Kimkim Trip Reviews for Greece

In 2020 we had planned a two week vacation in Greece, but Covid delayed our plans. Dec 2021 we decided to get started planning again. My wife and I enjoy food, wine and seeing ancient sites so we planned Athens, the ancient town of Akrotiri on Santorini and the island of Crete. A friend of ours worked with Angela and so we asked her to help arrange our tours and transportation to and from the airport.
In Athens, our guide was Eleni and she did a great job in showing us the archeological museum and Plaka. We walked on our own in Plaka and near the Acropolis.
On Santorini, our guide was Yannis who showed took us on a tour of the old towns from Oia all the way to Akritiri. There is great wine in Santorini which comes from grapes which grow in the islands volcanic soil. On our own walked through Oia, Fira and down to the lighthouse at Akrotiti, and we had wine tastings at Aroma Avlis (where we also had an incredible dinner the night before) and Sigalas Winery. We skipped some of the bigger wineries but there are maybe 20 more on Santorini.
On Crete, which is filled with olive groves, Alexander showed us the Eastern part of Crete with a visit to an olive oil factory and we toured as far south as the Libyan sea. Nikolas and our driver Thasos took us on a tour of the western part of Crete from Chania over the mountains to the south overlooking the Libyan sea. On our own we walked through the old towns in Heraklion, Chania and Rethimno.
We rented a car on both Santorini and Crete so the days after the tours we drove to some of our favorite places. The Minoan archeological site in Akriti and the Archeological museum in Chania were among our favorites and should not be missed.
I think guided tours are a great way to get a feel for a place when you have limited time, but you also need time on your own to explore. We had four organized tours which was perfect.

Hotel Review

Oniro City

Athens

Fabulous hotel, walking distance to old town in Plaka and the Acropolis. While in an old building, hd interior of the hotel was completely redone with a fabulous shower, bed and pillow. We had a great dinner at Frankie, 1/2 block away.

Location

Great non touristy restaurants, but close enough to Plaka.

Staff

Super friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed and pillow was smazing

Activity Review

East Crete Secrets Off the Beaten Track: Through the Eyes of Locals from East

Greece

Wonderful for a first time visitor! Antonis made our honeymoon so logistically pleasant. We picked out a great balance of activities and free time which is something not all travel companies can offer. If you are going on an international vacation kimkim is a great option.

Hotel Review

Sophia Luxury Suites

Santorini

Virginia was so lovely and helpful. I booked a yoga class which was such an amazing add on. The view here can’t be beat.

Tips for future travelers

Know that water isnt potable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Sailing Yacht Cruise to Rhenia Island & Delos

Mykonos

Our guide was wonderful and we had the most pleasant time walking around the ruins. Great lunch as well onboard

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

For many years, my husband enjoyed planning our vacations, but now, we are spoiled! Chris did a fabulous job planning our family vacation (and we enjoyed meeting him, too)! We spent ten days traveling to Athens and all through the Pelopennesian coast -- Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi, and Rafina. The archaeological guides Chris engaged added so much to our experience, too. Our first guide, in Athens, laid the foundations for the trip. Our walk through the Acropolis and the museum were ten times better because of our knowledgeable and friendly guide. We were with Ilias Papadopoulos for a few days, too, and he really put history and mythology in context for us. We especially enjoyed Olympia - our guide there was a delight, the venue was practically deserted, and her interpretations of the statues and their meanings brought the entire park to life. Delphi was also a fascinating site: the guide again provided context for the visit. Learning how the stories, politics, theater, and everyday life evolved enriched the amazing experience. I apologize for not having everyone's names.

Having an itinerary (all conveyed through the app Wanderlog - complete with directions and suggestions) made the experience virtually stress-free. The hotels Chris chose for us fit our family of five very well -- The Noma in Athens was right at the heart of the action, yet it was quiet and commodious. The Anthemion in Nafplio was beautifully situated. Galixidi and the mountain towns lent a quaint and adventurous aspect to our trip (though we may have slightly regretted taking the beautiful but mountainous and rather harrowing route). Our car rental was also arranged by KimKim, and everything worked out very well.

Overall, I would highly recommend Chris and KimKim for travel planning and implementation. I can't imagine having to book each part ourselves, and I am grateful to them for making our family vacation and son's graduation trip an experience we will always treasure. Next time, THE ISLANDS!

Hotel Reviews

Europa Hotel Olympia

Olimpia

Wow - what meals we had here! We were only here for a late dinner (they gave us a lot of extra dishes to try, and they were fabulous), and breakfast. The breakfast was amazing -- they had such a variety, even of teas and coffees and desserts. The lobbies were cool -- actual Olympic torches (the family has a connection), and the pool area was beautiful, though we didn't have time to enjoy it. The rooms were spacious, if a little dated, and the staff was very nice. We purchased some olive oil to take home, too!

Noma Hotel Athens

Athens

We thought the Noma was ideally situated for our three days in Athens. The staff was friendly and responsive. We had three rooms reserved because of the size of our party, and each was different, but they all worked. We enjoyed the tiny balcony on the second floor. The elevator was nice, and there was a little lobby. Our bath towels were the size of hand towels, even after exchanging them (but another couple in our party had normal-sized towels). One of the rooms had a bathroom that was not exactly private from the rest of the room. We would have probably rather have gotten breakfast on our own -- what was offered was pretty plain and monotonous -- a croissant, eggs, and coffee -- no fruit, no pastries. The rooms were comfortable and stocked (for a fee). The best part about it was being able to step out right into the heart of Athens.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very conveniently located to many great neighborhoods and attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ganimede Hotel

Galaxidi

Charming rooms, nice breakfast, excellent location -- a good place to stay in a very nice town!

Anthemion Suites & Villas

Nafplio

What a beautiful place. The rooms were luxurious and the patios were exquisite! The view was amazing. I wish the one day we had marked as a "leisure" day would have been nice enough for us to have enjoyed the pool and maybe taken a hike in the fields, if that was allowed. (It rained all day.) The breakfasts were delightful -- we loved having such a wide selection and the dishes were refilled often. The location was convenient (since we had a car), and we were happy to stay a bit outside of town. We had two rooms (one for two people and one for three). I would have liked to have had a microwave or coffee maker in our room (for two). The staff was excellent -- there had been a small mix-up with the reservation, but it was quickly corrected and everyone was very solicitous.

Location

Staff

Avra Hotel Rafina

Rafina, Athens

Two of three rooms were facing the water, so that was nice. We weren't there for very long (it was our night-before-the-airport hotel), but it was very nice. The breakfast was wonderful - a lot of variety. I wonder if the Greek people eat so many desserts for breakfast or if they just think that Americans and other travelers do! Ha ha! Still, it was a breakfast full of a huge variety and we enjoyed it very much. The best part was the location and not having to stay at the airport!

Activity Reviews

- Ancient Olympia Guided Tour (Self-Drive)

Greece

Our guide was different from the one originally scheduled, but she was fabulous and we are so happy she joined us for our late afternoon tour. She brought Olympia alive with knowledge and passion. She "crowned" our son after he beat my daughter running on the stadia. What an amazing experience! She shared her own archeological experiences with us as she filled in the years. She taught us about the meanings of the statues. I really couldn't compliment her enough -- this experience was our favorite of all of the days and tours.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was phenomenal. Hands down the best.

Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Guided Tour

Athens

While it was crowded and it was a windy, but sunny day, the experience of the Acropolis can't be beat. Our guide was extremely helpful in leading us around and providing the context for the experience. The viewers were very cool, and we loved that our guide showed us all over the museum, showing us the connections between the Acropolis and the museum, and teaching us about the history and the meanings behind the statues.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Car rental - Nafplio to Olympia

Greece

My recommendations are the following: ** Change the pin in the Wanderlog app for the Delphi location. It took us to the town rather than to the site by the museum where we needed to meet the guide. We were therefore about twenty minutes late, and the guide had to leave us earlier than we would have liked (I think he had another tour). Delphi ended up being our shortest tour as a result. ** Make sure the drivers know where to drop the car off at the airport -- with a pin maybe on the app. This part caused a lot of stress and driving around, being unsure where to go. The person who dropped the car off to us was not clear, and it wasn't precise in the app. ** Make sure the driver knows what kind of gas to get! There are a lot of choices and we weren't really sure. Luckily, the service station people knew what to use !

- Nemea Wine Tour & Lunch

Greece

Because one member of our party works in the wine industry, we were really looking forward to a tour so that he could compare the sites. We really only got to see the cellars and the showroom. We asked some questions, but the guide didn't go too far off-script. The tasting was okay -- we were given two whites and two reds. None of them knocked my socks off, so to speak. The lunch was fabulous and gave us a great taste (ha ha) of some Greek food we hadn't tried yet. The venue was very pretty.

Quality of Experience

The guide could have shown us around more, found out what wines we liked, been around at the end...

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nafplio Coast and Palamidi Castle Foothills Hike

Nafplio

While the information was interesting and we thought a lot of the guide, we concluded that we prefer more historic tours. I don't think we realized that this "hike" was actually more of a walk through the town. We had, on the rainy day, already walked through much of the town, and we had driven up to see the coast the day before. I can appreciate the intent of the hike, but it just wasn't for us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

When I started planning our trip to Greece, I initially reached out to several travel planning organizations, filling out their interest questionnaire. Eleni was the only who responded with an initial itinerary that reflected my answers. From there, the planning process went very smoothly. We went through several versions, until we came up with the perfect trip for my husband and I. Throughout our two weeks in Greece, Eleni immediately responded to any questions, concerns or changes we needed help with. Her suggestions for activities and restaurants were spot on. We spent the majority of our time touring the archaeological sites in the Peloponnese and Athens. We toured Olympia, Delphi and Nafplio with guides that were archaeologists; they made the ruins come to life. We had two fabulous guided hikes with Fotis and Elani. And the entire trip was made stress free by our fabulous driver, Andreas. He was always where we needed him and provided comfort after a long day. Eleni had reserved very nice accommodations through out the stay and all of our transfers went off without a hitch. This trip was everything I had hoped for and more.

Hotel Review

Elafivolia Suites Arachova

Distomo-Arachova-Antikyra

This was a lovely hotel just outside of Arachova. We had a huge, modern room with an amazing view. The manager, Leonard, and his staff went out of their way to make us feel welcomed and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Lousios Gorge Hiking

Greece

Amazing hike to see ancient monasteries and the Lousios Gorge. Fotis, our experienced guide, led us through the trail, while explaining the flora and history of the area. He also brought along a picnic lunch that included his own olives and oil. It was one of the highlights of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Well, our trip to Greece this 2022 spring was excellent. We visited Athens and the islands Naxos, Milos, Santorini and Crete. We worked extensively with Dimitris and Tatialena to schedule a trip that reflected our interests. They had many suggestions and responded positively to our numerous travel and sightseeing requests. The ferry scheduling and local flight arrangements went off without a hitch. Dimitris kept in touch both before and during our trip via emails, which was much appreciated.

We had a few bumps in the planning, not the least being the pandemic caused us to reschedule twice and incur a larger fee once we finally committed to a date. We started planning in Nov, 2019 and finally made the trip in May, 2022. We also happened to schedule day tours during the Greek May Day holiday of May 1 and May 2 when most sightseeing opportunities and museums were shut down. This caused us to do some last-minute rescheduling.

We would recommend planning your trip with Kimkim. I would encourage the client to become an active partner in the trip planning to get the most out of their trip. Read up on your area of interest so you don't miss out on important / interesting sites, festivals, holidays, etc. We would also suggest giving yourself sufficient lead time (six months) in order to tailor the trip to your expectations.

Chris, we are so very grateful to you for all your excellent support and expertise helping us plan our "Greek Odyssey" trip. We were amazed by your superb customer service, especially your recommendations to help us experience some lesser traveled areas of Greece such as Meteora and the Zagori villages, with lovely lodging, transportation arrangements and countless other measures you took on our behalf. We highly regard your work ethic, prompt responses to questions and attention to detail, and highly recommend your services to other adventurous travelers. We thank you profoundly, Chris. Carol & Ray

Amelia did a great job from start to finish making sure all of our needs and requests were met. Great accommodations at all destinations.

Activity Review

The treasures of Athens

Athens

It was great. A little chilly when we went in March, but i would not change anything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the initial trip planning to all execution to the simplest details was taken care off very well by Christos and the team.

Simple words would not be enough to describe this trip to Greece.
I gave Rebecca, my Greek specialist, roughly about 2 weeks notice to put this trip together and what she did was beyond expectations.
Everything was perfectly organised and the tours she had arranged for me were amazing, insightful and beautiful. She was at hand to answer any questions I had, prior to and during the trip.
I have to say she went above and beyond to make sure I enjoyed every moment of it. And I can not thank her enough for doing this.
Athens, Santorini and Crete were just amazing places, places that I would definitely go back to.
Her guides were awesome - I have learnt so much and seen a lot with them. They have a true passion for what they are doing and you actually get to know and love the place through their eyes.
A special thanks to George, Kostis, Lazaros , Yiannis and Manos for giving me their time. Because of them Greece has become an unforgettable country.

Hotel Review

Agali Houses Santorini

Firostefani, Santorini

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Athens - Private Cape Sounion & the Temple of Poseidon Sunset Tour

Athens

A place steeped in mythology and history, The Temple of Poseidon is definitely something to visit. It is peaceful and so calming just to watch the Temple and look out at the ocean, that there is no need for anything else at that moment.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A first-class experience! Our specialist, Dimitris, created an island-hopping trip to Paros, Naxos, and Santorini that more than met our expectations. After a long flight that arrived after midnight, the arranged transportation to the Electra Hotel was really appreciated. Dimitris’ selection of this first hotel was amazing - waking up to find the view of the Acropolis while enjoying breakfast on the balcony and the short walk to see the changing of the guards at the Greece Parliament were unexpected experiences since we were in Athens a brief time.
Having Dimitris organize the airline, ferry and transfer arrangements within Greece made an incredible stress-free difference from self-planning. He arranged the perfect combination of free days with suggested activities as well as planned experiences on each island. We hiked with Chris from Paros Hikes along the Byzantine Way, chatting about history and plant life. The hike with Thanos in Santorini took us along the caldera, getting amazing views, photos, and the best restaurant reservation. In Naxos, we wandered with Kyriaki thru the old town castle area, tasting wonderful local food. Kyriaki went out of her way to buy and deliver tomato jam to our hotel the following day! The wine tasting at modern Estate Argyros in Santorini was informative and paired with delicious bites. All of those were top-notch. Poor weather conditions prevented the all-day catamaran cruise in Naxos, which was disappointing. However, the cooler weather resulted in renting cars and exploring parts of the islands we may not have otherwise seen. Car rental was easily arranged through our hotels and reasonably priced.
A special note about our hotels: We requested hotels with a balcony for down time which all had. In addition to the Electra Hotel, we especially enjoyed the boutique Hotel Iris in Paros and the Saint Vlassis Hotel in Naxos. Both were in a walkable location to restaurants and shopping. We experienced the wonderful Greek hospitality and as we left, we felt we were leaving new friends behind. We would have enjoyed the Santo Miramare Resort on Santorini more if the weather had been warmer. Its location is close to the beach and numerous restaurants. Returning to Athens, the Vouliagmeni Athenian Riviera hotel was walkable to the beach. The receptionist arranged for necessary travel Covid tests at a nearby clinic, convenient and inexpensive.
A special note to Dimitris: we appreciated the phone calls when our catamaran cruise cancelled and when we misunderstood the winery location.
This 16-day Greek trip enriched with culture, history and food is one we will never forget. We highly recommend KimKim and Dimitris for your adventures in Greece!

Our 12 day trip to Greece for our honeymoon was amazing. We loved the diversity of experiences, landscapes and sights across Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. Harris crafted an itinerary that was well-tuned to our interests and balanced our desire to explore and relax. From a mythology tour around the Acropolis to learning about (and tasting) agricultural products on Naxos and Santorini, all of the experiences Harris set up for us were excellent. During our trip, we were grateful to have dedicated support from the kimkim team to handle shifts in our private transportation schedule, confirming dinner reservations, and responding to our questions.

Not only does Kimkim provide excellent service and immediate responses to any question, they listen to the type of traveler you are and the interests you have and match their suggestions for your itinerary to that. They are worth every penny they charge and we will use them again. Perhaps our experience was due to our lead planner Chris….he is stellar and goes above and beyond ….even booking a dental appointment in a small town when a tooth issue arose. He cares that you have a remarkable adventure and we did!
We highly recommend him and Kimkim.

Our trip to Greece was one of the best trips we have ever taken. Chris and his team provided an amazing experience. Our guides, Kiki, Penny, and Ares in Athens/Delphi and Elias in Nafplio (please forgive me if I have misspelled names) were informative, fun, and considerate. Drivers were prompt, safe and offered options for stops and other areas of interest along the way on longer trips. Constantine was particularly kind and charming. It is hard to choose a most memorable place or experience. The archaeological sites were those we have heard about all our lives and to see them in person was awe inspiring. The food tour was great fun and taught us so much about Greek culture and everyday life. Noble Suites in Athens was the perfect place to stay. The location was convenient and Mariane was a gracious host, always concerned for our comfort and happiness.

Working with kimkim, and especially Tasos allowed us to fully experience the culture and beauty of Greece. Tasos listened to what we were interested in doing, curtailed a schedule that fit those interests and made sure that we were happy with the plan. We had one issue while visiting, and it was quickly resolved. The support we received throughout the process was wonderful. No question or request felt bothersome and he guided us through the experience. I was also impressed with the transfers to hotels and excursions. All of the drivers were professional, on time and shared their love of Greece. Lampros was our driver in Athens. He was exceptional! His information was interesting, he was such a gentlemen and went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable. His English was very good. One of our favorite experiences was in Nafplio when we went traveled with Dominic, the tour guide, to Nemea. While visiting the Temple of Zeus, he brought the story alive through his knowledge and passion of that time period. Then we visit wineries and finished at a local organic vinegar producer. Nickos and Maria cooked us a delicious lunch using their vinegars and local foods and vegetables from their garden. I truly appreciate that Tasos planned tours that took us off the touristy path and immersed us in the culture while trip placing us in boutique type hotels that were close to many restaurants and local markets. We hope to use kimkim in the future-Bravo!

Hotel Review

Sweet Home Hotel

Athens

We loved our stay at Home Sweet Home! It truly felt like home due to the owner's personal touch. She was there everyday helping with breakfast and she was helpful answering questions and guiding us to local places to eat. The breakfast was delicious and the rooms were impeccably clean. There was an elevator to help with luggage which was helpful. It was walking distance to the most of the sights in downtown Athens. Wonderful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Catamaran Caldera Cruise

Santorini

The sights that we saw were outstanding and the crew on the Catamaran were exceptional! Great music during the sunset and loved when the captain shared information of the various sights as we came upon them.

Quality of Experience

Food

I liked that there was a variety.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We would rather take a taxi back since we drove to an hour to get home. There were 2 large vans and it was confusing upon leaving the catamaran as to which one we were to get on.

Santorini Farm Tour: Food & Wine

Santorini

Ana was a wonderful tour guide, very knowledgable of the wine making and she made the experience so enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Fava beans, tomato fritters and greek salad was outstanding. For dessert we had greek yogurt with the farm made sweetened marinated cherry tomatoes!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy Athens by Bike!

Athens

Great way to get familiar with the city in a short amount of time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Soto was an amazing guide. He was passionate about Athens and biking!

Private Cape Sounio Sunset tour

Greece

Cape Sounion was a beautiful place to see the sun set. We wish we could have brought a blanket and bottle of wine! Lampros made frequent stops allowing us to get out and captures some pictures at scenic spots, while sharing some information about each place. Fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in Naxos Villages

Naxos

Katerina and her mother were so welcoming! How lucky they are to live is such a scenic villiage!

Quality of Experience

Food

The stuffed tomatoes and peppers were outstanding! Wonderful hosts!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alex was great. There was a language barrier but luckily Adam came for the villages tour so that he could support and communicate more clearly. Thank you kimkim for this.

Transport

No complaints! I explained the general "Feeling" I was hoping to have and experience while in Greece for a week with my preteen daughter. "Not too touristy, but not isolated. Connect with locals, eat amazing food, relax but have things to explore." Eleni came up with an itinerary on the first go round that we made only made one small adjustment to. Otherwise the trip was great. We specifically loved a full-day boat excursion on a private sailboat with a chef and stops at various caves and islands, as well as the Petra farm tour in Paros run by a local family. The tour was so beautiful and then we had a family dinner with them- all made from their farm bounty. WOW. Ate at amazing restaurants, explored plenty. Any questions or issues we encountered, the KimKim team was almost immediate in their response at any hour. This process was literally so easy from start to finish. Everything was sorted, drivers, trains, airport pickups... We loved it! Only missing one star because we would have preferred a slightly different hotel setup (but also might be my fault for not being specific enough) and could have used more detailed directions with the places we were going as the islands don't have street names like the US, so it was hard to find several spots. OVERALL it was a fabulous trip! :)

We had a fabulous trip to Greece, The tours we booked were wonderful. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, punctual and friendly. We loved them all!
The only thing we would have changed was the hotel choices. The rooms in the Hotel in Athens were not up to our standards. Very cramped and barely functional. The location was good and breakfast was acceptable but overall, not a great experience.
In Santorini we each had very different room qualities. Mine was gorgeous, spacious with an amazing view, but my cousin’s was a hole in the wall.
Rebecca was very helpful and really was on call 24/7 it seemed. We really appreciated it. She was able to assist us with last minute changes to our itinerary, and ensure we arrived at all our destinations.
Overall, we had an amazing trip. Would definitely use Kim Kim again, just be more careful on our hotel choices.

Greece May 2022

Overall, the logistics were coordinated well (airport transit, ferry, flight,, tour pick-up).
Local guide for Acropolis tour was very good
Santorini Discovery tour + wine tasting was very good
Sailboat tour in Santorini was very good.

I was expecting a bit more information. The initial itinerary indicated: "... driver .... will deliver our small but useful welcome pack, including our insider's guidebook for the places you will be visiting" . This information was not received. However, I had done research on my own for activity options.

Traveling abroad, whether alone or with family, requires significant planning and preparation, consuming valuable time reading travel guides and research, with the hope of making the best use of precious time off from the daily grind. This planning becomes even more challenging when you are visiting a country for the first time, and strictly basing an itinerary on the recommendations of others and a list of the most famous landmarks to visit, without the local experience and knowledge. For our recent (and first) trip to Greece with the family, we chose to use KimKim (local agent - Somewhere We Know) to relieve us of the burden (and gamble) of planning ourselves. This was our first experience with KimKim, and my family and I are so thankful we did.
Throughout the planning of our trip, Amalia (our fantastic local agent - Somewhere we Know) was extremely responsive answering any and all questions (we had many) ahead of our visit to Greece. We had ten days available, and Amalia did an amazing job developing an itinerary based on our criteria exposing us to everything Greece has to offer with stays in Athens, Nafplio and Santorini. The detailed itinerary shared prior to our trip was invaluable, and we referenced it many times throughout our vacation. We started our trip in Athens, where we met our driver Thanasis who would be our transport between activities while staying in Athens and Nafplio. Thanasis offered us a warm welcome to Greece, and each ride with him was an educational driving tour of the area. Thanasis is a real pro, not only in his effortless navigation of the labyrinthian streets of Athens but sharing his knowledge and answering our questions along the way.
Our stay in Athens felt like a ‘home away from home’ at The Foundry Suites. From the attentive staff to the delicious (and fresh) baskets of food delivered to our door each morning, we were very pleased with the accommodations and the overall experience. The Foundry Suites is perfectly located and a great starting point each day in walking distance of everything Athens has to offer. The rooftop garden patio offers a beautiful view of the city, and a great spot to view the sunrise or the brightly lit Acropolis at night. We stayed in Greece for 4 days (one night returning from Nafplio and before heading to Santorini). On day 2 we had a private tour of the Acropolis Museum and Acropolis. Our guide, Xenia, was excellent and the tour was well planned and satisfyingly educational. Xenia was engaging and offered thorough explanations of key exhibits during our time at the museum. Xenia then led us up the hill to the Acropolis, suggesting spots for family pictures along the way. Many thanks to Xenia and highly recommend her as a guide for this tour.
The evening of day 2 we took a food tour of Athens starting with an olive oil tasting at Malotira. We received a quick primer on olive oil production in Greece, and the pride of those who produce it locally. Our guide selected a great variety of restaurants to sample the local fare. There is no personal description I can share that will do justice to the food in Athens, try all of it, often and anywhere you can get it. It’s all delicious. Many thanks to our guide.
From Athens we headed to Nafplio with our driver Thanasis. During our ride from Athens to Nafplio, Thanasis shared details on notable landmarks and made an unexpected stop at the man-made Corinth Canal, a truly breathtaking site to see. Nafplio is a gorgeous and quaint seaside town, and a great reprieve from the big city pace for a couple of days. Our stay at the Castellano Hotel & Suites exceeded all expectations with very spacious accommodations, located in the heart of the central square and great staff. We took two separate tours while in Nafplio, and were extremely lucky to have Vivi as our guide. We visited the Palamidi Fortress a very short ride from our hotel our first day, and a 30-40 minute ride to Epidavros on the second day in the region. Vivi gave exceptional tours of both locations, and we were very thankful to have both sites to ourselves due to overcast skies and light rain. We appreciate Vivi’s level of detail in the history shared, her patience with our two boys and obvious pride she takes in her tours.
On day 5 we traveled back to Athens for a ‘free’ day before flying to Santorini. The Athens airport is very accessible and a short ride from the downtown area. We experienced no issues on the (very short) flight to Santorini. The classic pictures of white-washed houses on the cliffs of the island did nothing to prepare us for the overwhelming beauty of Santorini, and the breathtaking views in every direction. Our stay at Abelonas Retreat in Imerovigli was fantastic, set north from the very busy center of Fira and high above the sea below. Once again, the location was perfect, allowing us to walk down to shopping and restaurants in Fira or staying ‘local’ in the quieter setting of Imerovigli and having the best meals of our stay only minutes from our hotel at Anogi (so good we ate there twice for dinner!). The couple that operate Anogia are amazing, and welcome you as if you are part of the family. While on Santorini, we took an afternoon to sunset tour with Panos and Sophia of Baikas Travel starting at the peak of the island at the Monastery in Pyrgos and ending in the gorgeous village of Oia. Panos offered great details at each stop along the way, and both Panos and Sophia were extremely helpful. With stops at the Red and Black beaches, the Monastery in Pyrgos and Oia we truly got an immersive experience to see the entire island.
Last, but by no means least, we took a day time Caldera Classic cruise along the coast of Santorini and nearby islands. We could not have asked for a better experience, and Captain Elias and crew were gracious hosts. This particular cruise is partially private, and there was only one other couple along with our family on the boat. Captain Elias made frequent stops at key points of interest around the island, and shared the history of the birth of Santorini. The crew made an amazing lunch, and we anchored in a cove to enjoy the views, the weather and the food. We were very grateful for this experience.
Prior to our departure, we had a free day on Day 9 where we took our COVID tests to return to the States (at the Central Clinic of Santorini in Fira, which took 10 minutes and very easy), take in more of the local cuisine, shop and enjoy the views. Amalia’s perfect planning gave our family an amazing, ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. Our driver Thanasis, and tour guides Xenia and Vivian made this an unforgettable memory our family will reminisce forever. Baikas Travel and Caldera allowed us to fully experience the unique island of Santorini. Many thanks again to Amalia at Somewhere we Know, and we cannot recommend using this service enough to plan your next travel experience.

Christos and his team were excellent. Prompt communication, thoughtful and knowledgeable trip planning. Great relationships with hotels, tour guides and transfer companies made this trip a once in a lifetime holiday. Couldn't recommend them enough! Just book.

Angela from Greece Adventure Trips organized our trip at short notice (just a few weeks). She was prompt, friendly, and figured everything out. She organized all of our travel within Greece and it went flawlessly.
Our trip started with an evening in Athens where we stayed in the Elektra Metropolis hotel (wow --- great location right in Plaka with great street walks and just 10 mins walk to the Acropolis). That evening, we did a walking tour of the Acropolis with the most amazing guide (Alex --- he is a trained archaeologist and he taught us so much in just two hours, great story teller, friendly and kind -- Alex also gave us great information on what to do during the rest of our Greece trip). I think we should have spent another day in Athens but I had been insistent we should spend most of the trip in the islands. Next time!
The next morning, we took a ferry from Piraeus to Naxos. Very scenic few hours, though very crowded on the ferry because it was the easter week. On Naxos, I think we were there just about at the start of the tourist season, since many places were just opening. Our hotel 18 Grapes was a boutique resort, very laid back and luxurious. The food from the small resort restaurant was amazing --- especially the sumptious and scrumptious breakfast served with style and personal charm. We took a short taxi ride into the city to walk around, check out the stores and restaurants. On day 2, we rented electric bikes at a great place called Aurelia Bikes and biked around half the island, getting to see some of the beautiful villages in the interior. We got really lucky finding Aurelia Bikes --- they manufacture their own bikes optimized for the region. When unfortunately I got a flat tire a few miles away from the store on the way back, the owner was kind enough to come out in a truck to pick me up.
The next day we took a ferry from Naxos to Santorini. Here, Angela had booked us into the Santo Maris Luxury Suites in Oia. Ultra-fancy resort hotel and just a few minutes walk from the heart of Oia (with the beautiful views, white and blue buildings, shops and restaurants). We hadn't pre-planned this, but because it was right in the midst of easter week, the same evening the citadel of Pyrgos on Santorini had its annual celebration (which is something unique --- tens of thousands of lanterns light up this citadel on a hill) --- we got to go walk around in the midst of it and enjoy the amazing experience. The next day, we did the caldera hike from Oia to Fira (beautiful, picturesque, though in hindsight should have heeded everyone's advice to go from Fira to Oia instead).
Finally, flew out of Santorini, thru Athens, and onward. Every step of the way, things went flawlessly.
Much kudos to Angela for making great default choices for us. She did also suggest various guided activities on the islands but we decided against because we just wanted to chill and do stuff on our own. Also, our party had two vegans and two vegetarians, so we weren't entirely sure a planned culinary tour or wine-and-cheese tour would work out so well for us. But for most families or groups, that would be an added plus.
In hindsight, I think I'd have added a day in Athens. The ferry has different ticket options and I think if I'd known that, I might have picked a ticket option with more of a view). I think I'd have been a bit more prepared for how touristy Santorini is (Naxos is so laid back in comparison). But those are just minor details that would have have added at most a bit more icing to our amazing Greek vacation cake.