Greece: Paros or Naxos?

Hi,

Thanks for everyone's response in fine-tuning our Greek Island plans!

Is it better to use Paros as a base or Naxos? We want to take
day-trips to Myconos, Delos. We have about 2 weeks in Greece & have
cut out Crete & Rhodes from our itinaray:

Option 1:
Athens (2 nights)
Paros (5 nights) - use as a base to go to Naxos, Delos & Myconos
Santorini(4 nights)
Athens (1 night)

Option 2:
Athens (2 nights)
Naxos (5 nights) - use as a base to go to Paros, Delos & Myconos
Santorini(4 nights)
Athens (1 night)

Can anyone recommend any clean affordable hotels (40-50Euro for 2
people)

Thanks!

"Angel Cat" <kittycatangel@m> wrote in message
news:9b08c59d.0306250640.e2f5144@co m...
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for everyone's response in fine-tuning our Greek Island plans!
>
> Is it better to use Paros as a base or Naxos?

I would choose Naxos, if you want to stay in the main town (where most of
the boats go from). Parika (?) the main town on Paros is quite built up and
the chances are that the chap serving you in the taverna may have a
Birmingham accent while Naxos is a little less spoilt! If you want to sty
away from Chora either will do well.

OMO,

Roger, Aberystwyth

I'll add my voice to Naxos - delightful studio apartments near the beach for
25 Euros, easy to walk around, busses to other parts of the island, very
unspoiled. Three days enough to get the flavor. Santorini, probably the
same.

BUT BE WARNED - Ferries go only to Mykonos a couple of times a week, not
"daily" as you may see advertised. For instance, when I was there in early
June, ferries went only on Tuesdays and Thursdays - I'd arrived on Thursday
and planned to leave on Monday, so I had to forget Mykonos. I would guess
the same applies from Paros? If I'd realized this I could have turned my
stays around.

Just be sure that the wind gods don't spring a dreaded Meltemi on you. These
are very strong summer winds that really kick up high seas. I forget what
month you will travel.

I was on a very small substitute ferry from Naxos to Mykonos during a
Meltemi. The 130-foot (40-meter) boat did many belly-whoppers off waves.
Most frightening boat trip I've ever had. I tripped and broke a wrist - but
that was before we left the protected harbor - plain carelessness.

Strikes disrupt the ferries even worse - is one likely?

"R J Carpenter" <rcarpen@erols.com> wrote in message
news:bdge8h$6d8$1@bob.news.rcn.net...
> Just be sure that the wind gods don't spring a dreaded Meltemi on you.
These
> are very strong summer winds that really kick up high seas. I forget what
> month you will travel.
>
> I was on a very small substitute ferry from Naxos to Mykonos during a
> Meltemi. The 130-foot (40-meter) boat did many belly-whoppers off waves.
> Most frightening boat trip I've ever had. I tripped and broke a wrist -
but
> that was before we left the protected harbor - plain carelessness.

Meltemia can be challenging. I recall an experience in late July with a
large automobile carrying ferry that was trying to make it into the port of
Allonisos. Every attempt he made to clear the mooring it seemed as if he
would be heading straight on to the rocks. I think it took more than an hour
and a dozen really seasick people to make it through.

> Strikes disrupt the ferries even worse - is one likely?
>
>