Thanks for the reply kkcat.Not so bothered about a beach as we don't tend to be beach bunnies.We will def go to Oia and Fira and take in those sunsets.I've heard the restaurants can be quite expensive there but it all depends where you go! We go 3 weeks this Tuesday so I am on countdown mode!
Tinka14

Hello Tinka14

We stayed in Perissa, Santorini in July and loved it.

If you are thinking of walking up the mountain it may be better to take the water taxi to Perissa first and then walk up the mountain and then down to Kamari. The island is very windy and the water taxi stops when it feels like it so you could be stranded in Perissa. You would then have to get the bus to Fira Town and then back to Kamari. Buses are very cheap though. Just choose your day depending on the weather.

Don't worry about fitness. If you take it easy you will manage OK. My partner has a dodgy knee and we did alright. It was very hot in July and we started the walk at 7am. The views are great although at the top we could hardly stand upright because of the strength of the wind! The buttie van and benches are anchored down. Thought at first that it was to stop people pinching them (English mentality!) but then realised it was to stop them blowing away! Have a great time.

Hi Ilios
Thanks for your tips.We got into a walking fitness campaign when we went to Rome in July and as we were walking around 5 miles a day in Rome in 40c heat we needed to be quite fit.Unfortunately since the weather in August has been so bad in the UK, our walking has stopped a bit.Been surfing the net to see photos of Mesa Vouno and how stretching the hill is but good to know that people have done it in the heat and with dodgy knees and still lived to tell the tale..my left knee can play up too!
Thanks again
Tinka14

I have been three times now, the best island in the world can't think of anywhere nicer, only trouble is, it spoils anywhere else you go because you always compare, we always stay in Perrisa but I dont think it will be too noisy there are not a lot of flights enjoy you will want to go back

Hi Pennypooh
That's what I'm worrying about, in a nice way!
I already have two places that I would go back to like a shot..I love Rhodes and I love Capri...for me the Med just has the x factor, will probably add Santorini to the list!
Thanks Tinka14

Which company are you going with, sometimes its best to get the trips through the local tour offices. We found it very cheap out there though and even bought money home. You must do the mountain climb its great fun and I agree its best to go from Perrisa side via taxi boat. There is a small chapel half way up that is good as well, but its a must to set off early, take a torch as coming back down there is a spooky cave to look in. Enjoy its the best place ever. Do the wine tasting trip as its the best view of the vulcano and you can get some lovely photos. If taking the trip to the volcano its great fun but quite a walk up but do it slowly and enjoy it. Have great fun. PS any tips on rhodes

Hi Pennypooh,
We're travelling with Kosmar Holidays to Santorini and our flight is with Thomas Cook...Thank God, last time we went with Kosmar to Rhodes and flew with an airline called Aegean Airlines and I said I would NEVER fly with them again.The service was appalling, very surly air hostesses.The food they served was a very scrawny, bland Greek salad, both ways! On the flight back they switched on the fasten seat belts sign for 2 1/2 hrs in total because of" turbulence", which was non existent! Kosmar had a surprise for us on the way back too...picked us up on time and then said that they had bad news for people flying back to East Midlands...we had had a 3 hour flight delay coming to Rhodes so we all thought ... great ..another delay! But no, the flight was departing an hour EARLY!!!! Totally bizarre experience....we are giving Kosmar another go as generally they do get decent write ups in these sites but.....we'll see.
I've been to Rhodes Town twice now and would go again.It depends on the type of holiday you want.Me and Hubby aren't beach bunnies but we like a place with good food, lots to see, lovely scenery, a bit of history and culture thrown in, bit of nightlife and for me, great shopping! Rhodes Town has everything and more.I've posted a few replies on the Rhodes discussion group forum too on this site.The Old Town is amazing in Rhodes, you could explore the little streets for days.Lindos and the Acropolis is stunning to look at and to visit.Faliraki during the day is lovely, very chilled out and it does have a great beach too! I did the island tour in Rhodes which was good, although next time, we'd hire a car and do it in our time.I've heard about the wine tasting tour in Santorini and the great views from there of the sunset so I guess we'll be doing that too....! Heard the Santorini wine is great so looking forward to drinking some!

We often travel with Kosmar and find them really good, we are off to Lefkas on sunday with Thomas Cook, I am 43 and my husband is 52 and we enjoy the sites and walks etc, our nights out are usually sitting in a Taverna and having a meal and a bit to drink. As we live on the Isle of Wight beaches do not bother us and we dont waste time sitting on them. Have a lovely time

Penny

Hi,

I stayed at the Fomithea 2 years ago, and we travelled with Kosmar. We had a great room overlooking the small pool. We found the rooms fine, there's a pool bar and an ok number of sunbeds. Location is also good, there's a supermarket just down the road and walking to the beach/taverna is probably about 5 minutes. There's no problem with aircraft noise, and we did walk up the moutain - it's not as bad as it looks and well worth doing. Set out early and take tons of water, it was also pretty windy when we got up there. We also did the trip to the volcano, but not with Kosmar. We had a lovely holiday - there's plenty of restaurants and a few bars in the evening and you can easily catch the to the capial Thira.

Hope you have a great time!

Hi Cejay8..Thanks for your post, was beginning to think no-one had ever stayed at the Fomithea!!!! It looks good from what I've gathered from some other web reports and I'm on countdown mode, 2 weeks on Tuesday.Got loads of ideas of what we'll do but mainly want to chill....and now get rid of a stinking cold I've managed to get before I go!
Tinka14

I've just returned from a weeks holiday in Santorini.
It's a lovely island with beautiful views and lots of sightseeing,including ancient villages and an active volcano.
I would recommend a visit there.
It is a very small island so you can vist all the places of interest during your stay.We hired a small car for only 17 euros per day fully comp.
I don't think that it was any more expensive than other greek islands.
We really enjoyed our stay...the only downside is that we booked with Golden sun and were actually away when they ceased trading !
Rac

It's lovely isn't it? I have been singing the praises of Santorini since we got back on 10th August!

How was the weather? Did you have problems re the Golden Sun thing?

Rachel xx

Glad to hear you enjoyed your hols,pity you couldn't bring the weather back with you.
Hows janiebaby did you manage a meet

The weather was lovely although there was quite a strong wind for a couple of days which made the sea a bit rough but it was still very hot.
We were not told until friday about Golden Sun and had to wait a while until atol informed the ex rep that our flights and transfers 'should' be okay.It wasn't until the first coach arrived to pick people up that we relaxed
Rac

We did look out for Janiebaby but unfortunately didn't see her. I couldn't even find the hotel she was staying in
Rac

I also considered going to Santorini this year but was put off by reports of over crowding. Did you find this a problem? I ended up in Kafelonia - Aghia Efimia and it was just what we wanted - very peaceful. The most work you we needed to do each day was decide where we were going to eat each evening. Bliss !!!

Going out to Santorini to Kamari on Tuesday so I'll post a report on it all on my return...I have not packed at all and have loads to do, still coming down from a very busy week at work, it's always the same isn't it, week before you go on holiday, think you'll take it easy, no chance!
Most people have a blank look on their faces when you say you're going to Santorini, so I have to introduce it as a Greek island , north of Crete.Most people think it's an Italian island, suppose it does sound Italian a bit.
So looking forward to chilling out with a couple of bottles of Santorini wine, heard it's very nice.When we went to Cyprus a few years back, found a wine called St Pantelimon, something or other and if any is as nice as that, I'll be well happy, hic!!

Santorini is popular with package tourists, but much less so with those who have been to a lot of islands. The most crowded place is Thera unsurprisingly mainly along the paths along the top of the cliff. Other places are not at all crowded at least in June. Kamari is the 'Costa del Thera' type of place, Perissa used to be a popular backpacking place some years ago but now becoming packaged. The main reason for the unpopularity is the lack of a half decent beach and being a bit above normal prices. It is of course one of the 'must see' islands because of the natural geological features, mind you there are also others such as Nissiros and Milos.

The best thing about Santorini (apart from Thira of course!) is that although the resorts of Kamari and Perrissa have spread, it's not in a tacky way. They still look nice. We had our honeymoon there in 1984 and we took our children there for the frist time in 2002 and thought that in that 18 years it would have changed alot, but I am glad to say it hasn't. The only dissappointment was that although they have been excavating at Akortiri all that time, there is less of it open to the public now than when we went in 1984. We are going back to Santorini again next year.