Mykonos or Ios?

Q: I went to Ibiza last summer and want to take friends, all aged under 30, to another island in early July. I am trying to decide between Mykonos and Ios in Greece. Which do you recommend for a good nightlife? Any information on cheap transport and accommodation would be appreciated. - Tom Blake A: Both are great party islands, but Ios is the more affordable of the two. It attracts thousands of young travelers every year, so is geared towards this market. Mykonos is more upmarket, but you can spend a night or two there, as there are ferries between the two islands. There is no airport on Ios, so the island is only accessible by ferry. Most people fly to Athens and then take a ferry from the port of Piraeus to the island. The trip takes 5-7 hours and costs around 35 Euros each way in economy class. If you fly to Santorini, the ferry trip to Ios will only take one hour and costs 17.50 Euros each way. The main town on the island is Chora, which transforms from an idyllic village into a wild party zone at night. The best beach on the island is Mylopotas beach, which also has plenty of bars and restaurants, so you can decide where you want to base yourself. There is usually plenty of accommodation available in all price brackets, although prices soar in July and August. Most young travelers don't book accommodation in advance, as it is better to see what you are getting and negotiate your rate. The www.loveiosgreece.com website has plenty of interesting tips about Ios. You can book ferry tickets on this site, as well as the popular www.greeka.com.