Greece crew

[Blue 1]

I know a fair few posters on her have been to Greece and some have a pretty good knowledge of the country so need your help. I'm going on holiday to Greece for next years holiday by the look of it. Me and the wife are thinking Skiathos looks pretty nice.

Anyone been there or got any recommendations otherwise?

We're mid 30's and want to avoid the "Brits on the piss" crowd, see some nice beaches and be kinda close to stuff to do and see as well.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Chico..!!!!!

 

[spikeman]

I did a project last year on traveling to Greece where I had to pretend I was a travel agent and plan a trip to Greece. I don't remember anything though and my computer crashed so I don't have it anymore.

Chico will help you though.

 

[chicoazul]

Skiathos is a good place to go based on what you say mate. It's one of the more exclusive islands, ie gets full of Prada sunglass wearing Italians in July & August, so what time of year you're going will dictate the prices. I was looking to go this year but found the prices weren't very good value for money.

I know a few lads who've lived there and they loved it. It's only a small island and has a really good local bus service, busiest place is Skiathos Town of an evening, meant to be nice like. Reidy and Woolly Blue would be useful to listen as they know Greece really well.

I liked Kefalonia this summer mate, quaint and quieter than most of the big islands and certainly no pissed up Brits ruining the resorts of an evening. Maybe price it up against that, Halkidiki isn't a bad choice either depending on where you go.

 

[Woolly Blue]

Only flown into Skiathos, never stayed there.

We've been to both Skopelos and Alonissos which are part of the Sporades, which Skiathos belongs to. They're more our kind islands - less boozy Brits, half way decent beaches and good walking, but we are very old, nearly in our 50's so are pretty close to being able to go on Saga hols.

I think Skiathos would be nice outside of July and August. The old town's quite nice to wander round for an hour or two and it's still a "real" Greek town which locals live and work in. If staying in the town, I'd avoid any waterfront accommodation which mostly looked run-down and would be noisy. The old harbour's a nice place to sip a frappe and watch the world go by. Don't know much about the resorts dotted along the coast. I'd guess they'd be great if they're right by your favourite beach but you could be anywhere.

If sandy beaches are your thing then Skiathos will be better for you than Alonissos or Skopelos - which tend to have pebbly beaches rather than sandy, though Stafilos on Skopelos was sandy and there's a main sandy beach on Alonissos too - who's name I forget. There's another small, secluded ( *taps nose ) sandy one off the beaten track on Alonissos, but I'd have to shoot you if I told you it's name.

Skopelos and Alonissos both involve a ferry / cat / hydrofoil transfer, which can be either a bonus or a hindrance. I think I posted some pics of Alonissos on the "Holiday Photo <something or other>" thread in the Upgraded Lounge ? Chico's posted some pix of his Cephallonia hol too.

Edit Hmmm, thought I'd posted some pics of Alonissos there but apparently not. Not uploaded them to Flickr yet but as they were only taken in June that's not too surprising. I'm almost as much use as Spike !!! ( Sorry lad, couldn't resist ).

All the Sporades are very green and beautiful but that greenery comes from water, or rain as you might call it, so, they're a bit like Corfu, more prone to rain out of the main season than say Rhodes / Kos / Kriti. We went to both Skopelos and Alonissos in early June ( different years ) and got wet a few times ... without going into the sea.

btw

Syros ( Some pix here )

and

Symi ( some other pix here )

are both boss, but again, you fly to one island ( Mykonos and Rodos respectively ) and are then transferred by ferry