michnron

We are a family group of 2 seniors (1 walks with cane - can't walk far without resting) and 2 parents of 2 small children (ages 5 &2) . We land in Athens (from Rome leg) May 5 at 6p and stay in Greece thru May 14th departing 1p from Athens to LAX. We are thinking of visiting Mikonos(for 2 or 3 nights) and Santorini (2 nights) and Athens (2 nights). We are going to try and see if we can fly directly from Rome to Santorini and do Athens on the back end...but as we already have our tickets, making changes may be cost prohibitive. I recently spoke with a travel agent which mentioned that kids would not be allowed on the Acropolis and on the cliffs of Santorini (from a safety concern), however, I don't want to limit our sightseeing b/c of age for the group. I understand the ferry from Santorini to Mikonos can be a 5-7 hour ride with heavy smoking (not good for the kids). Should we rent a car while on these islands? Are there other islands better suited to our needs (less climbing, crowded or more interesting to these ages?)Trying to find lodging in the central parts of town (with a pool)to limit walking access for my dad...and maybe day tours or excursions (as my parents probably don't want to hang out at the beach all day everyday like we will probably will do with the kids)
Any suggestions or advice on lodging or activities would be great. Thanks

brotherleelove2004

"Not allowed?" That's just plain silly. You need a new travel agent. Some hotels on Santorini have age restrictions but that's it. The cliffs are safe. Anyone with trouble walking won't do well in the cliffside villages, however, as the walkways are uneven and there are a lot of steps.

Renting a car will give you maximum flexibility and spontaniety.

I suggest you have a look at Naxos and Paros as alternatives to Santorini and Mykonos. the beaches are calm, the seafront villages are flat and easy to navigate.

nametaken

Santorini is beautiful, and the view of the caldera is very scenic;however the beaches are rocky not sandy. Going into the ocean is impossible because the stones fly up and bruise your legs and cut your feet. I would go to an island with nice beaches;your kids will appreciate it.

yipper

Hi,

Just some thoughts. I am not sure if it will be swimming weather. Well the weather will be great but the water temperature might be cold and the pools are usually not heated. I agree that Santorini is difficult with walking, but look into the Hotel Atlnatis. It is right in Fira, with a view, pool and walking in that part of Fira is not difficult. There are tours you can take or rent a car to see the rest of the island. There are vineyards and Akrotiri. There are some nice beaches some with sand and some not with sand. Mykonos should be quiet that time of year. In the high season it is a party place. I think your children will be fine. I will say that walking around the Parthenon can be challenging as it is uneven and a very smooth polished marble hill top. Naxos and Paros also sound great. Have a fabulous time.

Yipper

slbuz

We toured Greece last summer - 2 parents, 3 teens. My advice- listen to everything Brotherleelove says- seriously. He (she?) said book all your hotels through a Greek travel agent. Dolphin Hellas is the one we used, all over internet - worked like a dream on voucher system. We flew Athens/Santorini on Aegean. Easy. But Santorini would be hard with elderly - fabulous though if you can figure it out. There were lots of kids on Santorini and at the Acropolis. No problem. We rented a car in Athens and drove into the pelopenese peninsula. A fun filled 20 minutes getting out of Athens, but then great fun and really easy with plenty of services, etc. Three hours at most to get to far reaches. Greek driving was the easiest we found in Europe, except maybe the autobahn. Have fun!

travelerjan

I could not agree more with BrotherleeLove about the Santorini hotel-- ATlantis -- meeting the needs of your diverse group. I sent a couple there with mobility problems, hip & knee replacements. Only 2 steps up to lobby & that's it. Pool, lovely caldera view. The Cathedral is on one side, the Museum is on other side of hotel. A pool & terrace with a view. Not cheap, but what u need. A rather old-fashioned "European" hotel. However don't count on swimming in either pool or ocean in any Cyclades islands in early may. Naxos however would suit u better than Mykonos. You can find a hotel right on St. George Beach that does not require steps... ask for ground floor room for your dad. St. George Hotel has nice terrace w. view. Here's a SKY MAP of Naxos,so u can see the beach is directly adjacent to Naxos town, walkable to sights, restaurants etc. ST. G. Beach also has restaurants.
http://www.skymap.gr/?ElementId=59724&Category=0

travelerjan

PS: forgot to say, St. George beach is perfect for families with young children, and not crowded in early May...beach is sandy and shallow (u have to wade 50 yards to get knee-high in water) so very safe and because shallow, warm enough to paddle around in. Every May the beach is sprinkled with Scandinavian toddlers and their parents fleeing the froZen north.

brotherleelove2004

Although in fact it was NOT I who recommended the Atlantis Hotel this time, I do agree that if you want to go to Santorini it would be a very good choice for your mixed group. And if you do rent a car you can drive right up to it, which makes it unique in that regard alone. If you request rooms with a caldera view you will be able to sit out on your balconies. This hotel has an elevator, which makes getting to your rooms easy. And once you're at the hotel there are plenty of shops nearby as well as some restaurants on the same level so the need to walk up and down steps will be diminished by a large margin.

michnron

Thanks so much everybody. It is our first time to Greece so we REALLY appreciate all of your advice, etc. Would we ferry to Naxos from Athens then ferry to Santorini and fly Santorini back to Athens? What is the best mode of travel for these islands?

brotherleelove2004

You can fly or ferry to either island and take the ferry between them. Olympic flies to both Santorini and Naxos, whereas Aegean flies to Santorini. A new airlines, Athens Airways, is adding flights to Santorini into the mix.

I prefer flying so I don't waste time in transit.

travelgirl2

When we were in Santorini, I kept thinking that it wouldn't be a good place for our elderly relatives, as the surfaces are uneven and it is very hilly.

Heimdall

I agree Naxos would be a good match with Santorini. One point, though:

You arrive in Athens at 6pm. There will be no flight or ferry to Naxos that day, so you will have to wait until 7:25am the next morning for the first ferry, or 12:30pm for the one daily flight.

Should you go to Santorini first, there is an Aegean flight at 7:20pm (too risky - not enough time between flights), and an Olympic flight at 9:25pm, perfect timing for your 6pm arrival. If you decide to fly,You will need to book soon while tickets for six are still available.

travelerjan

Heimdall hit the nail on the head -- BOOK that Olympic flight!

Going from Santorini to Naxos, you can take the daily BLUE STAR ferry about 3 pm -- the bonus is, it's a LARGE ferry with outside decks, so upon leaving you get the fabled view of the clifftop towns from the caldera (keep cameras ready!). If u arrange ahead with your Naxos hotels, most will pick u up at dock with a mini-van.

Returning to ATHENS, there are 2 daily Blue Star sailings, 9:45 and 6:30 pm, both take about 5 hours. The former cuts up an entire day, the latter I call a "sunset cruise"... you can enjoy sunset on deck if you wish, have light meal in cafe, then snooze on indoor seats until midnight. For this long trip, best to buy "reserve economy" seats (about 3-4€ more) in non-smoking section, so u have comfy guaranteed indoor seats for part or all of time, as you wish. Because of youngster/oldsters in your party if taking this later ferrry, i suggest you reserve ahead a vehicle to meet u at dock for transfer to hotel

michnron

Thanks everybody...are there daily ferry excursions to local islands that you might suggest to be good for our mixed group? Mykonos from Naxos? Currently we have 3 nights Santorini ferry to Naxos for 3 nights then fly to Athens for 3 nights.

lanejohann

be careful round the acropolis
it is so slippery and sometimes i was in fear of falling myself

also in delphi and olympia there are places that are slippery even when it hasnt been raining
i tumbled down in delphi after, ironically, calling to a young girl to take care down the steps hahaha
couldve been worse but my back ached for a couple of days

no occupational health and safety with those greeks lol

we were on tour and had an elderly couple with us
they had to stay back at the hotel on a few excursions
later we went to santorini
thats quite hilly round the caldera side - dont know how youd manage walking so i reckon youre best getting a car for the day at least

travelerjan

Ron, you only really have 7 days in greece (AFTER a strenuous stay in Italy, I'll bet), and you are attempting 2 islands PLUS Athens ruins etc, with a toddler, a preschooler and 2 older parents with stamina and mobility issues. Ron, Ron, Ron. Cut your "mixed group" a break!

If you ARE determined to add another island 'notch' to your belt, there IS a day-excursion from Naxos to Delos/Mykonos on Tues-Thurs-Sun.that u can book just the day before. Leaves Naxos about 9:15 am back 7:15 pm. 3 hours Delos 10:20-1;20, (a LOOOONG time in hot sun!), 3 hrs on Mykonos, 2 hrs+ coming/going. Delos is too much, both for your young & your old ... and the entire day is too long for each without naps. Only feasible thing would be for ONE adult to go, the other one to care for the kids, let elders have a "down day." Anything else could be disastrous.

Besides -- Naxos is a FAB island -- MUCH more to see than a touristic place filled with jewelry shops and cruise-ship crowds. Naxos Old Town alone is fascinating, takes a day to explore, with the amazing mazey agora winding to a topmost vista .. a tiny museum up there that is the BEST of the Cyclades, with the world's largest collection of prehistoric marble idols... the Cathedral near the port has a 4,000 year old Mycenean burial site revealed underfoot thru glass blocks... the Portara arch to gaze at and photograph.

Here is a Map of Naxos Town/Ag. Giorgios beach showing convenience of locale:
http://www.naxos-greece.net/villages/TOPOGRAFIKO.HTML

While you loll at the sandy beach (the only good beach on your trip) your parents can enjoy a bus tour arranged by ZAS (office right on the waterside ner the dock). Starts about 9:30, it circles the entire island... seeing little villages, a quaint WORKING victorian distillery, other beaches, mountain vistas, an amazing huuuge BC statue in a quarry, much more. At 1 pm there's a relaxing taverna lunch in Appollonia, then a serene drive back along the northwestern road (where u can gaze at scenery & snooze) gets back around 4:30. At any stop, one can stay on the bus if tired. I think only costs around 18€.

BTW, u have a wealth of accommodations in St. George Beach to choose from... I would suggest looking at lodgings DIRECTLY on the beach, with "studio" units on beach level, that have patios instead of balconies ... less running up and down steps, and if a child has to go in for a nap, the parent can sunbathe directly outside & keep an eye on a child on the sand. (Multi-tasking). Also, the "studio" arrangement (a BR + a 2nd room with 2 daybeds and a tiny kitchenette) enables you to feed the kids snacks or early dinner when their tummy dictates. Then when the adults go to dinner (take a stroller), you can feed the kids dessert. They can run around the tables (Greeks ADORE children) at the taverna & toddler can snooze in stroller while you linger over coffee. I see Scandinavian couples doing this every evening in late May while I'm there. Also, Parents can have next-door unit, for privacy and quiet. Several Accoms like this are:
http://www.naxos-island-greece.com/thomais/index.html
http://www.naxos-saintgeorgebeach.co...gis/index.html
-- neither of these has the pool you requested for your father ... but the Hotels with pools are ALL several hundred yards back from the beach which cannot accommodate both your dad and the child-tending needs ... and besides, I 'm guessing he isn't going to go in the pool anyway, just sunbathe beside it. (Pools in Greece are not heated). These beach-side lodgings have sunbeds & sunbrellas for relaxed lounging... I've been known to go thru an entire mystery novel (and take a nap) on such sunbeds. NOTE: Here are 2 lists of hotels for you to inspect, with direct contact info for each, and many many fotos of rooms, views etc.

http://www.thegreektravel.com/naxos/hotels.html
http://www.naxos-island-greece.com/n...os-hotels.html

I've done my best here to answer your very challenging requirements, and I hope you do take my advice seriously; I have been to both islands many times and have seen happy multigenerational families using the facilities suggested.

travelerjan

PS: I would also like to suggest, gently, that your itinerary does not qualify as slow travel. But I wish you the very best, and hope you are able to relax and enjoy Greece for your brief stay -- the ability to relax, not to race around coninuously, but just to stay in the moment -- is what makes Greek culture so delicious.

stanbr

Since you are going to be in Naxos for a few days I thought I would post my Album of Naxos pictures. You will see St George beach where Jan recommends, as well as the old town and mountain villages.

You appear to have a very active plan. Consider relaxing in Naxos and recharging your batteries.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/570796960FtMsPF

michnron

Thanks traveljan...that's exactly what I needed to find out. I will take your advice and and look into those lodging options.

michnron

So we are now considering staying just on Santorini most of the time and the last 3nights on Athens to take time and relax...Santorini instead of Naxos because we've already purchased the air to Santorini. Currently we have reservations at the Atlantis Hotel per your suggestions on this forum, however, now that we want to stay longer, any suggestions on apartments or villas that could accomodate our group (i.e. lift, location to minimize walking, etc )?