I’m thinking of taking myself off for a week on the lonesome in August. Work has me at breaking point and I need a complete break from it all.
Been looking at Greece or the islands. Anyone any tips or recommendations? Nothing too hectic, but maybe a few bars, record shops, places to unwind and literally do nothing?
Naxos and Paros are both lovely.
in 2014 a pal married a Greek girl on the island of Samos, with a party afterwards on another nearby island Icaria. Was lovely in every sense. incredibly friendly and unspoilt. nobody wearing crash helmets. wild roads. We got there by flying to Athens and then getting the overnight ferry across. Loved it. Massive refugee crisis since then of course and tension with the Turks which may have changed things but I’ll always have fond memories hearing a folk band at 3am whilst we feasted on a recently cooked hog roast.
I’ve never come across record shops or bars with decent music except maybe in Mykonos ( which is now cripplingly expensive) but dont let that put you off as such a great place
Id recommend Halkidiki on mainland, as its mainly Greeks + Serbians it seems a lot better value / lower prices
heading to Athens for a week in late October. Any music rec’s, bars, cafes, markets …nothing mental…way too old for that!!
also was going to try to take in an island for a couple of nights, somewhere close 1 -2 hrs on ferry from Athens as the further ones out can often have ferries cancelled around that time of year with the choppy waters and ll that kinda stuff…the islands look like they really wind down from the beginning of Oct on so somewhere with a bit of a vibe would be great.
any tips or advice would be really appreciated.! ta from DUBlin.
Just reviving this thread again.
I’m going back in September. Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini.
Any recommendations gratefully received.
We stayed here on Mykonos last summer - fab place and decent value for money!
Oh my goodness, that looks idyllic.
No proper tips as last went 25 years ago & its changed a lot
@howler - We stayed in Ornos & then Agios Ioannis. Could get a bus back from Myk town all night
Hippy Fish was still hippy, tables on the sand, fresh caught fish & they used to sell the owners artwork. Now its ££££ min spend for a lounger I heard
Do they still do the boat buses that go to Paradise & Super Paradise beaches
Vividly remember as they sail into Super Paradise a very well endowed chap in the nude gay end standing up on rocks as boat sailed past
Reminded me of that Victoria Wood Family Planning Sketch.
“She spent all that time stood about with natives waving their doo-dahs at her!”
In Croatia last week I went for a walk with my teenage son, we accidentally stumbled on a similar sight in an abandoned villa. 
“Maybe let’s go another way.”
Not sure, tbh. We ended up being dragged by our son to one of the beach clubs, and it was so awful I’ve erased it from my memory.
Other memory was the only hotel in IO was wheer they filmed Shirley Valentine
It was unchanged apart from framed signed photos of Pauline Collins & Tom Conti in reception
Im sure all the russion millionaires are interested !
If you want an island that’s wild I would recommend Samothrace. It has wild campings, wild beaches, mountains and fresh water. There are usually some hippies staying there.
If you want a little bit of everything, but you will need a car to get to most places, I would recommend Corfu. Little bit of everything is: urban city, museums, history, wild and urban beaches, mountains, mountain villages and tavernas, some nightlife and an airport. Personal tip: you can. Take a boat tour to Paxos and Antipaxos.
Skiathos one of the greenest islands in Greece. One half is urban and one half is wild with a road on sand. We rented a Jimny cabriolet and went to all beaches in the wild side of the Island. This island is good for a romantic get away, not so good for party.
I haven’t been to Lefkada, but I would like to.
Hope this helps somebody.