The Greek Islands

[Belushi]

the op is entitled greek islands mate! i've been to athens - it's a fume-cloaked hellhole

Okay, so your after specific islands? I'd be tempted to go to Rhodes or Crete as you can fly direct, should be plenty of cheap hotel deals, lots of history and the place wont be completely shut up as some Islands are during the off season.

Happy now

 

[Belushi]

You could do a bit of island hopping of course but I've heard the ferries are none to reliable in autumn/winter.

 

[Thora]

Thessaloniki is really nice too if you're considering a city. Tilos was nice and quiet last September - not many tourists left and most that were there were retired types.

 

[Coffee]

the op is entitled greek islands mate! i've been to athens - it's a fume-cloaked hellhole

Also has some beautiful views of tne city from the accopalis spelling? Parks were quite nice, the centre was insanely busy. Scathios is a lovely island and theres a beautiful beach at the westside of the island, ive been twice though the name escapes me.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

where's the best place for a quiet reading holiday on your tod in the autumn?

Seriously - Naxos is really nice It was 8 years ago when we went so it may have changed but of all the islands we visited, it was the most chilled. We went at the end of May so just before the season started. Flew to Athens and then got a boat out there. Our experience of Athens was really wonderful. People often take a dim view of Athens but we thought it was wonderful. Stayed in the Plaka area. Arrived as the markets were opening. Stayed in a beautiful hotel - Hotel Atalos - which had a roof terrace which overlooked the Acropolis. It was magical.

 

[Orang Utan]

i have to admit that my last visit there was in 1981, but my view is also informed by a friend who is from there and lives in london now. my abiding memory of athens (apart from the acropolis) is being offered a cig by the taxi driver. i was 8. i was well up for it, but my parents weren't.

 

[Belushi]

is being offered a cig by the taxi driver. i was 8. i was well up for it, but my parents weren't.

Ace

It's still really fucking polluted, but I've only been height of summer.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I just couldn't believe I was at the Acropolis. I was totally into Greek myths as a child and am very interested in history and actually being there was quite overwhelming for me.

 

[Belushi]

I just couldn't believe I was at the Acropolis. I was totally into Greek myths as a child and am very interested in history and actually being there was quite overwhelming for me.

Aye, the first site of it is breathtaking. Felt the same when i first saw the Lion Gate at Mycenae as well.

 

[Orang Utan]

the most memorable sight for me in greece (albeit a 26 year old memory) is the sheer precision of the corinth canal. photos don't do it justice.

 

[Onket]

My Mum moved to Crete a few months back. Got back from a week's stay at her new place last night.

I like it.

 

[sned]

I went to Patmos and Lipsi in the Dodecanese a few years back.. plus 4 hours on Kos, which was more than enough for me although we did see some blatant British pikey fall off a moped at about 5 mph

Was meant to be going this year but couldn't afford it, after we bought the flights

Patmos is pretty interesting - has a few places of Biblical interest if that floats your boat (or hydrofoil)...

Lipsi is just tiny and chilled out. Think 600 people and 2 taxis on the whole island. Mostly donkey travel.
Stayed in a little apartment thing for about a fiver a night. Lovely lady owned it and made us a cake and did our washing for free. Was woken up by cockerals in the mornign and to the smell of bread being baked in the shop just across the road/track.

Will post a couple of pics later if i remember, can't wait to go back. Highly recommended.

 

[Onket]

More helpful stuff about Crete-

Locals can be pretty grumpy and sexist.
It's expensive.
The mountains are worth hiking up into.
It's very sunny & hot.
The Cretan food is great but the selection doesn't seem to be vast.
Cuttlefish cooked in ink is very nice.
Mythos is a decent beer in bottles and the one on tap that starts with an 'A' is also very good.

 

[sned]

Patmos:

The large building is a monastery.
Also on the island is a cave where the book of Revelations was supposedly written.

Lipsi:

One of the lush, almost deserted beaches. I think it was this one where this British guy ran a restaurant - yummy.

Try some swordfish!

 

[Diamond]

where's the best place for a quiet reading holiday on your tod in the autumn?

It depends how quiet you want it to be.

Those islands I mentioned would be perfect but they are v.small - Anafi and Amorgos and aren't that close to any others if you had an itch to explore.

 

[Mapped]

The Greek Islands are great. I first went to Crete with some mates when I was 16 and loved the place, especially the taverna culture and food. We stayed in a small village near Ag. Nikolaos and I much preferred the evenings spent out there than when we went to the hell hole that was Malia for proper clubbing.

Since then I've been to: Kos, Kalymnos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and this year we'e going to Paxos in early October with a couple of days in Corfu Town. I hope the weather's OK at that time of year, I wasn't allowed to take leave any earlier. Apparently this is the view from our apartment

 

[Numbers]

What did you think of Zakynthos? we stayed there, in Alykes for 2 weeks a cpl of years ago, had an absolutely great time, but I prefer Skiathos.

 

[Mapped]

It was a while ago (2002 I think) and it was a strange holiday as I went with my ex from uni when we knew we were going to split up.

We got a really cheap late allocation on arrival package deal from teletext and ended up in Tsilivi (we were hoping for Alykes or Alikanas). I didn't like the resort as it was all English, egg and Chips and Big Brother on the big screens in the bars every evening The rest of the Island was really nice though. I enjoyed Zakynthos town and due to the shitness of the resort we popped over to the mainland and saw Olympia amongst other trips. I've got good memories of meal somewhere right up at the top of a Zakynthos mountain with spectacular views.

f you go to Zakynthos don't stay in Tsilivi!

I've heard great things about Skiathos from every one who's been there. I mst try it some time

 

[brix]

The Greek Islands are great. I first went to Crete with some mates when I was 16 and loved the place, especially the taverna culture and food. We stayed in a small village near Ag. Nikolaos and I much preferred the evenings spent out there than when we went to the hell hole that was Malia for proper clubbing.

Since then I've been to: Kos, Kalymnos, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and this year we'e going to Paxos in early October with a couple of days in Corfu Town. I hope the weather's OK at that time of year, I wasn't allowed to take leave any earlier. Apparently this is the view from our apartment

Paxos is lovely. From your picture it looks like you're staying overlooking Lakka which is a nice little town. I loved Loggos, a small fishing village, which you can easily get to by bus (20 min journey) from Lakka. There's a lovely beach with a small taverna (where they do wonderful home made lemonade) in Loggos. It was my favourite place to go and I saw one of the best things ever there...

Because it was such a picturesque spot you got the occasional yacht mooring up. One day this big fuck off gin palace of a thing pulls up and the rich yoot onboard get their jetskis out and proceed to turn a tranquil little bay into some kind of nautical race track, roaring around at ridiculous speeds. The owner of the taverna (not a young man) was incensed by this and he and his elderly mate got their little boat with an outboard motor attached and chased the jetskis - with lots of shoting in Greek and shaking of fists. Eventually he prevailed and the rich yoot sailed off. There was much cheering from the small group of locals and tourists when the taverna owner returned to the beach

 

[Mapped]

It's good to hear that the locals have the right attitude From everything I've read it sounds like a really relaxing place

We are overlooking Lakka it's supposed to be a 10 min walk to the town. To be honest we weren't that sure whether to choose Lakka or Loggos, they both sound great but we got a better deal on accommodation in Lakka.
We were quite close to renting the apartment above this taverna in Loggos:

 

[brix]

It's good to hear that the locals have the right attitude From everything I've read it sounds like a really relaxing place

We are overlooking Lakka it's supposed to be a 10 min walk to the town. To be honest we weren't that sure whether to choose Lakka or Loggos, they both sound great but we got a better deal on accommodation in Lakka.
We were quite close to renting the apartment above this taverna in Loggos:

To be honest they're both lovely and, while Loggos is marginally prettier, there's more to do in Lakka - and you can easily go and spend days in Loggos. I'm sure the 'attitude' of the locals isn't limited to Loggos either - they're all quite feisty

You'll have a wonderful time

 

[sned]

Comedy moment from Greek Islands:

 

[Miss-Shelf]

maybe it was Brix that suggested paxos to me last year? cheers if it was

I went to Lakka with my daughter and we had a great time - makes me want to go back - I had wanted to stay in loggos and decided on lakka in case my daughter got bored in loggos and I think she might have - there's much more choice of where to eat in lakka but still feels small and lovely once the daily boats from corfu went back

it was beautiful , v relaxing, and in october will be much quieter than august
even so still v quiet for a holiday place

you probably got a good deal going in october - for future ref - I found that this site
www.paxos-greece.com
had the same properties being offered by agni travel (if you booked with them) at much cheaper rates

 

[Onket]

The Greek Islands are great. I first went to Crete with some mates when I was 16 and loved the place, especially the taverna culture and food. We stayed in a small village near Ag. Nikolaos and I much preferred the evenings spent out there than when we went to the hell hole that was Malia for proper clubbing.

Kavousi?

 

[brix]

maybe it was Brix that suggested paxos to me last year? cheers if it was

Might well have been me - happy to take the credit anyway

It's a lovely island

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

bumpity bump!

which greek island would *you* recommend?!

hoping to go to athens for a few days in august/september and then head on to a Greek island for a week afterwards. But my goodness! so much choice! I don't know where to start.

Ideally somewhere that's easy to get around either by public transport or cycling (ha! *has heart attack*) as neither of us can drive, but is also not so small that a week gets dull. And preferably easy to get to from Athens..

nice beaches, some interesting sites, fairly quiet+chilled (is that possible?) and with places to drink without the island being overrun by annoying teenagers!?
thanks

 

[DietCokeGirl]

Thinking of booking Kos for this summer, is it very 18-30? Read mixed things, looking for somewhere quiet/chilled out and hot, not especially bothered about nightlife.

 

[miss direct]

I've been to Kos but only as a day trip from Bodrum (which obviously you can do in reverse). It didn't seem especially 18-30 although there's probably a party resort there like many of the islands. It's definitely hot....I prefer Turkey though

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

which greek island would *you* recommend?!

None. Nor the mainland either. Total shit hole of a country, filled with miserable pricks. Really can not understand why so many people bang on about it all the time. Yes the beaches look OK, same as in Turkey, Croatia etc. Ohhh, Greek food is my favourite in teh world; what some manky salad with a huge bar of fetid cheese slung on top? Do us a favour.

And don't get me started on fucking island hopping

 

[fractionMan]

Thinking of booking Kos for this summer, is it very 18-30? Read mixed things, looking for somewhere quiet/chilled out and hot, not especially bothered about nightlife.

I loved kosher. Bits are, we, busy with tourists but the island is lovely and there's deserted beaches to be found