Sixteen days. A white-washed week on Milos with the Milan crew, one night in Athens, and a gloriously unbooked second half — Sicily is making a strong case.
The crew (Chaz & co) start in Mykonos on 25 Sep off the back of Milan, then hop to Milos. We land in Athens on the 30th and go straight to meet them.
Scoot TR 50 · SIN 01:10 → Athens 07:40 · PNR V9DGYC. Land early with a full day in hand.
Working plan: fly out (40 min), ferry back — the Piraeus ferry runs ~4h door-to-door including the train to the port, and the timetables aren't kind on arrival day.
Meanwhile the crew catch the SeaJets 18:15 → 21:00 ferry across from Mykonos (booking 1112QKIUL). Everyone converges on Milos by nightfall.
The crew are set up at Aquamarine I in Fyropotamos — a tiny white-and-blue fishing village on the north coast. Our own pad: shortlist of four Airbnbs, decision pending. Rent a car — Milos's best beaches (Sarakiniko, Kleftiko, Firiplaka) are scattered and half the fun is the drive.
Everyone departs Milos for Athens at 7am. One night in the city — Acropolis at golden hour, souvlaki, early-ish bed. Chaz & co fly out to Bali on the 7th.
Nine unclaimed days. Front-runner: Sicily — it's huge (three airports!), so the working idea is two bases to mix coast and hills. Other contenders welcome.
Scoot TR 51 · Athens 08:55 → SIN (arrives overnight) · PNR V9DGYC. Whatever the second half becomes, we need to be back in Athens the night before.
Out: Scoot TR 50 · dep SIN 01:10 Wed 30 Sep → ATH 07:40 same morning.
Back: Scoot TR 51 · dep ATH 08:55 Fri 16 Oct → SIN overnight.
Both on PNR V9DGYC (booked way back in January — the original anchor of this whole trip).
Volcanic coastline, lunar-white rock at Sarakiniko, seventy-odd beaches and fishing villages with boat garages painted every colour. Less scene than Mykonos, more moon than Santorini.
Aquamarine I, Fyropotamos — booked. A postcard fishing cove on the north coast, 10 minutes from Plaka.
Nadine's shortlist is down to four Airbnbs. Compare them side-by-side — combined map, photos, key details and links — on the accommodation explorer:
Rental car confirmed as necessary — beaches are spread across the island and buses are sparse in October. Book ahead; the island's fleet is small.
Nine days, no bookings, maximum leverage. Current thinking:
Big enough for two bases — e.g. east coast (Taormina/Etna/Syracuse) + west or the hills. Three airports (Catania, Palermo, Trapani) make open-jaw easy from Athens.
Zero extra flights: a second Cycladic island (Sifnos? Naxos?) plus a couple of proper Athens days. Cheapest, calmest option.
Wherever we go, we fly out of Athens at 08:55 on 16 Oct — so the last night is Athens, and the return leg needs booking once the middle firms up.
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