London/Greece Travel Advice?

[swwake]

Hi everyone. I posted this question on the UK section, but I thought I'd post here too, in case some of you can help with advice/tips. I am trying to plan a family vacation for this summer, as my daughter graduates from high school in June.

Our current plan looks a little like this:
Day 1 - travel to London
Day 2 - London
Day 3 - travel to Athens
Day 4 - travel to Santorini
Days 5 and 6 - Santorini
Day 7 - travel to Mykonos
Days 8 and 9 - Mykonos
Day 10 - travel to Athens
Day 11 - Athens, travel to London late evening
Day 12 - London
Day 13 - travel home from London

We are a family of 3. We have never been to Europe. I am looking for advice in the following:
- hotel(s) in London
- getting around London - rent a car? public transportation? taxi?
- Gatwick airport for travel to/from Athens - is this airport ok?
- Athens tours (I have heard Athens is not pretty and we should get in, take a guided tour, and get out). Reputable tour companies?
- Athens hotels
- Santorini/Mykonos hotels - what areas are most convenient? We would like to be close enough to walk to many places
- for all hotels, we don't need super-luxurious, but we do like 3+ stars if possible. Most of all, in a safe part of "town"
- I have read advice to use a local Greek travel agency to book the hotels on the islands, and they can arrange for the ferries and provide travel insurance. Is this our best bet?
- Is three nights each in Mykonos and Santorini too long? I'm sure we won't get bored. I want to make sure we aren't rushed and have enough time to feel like we are seeing some sights.
- Any "must see" and "must do" tips?

I know this is a lot of information, but I'm a bit overwhelmed. Hoping some of you might be able to help us.

Thanks in advance!

 

[PaulaSB12]

1 Use public transport, I live in the UK (not in London) and I never drive round London . Make sure you go down to Exhibition Road, South Kensington, that is where the national history museum, the Royal Albert Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum all worth visiting. As for Gatwick its an ok airport to use.

 

[NMAmy]

Sounds like a great trip! I've never been to Greece but we go to London every other year.

We are a family of 3. We have never been to Europe. I am looking for advice in the following:
- hotel(s) in London
- getting around London - rent a car? public transportation? taxi?
- Gatwick airport for travel to/from Athens - is this airport ok?

Unfortunately, I have no hotel info because we stay with family. To get around London, use taxis, trains, or the tube. The tube is very easy to navigate. I'd suggest since you are there for such a short time, choose a hotel in the area which has the majority of the sights you want to see. My DH is British and he won't drive in the London area.

I'm not sure what you mean by the question about Gatwick being okay. It's a big airport, as is Heathrow. We always fly in and out of Gatwick and have never had an issue.

 

[MassJester]

I've never been to Greece (and so I'm very jealous), but have been to London a few times.

Take the subway--taxi fares add up fast.

I love the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, but you have to get there early to get a good look.

If you can swing it--a side trip to Windsor Castle is well worth it.

Pack everything you need. Then open up the suitcases--put away half the clothes--take twice the money.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Sounds like fun!

It's been many years since I was in England and Greece. We stayed in B&B's, and I don't remember the names, so I can't help you on hotels, but definitely use the Underground (tube) to get around London. It's convenient, safe and SO easy to figure out.

I think the Tower of London was my favorite thing in London. Buckingham Palace, of course, Tower Bridge, side trips to Windsor Castle and Stonehenge. (Is Stonehenge close enough? We spent the night in Salisbury, but I don't remember it being that far, it might be a day trip from London, might not.)

We enjoyed just hanging out in London, having lunch in a pub, strolling through Hyde Park, catching some raving lunatics ranting about this or that at Speaker's Corner (do they still do that?) Taking the tube to Piccadilly, which is really just a roundabout with a fountain, but if you were a Generation X fan, you have to do it!

I can't help with tour companies, either. In Athens, we just took a cab to the Acropolis and got the name of a good touristy restaurant (where they break plates ) from the cab driver. I don't think we did anything else there. It's a big, congested, dirty city. Mykonos was wonderful. I don't think 3 nights is too long there. I think it's much more built up now, but at the time, it was just a beautiful place to relax and eat some delicious, fresh seafood.

 

[swwake]

Thank you all for the great advice. Every bit of this will help us! Keep it coming!

 

[java]

Santorini is FUN! Rent Moped and ride around the island. Spend time on the beach- Do not rent windjammers! long story but someone disappeared around the island on one!(they reappeared 2 hours later- walking! no windjammer!)

Have a great trip!
I stayed BUDGET hotels so I can't help. We had more fun in Athens than I expected but 2 days was plenty for me. The islands are beautiful. Are you taking a ferry from Athens to Santorini? I slept on the deck of the boat. I don't know how comfortable that would be for all of you!

 

[swwake]

Santorini is FUN! Rent Moped and ride around the island. Spend time on the beach- Do not rent windjammers! long story but someone disappeared around the island on one!(they reappeared 2 hours later- walking! no windjammer!)

Have a great trip!
I stayed BUDGET hotels so I can't help. We had more fun in Athens than I expected but 2 days was plenty for me. The islands are beautiful. Are you taking a ferry from Athens to Santorini? I slept on the deck of the boat. I don't know how comfortable that would be for all of you!

I read that mopeds are dangerous, because of the other drivers on the island that don't know the winding roads. So you think it's safe enough? We might want to try that.

Funny about the windjammers. We'll heed that warning. Sure am glad they reappeared alive!

How were the budget hotels? We could definitely look into them. Good locations?

We are taking a ferry from Athens to Santorini. (or we may hit Mykonos first - haven't decided yet) We have read that you MUST arrive at Santorini by sea, so definitely not flying there. I read that it's a 9-hour trip from Athens with stops. But I also read that the ferry ride is half of the fun, with snack bar, TV/movies, etc. We will probably buy the "deck" tickets (or whatever you call them). We're not too picky, and love being outside on the water.

Thanks for the great input!

 

[java]

If you are going in the summer- half of Europe will be there with you. It's big vacation time for them and they take like a month off! I met some great people on that trip from all over Europe.
The mopeds were all that scary to me as we rarely saw cars- we road around on the outer edge- *they gave us a map and told us where to avoid(carwise) and we were fine. It was years ago though. May have changed.

another funny part of that trip was staying here(I WOULD NOT recommend it for a family trip though)
http://www.thepinkpalace.com/index.html
when I went it was $7 including breakfast and DINNER! for the room! Now it's up to about 26 I think? They pick you up from the airport though and have tons of stuff going on. We were going to stop just for the night here and ended up staying 4 days!

 

[quasar4legs]

Sounds like a wonderful trip.

I would look at trying to organise your 2 'London days' back to back. Everytime you have to get to and from an airport and then check-in at the hotel, pack up etc you use up a lot of valuable time.
I agree with others to use public transport in London, you don't want a car. On our first visit to London we did one of the hop on and off bus tours which is really helpful if you have limited time as you get a real feel for the size of the city.

Try tripadvisor for some great travel advice and maybe some hotel suggestions. We always stay at Claridge's which we love but it is not budget friendly

Hope you all have a lovely time.

 

[MAH4546]

You are travelling far too much, IMO. Not spending enough time in individual cities.

I used to live in Athens - taxi cabs are dirt cheap. It's not even funny how insanely cheap taxis are, but in exchange for them being cheap, not all of them will agree to take you anywhere. They'll only take you somewhere if its in the direction they are going. The subway is also extremely nice and easy to use.

Athens not being pretty? It's smoggy, but its gorgeous and a very safe city with lots to see and do - way more than any of the Greek islands. Spend a day in the city centre seeing the old sites, another day taking the tram to the beach and a third day taking the metro to Kifissia in the northern suburbs and act like a local (everybody speaks English in the wealthy northern areas of Athens).

Don't rent a car in Athens or London, but you will actually probably need to rent a car in Santorini (you can do half or full-day rentals for really cheap, but if you can't drive stick shift be prepared to cough up quite a bit extra for a car with an automatic).

Mykonos is more a party island, not sure if that's what you are looking for. I'd skip Mykonos and spread my time evenly between London, Athens and Santorini.

Personally unless you are purposely going to London because you have a desire to visit London, you should do Rome, Athens and Santorini. Closer geographically and easier to spread your time between the three.

 

[bekkiz]

I agree that it seems like a lot of travel time considering how long you'll be there.

For us, Mykonos was great for an afternoon/evening. We had a nice meal and got back on our ship (we were cruising) and really didn't feel like we missed anything. We are not party animals by any means. I do wish we had more time in Santorini, our day there was not long enough.

I also loved Athens. I spent a few days iwandering n the Plaka, and could have spent more. Then again, I'm kind of an ancient history nerd, so I was digging being in the middle of the sites.

I just would hate for you all to go all that way, and have the most memories of the transportation...not the "good" stuff.

 

[TinkPinkPoem]

Our current plan looks a little like this:
Day 1 - travel to London
Day 2 - London
Day 3 - travel to Athens
Day 4 - travel to Santorini
Days 5 and 6 - Santorini
Day 7 - travel to Mykonos
Days 8 and 9 - Mykonos
Day 10 - travel to Athens
Day 11 - Athens, travel to London late evening
Day 12 - London
Day 13 - travel home from London

We are a family of 3. We have never been to Europe. I am looking for advice in the following:
- hotel(s) in London
- getting around London - rent a car? public transportation? taxi?
- Gatwick airport for travel to/from Athens - is this airport ok?
- Athens tours (I have heard Athens is not pretty and we should get in, take a guided tour, and get out). Reputable tour companies?
- Athens hotels
- Santorini/Mykonos hotels - what areas are most convenient? We would like to be close enough to walk to many places
- for all hotels, we don't need super-luxurious, but we do like 3+ stars if possible. Most of all, in a safe part of "town"
- I have read advice to use a local Greek travel agency to book the hotels on the islands, and they can arrange for the ferries and provide travel insurance. Is this our best bet?
- Is three nights each in Mykonos and Santorini too long? I'm sure we won't get bored. I want to make sure we aren't rushed and have enough time to feel like we are seeing some sights.
- Any "must see" and "must do" tips?

I PM'd you since it was a very long response!