* Tips for Visitors (Valid May 2005, use caution and note prices have probably changed.)
* A car is awfully handy on Santorini. The traffic is light everywhere except near the center of Thira. The roads aren't that bad if you've driven in a wide variety of places before.
* Oia is much nicer than Thira, which is often filled with cruise ship passengers. In May (through the end of June), traditional rooms with Caldera views are available in Oia for as little as E50.
* The only beach developed at all by American standards is Kamari, which is still modest - and extremely nice. It's a black sand beach, but the sand is mostly rocks.
* There are travel agents in Mykonos and hotel and ferry bureaus galore. The center of Mykonos is wonderful and not nearly as overdone as the center of the Plaka in Athens.
* Delos is very nice. The "Orca" will let you come back earlier than they say, just jump on at 11 or whenever.
* Watch out for the taxis! The basic rates are low, but they'll take you for much, much more if you're not careful. Threaten to call the Tourist Police or take them in to see the desk clerk when you arrive at your hotel.
* While the Plaka in Athens is over developed along the main street, the side streets are still very nice, just wander.
* The scaffolding is up on the Acropolis.
* Parking is free on the islands, and mostly widely available, at least off season. Which goes through the end of June in some areas.
* ATV's on Mykonos were no more than E16 a day, a car on Santorini, E32, gas was E0.91 a liter on Santorini. (About 0.84 on the mainland.)
* The ferries can be late even in clear weather.
* Be sure you know where your hotel is, and how you're going to get there when you arrive!
* Many, but not all, signs have both Greek and Roman lettering. English is widely spoken in the tourist areas. I never had a problem.
* Email me for directions to THE church in Thira - it's hard to find. Any other questions, too. (Fira and Thira are alternate spellings for the same town - the capital of Santorini. In Greek the first letter is "theta", I don't know why they transliterate that as "F". Furthermore, the Island is called Thira in Greek, not Santorini, so the capital is "Thira (or Fira) Town.) Corrections are welcome.
* If you're an engineer or mathematician, you'll be able to read some Greek words - depending on what kind of formulas you use regularly. And you thought that stuff was useless!
* In Heraklion, the Atrion Hotel is very nice and just walkable from the port. E59 for a single. The number 2 bus goes to Knossos from just a few blocks up 25th Avgoustou street, and there's a nice square with outdoor cafes there. And it has free Internet to boot.
* Museums close early, 2 or 3 PM, and all such stuff is closed on Monday.
* The Economy Hotel behind the Town Hall on Athinas Street in Athens is a fairly nice modest hotel at E50 for a single. They have mini-fridges, but the same poor shower stalls as most of the cheap hotels (with a shower curtain at least).
* There's a good bakery open extended hours on the left hand corner (coming up from the Acropolis) of Athinas Street at Omonia Square. They have Carte D'or ice cream (Italian Gelato), too.
* There's a limited amount of things to do in Athens. Most people probably shouldn't allow more than 2 or maybe 3 days there.
* A car would be a good idea on Crete, too, I think. Mykonos, not so much unless you're planning to run to different beaches a lot.
* The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion is very nice, it's on the southern tip of the Attic peninsula, go for the sunset. The Saron Hotel on the main road before you get to the temple is satisfactory.
* The power adapter for the wall socket is the same as Germany and most of the continent. Of course, the electricity is 240V, 50 Hz, but many battery and laptop chargers can handle this. Check before you go.
* The water seemed to be safe everywhere I went.
* Souvlaki (excellent quality meat on a skewer served with vegetables and french fries or rice) was 6 to 10 Euros. Gyros were about 1.50 Euros for excellent quality even in a tourist area. One could survive on the latter without too much suffering!
* Quoting Rick Steves: "Plan for delays. It is reckless to plan to fly from Athens the day you are scheduled to arrive by boat [or domestic flight]. Plan at least one night in Athens before your flight back to the U.S." - Amen!
Tips for Greece
* Tips for Visitors (Valid May 2005, use caution and note prices have probably changed.)
* A car is awfully handy on Santorini. The traffic is light everywhere except near the center of Thira. The roads aren't that bad if you've driven in a wide variety of places before.
* Oia is much nicer than Thira, which is often filled with cruise ship passengers. In May (through the end of June), traditional rooms with Caldera views are available in Oia for as little as E50.
* The only beach developed at all by American standards is Kamari, which is still modest - and extremely nice. It's a black sand beach, but the sand is mostly rocks.
* There are travel agents in Mykonos and hotel and ferry bureaus galore. The center of Mykonos is wonderful and not nearly as overdone as the center of the Plaka in Athens.
* Delos is very nice. The "Orca" will let you come back earlier than they say, just jump on at 11 or whenever.
* Watch out for the taxis! The basic rates are low, but they'll take you for much, much more if you're not careful. Threaten to call the Tourist Police or take them in to see the desk clerk when you arrive at your hotel.
* While the Plaka in Athens is over developed along the main street, the side streets are still very nice, just wander.
* The scaffolding is up on the Acropolis.
* Parking is free on the islands, and mostly widely available, at least off season. Which goes through the end of June in some areas.
* ATV's on Mykonos were no more than E16 a day, a car on Santorini, E32, gas was E0.91 a liter on Santorini. (About 0.84 on the mainland.)
* The ferries can be late even in clear weather.
* Be sure you know where your hotel is, and how you're going to get there when you arrive!
* Many, but not all, signs have both Greek and Roman lettering. English is widely spoken in the tourist areas. I never had a problem.
* Email me for directions to THE church in Thira - it's hard to find. Any other questions, too. (Fira and Thira are alternate spellings for the same town - the capital of Santorini. In Greek the first letter is "theta", I don't know why they transliterate that as "F". Furthermore, the Island is called Thira in Greek, not Santorini, so the capital is "Thira (or Fira) Town.) Corrections are welcome.
* If you're an engineer or mathematician, you'll be able to read some Greek words - depending on what kind of formulas you use regularly. And you thought that stuff was useless!
* In Heraklion, the Atrion Hotel is very nice and just walkable from the port. E59 for a single. The number 2 bus goes to Knossos from just a few blocks up 25th Avgoustou street, and there's a nice square with outdoor cafes there. And it has free Internet to boot.
* Museums close early, 2 or 3 PM, and all such stuff is closed on Monday.
* The Economy Hotel behind the Town Hall on Athinas Street in Athens is a fairly nice modest hotel at E50 for a single. They have mini-fridges, but the same poor shower stalls as most of the cheap hotels (with a shower curtain at least).
* There's a good bakery open extended hours on the left hand corner (coming up from the Acropolis) of Athinas Street at Omonia Square. They have Carte D'or ice cream (Italian Gelato), too.
* There's a limited amount of things to do in Athens. Most people probably shouldn't allow more than 2 or maybe 3 days there.
* A car would be a good idea on Crete, too, I think. Mykonos, not so much unless you're planning to run to different beaches a lot.
* The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion is very nice, it's on the southern tip of the Attic peninsula, go for the sunset. The Saron Hotel on the main road before you get to the temple is satisfactory.
* The power adapter for the wall socket is the same as Germany and most of the continent. Of course, the electricity is 240V, 50 Hz, but many battery and laptop chargers can handle this. Check before you go.
* The water seemed to be safe everywhere I went.
* Souvlaki (excellent quality meat on a skewer served with vegetables and french fries or rice) was 6 to 10 Euros. Gyros were about 1.50 Euros for excellent quality even in a tourist area. One could survive on the latter without too much suffering!
* Quoting Rick Steves: "Plan for delays. It is reckless to plan to fly from Athens the day you are scheduled to arrive by boat [or domestic flight]. Plan at least one night in Athens before your flight back to the U.S." - Amen!