Effie Parasyrakis

SUMMARY:
One word: απίστευτος... or in english, INCREDIBLE! But even that one word doesn't do justice to the kind of trip we had in Greece and the amazing team at Be a Greek. We arrived in Athens for a couple of days to see the local sights, ferried to Mykonos for 3 more days and enjoyed some local farm-to-table and beach time, and then ferried to Santorini for 4 days for an opulent and relaxing close, before flying back to Athens for our flight home the next day.

PRE-TRIP PLANNING:
I don't know where to start with this review, so it's probably best where our trip started, when I first reached out to kimkim. The service looked straight forward enough to request an itinerary for our Greece trip, and immediately put me in touch with Effie from Be a Greek - local Greece travel experts. She titled our trip “Dream Vacation in Greece” and catered to every request - what our dates were, the type of vacation, budget, what's most important for the trip, where do you want to spend more/less money, more/less time, etc. Within only a day or two, Effie turned around a full 10-day itinerary that we iterated on a couple of minor tweaks, but within only a few days, our entire trip was finalized! And then we waited to see how it turned out...SO MUCH BETTER THAN EXPECTED!

ARRIVAL IN ATHENS:
From the moment we landed in Athens till the day we left home, we were met with white-glove service from start to finish. Effie had someone waiting at the airport holding a sign with my name to pick us up and take us to our hotel (Altar Suites Athens). The check-in process was seamless as they were waiting for us as well - our room was amazing with an incredible view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon . We had time that evening to roam around Monastiraki and enjoy dinner also with a view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The next morning Effie had arranged a Private Walking Tour of Athens including the Acropolis - once again, a driver was waiting for us outside our hotel to take us to the meeting point for our tour guide. Our tour guide was Natasha and my goodness Natasha was so well informed and shared really interesting stories about the rich history of Athens and also about the cultural ongoings of recent history. We had great conversations throughout the day. Natasha also took us out for a break and stopped by a local restaurant and offered us refreshments :). Thank you Natasha for an incredible tour - you made our day in Athens so memorable!

OFF TO MYKONOS:
The next day Effie once again arranged for a driver to take us to the seaport for our super ferry to Mykonos. Before I go on, I'll mention it now, but every form of transport, hotel, tour, was all arranged by Effie and her team from the moment we landed. I'll share a little more about the communication later :). The ferry was a little more than 3 hrs, and due to the slightly inclement weather (higher winds than usual), the ride made us a little nauseous, but we managed. As we arrived at port, once again rinse and repeat - driver, hotel (The George Hotel), simple check-in! Effie arranged a Farm and Wine Tour the next day at a local Mykonos farm where we got to experience a true “farm-to-table” meal with wine and met their farm animals! BTW, we didn’t have to figure out transport to/from, since that was also arranged :). Now here is a quick communication example of where Effie and the team at Be a Greek stood out - we decided on-the-fly to go out to a different hotel bar for some cocktails - we simply messaged Effie and team and they quickly responded on options on where to go and arranged with the driver for the change in plans, and not only that, but to be available when we are ready to go back to our hotel later that evening. The seamlessness and ease of making a quick change in plans in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language - it really felt as if we’re at home and messaging our friends with a new plan to meet up! After all that we spent the night back at The George in preparation for our ferry to Santorini the next day.

OFF TO SANTORINI:
Driver, ferry, arrival to port, driver, arrival to hotel – I can’t express how much this made our trip that much easier not having to navigate the local taxis or other transport options. As we arrived at our hotel in Santorini (Andronis Concept Wellness Resort) - I’m going to put this out there right now - the best hotel experience I’ve ever had! I am a Lifetime Platinum member at a leading hotel chain and have been traveling for my career for almost 20 years, and the Andronis Concept is by far the best! We had mentioned to Effie that we wanted to spend the most time in Santorini and also be able to enjoy the hotel as a relaxing end to our vacation - and Effie went beyond expectations - this hotel had a massive infinity pool, a heated pool under a cave, and our room had its own private heated infinity pool for ourselves with a postcard view of the caldera! I could not have imagined a better stay and relaxing end to our trip. This by far was the best part of our trip - each morning waking up to a billion dollar view and each night watching the glorious Santorini sunset from the privacy of our balcony and pool. We did go out and enjoy two excursions - one being the hike from Fira to Oia which we did one morning - (quick fact - there are a couple other Andronis properties in Oia, so we were able to take advantage of our included breakfast in those sister properties when we reached Oia which was nice). The other excursion arranged by Effie was the Sunset Dinner Cruise - this was a nice, easy and enjoyable (also a must-do) experience when visiting Santorini! Incredible view and the Aegean Sea is just so clear and magnificent! Our saddest day was when we were leaving Santorini - not only because the hotel was amazing, but we knew it was time to head back home as well.

LAST NIGHT IN ATHENS:
We received a pleasant surprise as we arrived back in Athens - Effie, our Be a Greek contact and master trip coordinator met us at the Arrival terminal in Athens herself! She had booked us a night at the Sofitel immediately across from the airport and walked us over to the hotel to settle us to check-in. We had a great final dinner at Jenny’s Rooftop at the Sofitel before another nice breakfast and walked over back to the terminal for our flight home.

COMMUNICATION:
Effie and her team created a WhatsApp Chat Group for our trip beginning the morning of our trip. We had constant communication with Effie and the entire Be a Greek team that became our 24x7 support throughout the trip. They used it to message us each evening of the plans for the following day, any e-tickets/boarding passes for transportation (ferries/flights), and timings for when our drivers would be at a pickup spot. From start to finish, the Be a Greek team was along with us and at no point did we feel lost, or unaware of plans, or even quick modifications to plans. It was also very helpful when our ferry to Mykonos was delayed - without asking, we got a message in the chat letting us know about the delay even before passengers were made aware at the port! Whether it was for any on the fly recommendations, or suggestions on things to do on our “free” days, Effie and the team at Be a Greek were always available and truly exemplified the meaning of white glove service.

IN CLOSING:
The experience we had on this trip from the initial planning on KimKim to getting in touch with Effie from Be a Greek to the actual execution of the trip, we could not have asked for a more memorable vacation. We’ve looked back in fondness on our trip each day since returning on how amazing each day turned out and how we wouldn’t change anything! We personally want to thank Effie and the entire Be a Greek team for all that they did and truly making our vacation a Dream Vacation! If you can’t tell by now, for those looking for a hassle-free, worry-free, all-inclusive planned vacation where all you need to do is enjoy, I could not ask for a better team than Kimkim and Be a Greek! We will absolutely use them for our next vacation! Effie - You were amazing and thanks again for going completely out of your way, and over and beyond our expectations to meet us before we left Athens. THANK YOU!!

My husband and I spent our 14-day honeymoon traveling to Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Athens. Effie (our Kimkim local specialist) helped us organize an absolutely incredible and seamless trip. From transportation within each place, accommodations, and travel tickets to excursions and restaurant recommendations, we got to experience the best of what Greece has to offer with absolutely zero stress. We also appreciated that the travel agency staff at Be a Greek had their hand in every step of our trip. They reached out to us via WhatsApp every day with the schedule and all the important information we needed to know for the next day, being available via WhatsApp to answer any questions we had and even meeting us at the airport when we first got to Athens to help us navigate getting to our next destination. We would highly recommend Be a Greek if you are looking to experience Greece in the best way possible. We also will definitely be utilizing Kimkim for any future international travel!

Hotel Reviews

Anax Resort & Spa

Anax was a breathtaking 5-star resort with phenomenal accommodations, staff, and great food. Located close to everything on the island. We felt extremely relaxed and taken care of during our stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Akra Suites

Santorini - Greece

Clean hotel, located in a great spot on the island with unbelievable sunset views! Not a large hotel with a lot of accommodations but great if you are planning to be on the go during your stay in Santorini.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Domes Noruz Chania

Agioi Apostoloi Chania-Crete

The most beautiful hotel that is the epitome of luxury with unmatched customer service. This was by far our favorite hotel. The food was incredible, and the staff was friendly and helpful. Our travel agency forgot to mention that it was our honeymoon, so when it was mentioned when we first got to the hotel, the next day, they surprised us with the whole room decorated with rose petals, wine, and desserts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Altar Suites Athens

Athens

Nice, new boutique hotel with phenomenal views of the Acropolis.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santorini Wine Roads Small-group Sunset Tour

Santorini

Savas, our guide, was great and so knowledgeable! We loved each of the wineries we visited and would highly recommend this company to anyone who wants to do a winery tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Caldera Small-group Sunset Cruise with BBQ on board and Open Bar

Santorini

Such a relaxing day on the water with great food and views!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Authentic Cretan Cooking Small Group Experience

Greece

This was one of the best activities we did on our Greece trip by far. Not only we’re the views spectacular and the food delicious and easy to make, but the guides and hosts were so knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. It was such a special way to experience Crete, and it’s history.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

It's an awesome way to experience Cretan culture through the old city! Our guide, Dina, was so knowledgeable and compelling!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Such a cool way to experience the Acropolis and the history of Athens/Greece. Our guide, Dimitris, was awesome! Super knowledgeable and knew all the great spots to take pictures. He even recommended a great spot for us to go to lunch after the tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I have travelled independently and with tours, and I highly recommend Kimkim as the perfect marriage of the two styles.

Kefi was a dream to work with on planning our trip to Greece - very patient as we worked through different travel and sightseeing options. Then, upon realizing that our flight times were going to cut things close, she reversed the order of our entire trip without batting an eye (at least to us!). When I asked about a hotel that was recommended by a friend of the owner, she offered to arrange a stay there while also diplomatically suggesting a different option. She was careful to work within our budget and was able to help us take the best advantage of increasing it as we added a couple of options. The hotels and excursions she booked for us were unfailingly terrific.

Once we were in Greece, Dimitrios with Be A Greek was also fantastic. We were met at every change point by a professional driver in a nice vehicle. We had a small kerfuffle with one of our excursions due to weather, and Dimitrios stayed in touch constantly via WhatsApp to make sure we had a wonderful backup plan, which he had preemtively booked pending our approval. He was available and responsive whenever we reached out.

I love this way of traveling because much of the stress is taken out of the planning, we had great suggestions from people on the ground, we did not have to move in a group with people we may or may not like, and the price was more than fair. I would highly recommend Kimkim and Be A Greek for your dream vacation to Greece. I plan to use Kimkim next time I plan a vacation and have recommended it to several friends.

Effie and Antonis were so helpful while we were on our trip. They were readily available to answer questions and help us have the easiest, most enjoyable vacation. Effie worked with us to plan a trip to meet our needs and to be able to see the highlights in each place we visited. She made suggestions that we found to be very helpful. There were people to greet us at each destination that helped us with our luggage and whisked us away from the crowds. The drivers were very informative and drove us safely to each destination.

We probably wouldn't have visited Crete had it not been for Effie and we really enjoyed it! Crete was very relaxing and the countryside was great with all of the olive trees. We loved walking around the cobblestone streets in Chania and visiting shops and restaurants. We found it interesting that the streets would really come to life in the evening as the restaurant owners would put out their tables and chairs. The Malmo Historic Hotel was very comfortable and quaint. We really enjoyed their breakfast out on their terrace. It was centrally located as well. Our tour guide of the city was very informative and easy to converse with. She offered valuable information for the days to come. We also enjoyed our wine tasting tour and tour of cheese factory and olive mill and factory. Yum!

Santorini was our favorite. Our host of our villa at Spitia Tzitzi was amazing. He cooked our breakfast each morning, ensured we were comfortable in our villa, and gave us so much insight into the history of the area along with great suggestions for restaurants. There is no way to describe the breathtaking views we had from our villa. Our favorite "excursion" was the sunset sailing cruise. What a fantastic day. We'd go back again.

Mykonos was a little disappointing, but not because of Effie's or Antonis's efforts. The hotel was terrific and within walking distance of multiple restaurants. Effie arranged a walking tour of the city of Mykonos Town. The guide was terrific. He spoke English very well and offered so much insight into the life and culture there. However, during the time on the island, the wind was more than usual, so our sailing trip was cancelled due to safety concerns. Effie tried to rebook during our stay, but the wind did not cooperate, unfortunately. We had another tour while we were there. The guide did not speak English well although he was very nice. We faced some other challenges that were unusual for that tour. The guide, when we requested, returned us to our hotel. Effie and Antonis made things right for us, to say the least. They went above and beyond to take care of us and apologize for something that had never happened before. They were great.

Athens is a big city, and so much to see! Effie hooked us up with a phenomenal tour guide. She took us to see everything there was to see in Athens. You could tell that she loved the history and wanted to share it! She taught us so much about the history and culture. Fantastic personality and a joy to be with for the day. People in Athens think nothing of walking everywhere. Even though most of the walking was on pretty level ground, except the Acropolis, we were not prepared to walk over 5 miles. We made it and enjoyed everything, but we were tired pups. I enjoyed it all, but almost wish it could have been split into two days somehow. The tour guide offered to help us call in food, but we wanted to go to a restaurant. So, we had to walk some more. Long day. The next day was long as well, but on a bus. We had another terrific tour guide with so much experience! He took us to Epidaurus and Mycenae. There was a lot of time on the bus, but we understood that we wouldn't have been able to see those sites without that bus ride. Fascinating how old the sites are and how many of these sites were discovered. It was an enjoyable day, the bus was comfortable, and the bus driver was a great driver! While in Athens, we stayed at an apartment. The apartment was nice, but one note. All four of us are over 65. The kitchen is on an elevated platform with a 6-8 inch drop. There is nothing on the floor to remind you that there is a drop and the flooring blends in with the rest of the room. ALL of us fell off that platform at least once. Luckily, we were not hurt, but it is an accident waiting to happen.

This is our second trip booked through KimKim. We have recommended them to others. We would use them again should we take another extended trip out of the USA. They really pay attention to detail and are great to work with and help should any question arise (we had plenty!).

Hotel Reviews

Malmo Historic Hotel

Chania

Right in the center of town, so very convenient. Very clean room and hotel. We loved the breakfast out on the terrace!! George, the owner, was very gracious and available. Loved our stay there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located

Staff

Very helpful and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were spotless!

Spitia Tzitzi

Caldera, Santorini

Cannot say enough great things about this villa and the owner/host. It is amazing! The view is incredible!!! The host, Themis, is a hands-on host. We were fascinated by the history he shared with us and insights into the Greek culture. He made our breakfast each morning which was a treat as he used to be a chef. He was very helpful in suggestions of restaurants and navigating other things in the area. He provided us with his cell phone, which allowed open communication to make our stay enjoyable. The villa was very clean and comfortable. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Authenticity & Character

How often do you get to stay in a villa that used to be a cave?

Location

Oh! The views were incredible!

Staff

He loves helping his guests have the best time!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Argo Hotel

Mykonos

The staff really go above and beyond to ensure you have a great stay. The rooms were very clean and spacious. They had an unbelievable breakfast bar with everything you could imagine. The pool area was inviting.

Authenticity & Character

This hotel had longevity as a hotel. The original owner, was often there to ensure everything was being handled properly even though she has passed along operations to others. She was delightful!

Location

Close to restaurants and a short bus ride into Mykonos Town.

Staff

They went above and beyond to assist you and make sure your every need was met.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were super clean and comfy. We loved having the space and sitting areas.

Apartment Kleio

Athens

Our first sight of this apartment made us wonder, but the drivers and tour guides all assured us it was a very safe place to be in town and it was. The entrance in the building needs more lighting and warmth. The apartment was very clean. Some of the furnishings were old, but overall, it was very comfortable. The only real problem we had was that the kitchen was built on a platform with a 6-8" drop. The flooring blended in with the flooring of the whole room, so the drop wasn't easy to see. All of us were over 65 and each of us "fell" off of that floor at least once. Luckily, none of us were hurt, but it is an accident waiting to happen. It needs to be marked somehow. We had difficulty operating the air conditioners and froze the first night. It would be helpful to have maps to the closest restaurants. The breakfast should be tailored a little more for guests with healthy choices.

Authenticity & Character

The furnishings are old and worn.

Location

It was about a mile or so to most of restaurants and shops.

Staff

We never met staff, but they added some things for our breakfast.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very clean!

Activity Reviews

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cretan Wine and Olive Oil Small-group Experience

Chania

Really enjoyed this tour. It was relaxing and informative.

Quality of Experience

Food

The olive oil!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Knossos Palace Small-group Mythological Tour

Greece

The palace was good to see, but our guide was over kill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was super nice, but over kill. She should ask what we were interested in. I wanted to explore a little on my own. She tried to bring it to life for us, which I get, but it was too much.

Transport

Free Day in Santorini

Santorini

LOVE SANTORINI!

Quality of Experience

everything!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was very helpful, especially Themis, host of villa.

Transport

Got us off the ferry and out of crowds quickly.

Santorini Wine Roads Small-group Sunset Tour

Santorini

I think this was my favorite day. The staff were relaxed but helpful in every way. The food was delicious. The feeling of the water was incredible. The sunset couldn't have been better!

Quality of Experience

The food was some of the best we had in Greece!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They went out of their way to make sure you had a great time!

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Mykonos Town

Mykonos

Our tour guide was fun and informative! He took us all over the city and showed interesting architecture and told wonderful historical stories. He was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was terrific!

Transport

Half-Day Authentic Jeep Adventure Private Tour

Mykonos

The driver did not speak very good English. He smokes heavily and although he didn't smoke in the car, it still smelled. He drove like he was at the races on the straight road areas and then hit brake around curves. Even though I was in the front seat and had taken Dramamine, I still had difficulty with his driving. He told us a tiny bit of information, pulled up and stayed at car so he could smoke and basically said, There it is! We would go on our own to look at object. The wind was horrific that day which didn't help matters any, but that wasn't his fault. He was friendly, but I asked him to take us back to the hotel shortly as it wasn't fun for any of us.

Quality of Experience

everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Needs to speak better English. Non smoking. Drive so that passengers don't get jostled around and sick.

Transport

Car was too small for 4 adults

The Acropolis & Athens Old City Private Guided Tour

Athens

We learned so much about the important historical sites! Our guide was fantastic and loves the history and culture of Athens. She made the day because she was so interesting and personable. Too much walking though at one time.

Quality of Experience

The tour guide made the experience special; the extent of walking made it a challenge.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cannot say enough about the tour guide. She was awesome!

Epidaurus & Mycenae One Day Group Tour from Athens

Greece

There were many historical things to see. It's interesting how these sites were discovered. Our tour guide has experience as an archeologist, so he had many great things to share. The bus ride is long, but if you want to see it, you gotta do it. However, the bus was comfortable and the driver was very safe and a great driver.

Quality of Experience

Food

The setting. The food was pretty good, but nothing stands out and if you asked for anything extra like olive oil or sauce, they charged you extra.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide had so much experience and knowledge! He was great. The driver was super!!

Transport

Talented bus driver!!

What a trip. We could not have had more fun, eaten more delicious things, learned more or felt more cared for. Effie and her team really went the extra mile to ensure the best trip ever for our family. Every guide, driver, and hotel was outstanding.

Effie and her team were amazing! Given our difficulties with flight connections just getting to Greece, the personal touch that Effie provided us by meeting us in the Athens Airport prior to our flight to Crete was such a warm and generous gesture, and one that couldn't have been more welcomed. We loved getting the "whatsAp" updates daily as to any schedule changes or just subtle reminders about the next day's activities. All of our drivers/guides were prompt (if not early!), and very generous/friendly with information, knowledge about the local trails we were hiking, insights about cultural landmarks, etc. We loved the "balance" she created between our hiking adventures, cooking explorations, and sight seeing/walking days. It was really an incredible experience and honestly beyond what we could have imagined.

Hotel Review

Cretan Renaissance

Chania

We loved the location, ambiance and staff at this boutique hotel...everyone was amazing! The breakfast was delicious and it was particularly lovely eating on the terrace overlooking the sea each morning!

Authenticity & Character

This is a restored villa over looking the sea, the decor is decidedly authentic and the character remains true to it's historic past.

Location

Location is right in the heart of the historic district and easy walking to everything/anything in Chania!

Staff

So generously welcoming, friendly and warm. My husband arrived injured, and despite the fact there are no elevators (and he had difficulty climbing stairs), they did everything they could to make him feel comfortable!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were immaculate; linens fresh daily. Extra touches like a bottle of wine, olive oils and cookies in the room were a special touch.

Activity Reviews

Samaria Gorge Private Guided Tour

Greece

This was one of the more amazing experiences we had in Crete! The Gorge is not to be missed! We had an amazing guide that was both knowledgeable, tireless in her ability to answer ALL of our questions, warm/friendly and sensitive to our needs (my husband hiked this gorge injured---which is not the wisest of moves, but he is in excellent condition so despite his knee injury and with the help of walking sticks, was able to make the hike). Our guide had suggested, based on her personal opinion that we use the "point of no return" to assess my husband's condition, given that the only way after that point would be by donkey. Her sage wisdom was a comfort, & against her best recommendation, my husband decided to continue. She was spot-on to recommend we turn around, but I have a highly conditioned/stubborn husband who was sure he could make it despite a sprained knee. And make it he did; it was an experience of a lifetime even with this injury!

Quality of Experience

Scenery, quality of the guides, and challenge of the hike.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Attention to needs, friendliness, extensiveness of knowledge, and engaging personality.

Transport

The Authentic Cretan Cooking Small Group Experience

Greece

I think this cooking class, while fun,is really more of a "cultural" experience than it is a cooking class, and very much geared towards the person who has not cooked before. We would have preferred a bit more cooking, and less "geology/history" lesson, though we did enjoy the wine tasting that was also offered. It is a "long" afternoon, evening and seems like it could be better organized to make more efficient use of the time. Still, a fun event for those looking to learn more about how to make some basic Cretan dishes.

Quality of Experience

We had to "wait" a long time between preparing the meal and eating what we prepared. I think this probably could have been organized a bit more efficiently, perhaps with fewer people in the class?

Food

These were very basic dishes, aimed at the person with little to no cooking experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Imbros Gorge Private Hike and Sfakia Village Visit

Chania

Excellent hike, we had the same guide as we did for the Samaria Gorge, so were thrilled to have someone we already had gotten to know and trust. The scenery is amazing, the hike is much more forgiving than Samaria Gorge, but no less spectacular in scenery!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great honeymoon. Effie and the entire Be A Greek team were there for us the entire time and we were very happy with the service they provided. Our private tour guides, Theodora and Aphrodite were both very personable and informative. The places we stayed were also fantastic, if you can swing it we highly recommend Domes Noruz in Chania, Crete. Overall this was a once in lifetime trip that we hope to take again someday.

Hotel Reviews

Domes Noruz Chania

Agioi Apostoloi Chania-Crete

Fantastic Resort.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asha Luxury Suites

Santorini, Cyclades, Greece

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Knossos Palace Small-group Mythological Tour

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Executive 7-glass Greek Wine Tasting Session

Athens

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Honeymoon Couples Massage Sunset Session with Bath Soak

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Caldera Small-group Sunset Cruise with BBQ on board and Open Bar

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Island Discovery Small-group Tour

Santorini

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We decided we wanted to visit Greece for two weeks, we knew we did not want to go it alone. We wanted the expertise of a company with representatives on the ground who would see us as distinct individuals, not as two more faceless customers. We contacted Kim Kim, and were directed to Be a Greek. From our initial contact with Effie, we knew we were in wonderful hands with a representative who wanted to coordinate the trip of our dreams. With input from us, Effie massaged our itinerary until it met our needs and was everything we hoped for. Our guides, from Athens to Crete to Santorini to Mykonos were superb. Our Seven Villages excursion in Crete was fun, informative and tasty. Our day on a fishing boat in Santorini exceeded our expectations, as did our visit to a vineyard and art gallery. We are so glad we ferried to Delos for a one-of-a-kind archeological exploration. Effie chose hotels that were perfect for us. Not only were the rooms and views to our liking, but the staff could not have been more responsive. A special shout out to Lithos in Mykonos and Cosmopolitan Suites in Santorini. Be a Greek was in contact with us daily to ensure we knew what we were doing that day, and that we were happy. The one transportation hiccup we had was quickly remedied. Be a Greek delivered as promised. We could not have asked for a better or more enthusiastic coordinator than Effie. Alan and I were so thrilled to be able to meet and hug her in person during our stay in Athens. To Effie, and Be a Greek, we say “Yamas!”

Hotel Reviews

Elia Ermou Athens Hotel

Athina

The hotel was wonderful, but it wasn't as personal as the boutique hotels we stayed at later in the trip.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cosmopolitan Suites Santorini

The Cosmopolitan Suites were fantastic, with incredible service from the staff. The manager went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable, even finding the perfect pillow for us late at night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elia Zampeliou Hotel

Chania

We had a great stay at this boutique hotel. The staff and owners were amazing, and we really got to know them during our time there.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lithos by Spyros & Flora Mykonos

Mykonos

When you take immense pride and pleasure in what you do, you run a boutique hotel like Marina and Marios. From the moment we foot into the hotel, we relaxed from a hectic day knowing we were in good hands. Our experience was like visiting with relatives you love who happen to live on a gorgeous Greek island with sensational views. Lithos was our final stop —the perfect place to relax by the pool with a cold beverage, and reflect on our two week Greek adventure. If it is possible to truly bond with hotel owners over the course of a three night stay, that is what occurred for us with Marina and Marios.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

The Acropolis & Acropolis Museum Private Guided Tour

Athens

Our guide was wonderful, knowledgeable, and passionate about history, politics, and architecture. We loved visiting the Acropolis Museum and even stayed longer to explore at our own pace.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Day Trip to Delphi

Greece

Delphi was fascinating, and our driver made the journey even more enjoyable with engaging conversation and laughter.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chania Old Town Private Walking Tour with Food & Wines Tastings

Greece

We had a great time visiting the small vineyard and art gallery. The food and wine tastings were enjoyable, and we loved interacting with the local people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The 7 Villages Of Apokoronas Small-group Tour

Greece

This was one of our favorite tours. The guides were delightful, knowledgeable, and made the experience pleasant and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional fishing experience with fresh fish lunch

Santorini

We loved the fishing experience, even though we didn't catch any fish ourselves. The fresh fish lunch was delicious, and the captain was an amazing young woman who knew how to handle the boat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santorini Island Discovery Small-group Tour

Santorini

We enjoyed exploring Santorini with our knowledgeable guide, learning about the history, and experiencing the beautiful sights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Mykonos Town

Mykonos

Our walking tour of Mykonos was enjoyable, and our guide was very knowledgeable about the town and its history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Delos Group Guided Tour from Mykonos

Mykonos

We loved the Delos tour, and our guide made the experience even more enjoyable with their passion for history and the site itself.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Effie, Katerina,and Antonis were so helpful and always available to answer our questions and/or help us. I speak highly of them

Hotel Reviews

Athens Ikon

Athens

Great place to start our trip, comfortable and welcoming

Authenticity & Character

Suites, not just hotel room

Location

Close to shopping

Staff

All staff helpful. Loved the personal welcome when we arrived

Cleanliness & Comfort

All areas clean

Palladium Boutique Hotel

Mykonos

Thanos extremely helpful to us throughout our stay, arranging a birthday celebration for my grandson, coordinating rides for us, and helping us rent a second room for comfort

Authenticity & Character

Extremely helpful staff

Location

Beautiful setting, close to beaches, and rides down to Mykonos crnter

Staff

Thanos

Cleanliness & Comfort

All areas of facility clean and attractive

1809 Villa

Santorini

Beautiful setting, hot tub feature, welcome and services from staff helpful

Authenticity & Character

Felt like our own Greek villa

Location

Beautiful views. Felt very “upscale”. Loved the history of the area

Staff

So helpful with our luggage, wonderful breakfasts

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Upstairs rooms at times hot

Activity Reviews

Free Day in Athens

Athens

Our personal guide was knowledgeable, friendly and aware of my handicap needs. Great tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly. Able to adjust to my hsndicap

Transport

On time friendly

The Exotic Private Tour of Elafonissi Beach

Chania

Walking to the beach long and difficult with my hsndicap. Driver did drive down to pick up up after

Quality of Experience

Loved the umbrella sites and water lovely

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Knossos Palace Small-group Mythological Tour

Greece

Historical

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Free Day in Santorini

Santorini

Great to have our own time to explore

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Always on time and able to handle our luggage

Transport

Found us immediately after departure from the boat

Small-Group Caldera Catamaran Sunset Cruise

Santorini

Loved the boat, activities, and friendly staff Sunset pictures amazing

Quality of Experience

Fun, loved the small group size

Food

BBQ

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great BBQ meal. Loved raising their sales

Transport

Private Walking Tour of Mykonos Town

Mykonos

Guide knowledgeable. Very friendly and private tour able to accommodate my handicap

Quality of Experience

Orientation to shopping areas helpful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide

Transport

Dropped us off and picked us up on time and in area easy to find

Concierge-Class Small-group Sailing Cruise to Delos & Rhenia islands

Mykonos

Loved Delos tour. More “friendly” than Athens Parthenon tour

Quality of Experience

Sailing was fun

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly boat staff

Transport

Loved the sailing