a child out of school but she's an excellent student and having taken two other granddaughters to Japan and Italy in the July I know how heat can affect the entire trip. But thank you for your insight. July would be an easier time if the heat is manageable. I like the idea of restricting the visit to Athens and Santorini. The short amount of time will force us to be efficient in our travel. Thank you for all the replies.

stanbr

We were on Athens around the 20th of June last year. The temperature was 38 Celsius that's 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

We simply couldn't stay outside for more than an couple of hours. By the afternoon we retreated to our hotel with the air conditioner on full blast. By evening it had cooled down sufficiently for us to go out for dinner.

Before that we were on Naxos. While it was just as hot the winds made it bearable. The beach was comfortable as long as we were in the water or under the umbrella.

Late May or September will be warm but not blistering hot. If you time your flights for labour day or May 24th your granddaughter will only miss 5 days of school. Is that a price to great to pay for experiencing history first hand.

I just took a peek at the calendar. If you fly the evening of September 1st your granddaughter will not miss school that day. You will arrive Sat 2. If you fly back Sunday Sept 10 that gives you 8 nights in Greece. That opens other possibilities for you. You could do 3 nights Santorini then island hop to Naxos or Paros for three nights (or perhaps even better 3 nights in lovely Nafplio) before the last two nights in Athens.

Take Lees advice. Do not stop in Athens head out to your first island immediately on arrival Athens. There are lots of flights to Santorini. All you need is about 2 hours to make a connection. Get over Jet lag in Santorini. Its much better than experiencing jet lag and Athens at the same time.

If you choose to travel in July then I would cut Athens to 2 days specifically due to the heat.

Here is what you can expect.
Santorini http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632154800782/
Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632121475515/


Trip around Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7634605629689/

Nafplio and Peloponnese http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094108982/

kerrylou

The heat is a real concern for a young person and in the past I've spent many hours in the hotel room waiting for the temperature to come down to a comfortable level. I'll check out the photos and will take your advice about flying to Santorini first. Thank you very much.

Heimdall

Kerrylou, if you are that concerned about heat, <b>don't</b> go to Greece in early September, because sometimes it's even hotter than in July. May would be fine, because usually the temperature is in the low 20s C (mid 70s F).

Another thought, if Canadian schools have a short break in early October (Thanksgiving?), that would be a great time to go. Temperatures are lower, the sea is warmer for swimming than in May, and crowds are gone. Crazyh, who recently starting posting on Fodor's, will wax eloquently about Greece in October!