Trip to Greece:Help Please

[two2go]

Hi Everyone

Our Christmas gift to our two daughters this year is a trip to Greece.No one in our family has ever been toGreece.They will be travelling alone, they are 20 & 23. Can anyone offer suggestions of where to stay, eat, and what to visit? Has anyone been to the properties offered on LL? Thank you in advance,

two2go

[two2go]

Is it possible that no one has any experiences in Greece? Come on you guys I'm depending on you.

two2go

[joycat]

We have been to Greece many times over the years but we usually go by cruise ship. Our favorite islands are Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, and Katakolon. We have had friends stay for a week each on Rhodes and Santorini. They did not run out of things to do and had a wonderful time.Our favorite things to do in Santorini is to enjoy the main town of Fira, visit the village of Oia, do some wine tours and see the Nea Kameni Volcano crater. In Mykonos, enjoy the main town, visit Kalafati Beach andthe16th century monastery and take a trip to Delos to see the archaeological site. People visit Katakolonto see the ancient site of the Olympics and museum andspend time in the lovely, small town for lunch and shopping. This island is best to do as a day trip. Rhodes is really beautiful and it is fun just exploring the old walled city including the Palace of the Grand Masters. Also visit the neighbouring village of Lindos and see the 4th century Acropolis there. There are lots of wineries to visit and lovely secluded beaches. Hope this helps at least narrow down some of the islands you want to go to.

[fazio123]

for the first time i would make a combination of athens and the islands

mostly known of course are mykonos and santorin,rhodos and crete.

greek ambiente you find on the lesser known,and thank god greece has a lot.

so why not have a look first on a terrific little book which is called

www.specialplacestostay.com/maps/greece/index

this will give you a first idea about where the islands are and what would suit you in matter of traveltime.

than have a look at the different accomodations in athens ,mainland and islands......budget and high prized you get.....you will not use much of the room ,so do not waste your money on posh accomodation,they can spend it more wise.

www.rosyslittlevillage.com

www.aeginagreece.com

www.tripadvisor.com

enjoy greece and allways ask

[obrienkf]

Dear two2go



perhaps part of the problem is that there arent many in the community who would have the same interests as two who are in their early twenties....



i am often in greece, normally on business, but also have managed to find time to holiday there. Greece is just one of those places that you have to 'decide what you want to find' and go find it. Its full of history, stories of Olympian gods, temples to just about everyone who was someone, has been walked and talked by all the greatest philosophers in the ancient world, interesting wine, some grand mediterranean food, and offers winter sports (skiing), and everything you could think of and more in the summer months (which are about 6 months a year). And, the challenge with Greece is that every island is a micro-culture of its own.



Certainly if your daughters are heading there in July and August -- they just go to one of the more touristy islands, Mykonos, Santorini, or Corfu, and party and water sport themselves, to exhaustion. Crete is the same, especially on the south coast. No self respecting 'adult' would go near any of those islands in July and August. If what they want is to explore history and 'see stuff', and maybe come back with some appreciation of this 'origin of thought for the western world', that's alittle more of a challenge. Off season, late September and early October, all of these islands are much more pleasant if you want to 'see stuff' and learn, which is what i do when i travel. Perhaps the best plan is for you to find a small sailing boat cruise that is a 5 day thing, get your daughters on that, (check with the GreekNational Tourist Organization -- google GNTO), and then they can choose the island that they want to stay on.



If they had 3 weeks, and if they are interested in a balance of history and fun, I would suggest the following:



a few days in the Athens area (there is a Westin Hotel in Pireaus, that is often on LL). Alittle pricey, but at the sea, so that they could brush up on their tan. Then, find a 5 day small boat cruise (sail, not power). Loads onthose available. Then they pick their own path -- all of the islands have 'tourist booking agencies' on arrival, and frankly, taking a ferry from island to island is really no more difficult than taking a bus. Ferrys, and hydrofoils from islands to islands are the 'bus system' ofGreece, really affordable,full, in summer, of young adultsdiscovering Greece and the Islands, and they will naturally hook up with other like minded European orNorth American travellers doing the 'greece thing'.Its pretty safe, if they have any common sense, and as long as you keep topping up their bank accounts, ATMswork just fine.



A great gift to give them.Get them to do some of their own research. They should beplanning what it is that they want to learn from their travels. and there is so much in Greece ---- everywhere.

[lauren120]

Dear two2go,

I am of Greek decent and also a travel consultant that specializes in
unique travel experiences to Greece.

Please feel free to email me at:

(personal content edited to prevent spam)




Sincerely yours,

Lauren (personal content edited)



Message Edited by LL_moderator_nc on 02-03-2008 04:47 PM

[tesstorrey]

Lauren -- a friend and I are planning a trip to Crete in mid-June. i saw your post and would be interested in learning more about what you do. thanks. tess