My list of do’s and don’ts is below:

Do get as much sleep as you can on the plane

Do hydrate

Don’t drink too much alcohol, even though it may be free on your plane

Do stay awake on your first night in Greece until at least 9PM

Do not sleep in the next day on your first night

Don’t take a nap the afternoon when you arrive

Here are a couple of other airplane tips:

Check in early, get to the airport about 3 hours before your flight.  I get there 4-5 hours early and relax with a good meal.

Bring a light change of clothes on the plan with you in case there is a delay in getting your luggage.  For Greece I’ll pack a pair of shorts.

Buckle your seatbelt over your blanket, otherwise you will be woken during the seatbelt checks. 

Turn off your phone completely to save the battery.

Get up, walk and stretch once in a while if you are awake.

Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to freshen up before landing.

You will get fed well but pack a few extra snacks just in case.

Moisturize, the air is extremely dry.

Bring eyedrops if you need them for your dry eyes.

Adjust your watch to the current time at your destination when the flight starts.

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https://www.ferryhopper.com The best
https://www.directferries.com Also very good
https://www.ferries.gr/en/ A bit cheesy, but it shows some routes that the others do not.

Don’t worry about booking too soon, they rarely fill up. Also, there are fast ferries, but sometimes the slower ones are more enjoyable since you can sit on the top decks.

You can also take the ferry from Santorini to Athens, but keep in mind that it is a 7 hour trip, so a plane may be a better option here.

Some recommended ferry hops that also have flights back to Athens are below

Paros

Can’t say enough about this island, you definitely want to stay in Naousa which has a lively area to eat and drink in. If you have a car or ATV there are also tons of unique beaches all over this small island. As for Naousa, you do not need to stay on the water and I would recommend using Booking.com to find a place. We stayed at the Anemomylos Residence which was right across from an ATV rental place. Just a short walk to the harbor from there which is where all the restaurants and bars are.

You can see my pictures from our last trip there on Flickr

Mykonos

This is the island to hit for the best nightclubs of all the Greek Islands. They also have great beaches and restaurants. It is a bit expensive compared to other islands. Most of the action is in the Old Harbor on the West side of the island.

Naxos

A bit less touristy, but quite a bit to see here. The best places to stay are Plaka Beach or Naxos Town. There are also other resorts scattered in more desolate places on the island. We have not been here, so I can not make too many recommendations.

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Rental Cars

Probably the best way to get around the island although in crowded areas like Fira and Oia it can be a bit of a challenge to park. In all other areas including Kamari, it is very easy to park and you can pretty much park anywhere there is not a “no parking” sign. I would go small on the rental since it is easier to park and drive on some of the small roads. If it is only two, I would rent a mini vehicle like a Fiat 500 or a Panda. If you have 3 or 4, you should stick to an economy car. Of course, I am assuming you will be driving into Thera (Fira) or Oia, if not then you can rent a larger vehicle, but don’t go too big. The best place to start is https://www.rentalcars.com or https://www.carrentals.com. You likely will need an International Drivers License to rent, you can get them at AAA for $30 and you don’t need to be a member. Do not drink and drive, the legal limit in Greece is 0.05 blood alcohol.

There is a great video on driving in Santorini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_LY6vt8s4o

Quads

You can rent a quad and it is legal to drive them anywhere on the island. This is a fun way to get around, but it can be pretty dangerous so be cautious. It is about the same price as a car, so I would recommend a small car over a quad. You can also rent one just for a day to get around to some remote areas of the island. If you do decide to rent one, there are typically two sizes; small (up to 300cc) for a single person and large (450cc and up) for two. I would recommend you get one with a backrest if you rent the larger version. You may need an International Drivers License to rent, you can get them at AAA and you don’t need to be a member.

Do not drink and drive, the legal limit in Greece is 0.05 blood alcohol.

Scooters
Scooters are available, but not a safe option, and most places will not rent them to you unless you have a motorcycle license.

Taxis and Uber
Uber is there, but from what I read it is not very dependable. If you choose not to get a car, you should arrange travel with your hotel, who can set up a taxi to pick you up at the airport.

Leo’s Transport Service
I will rent a large vehicle and will share my phone number with anyone who may need a pickup or a ride. (860) 416-1240. I will be at your service, but there will be times I may not be available. The best way to contact me on the island is using WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

Busses
You can get to a lot of points on the island using busses, keep in mind that they all go through Fira. So if you want to go from Kamari to Oia, or Firostefani to Oia you will need to go through Fira. More information is here https://santorinisecrets.com/santorini-bus-schedule/ and on Santorini Dave’s site https://santorinidave.com/santorini-buses. The buses are very clean and accept cash only, they do not give change, so you will need exact change. the cost of each leg is 2 Euros and some Southern beach routes are 2.50 Euros.

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Below is a view of where the wedding will be at Santos Wines. Located on the edge of the cliff overlooking the caldera (ancient volcano). More info at https://santowines.gr

Below is where the reception will be at Pyrgos Restaurant. It is a 10 minute walk from Santos Wines and we will also have transportation if you need it. More about the restaurant is on their website at https://www.pyrgos-santorini.com

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At this time there are non-stop flights to Athens from JFK (New York) and Newark. Going to Europe, you do save money buying a round-trip ticket, so pick a base city (like Athens) and then book separate flights to Santorini.

Historically, the best time to book is 6 months before the trip, which would be near the end of March.

There are also inexpensive non-stop flights between Santorini and several other European cities including London, Edinburgh, Madrid, Rome, Venice, Dublin, Paris, and many other cities. Also, the flights between Santorini and Athens run almost every hour and are usually under $100.

Keep in mind that you will save substantial money on a round-trip ticket vs buying two one-way tickets. So it is wise to pick a base city. You can also pick a multicity fare and get the benefits of a round-trip ticket. If you need advice, please reach out to me.

Some examples of Itineraries would be:

1. Buy a round trip ticket to Dublin, spend some time there, Take a one-way flight to Athens and spend two days there, take a one-way flight to Santorini and spend at least 3 days there. Then take a one-way flight to Dublin, to hook up with your return flight.
2. Buy a round-trip ticket to Athens, arrive in Athens in the morning, and stay in Vravrona for the night. Take a flight the next day with a one-way ticket to Paros and spend three days there. Take a ferry from Paros to Santorini and spend four days there. Take a one-way flight to Athens and spend two nights in Athens. Fly back home.
3. We are spending two weeks there and Found a great fare on British Airways;
   Boston to Athens and Prague to Boston on British Airways $730 round trip
   We then bought a 1 way ticket to Santorini after a few nights in Athens $50
   We then take a boat to Milos or Paros $60
   We then buy a one-way ticket from (Milos or Paros to Athens $80 and stay in Athens for a night.
   The next day we are flying to Prague for 3 days and then going home.
   

I do worry about having time for connections and you do not want to miss your flight going back so if you have to connect with an unaffiliated airline, it is a good idea to have a cushion (I prefer an overnight stay)

Inter-Island Flights

For flying interisland I recommend Aegean/Olympic Airlines since they offer the most flights daily and will be able to get you to your destination more quickly if there is a problem with your flight.  They are also a little better than Sky Express. Airlines like Volotea and Ryanair have fewer flights on any give day and tend to charge you for just about everything.

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