Spring break in Greece
Greece
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Apr 1 - Apr 9, 2023
We are still basking in the afterglow of this spring break trip to Greece. Our local specialist Chris started things off by customizing the itinerary to suit our needs - 9 days total, not too hectic, get to see key sights/sites, not too expensive but not cheap (the Goldilocks itinerary), etc. So, what we decided on was 3 nights in Athens (main attractions: Acropolis and museum and Delphi), 2 nights in Heraklion (main attractions: Palace of Knossos and museum), and 3 nights in Santorini (main attractions: Akrotiri prehistoric excavation site, sunset, scenery). There were 3 of us on this trip - father, mother and teenager. All the transport (to/from airport, between cities, to/from sites) was taken care of by Chris and his team and there were no issues.
Note 1: We visited Greece in the first week in April which I think is the right time to visit. The temperatures were in the mid 50's - mid 60's Fahrenheit, and though there were a couple of rainy days, the weather was generally very good. Besides, though it seemed crowded, we were told that the crowds in summer dwarfed what we saw in spring. I think that would explain why the prices in spring were reasonable. Pack some water resistant jackets/umbrellas, sweaters, comfortable walking shoes. We took sunscreen but didn't need it.
Note 2: Tips, though not mandatory, are encouraged for the guides and drivers. Ask your planner what they recommend. We tipped about 5%-10% in restaurants.
Note 3: The carry-on bag allowance for Aegean Airlines is only 8 kg (less than 18 lbs), and they check at the counter and gate, so pack accordingly.
Athens: Seamless pickup from the airport to the hotel (Athens Manor Houses), check-in and find the room to be clean, spacious, and wonderfully located. Guide for Acropolis was Christina - knowledgeable and friendly young lady - got our steps in visiting the Acropolis and Acropolis museum. What can I say - the Parthenon is amazing as is the Acropolis Museum! I only wish we had time to visit the National Archeological Museum because it is considered one of the greatest museums in the world and contains the richest collection of Greek Antiquity artifacts worldwide. C'est la vie - maybe next time. We also took a day trip to Delphi - and even though it was a rainy day, it was wonderful. Our driver was Giannis - informative and friendly. Our guide at Delphi was George who was very helpful. Giannis then took us to a fantastic restaurant in Delphi called Taverna Vakhos - superb food and great views! We then stopped at some scenic spots on the way back to Athens. Back at Athens, one small food joint stood out - "Not Just Falafel" - great, inexpensive food. Athens reminds you of big cities such as New York - lot of people of the go, noisy, never sleeps, etc.
Heraklion (Crete) - The land of the Minotaur, the Labyrinth, Theseus, etc. We wish we had stayed here for more than 2 nights. The people were very friendly and laid back. Food was out of this world - I highly recommend a restaurant called Peskesi in Heraklion. We stayed at the Olive Green Hotel - fabulous room, great location, helpful staff. We were able to walk around in town (less than 10 minutes from hotel) and get some shopping in besides the dining. Btw - there is a laundry service about 2 minutes from the hotel - very efficient - drop off up to 5 kgs (11 lbs) of clothes for cleaning, and it is ready for pickup in 2-3 hours for 7 Euros. Any way, back to the sights. We spent half a day or so, visiting the Heraklion Archeological Museum and the Palace of Knossos. Our guide Lina met us at the Museum where we spent about 90 minutes taking in the amazing history of Crete - artefacts from as early as 2700 BCE. The Minoan Civilization was the first advanced civilization in Europe, leaving behind a number of massive building complexes, sophisticated art, and writing systems. Mind blowing! Our driver, Alex then drove us to the Palace of Knossos. You really have to see it - the palace itself seems to be a labyrinth - wonderful frescoes, advanced architecture, running water, sewage system, etc. Lina was a wonderful guide.
Santorini (Thera)- yes the scenery is like in the paintings we see in some Greek restaurants. Outstanding. We stayed at a place called Above Blue Suites in a town called Imerovigli - and were provided a suite that would probably be frightfully expensive in summer - had a Sauna, private pool/jacuzzi, spacious rooms, etc. Please note the check-in time though. We got to the hotel at around 10:30 am, but had to wait until almost 2:30 before they checked us in. We did leave our luggage at the hotel while we found a place to eat. We liked a couple of restaurants in Imerovigli - To Anogi, and The White Lounge. Imerovigli is a few miles from the capital Fira (30 minute walk), and several miles from the more touristy Oia. We loved where we stayed - the sunset over the Aegean Sea was truly amazing. Anyway, we spent a few hours visiting the Akrotiri prehistoric site and Museum. Our driver, Konstantinos, and guide, Hara, were great. We decided to add a visit to the Lost Atlantis Museum for an additional Euro 40 to the transport company, and additional for the museum tickets. The next day we hired a car (Euro 200 for 3 hours) and driver, Thakis, to drive us around to some scenic spots, visit Oia, and finally stopped off at Taverna Kritikos for a simple and tasty Greek lunch, I highly recommend this restaurant - it's run by an elderly lady and the food is superb and inexpensive.
All things must pass - and so did our Greek vacation. Kudos to Chris and kimkim.com for planning such a great trip - everything was as promised. This is the first time we tried kimkim out, and quite understandably, I was a bit nervous. Thankfully, they were the real deal! Thank you Chris and kimkim.
Hotel Reviews
Seamless pickup from the airport to the hotel (Athens Manor Houses), check-in, and find the room to be clean, spacious, and wonderfully located. Walking distance to one small food joint stood out - "Not Just Falafel" - great, inexpensive food.
We were provided a suite that would probably be frightfully expensive in summer - had a Sauna, private pool/jacuzzi, spacious rooms, etc. Please note the check-in time though. We got to the hotel at around 10:30 am, but had to wait until almost 2:30 before they checked us in. We did leave our luggage at the hotel while we found a place to eat. We liked a couple of restaurants in Imerovigli - To Anogi, and The White Lounge. Imerovigli is a few miles from the capital Fira (30 minute walk), and several miles from the more touristy Oia. We loved where we stayed - the sunset over the Aegean Sea was truly amazing.
Fabulous room, great location, helpful staff. Wonderfully located. We were able to walk around in town (less than 10 minutes from hotel) and get some shopping in besides the dining. 5-minute walk to restaurants and museums. This is a newer hotel and it had spacious rooms and a nice balcony. Btw - there is a laundry service about 2 minutes from the hotel - very efficient - drop off up to 5 kgs (11 lbs) of clothes for cleaning, and it is ready for pickup in 2-3 hours for 7 Euros.
Activity Reviews
Guide for Acropolis was Christina - knowledgeable and friendly young lady - got our steps in visiting the Acropolis and Acropolis museum. What can I say - the Parthenon is amazing as is the Acropolis Museum! We received a gift from the driver.
We spent half a day or so, visiting the Heraklion Archeological Museum and the Palace of Knossos. Our guide Lina met us at the Museum where we spent about 90 minutes taking in the amazing history of Crete - artefacts from as early as 2700 BCE. The Minoan Civilization was the first advanced civilization in Europe, leaving behind a number of massive building complexes, sophisticated art, and writing systems. Mind blowing! Our driver, Alex then drove us to the Palace of Knossos. You really have to see it - the palace itself seems to be a labyrinth - wonderful frescoes, advanced architecture, running water, sewage system, etc. Lina was a wonderful guide.
We spent a few hours visiting the Akrotiri prehistoric site and Museum. Our driver, Konstantinos, and guide, Hara, were great.
Ananth
I just read your very detailed and thoughtful review,
First of all I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your very kind words,
Secondly, I am ecstatic that your family trip went off without a hitch and that you all had such a great time!
it was a pleasure working with you and I thank you very much for entrusting our team with this special adventure, and I hope to hear back from you when you find time to explore more of our fair country, including the National Archaeological Museum!
Till then, all the best to you and your family!
Chris