Choosing Islands

Hi,
Corfu and Zakinthos is not a good combination. You would have to fly as there is no ferry. The overland route takes about 2 days, via Patras and/or Kylini, or Preveza > Lefkada > Kefalonia > Zakinthos.
Both are package tourist islands. As your profile says from the US you might not realise just how commercialised those islands are with charter flights from a lot of European countries.

Ouzo, thanks for your response. I didnt realize that about Corfu being a package destination island. That is a turn off.

I'll look into some other Islands around Naxos. I do want to see a new island. Any ideas for most charming island? :-). Picturesque town and clear water beaches?

When are you going (affects crowds & heat) ? And will you rent a car at all? Actually, I think the best for the 2 of you would be Naxos and ANTIparos ... both have wonderful beaches that are walkable, in Antiparos ... and Naxos is great for St. George beach adjacent to town, for kids under 9 ... shallow & safe and clean... Antiparos has charm galore, and y ou have best of both worlds... y ou can explore the Town of Parikia on Paros, and Antiparos is just a 10-minute ferry ride or a 30 minute ferry, depending on whre you start from. In Addition, This excurison company .operating from both Paros & Naxos - http://visit-cyclades.com/day-cruises/naxos-cruises - has interesting day sails to explore. Here are some great photos by my friend "stanbr" who is, like me a fan of both islands --
ANTIPAROS - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632126687570/
TRIP around NAXOS - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157634605629689
NAXOS TOWN - https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094558042/

SIFNOS is another possibility ... beaches like Vathy are quite nice, bus system is pretty good ... port town not as interesting -- people are attracted to Sifnos for its many hiking possibilities ... SERIFOS has a splendid beach, with only 2 places on it (Coralli Bungalows and Vassilis Guesthouse), port town is v. small ... it's a wonderful 3-day visit AMORGOS, again, has a delightful beach. Aegali (tiny village) and several good places to stay on it, again, it's a 3-day visit ... FOLEGANDROS has a completely enchanting "high town" where one stays .. but beaches are hard to access & not terrific. MILOS has 22 beaches, many of them w. no "facilities" and a fun round-the-island boat excursion -- car is almost mandatory, bus system limited.

But you know, i keep coming back to Naxos & Antiparos, because you have a 7 year old, and There's just more there to keep her interested, at the beach in in the port towns, without either place being a "child-hive." All the above are independent-travel islands, not package havens, v. important for what you want.

I fully agree that it would be better to go to Naxos and nearby cycladic islands.

The time of year is important to consider. August will be peak season and tourism infrastructure will be at capacity everywhere. I mention this because, contradictory as it might seem, the more popular places can handle 'full capacity' better than the smaller places -- which are less effective as havens from crowds in peak periods.

Anyway, aside from that, ferry connections are the next most important practical thing to consider. Sifnos has the most attractive collection of villages, and a decent selection of sandy beaches, including a set of interconnected small coves at Faros. Problem is that ferry connections between Naxos and Sifnos aren't so good, so the islands are difficult to combine. It's no easier to get to Folegandros, and Sifnos wins hands down in a direct comparison.

In fact, the western cycladic islands have a separate dedicated ferry route covering Serifos, Sifnos, and MIlos, with (usually) main season link to central islands onward via Folegandros and Santorini.

The cycladic islands differ widely in character -- even locations on larger islands have different appeal. I've never liked Paros because its larger airport attracts a package-type holidaymaker. Most visitors to Naxos, in contrast, must come by ferry which adds just that much more of an independent-traveler vibe to the overall ambiance. On the subject of Naxos, there are smaller enclaves further south of the main town, starting at Ag Prokopios. Ag Georgios does provide easy walking distance to port town, but some people want to avoid that convenience. It is a matter of taste.

Given your wish list, the village of Aegiali on Amorgos is worth considering: regular connections from Naxos, sandy beach, and decent bus connections to center of island for a day trip or two.

Other than that, you should get reassurance from the fact that there is indeed a lot of variation between and even on islands. It will be very difficult to make a "mistake" so severe that it would result in a bad time. The package tourism islands are easy to identify and avoid if you wish. Better to treat the trip as an adventure in exploration.

Thank you so much! We land in Zurich on June 14th and will immediately begin to make our way to Greece. I wanted to arrive before the high season is in full swing. If we travel overland, I would allow at least a week to get there, probably more. We should arrive by the end of June for sure. Or, we may suck it up and fly to Athens, and then ferry over. I just really hate flying. But I do it. (We have 7 weeks in total, but will spend time in other parts of EU)

I am very open to renting a car, if required. I think she's too small to be on the back of a scooter. My daughter and I are used to "adventuring" and totally cool with going off the beaten path. We seek that out! So beaches in port towns don't appeal to me (other than something to do nearby if needed), but we would love to explore the islands best beaches.

I agree with bthdth, it is very hard to make a mistake. Anywhere we go will be worthwhile, I believe. But I love the insight that you all have provided.

I'm going to look into AntiParos, Milos, Serifos, Sifnos, and Amorgos to pick 2 other islands to visit. I like the sound of AntiParos and Sifnos.

One last question. If we are there primarily end of June/ beginning of July, do we need reservations everywhere? As an older parent, and with the funds available, I now prefer charm over cheap.

By the end of June the islands will be very busy. Reservations are a good idea. Popular accommodations are always the first to go, and that's not just the cheap ones. Be sure to go to your local AAA office to pick up an International Driving Permit, no test or membership required.

Don't travel overland -- "suck it up" and fly ... the difference between June & July is MAJOR!.. both in terms of temp and crowds. And YES u need reservations even in late june ... unless u want to end up in a very inconvenient place! Even "charm" may be fully booked by now -- act ASAP!
• Re Naxos St. George beach - it's not "In" port town, but adjacent, and it DOES make a difference in terms of much to do/see nearby. Here's a skymap http://www.skymap.gr/apps/site/viewmap/?mapid=29&cid=305 If u want to stay on farther-out beach, next one out, Ag. Prokopios is excellent: look at Hotel Liana, almost only one directly on beach. Only drawback here is you must take bus into town (unless u have car; free parking near town - see skymap).
• Re SERIFOS - Again, Coralli Bungalows is TOPS in location, plus Alexandros & Vassiliki Guesthouse - http://www.vacation-greece.com/hotels/cyclades/serifos/alexandros-vassiliki/
• Re SIFNOS - I am superfond of staying up in hilltown (Ano Petali-Artemonas-Appollonia are all in a row) - I adore my little Nikoleta Geronti Pension - http://sifnos.e-sifnos.com/diaf/sifnos-hotels-rooms/apollonia/rooms-nikoleta/rooms-nikoleta.php -- tell her Janet sent you. Above Platy Gialos Beach, I like Giannakas Studios a lot, and at the very far end, Akti Hotel. Both nice, w. views, close to beach but w nice grounds around.

• Re ANTIPAROS - Mike's Place is terrific, probably fully booked - I enjoyed Sunday Hotel, IF you can get front balcony room with sea/port view .. both walkable to VRY nice beach on the other side of port village.
... Good thing to do is check booking.com to see availability; even if it says no rooms left, if you really want place, contact direct, often they don't give online agencies all the rooms. Good luck, and get goin'!

Travelerjan, I checked out each place you listed. Thanks for the leads. I love Liana hotel and will try to book that once I figure out dates. Also the Sunday hotel on AntiParos looked great.

Serifos and Sifnos look a little sparse. I might check out Amorgos and Milos.

We may arrive as early as June 15th, so that would be great. Thanks again for the tips.

Regarding Amorgos ... the beach at Aegalis is fine, there I like Pension Askas, friendly people, not fancy but good -- however, Amorgos is mainly for intrepid hikers/ daring motorcyclists ... I think both Amorgos & Serifos are good for 3 days at the beach, for a mom & 7 year old. Sifnos has more, but again, less for a 7 yr old. Milos is great (22 beaches!) but unlike Naxos & Antiparos,you'd need to rent a car for whole visit, bus network is lame . Milos has super boat excursions -- boats line up in port before dinner, you visit & choose (with 7 yr old the catamaran is best choice). IF you rent a car, you can stay in Pollonia ... a family village right on the beach: look at Capt. Stavros.

However, don't get too ambitious -- still you have not said how many days you'll have (people eke out their info a teeny bit at a time, why???) -- and whether you'll spend 2 days in Athens at the end. Believe me, when a little girl sees a REALLY REALLY BIG TEMPLE (the Acropolis), she'll remember it forever ... until she comes back as an adult! So if you have just 2 weeks, don't spread yourself too thin!! If you can fly in by 10 am, maybe you can get a domestic plane flight.)allow minimum 90 minute layover). Then a possible scenario could be --
FLY to MILOS (3 days) ... fast-ferry to NAXOS (5 days) ... ANTIPAROS (2.5 days)... 7pm ferry to ATH (2 days).
Remember that changing islands uses up at least half a day often more.