Where should we go?!

[Hotpinkparade]

I feel like I go round and round in circles on this every year, without much satisfaction... Looking for somewhere for my boyfriend and I to go this summer. Pretty flexible on dates - ideally early September.

• Easily accessible/enjoyable without hiring a car
• Beach! And potential to go sea kayaking
• Decent vegetarian food. France pretty much out after spending our last few holidays there traipsing round every night looking for something that wasn't pizza or pasta. So some choice on that front would be ideal
• Not a city, but not a tiny hamlet with three restaurants and a shop selling flip flops. Somewhere in between, small town/large village I guess?
• Warm!
• Stuff to do beside lying on the beach. So, ruins/museums/hiking/sightseeing of some description

Anyone got any ideas? I was thinking of a Greek island but have no idea where to start, as if someone says 'Kefalonia' for instance, I still have no idea about accessibility/transport/which town/village to pick... I feel like I'm not getting anywhere!

(No kids, and not a massive budget. And not that interested in a package holiday type thing)

Taormina in sicily, fantastic place,

Restaurants super nice so lots of veg options, amazing views.

Car hire not needed but could be useful if you want to go to a sandy beach. Otherwise there's a cable car to the stony beach. Isola Bella is nearby and also lovely.

We didn't get a kayak but got a pedalo which was very pleasant.

History - loads of ruins and places to explore. Beautiful views from the Greek amphitheatre. Mount etna nearby - that's sort of worth going to.

Go in September not August though as it's rammed in Aug!!

Phuket. Go in October rather than September to miss the rains. Thailand is amazing.

Crete might be good. Agios Nicholaos would tick loads of your boxes. You’d be better with a hire car, but there is reasonable public transport. Food is great if you are a veggie, the sea will be warm, and there is loads to do. Fly to Heraklion, bus to the town takes about an hour, or maybe a bit more.
Or maybe Chania, at the other end of Crete. Bigger place, but really lovely, and hiking in the White Mountains is wonderful. You can fly direct there, I think.
Self catering apartments are the way to go, they will be cheap at that time of year.

Or, for a bit of a different one, try Milos. You have to get a ferry there, having flown to Athens or Mykonos, but it’s an amazing spot. There is a tiny resort called Pollonia which is gorgeous, and lots of very good food. There is a restaurant near the main port called O Hamos that I still dream about! And the volcanic beaches are stunning. I should imagine sea kayaking there would be spectacular.