The Do’s and Don’ts of Island Hopping in One Weekend

The Do’s and Don’ts of Island Hopping in One Weekend

What would a trip to Greece be without some good old fashioned island hopping? A group of us decided to make a weekend out of it, visiting a couple islands over our second week of the program. Originally, we had planned to hit 5 islands in three days, but luckily, that feel through because it would have been an impossible task full of regrets. Which brings us to our first tip!




DON’T try to hop more than two islands in a weekend

You might be tempted to visit as many islands as possible on your short trip, but I highly suggest limiting it to two. After we restructured our itinerary, we ended up going to just two islands, Mykonos and Santorini, and that itself was already stretching it. Reality is, there just isn’t enough time to enjoy the islands fully once you account for travel time and the like. It’s better to stick to one or two and spend a good chunk of time exploring than to be stressed about running from one port to the other.



DO pack light

Speaking of running from one port to the other, pack light. Normally a small carry-on sized piece of luggage would do fine for a short weekend excursion. However, this is not the case for visiting the islands. In reality, trying to haul your suitcase up and down the winding hills and narrow, cobbled streets of Mykonos in 90 degree weather is not exactly easy, nor fun. Don’t make my mistake; instead, bring a large backpack that you can carry with you. Your wheels will thank you.



DO bring enough cash


Luckily, I didn’t personally have a problem with running out of money, but I can see how one could, given the culture of tourism of the islands. They know you are a tourist, and they make bank charging you for it. Whether you are dining at a fancy portside restaurant, shopping at the luxury stores, or even catching a bus or taxi to your hotel, be prepared to spend. And be prepared to spend cash. Although many places do accept credit cards, not all places accept all cards, and in the case of public transportation, not at all.



DO bring snacks for the ferry ride


Besides the fact that you don’t want to be paying for overpriced food on a boat, you’re going to need some snacks for the hours long ferry ride to the islands. If opting for the cheapest (and slowest) option, be prepared to be stuck on a boat for up to nine hours (Santorini -> Athens).



DO board the ferry early

Another boat tip: get on the ferry early to secure a good spot. If, again, you are opting for the cheapest ticket, be prepared to sit on the deck outside if all the benches under the awning in the economy section are taken. Don’t make our mistake and be caught without a seat without any wind and sun barriers- the salty sea spray of the Mediterranean will not be kind to you.



DON’T forget to bring your swimsuit


Once you make it to the islands, you’ll marvel at the beauty of the towns and idyllic blue waters of the sea. You’ll also be sweating your socks off and wishing you could just jump straight into the water to cool down. Don’t be the only one caught without your swim gear, sandals, and beach towel and remember to pack them for your trip!



And lastly, DON’T forget to document your trip

Take pictures and videos of your journey. I realize this tip is pretty self explanatory and a little bit obvious, but I think its an important one to reiterate. Don’t just take photos of the beaches and the scenery either. Document the whole journey, from leaving your apartment to the port to napping on the ferry to living your best life on the beaches of Mykonos. And if you’re debating whether to bring your bulky DSLR camera vs just sticking with your phone, I say go with the DSLR. It may be a little bulkier to carry around and keep track of among your other luggage (I know I felt that way), but the heightened quality of the pictures you’re going to get is worth it. After all, you’re only here for the weekend.

And on that note, I hope you enjoyed these Do’s and Don'ts, and have a fun and successful trip from me to you.