Anyone know Santorini?
Discussion
After a lovely 2019 trip to Skiathos and Skopelos (our first Greek Islands) I have picked out Santorini as the next destination. Mostly because we can fly there from City Airport instead of the hell on earth that is Stanstead.
Just after views from anyone who has been on bits to avoid, things to do etc etc. Some nice apartment type places are available via Booking.com. 2 weeks in the sun in August, hiring a car/boat, laying around, eating nice food.
Have to do August as 'er indoors is at school. (teacher....not student)
Just after views from anyone who has been on bits to avoid, things to do etc etc. Some nice apartment type places are available via Booking.com. 2 weeks in the sun in August, hiring a car/boat, laying around, eating nice food.
Have to do August as 'er indoors is at school. (teacher....not student)
I think 2 weeks would be far too long IMO. I went for a wedding in May last year and a week was enough. All the postcard scenery places are full of tourists. Properly full.
It is also expensive. I understand it is an island but I was shocked at the cost.
Gyros are good though. We rented a car and managed to explore the island in a morning.
I wouldn’t go back. Sunsets were nice but I wasn’t amazed by the whole place. A long weekend would do.
It is also expensive. I understand it is an island but I was shocked at the cost.
Gyros are good though. We rented a car and managed to explore the island in a morning.
I wouldn’t go back. Sunsets were nice but I wasn’t amazed by the whole place. A long weekend would do.
I went in October last year, we went for a 5 days and I felt even that was more than we needed. We stayed on the cheap side (Kamari) and rented a moped for a few days, but we rode round the entire island in a day and had seen everything.
Everywhere is full of tourists (lots of Americans) from the cruise ships which ramps the prices up (mainly on the west side).. If you stay east it's not too bad. We mainly ate at the Gyro places and small out the way restaurants to keep costs down. I think I'd prefer mainland Greece as it's easier to escape the tourist traps.
Everywhere is full of tourists (lots of Americans) from the cruise ships which ramps the prices up (mainly on the west side).. If you stay east it's not too bad. We mainly ate at the Gyro places and small out the way restaurants to keep costs down. I think I'd prefer mainland Greece as it's easier to escape the tourist traps.
Following. My other half used to live in Athens and loves Greece. My first visit was in 2017, also to Skiathos and Skopelos. Lovely islands although the place we stayed at was awful. She is always banging on about Santorini but I'm worried about the amount of tourists and how expensive it is when you are there. We're going to Halkidiki this year so I'll see how I enjoy that before committing to Santorini but I wonder if it's better treated as a mini break than a longer summer holiday.
Very interesting chaps and thanks.
It's kind of bearing out what I was starting to suspect. We loved the islands last year and struck gold with cheap but fabulous hotels on each island. We would go back to Skiathos but, frankly, the sea was a bit polluted and didn't invite swimming. Admittedly that was quite close to Skiathos town.
The other option from London City is Mykanos, but in my head that's where you go if you are a party loving person. We aren't. Hate crowds too.
Perhaps I'll look for something on the other side of Skiathos.
It's kind of bearing out what I was starting to suspect. We loved the islands last year and struck gold with cheap but fabulous hotels on each island. We would go back to Skiathos but, frankly, the sea was a bit polluted and didn't invite swimming. Admittedly that was quite close to Skiathos town.
The other option from London City is Mykanos, but in my head that's where you go if you are a party loving person. We aren't. Hate crowds too.
Perhaps I'll look for something on the other side of Skiathos.
I lived in Greece for nearly five years and left last year so i traveled to a lot of islands. Santorini was good but you only really need three days there. It will be absolutely rammed with tourists from the cruise lines, typically Japanese and American.
The best island we went to was Paros which is pretty busy but if you want quiet then Anti-Paros is brilliant, it's literally a five minute ferry from Paros but so different. Our Greek friends always recommended Paros/Anti-Paros and a lot of them had second homes there.
The best island we went to was Paros which is pretty busy but if you want quiet then Anti-Paros is brilliant, it's literally a five minute ferry from Paros but so different. Our Greek friends always recommended Paros/Anti-Paros and a lot of them had second homes there.
I wouldn’t Bother, although it’s pretty it smells of drains and is so busy it’s unreal
I’ve been to a fair few Greek places now, Chania is my favourite on Crete, beautiful harbour with some top restaurants in
Also loved herkilanium which I think was on the main land and looked like a french Rivera town in their port.
I’ve been to a fair few Greek places now, Chania is my favourite on Crete, beautiful harbour with some top restaurants in
Also loved herkilanium which I think was on the main land and looked like a french Rivera town in their port.
Appreciate this is a bit of a thread resurrection.
Whilst I’ve been to many places in Europe, I’ve never been to the Greek Islands. At the request of Mrs 131 Sport as an alternative this year to the Isle of Man TT Races we are going to Perissa in Santorini for a week.
Can anyone make any suggestions on what might be worth visiting for a day on the Island. Moreover can anyone recommend any good bars and restaurants in Perissa and maybe ones to avoid.
Appreciate any replies.
Whilst I’ve been to many places in Europe, I’ve never been to the Greek Islands. At the request of Mrs 131 Sport as an alternative this year to the Isle of Man TT Races we are going to Perissa in Santorini for a week.
Can anyone make any suggestions on what might be worth visiting for a day on the Island. Moreover can anyone recommend any good bars and restaurants in Perissa and maybe ones to avoid.
Appreciate any replies.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Appreciate this is a bit of a thread resurrection.
Whilst I ve been to many places in Europe, I ve never been to the Greek Islands. At the request of Mrs 131 Sport as an alternative this year to the Isle of Man TT Races we are going to Perissa in Santorini for a week.
Can anyone make any suggestions on what might be worth visiting for a day on the Island. Moreover can anyone recommend any good bars and restaurants in Perissa and maybe ones to avoid.
Appreciate any replies.
Perissa is the wrong side of the island to get the full Santorini experience, you need to be staying on op of the Caldera in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia. Yes it's more expensive but waking up on the edge of the Caldera is magical.Whilst I ve been to many places in Europe, I ve never been to the Greek Islands. At the request of Mrs 131 Sport as an alternative this year to the Isle of Man TT Races we are going to Perissa in Santorini for a week.
Can anyone make any suggestions on what might be worth visiting for a day on the Island. Moreover can anyone recommend any good bars and restaurants in Perissa and maybe ones to avoid.
Appreciate any replies.
shunt said:
Perissa is the wrong side of the island to get the full Santorini experience, you need to be staying on op of the Caldera in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia. Yes it's more expensive but waking up on the edge of the Caldera is magical.
Perissa is a lovely place to stay and cheaper and with less tourists than Fira or Oia, and away from the cruise ships. Can always take a trip to see the caldera etc.Santorini and Mykonos IMO have been spoilt, are expensive, crowded and have lost their magic.
Been to many many Greek Islands over the years and Santorini is our least favourite and the least Greek so dont judge all Greek Islands by your visit. But if you can ride a scooter/motorcycle hire one for 3 days and explore. We stayed on that side can t remember the resort but I had a lovely walk up to the old ancient capital.
Oia is definitely worth a visit , stunning.
Oia is definitely worth a visit , stunning.
GT4P said:
Been to many many Greek Islands over the years and Santorini is our least favourite and the least Greek so dont judge all Greek Islands by your visit. But if you can ride a scooter/motorcycle hire one for 3 days and explore. We stayed on that side can t remember the resort but I had a lovely walk up to the old ancient capital.
Oia is definitely worth a visit , stunning.
Thanks for the advice. I’ve ridden motorbikes since having a Kawasaki AR50 at age 16 to Superbikes. However, I only ride (haven’t done so for a few years except taking the bike for an MOT) with my own Arai Helmet, One Piece Leathes with Armour and TCX Race Boots, so I won’t be hiring a motorcycle. Oia is definitely worth a visit , stunning.
We’ll hire a car for the day and explore the island. In the evening we may take buses or a taxi to different places for dinner and a look round. Looking forward to it and hope the weather improves.
I remember the little AR50s. Started riding bikes at 16 , past test at 17 (in the days of 250cc ownership on L plates but I haven’t owned a motorcycle for over 25 years but I always hire a bike usually a 125/150 scooter every year for the last 16 years when visiting Thailand , always make sure it’s of a good standard ie tyres brakes etc. The only problem I have encountered was a couple of years ago I had a rather large snake come out of the front cooling scoop whilst riding along (it had gone in there during a spell of rain but soon came out when the engine got warm lol)
But I see many tourists in Greece and Thailand who should not be on bikes, plus in Thailand without helmets although back in the 90s before Greece changed the law I was guilty of never wearing one, had a great DT125LC in Skiathos back in the 90s , there was a lot of unmade roads which was fun, had a Vespa 150 on Lesbos early 2000s which proved very capable along some unmade roads.
But I see many tourists in Greece and Thailand who should not be on bikes, plus in Thailand without helmets although back in the 90s before Greece changed the law I was guilty of never wearing one, had a great DT125LC in Skiathos back in the 90s , there was a lot of unmade roads which was fun, had a Vespa 150 on Lesbos early 2000s which proved very capable along some unmade roads.
GT4P said:
I remember the little AR50s. Started riding bikes at 16 , past test at 17 (in the days of 250cc ownership on L plates but I haven t owned a motorcycle for over 25 years but I always hire a bike usually a 125/150 scooter every year for the last 16 years when visiting Thailand , always make sure it s of a good standard ie tyres brakes etc. The only problem I have encountered was a couple of years ago I had a rather large snake come out of the front cooling scoop whilst riding along (it had gone in there during a spell of rain but soon came out when the engine got warm lol)
But I see many tourists in Greece and Thailand who should not be on bikes, plus in Thailand without helmets although back in the 90s before Greece changed the law I was guilty of never wearing one, had a great DT125LC in Skiathos back in the 90s , there was a lot of unmade roads which was fun, had a Vespa 150 on Lesbos early 2000s which proved very capable along some unmade roads.
Whenever I’m abroad (and very occasionally in this country) it makes me shiver watching people ride motorcycles with no protective clothing. You see them in places like Spain, 2 up on a Honda Fireblade or the like doing 90 on the motorway whilst wearing shorts, a tee shirt and trainers (pillion in flip flops). But I see many tourists in Greece and Thailand who should not be on bikes, plus in Thailand without helmets although back in the 90s before Greece changed the law I was guilty of never wearing one, had a great DT125LC in Skiathos back in the 90s , there was a lot of unmade roads which was fun, had a Vespa 150 on Lesbos early 2000s which proved very capable along some unmade roads.
With regards to renting a bike, just on the subject of a helmet, can you imagine how that’s been treated by numerous people with no idea on how a helmet should be looked after. Moreover, I can’t see many rent a bike establishments providing decent helmets to begin with.
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