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Where to stay: Mainland? Island? What city? Advice, please! Details inside...?

My mother, sister, and I are planning a 2-week vacation to Greece around mid-August. We cannot decide where to stay! We'd like a little bit of everything: nightlife (clubs, bars, etc for me and my sister), beaches, sightseeing opportunities (things to do during the day). We would be using public transportation so consider this as well. We also would love to roam through the city - we love walking and absorbing everything around us. If you could suggest a hotel that is walking distance to and from the major areas of whichever city, that would be good too. Originally we thought Athens would be a good base, but as I read up on it, people said that it's too touristy and dirty? Not good for a real Greek experience? What about Santorini? Or would we be limited by staying on an island? Basically any advice or sharing of your experience would be helpful! Thanks Update: We are not limited to one city, it turns out. We can go two two different ones :) to two** Also: Let me rephrase: we can get a hotel in two different cities... so maybe experience mainland Greece then an island?

Public Comments

1. Okay first of all have fun =) I would recommend Sparti (Sparta) for staying because it's perefct if your looking for nightlife, sightseeing , and culture. Where I used to live was a town called Mystras that is 5 min away from Sparti and it is one of the most famous byzantine cities in Greece. The little town is filled with so much culture and there is this beutiful mountain that has a castle daitng back to the 1249 AD (built by the Franks) on the mountain.You can see the inside of the castle for like 5 euros and the scenery is beautiful when your up there. Heres some websites on Mystras: http://www.idcnet.com/~dchristo/mystras.htm http://www.agiasofia.com/castle_mystras.jpg http://www.knowledgerush.com/wiki_image/3/3c/Ac.mystras.jpg Now for night life there are tons of caffes in the platia in Sparti. I went there once at like 2 AM and the place was packed with people drinking kaffe and little kids running around at the water fountain in the center (sorry for my spelling Im tired) Sparti at night is when the people come out to shop (lol). http://img369.imageshack.us/i/010spartastreetnightkp8.jpg/ http://image06.webshots.com/6/8/98/98/114889898Zoyopa_fs.jpg http://www.laconia.org/sparta_view_all.jpg Now for becahes, you HAVE to go to Kalamata! Its only an hour away from Mystras/Sparti and its on the mainland so you don't have to worry about taking a ferry or boat. In order to get there you will have to drive through Mystras, up the mountain (theres only one road so you can't lost) and it will lead straight to Kalamata. It also has a great night life! =) This is the road you take from Mystras to Kalamata: http://drivefreely.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/kalamata_road.jpg Pis of K.: http://users.teilam.gr/~jimmyp/images/Kalamata%201.jpg http://www.messinia-guide.gr/UserFiles/Image/proorismoi/kalamata/kalamata_aero_1.jpg http://www.ohfs.org/images/Newsletter/news20073KalamataHarbor.JPG Gytheio also has nice beaches and is an hour away from Sparti as well. You can google map these cities and find the routes to take!! Anyways hoped I helped and have fun=))) Edit: Athens is'nt dirty at all, it just depends where you go because some places have more gypsies then others (sorry but its true). If your going to Greece for the first time I actually recommend you go to Athens first and then to other places. Plus I have never been to the islands so I can't help you there, sorry, but I heard Santorini and Crete are very nice. Top places to visit in Greece: http://www.thereareplaces.com/Guidebook/pdest/grpts.htm
2. I am returning for my 10th annual trip to Greece Aug 7 this year. I always stay a few days in Athens. A few days there you can see the Parthenon on Acropolis, go up on St Georges, visit Plaka a real shopping experience. I will take a ferry over to Poros after a few days. A 2 hour 15 minute ride on the larger ferry, or about an hour by the flying dolphin. Also, I stay at the Saga Hotel, run by a husband and wife, who will help you with your motorbikes if you like, or it is a short walk into town where there are many restaurants and night life. Zefi, wife/owner even took several of us to the ancient theater one night to see a play. Also,again, from there you can also take day boat trips to several other smaller islands. We went to one island and from there a boat took several people to a beach for an afternoon, then returned for us later in a glass bottom boat. To the North out from saloniki you can go to the beaches in the Halkidiki area. I loved the beaches there and many places to stay and eat. I didn't have a car so really didn't experience night life there other than dine out. Enjoy your trip and try to leave home at home so you can enjoy the whole experience of a Greek, you can't go wrong then.
3. there are quite a few sites that you can search that will likely show you great hotels at the best prices available. check out the website BookMe and you will be able to compare prices on all the reputable travel sites in just a couple minutes. it's very convenient and will save you a bunch of time and money. Also, make sure you buy them online... otherwise they charge much higher fees for phone orders. good luck.