Planning first trip to Santorini - need advice!!!

[by lori711]

Hi! I'm planning on travelling to Greece with my friends for my 40th birthday in July 2009 and am looking for tips, ideas, advice, etc. from all of you experienced travellers. I've been looking more at Santorini than any other area, but am open to anything. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[by JACOX]

Can you give us a clue as to what you want to do on this trip for your 40th? Every Island has it's own character. Santorini is a photographers dream with spectacular views, and colours. It can be very busy, when the cruise liners dock.
I found it a romantic kind of island, ideal for couples. I suppose that is why many couples get married there. Mykonos is cosmopolitan with good night life, Samos, Lesvos, Symi, and a few more are still unspoilt and more Greek. Anyway you know what you are looking for, so give us a clue.

[by lori711]

Thanks for getting back to me. AI'll be travelling with several friends, we're not looking for anything romantic. Scenery, nightlife, great beaches, nightlife, throw in some sightseeing, and...oh yeah, nightlife

[by jensplace]

My advise...if travelling from Athens, fly there on Aegean Airlines. Flight is like 20 min. and we booked early in Jan. and found seats for 19Euro +taxes one way. Then we island hopped with ferry back to Pireus.
We stayed in Fira..more lively than Oia...beautiful views. Buses very often to beaches...we rented a car.
We stayed at Rena's Villa...great pool..breakfast included..reasonably priced for July....Canadian owned..100 metrs to Centre of Fira.
Do not miss the sunset in Oia.....amazing experience!
There is no place on earth like Santorini...I hope you love it as much as we did!
ps bars on islands do not start till after midnight...check out Murphy's Pub.

[by lori711]

Thank you so much for your advice!!!

[by kamar]

I think Santorini is like a dream
Santorini has been the first place I visited in Greece and I loved it, alla is magic there but I'm sure every place is Greece have something marvelous to love.

I was in Thira too, and I was moving myself by bus and I rented a scooter too.
Beaches are easy to go also by bus, marvelous the red beach

[by jsaston]

Hello

I can?t think of a better place for you celebrate your 40th than Santorini. It really is a special Island. It is a mix of rustic Greek charm blended with Italian chic. The Island is visually stunning, with breath taking views where ever you look. I am a well-seasoned Greek traveller, who will one day leave cold, miserable, and very expensive Britain behind me to live in Greece full time.

I was married on Santorini four weeks ago, so it is very special to my wife and myself. We decided to stay in Kamari at the lovely four-star Kastelli hotel, they belong to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World Group. The hotel staff were exceptional, they really could not do more for you. Kamari is one of the livelier beach resorts on the island, although it is on the airports flight path, it really was not a problem. There are a few planes landing every now and then, but it is not like being in the flight path of London Heathrow, a plane fly?s by ever so on, but the noise is nothing.

From Kamari everything is laid out for you, buses to Thira, the beautiful capital over looking one of the most breath taking vista?s I have ever seen, I am a Photographer, and I was in my element, but no photo could ever do Santorini justice. Seeing the Caldera for the first time through your own eyes is an amazing sight.

From Thira you can go on to the villages of Imeroglivi and Oia. Again so beautiful, there are no words to sum it up really. We sat in a nice taverna in Oia and watched the sun set from the balcony, such a great atmosphere.

The locals on Santorini are like all Greeks in general, warm, friendly and inviting, We sampled a number of restaurants whilst on Santorini, the food was as nice as the view, I have never heard of report of anybody having a bad meal.

You can hire a car virtually anywhere on the island, and then your set to explore, the island is only 18km long, so you can cover everything in a couple of days. From the beautiful beaches, post card villages, to the cosmopolitan jewellery shops of Thira.

I think Santorini is a great place for you to visit to celebrate your 40th birthday, I can guarantee you will love it as much as we did, where ever you stay on the island. I am writing a big review on Santorini, that I will upload to this site once complete. I can talk about Santorini all day long, so if I can supply any more info, just ask.

Regards J Aston