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Chris Leontopoulos

Hello, my name is Chris

I am Canadian by birth, but my family’s roots can be traced centuries back to two beautiful mountain villages in Greece.
One in the shadow of Mount Olympus, and one very near Ancient Delphi on Mount Parnassos.

As a boy, when my family would visit Greece, my father would take me to see the ruins at Delphi, Olympia and other historical sites. He would fill my head with a images of how life was in ancient times, tell me stories about Socrates and Alexander the Great.
Our family moved back to Greece when I was a teenager, and I have been living in Greece all my adult life.

This was a turning point in my life. 

I was intoxicated by the landscape, the culture, the lifestyle. To this day, I am constantly reading and learning about the history of Greece, crisscrossing the mountains on my motorcycle, or sailing Poseidon’s beloved Aegean sea, eagerly uncovering new aspects of the diverse culture.

Now, as a father myself, I love taking my children to those same sites, reading with them tales of Odysseus and Jason, and inspiring them to dig into the vast wealth of the culture themselves.

​My passion for exploring Greece, for learning new things, for meeting new people, combined with my high standards for quality services, has lead me to be employed in various aspects of the travel and hospitality industry since I was a teen. From summer jobs at souvenir shops, to cooking at traditional tavernas, to reservations desks, to managing small hotels.

​So it is no accident that I created a vocation based on these experiences, becoming a Greece travel specialist.

Actually I consider myself to be somewhat of an ambassador of Greece. I am always excited for the opportunity to “show off” this stunning country to travelers from abroad.

Whether it is for a romantic honeymoon, for some fun in the sun, and especially for those who want to dig beneath the surface, and uncover the many layers of this timeless and beautiful country. 

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in all things Greek!

There are so many unique islands, so many beautiful settings and sites on the mainland, so many distinct “shades of Greece” that it could take a lifetime to explore them all! So many options for amazing and exciting activities depending on one’s interests. Then, there are so many ways of getting around, some scenic, some adventurous, some comfortable, and some not very efficient! Boats, planes, cars, trains etc. Given that most visitors only get to visit Greece once in a lifetime, and they have limited time to do so, it is essential to make the right decisions when planning.

This is where I come in.

I make a special effort to understand my client’s special interests and needs, their budgets and time constraints. I strive to make each custom trip that I design exciting, memorable, and efficient so that no time or money is wasted. After so many years of exploring Greece myself, I apply my extensive experience, my passion for the culture and history, quality services and accommodations, to suggest the best locations, activities, and accommodations for each and every traveler.

Over the past few years, I have extended my area of expertise to Italy. I’ve planned several custom trips, and I’ve had the pleasure of exploring many parts of our neighboring country myself, comparing our similarities and learning about our cultural differences. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"I think that it goes back to my early love for mythology and for the Greek language.
When I first started to read the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts, of Odysseus, and the labors of Hercules, I realized that the backdrop for all these amazing tales was travel and exploration.

The Odyssey begins with this phrase:
"Sing in me Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end…..he saw the town lands and learned the minds of many distant men…"

As I began to learn the Greek language at an early age, I would frequently come across the term “tetraperatos” (τετραπέρατος) and I understood it to mean someone who is very intelligent, or smart.

At a later age, when I began to dig deeper into the semantics of the language, I realized that the literal meaning of the word is “one who has seen the four corners of the world” (tetra= four, + perata= distant ends).
So the Greeks have coded into their language the concept that intelligence is a direct result of travel.

As you can understand, I was left with little choice. If I wanted to cultivate myself and broaden my horizons, reading books would not be enough.

I had to get out and explore the world! "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"I always like to think that the most exciting journey is the next one that is in the planning!
If I look back at my travels in Greece and abroad, I have a hard time selecting one specific trip over the other as the most unique. But I can recall highlights from many.

As a novice sailor, my first actually trip as a skipper, my wife and I chartered a boat from Athens, and on the first afternoon we dropped anchor for the night in the little gulf under Cape Sounion. It was a night with a clear sky and full moon, (planned by accident of course!) and I spent the night captivated by the spectacle of the full moon rising above and illuminating the ruins of the majestic temple of Poseidon. I don’t think that I’ll ever forget how beautiful the sight was. It was like the sea god was giving me his consent for my first trip, nodding to me that he would ensure calm seas along the way. Clearly I misinterpreted the sign, because the trip turned out to be quite an adventure in the end!

A few years earlier, I took advantage of a short hiatus between positions, and decided to “take off” on my motorcycle, to destinations unknown! Armed only with basic biking gear, a couple of changes of clothes and a map, (this was before smart phones, GPS, and Gopro cameras!). I flipped a coin to decide if I would go north or south, (it came up north) and took off! I rode for hours on end, mountain top to mountain top, tiny village to tiny village, sea side town to sea side town, only planning to get to whatever destination made sense by nightfall. I saw so many hidden corners of Greece, tasted so many local delicacies, met so many wonderful people along the way, made so many friends that I am still in touch with to this day. I still remember the sinking feeling that I had in my gut, about 10 days later as I traversed the last few miles to return to my “base” and get back to “normality”.

More recently, I had the extreme pleasure of traveling for a week on the largest full-rigged sailing cruise ship in the world, the Royal Clipper. We embarked from the port of Piraeus, with Rome as our ultimate destination. We rounded the Peloponnese, stopping at Monemvasia and Olympia. Then after a full day at sea, we reached the coast of Sicily, the town of Naxos, where we were met be a huge sign on the dock informing us that Naxos was the first Greek colony on Sicily in the 7th century BC. After a day of exploration with a rented car that took us up to Mount Etna, we sailed through the mythical straits of Scilla and Haryvdi (as Odysseus did so long ago!) and we stayed up on the deck till very late at night to see the live volcano on the isle of Stromboli as we passed it by. A puff of smoke and a bursting red hue lighting up the night sky every few minutes. Unforgettable! After exploring the stunning towns on the Amalfi coast, witnessing the amazing ruins at Pompeii, we reached Rome where we spent a couple of days taking in as many of the sites as possible, and of course enjoying the amazing food!
What made this particular trip memorable, besides the incredible cruise ship, like a setting taken out of a story book from the 1900’s, besides the amazing sites and places, was the fact that this was my first “father and son” adventure! I got to see all these things not only through my eyes, but through the wild and excited eyes of my 8 year old boy as well. A priceless experience that I wish for every parent. "

Chris is part of the following groups: Greece Travel Agents
The Santorini village of Oia at sunset.
Taste of Athens & Santorini - 6 Days

Combine ancient Athens with Santorini sunsets on this quick 6-day jaunt through a few of Greece's most stunning sights. After discovering the capital's classical treasures and gastronomic gems, you'll hop over to Santorini to finish your trip with a taste of island life—sailing its rugged coast, exploring whitewashed villages, and sampling local wines.

Santorini views
Best of Greece: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini - 7 Days

See why Santorini and Mykonos are two of the most popular Greek islands on this itinerary. After an introduction to Athens, you'll sail through these Cycladic spots, visiting glittering beaches, Classical sanctuaries, and stunning views.

Colorful Santorini
3 Weeks in Greece - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With multiple weeks in Greece, you can truly do it all, returning home with memories of the mainland and a number of islands. History-minded travelers can begin and end in Athens before visiting the sacred sites of Delos near Mykonos, prehistoric Akrotiri in Santorini, and the Palace of Knossos on Crete. Or, spend your time hopping between the Cycladic islands at an easy pace, experiencing the beaches, outdoor activities, and culture of each.

Off the coast of Zakynthos
Historic Peloponnese and Zakynthos - 15 Days

Travel across both the Peloponnesian peninsula and Greek history with this 15-day itinerary. After a brief start in Athens, you'll go down to the sea to visit Nafplio and neighboring mythical Mycenae, then over to the castles of Mystras and Monemvasia. Set sail for the quintessential Greek island of Zakynthos to end your journey on its turquoise shores before you return to Athens for one final temple sunset.

Mykonos harbor
Luxury Cyclades Yacht Cruise - 9 Days

Cruise like a celebrity through the glittering waters of the Cyclades on this nine-day itinerary.  The Cyclades are some of the most quintessential Greek islands, and you'll see seven of them from the decks of your yacht, along with plenty of time to explore onshore. From lesser-known spots like beach-lined Milos and petite Antiparos to favorites like bustling Naxos and cosmopolitan Mykonos, you'll scope out this island chain in style.

Recent trip reviews for Chris

Discover Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and Crete - 10 Days · Greece - Sep 13 - Sep 25, 2019

Traveler: rita s. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

We loved the trip! Everything was pretty seamless except for locations for the last couple of pickups. Chris was great. Very responsive and patient with all our questions. We highly recommend him and kimKim

Overall beautiful experience · Greece - Aug 31 - Sep 13, 2019

Traveler: Kris M. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

This is our second trip with KimKim and it went well but not quite as smoothly as our first trip in Iceland.

Initially Chris (local travel group) did a great job planning the trip but I am not sure if he left the company or what happened, but it was a bit stressful to have no contact from him after multiple attempts to contact him for 2 weeks prior to our trip starting. Basically after we made the final payment, he never assisted us again. We still had questions on the final details and... read more

This is our second trip with KimKim and it went well but not quite as smoothly as our first trip in Iceland.

Initially Chris (local travel group) did a great job planning the trip but I am not sure if he left the company or what happened, but it was a bit stressful to have no contact from him after multiple attempts to contact him for 2 weeks prior to our trip starting. Basically after we made the final payment, he never assisted us again. We still had questions on the final details and wanted to add on a few excursions that he said would be no problem to do so later. Thankfully, team members at the Travel12 local company stepped in and answered all of our questions and assisted during our stay in Greece.

Extra special thank you to Dimitris for all of his assistance during the stressful time - he was excellent in answering our questions and helping us finalize items and we thank him very much.

One issue, and not certain if it is a difference in our terminology, but several times I asked if the wedding cruise we booked in Santorini was "private", and Chris assured me that it was just so (and you can see this documentation on the chat history). "Private" tour to me means just our group and no other people; however we were surprised to find that this was not the case on the cruise we booked in Santorini. The cruise was beautiful and fun; but just did not meet our expectations.

Thanks for an overall beautiful trip and experience, if not for the stressful time prior to leaving and the surprise on the "private" tour, it would have been excellent.

Kris on the top floor of our Home and Poetry hotel in the Plaka, the oldest neighborhood area of Athens, Greece. Behold our view of the Parthenon temple built on the Acropolis. | Photo taken by Kris M
The Erechtheum temple was built on the north-side of the Parthenon and was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. The 6 draped female columns are called the Porch of the Maidens. | Photo taken by Kris M
So fresh and delicious! | Photo taken by Kris M
It was a beautiful sunny day to hike to the top of the remains of this iconic 5th century temple. The 46 Doric columns were massive! | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
We started our second morning in Greece, September 2nd 2019, with a guided tour of the Parthenon, the ancient temple set high on top of the sacred rock of the Acropolis. | Photo taken by Kris M
We walked in the neighborhoods near the Parthenon, sampling coffee and pastries, then moving on to a delicious lunch. | Photo taken by Kris M
We arrived early evening via flight to our windmill home on Milos island. The windmill was unique, with a winding staircase with a handrail made of ropes! Made for a crazy mid-night bathroom stop to the first floor but we survived. | Photo taken by Kris M
This morning, Mick worked on his wedding speech. We spent the afternoon in the area and walked to the catacombs where we toured inside the archaeological spectacle, with graves dating back to the 1st to the 5th century AD. Sadly, neither of us brought our phone with us on this day. We didn't rent a car so we walked to the beach below our windmill home and stumbled upon this super cute fishing village that was turned into vacation homes. We ate lunch at a beach-side restaurant and learned that this unique town, with the 35 cave-like structures used to store fishing boats. We had fun sitting on the dock and picking out our favorite colored home - mine was periwinkle and Mick's was lavender. | Photo taken by Kris M
View of the church in the town by our windmill home | Photo taken by Kris M
Milos sunset- right from our windmill home. | Photo taken by Kris M
Today we spent on a catamaran, sailing around Milos, starting at the port in Pollonia and stop to swim at Poliegos island. We continue sailing southeast while we eat, drink and chat with new friends - Bael and Joann from Perth, Australia, and Stacy and Joe, attorneys from Chicago. | Photo taken by Kris M
Our final stopping point is the famous old pirate bay, Kleftiko, where we snorkel and explore the numerous caves. | Photo taken by Kris M
After snorkeling, we set sail again and dine on a delicious lunch of fresh fish, greek salads, and other greek culinary delights. We pass this huge, cool lava rock formation in the shape of a bear. | Photo taken by Kris M
The blue-green water of the Aegean contrasting against sculpted white rocks and beaches is gorgeous. | Photo taken by Kris M
We also sail by "Little Venice", where Mick and I walked to the day before. It was fun to see the colorful old cave like homes, called siramata from the sea. What a blast we had, making new friends, sailing the blue sea, eating, laughing and swimming! This island is a gem. | Photo taken by Kris M
Panoramic view of our cave home Airbnb in Oia, Santorini | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
We all arrived in Oia in the afternoon on September 4th. Mick and I traveled by sea on the super jet from Milos, Maggie and Bauer on ferry from Mykonos, Rob, Elaine and Aubrey by airplane from Rome, Italy. Our cave homes were gorgeous, set in the cliffs of the caldera, down hundreds of steps. | Photo taken by Kris M
Our first dinner together was so much fun. We walked along the rim of the caldera with Aubrey leading the way and then into streets and alley ways to our dining spot. On the way back home, in the dark, we made a line and proceeded to do an Indian run, until Aubrey tripped and volleyball rolled into the shrubs! We enjoyed more of the evening on our deck when we got back to our cave homes. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Our favorite breakfast spot! Every morning we would stretch our legs and climb the hundreds of stairs to the pedestrian street to get coffee, fresh orange juice and spanakopita here. Delicious! | Photo taken by Kris M
Maggie, Elaine and Aubrey headed out to get their nails polished while Mick and I visited the flower shop and finalized wedding details and then we all joined in together for our catamaran sunset cruise. We thought this was going to be a private cruise, but were surprised to share it with about 10 other people. The afternoon was gorgeous and the scenery stunning and it didn't dampen our mood for long! | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Snorkeling, delicious barbecue and salads, beer and wine galore, and fun music sing-alongs made the day so much fun. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
The sunset was gorgeous and although we never had a rehearsal for the wedding, Maggie and Bauer practiced kissing a lot! | Photo taken by Kris M
Of course on the bus ride home, Mick took over the microphone and had the whole bus singing songs. | Photo taken by Kris M
On the morning of the wedding, Bauer, Mick and Rob hike the caldera from Firostefani back to Oia, while the girls get help with make-up and hair. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Maggie looked stunningly beautiful! It was a magical and intimate ceremony and celebration. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
After the wedding celebration, we were thankful to have a bit of a sleep-in day with our kayak booking being pushed back to a sunset time slot rather than in the morning. | Photo taken by Kris M
Kayaking was so much fun! It was just the 7 of us and our guides and we had fun racing each other and taking in the splendor of the gorgeous rocks, beaches and blue water surrounding us. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
We stopped at a beach and grabbed our snorkel gear and swam through caves and crevices. There weren't many fish to be seen, but it was a blast. One of our guides did a "magic" trick for us and showed us and showed us using the tricks of floating pumice rock, that is plentiful in the area. | Photo taken by Kris M
And as Maggie gestures, behold the fiery red sunset on the horizon. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Tonight we said goodbye to Elaine, Rob and Aubrey - they depart Santorini tonight to head homeward. Cheers to a memorable and beautiful wedding vacation! | Photo taken by Kris M
This morning, Mick and I wake up early and catch a ride up to Fira to hike the caldera trail back to Oia. It was a pretty morning, not too hot in the early hours and the trail was not crowded. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
We changed hotels last night and stayed in Firostefani for our last night. Since we missed the Skaros rock on our caldera hike, we decided to head to Imerovigili and hike more of the trail. | Photo taken by Kris M
Santorini - hundreds of white stone churches with their iconic blue domes and the white crosses topping them. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
After our hike, we packed up and set off to catch our ferry to Naxos. We arrived at Corona Borealis, located on the northwest side of the island just in time to share a cocktail and a spectacular sunset. | Photo taken by Kris M
This morning, we slept in a bit and after a leisurely breakfast we explored the beach around our B&B, it was rocky and the waters were rough but the view was gorgeous. We decided to hop in our car and drive to the beaches on the west side of the island. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
After figuring how to drive our Fiat convertible (with the top that we never put down), and a few wrong turns here and there, we made it to the first beach where the waters were calmer and views astounding. We swam and soaked in the sun a bit and then grabbed late lunch at a beachside tavern of delicious fresh fish that we chose right out of their catch of the day stash. | Photo taken by Kris M
After lunch, we drove north through the mountains for a different perspective. This part of the island was mostly agriculture, farming and fishing. We hit the west side of the island just as the sun was starting to fall. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
It was a great day - walking the beach and swimming in the sea and then traveling the stunning mountain roads with the amazing vistas. We ate leftovers back at our place that night. | Photo taken by Kris M
Today, we took in the beaches just south of us, starting with Agio Anna. We enjoyed a cocktail on rented beach chairs and then decided to venture further south to less populated beaches. | Photo taken by Kris M
The beaches were long, sandy and beautiful. We put our towels down and walked the shores. | Photo taken by Kris M
We ate a snack at a beachside tavern and then headed back to the mountains to the village of Halki. It was filled with galleries and shops, including the famous Fish and Olive gallery, featuring work by a Naxian potter and her husband painter. | Photo taken by Kris M
Heading homeward we stopped in the old village of Ano Potamia and ate at an authentic family-run restaurant called Pigi Tavern. It was located on the river and after eating, we walked along the narrow streets for views of the valley. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
On our last day in the Cycladic island of Naxos, we decided to climb Mt. Zeus the tallest mountain of the Cyclades at 3,000 feet above sea level. We started out in the early morning and after a few wrong turns, we found the hiking starting point at the end of a long windy and narrow mountain path. A bit scary in and of itself because we decided we better park the car facing down the mountain in case we became parked in upon our return. With Mick's careful navigation, we accomplished it and set off! We hiked up the mountains along a somewhat marked rocky path to the cave of Zeus, where myth says Zeus hid out from his father Cronus. | Photo taken by Kris M
Trekking along the path onward and upward, it was sunny and beautiful! | Photo taken by Kris M
As we circled around the mountain, the winds picked up and we battled the force of the winds to the summit, hoping for a clear view. | Photo taken by Kris M
At the top we found a westward spot to see glimpses of the sea as we ate our snacks. | Photo taken by Kris M
Photo taken by Kris M
Windy, a bit cloudy, but gorgeous nonetheless. | Photo taken by Kris M
And Mick is still smiling on the way down, even after we make a wrong turn and have to back track a bit. | Photo taken by Kris M
After our hike, we hop back in the car and drive to Apirathos and dine outside at Rotonda, a restaurant built into the mount-side with sweeping views of the valley. A well deserved Fix beer accompanied our lunch. | Photo taken by Kris M
We didn't want to leave Naxos without visiting the southeast beaches, so we drove east and then south to Psili Amos bay, where we swam and practically had the beach to ourselves. It was late driving back towards home so we stopped in the main harbor area where we saw our last gorgeous sunset and said goodbye to Greece. Yamas (cheers) to the Greek isles and Maggie and Bauer! | Photo taken by Kris M
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Trip to Greece · Greece - Aug 25 - Sep 7, 2019

Traveler: Savannah B. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

Overall great experience! We were very pleased with our travel and everything was perfect! We are so thankful we used Kim Kim. Chris did a great job choosing hotels and excursions for us to do. It was everything we could have asked for! Lampros, our driver in Athens, was great! We loved getting to meet him and he provided excellent service. The staff at the Ammos Hotel went above and beyond to meet our needs. Loved every second of the trip!

My only recommendation is if anyone else is going... read more

Overall great experience! We were very pleased with our travel and everything was perfect! We are so thankful we used Kim Kim. Chris did a great job choosing hotels and excursions for us to do. It was everything we could have asked for! Lampros, our driver in Athens, was great! We loved getting to meet him and he provided excellent service. The staff at the Ammos Hotel went above and beyond to meet our needs. Loved every second of the trip!

My only recommendation is if anyone else is going to hike the Samaria Gorge, more information needs to be provided. Before the trip we were told we would have a guide and would be riding a bus. It wasn't until we were picked up by our driver at the hotel that he told us he would take us and pick us up (driver was much more preferred over a bus, but it did cause confusion!) and we did not have a guide (which was also much preferred because we were able to go at our own pace!) but still caused confusion. Also, we were unsure how the ferry tickets and entrance all worked. When we got to the top the people at the cafe told us they were the only ones that sold ferry tickets and that we couldn't buy them at the bottom. So we spent money not knowing any better. Once we got to the bottom we realized this was for a ferry off to the side and not the main ferry. It was a little sketchy so we decided to buy tickets for the main ferry and lost out on the money for the first ferry. In the end it all worked out, but a little more detail would have been preferred!

Using KimKim was definitely the best choice for us and we are so thankful for all the time and effort that Chris put in to make our vacation a once in a lifetime trip!

Chris Leontopoulos profile photo
Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Savannah
Thank you very much for taking the time to post your review,
I am very - very happy that you had a terrific trip over all and that for the most part it went as planned and exceeded your expectations!
You are very right to point out the lack of detail regarding your Samaria Hike and I thank you very much for doing so. We are working with a new tour operator on Crete who does these hikes for us, and I was informed that this information would be outlined on the voucher that... read more

Hello Savannah
Thank you very much for taking the time to post your review,
I am very - very happy that you had a terrific trip over all and that for the most part it went as planned and exceeded your expectations!
You are very right to point out the lack of detail regarding your Samaria Hike and I thank you very much for doing so. We are working with a new tour operator on Crete who does these hikes for us, and I was informed that this information would be outlined on the voucher that they were to send to you. Your input will be valuable for us in order to better define the inclusions and their services moving forward.

Again, I thank you very much for taking the time to write your review, and I thank you very much for entrusting us with your special trip to Greece!
It was a pleasure planning it for you!

Chris

Trip to Greece · Greece - Aug 31 - Sep 7, 2019

Traveler: Lynn L. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

Chris was an amazing travel planner. He listened to what we were looking for in our trip to Greece and nailed it. We couldn’t have had a better time. The hotels were boutique and beautiful. Everything fell into place. Drivers were there and on time and courteous. Tours were set up for us by Chris and were outstanding! I can’t say enough about our experience. We had a blast. And I will definitely choose kimkim for our next travel!! Lots of love to your team!! Lynn

Photo taken by Lynn L
Chris Leontopoulos profile photo
Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Lynn

I am very happy that you and David enjoyed your trip to Greece!
I know how much you were looking forward to it, and it was a great pleasure for me to plan it for you!
Greece has many amazing islands and hidden treasures all across the mainland.
I would love to hear from you again in the future if you ever get the urge to uncover more of our country!
Thank you again, and all the best to you and David.
Chris

Trip to Greece · Greece - Aug 3 - Aug 11, 2019

Traveler: Ken B. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

The guide to the eastern Peloponnese was exceptionally engaging
The Atlantis Hotel on Santorini was one of the best stays of my life
The pool side bartender at the Porto Naxos hotel was also very engaging

Rogene

Travels with Piper · Greece - Jul 2 - Jul 17, 2019

Traveler: Rogene G. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

First of all, my apologies for this delayed response. Nothing to do with our pleasure about the Greece trip. It was delightful in all respects. I am delayed in communicating because there were just a great many chores to complete on our return to Connecticut and Rhode Island.
I have just completed annotating the photos from Greece and so many great memories surfaced. I feel really fortunate to have chosen your team for this planning. Without exception the accommodations could not have... read more

First of all, my apologies for this delayed response. Nothing to do with our pleasure about the Greece trip. It was delightful in all respects. I am delayed in communicating because there were just a great many chores to complete on our return to Connecticut and Rhode Island.
I have just completed annotating the photos from Greece and so many great memories surfaced. I feel really fortunate to have chosen your team for this planning. Without exception the accommodations could not have been better. Each was different and each had a charm all its own. Beginning with the Acropolis view from our room in Athens to the center of town situation and fine staff in Nafplion to the gracious and helpful staff (and amazing breakfast choices) and beautiful location in Naxos and ending with our superb cave house on Santorini. Fantastic, all of them.
The individual guides in each location were great, perfect English speakers, interesting personalities, extremely knowledgeable about local culture and history - I could go on and on. Our driver/guide/historian on the drive from Athens to Delphi was truly memorable. I would like to give each one a special commendation! And as to the actual planning of the trip, PERFECT. My granddaughter, Piper, is a very engaging and active 12 year old and loved all the water activities - swimming at the olive grove on the way to Delphi, sea kayaking while in Nafplion, SCUBA in Naxos (this is what Piper really loved), catamaran in Santorini! I loved all the ancient history and those tour people were terrific. Can't say enough positive about the whole experience. Thank you.
Rogene Gillmor and Piper Cameron

Piper loves olives! | Photo taken by Rogene G
View from our couldn't be better. | Photo taken by Rogene G
First ice cream cone in Greece. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Greek salads are wonderful. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Hotel breakfast at Noble Suites Hotel | Photo taken by Rogene G
Short walk to the Athens Acropolis. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Lesson on the fantastic gods of Greek mythology. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Temple of Olympian Zeus | Photo taken by Rogene G
Piper at the Theater of Dionyses. | Photo taken by Rogene G
This is the path to the Acropolis. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Here is the Odeon. | Photo taken by Rogene G
The Parthenon | Photo taken by Rogene G
Refreshment after a morning of history. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Scooters - didn't try one of these. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Too many people but the view was great | Photo taken by Rogene G
New Museum of the Acropolis. | Photo taken by Rogene G
This is part of the excavation under the museum. | Photo taken by Rogene G
Hadrian's Arch | Photo taken by Rogene G
Drums of one of the columns. | Photo taken by Rogene G
First taste of moussaka - yum. | Photo taken by Rogene G
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Chris Leontopoulos profile photo
Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Rogene,

I am so happy to hear that you and Piper were able to enjoy one more fantastic trip together, and I am very happy to have had the pleasure of planning it for you!
I thank you very much for the detailed review, and I'm very glad that you liked all the suggested hotels and activities and that everything went as planned and without a hitch!
I wish you both many such exciting Grandmother and grand daughter trips together, and I would love to hear back from you in the future if you ever want to explore more of Greece!

All the best to you both!
Chris

Trip to Greece · Greece - Jun 20 - Jun 30, 2019

Traveler: Janelle M. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

We loved our trip to Greece planned by Chris, especially our sea view hotels in both Naxos and Santorini and our hotel in Athens. We really appreciated having a driver to pick us up and drop us off at the airports, Lampros was exceptional he was professional, efficient, and well dressed. The Kimkim team was quick, professional, and responsive on WhatsApp when we had questions and or concerns. There were only a couple of hiccups: we were promised double beds in each hotel, this only happened... read more

We loved our trip to Greece planned by Chris, especially our sea view hotels in both Naxos and Santorini and our hotel in Athens. We really appreciated having a driver to pick us up and drop us off at the airports, Lampros was exceptional he was professional, efficient, and well dressed. The Kimkim team was quick, professional, and responsive on WhatsApp when we had questions and or concerns. There were only a couple of hiccups: we were promised double beds in each hotel, this only happened at Athens Gate. And at the end of our trip, we were expected to take a hotel van but we’re expecting a private driver as planned. Because of this we ended up at the airport until after midnight and only spent 3 hours at our last hotel before an early morning flight. Chris was expedient in correcting the situation though and was able to reach Lampros who coordinated our pick up that night and drop off a couple of hours later. All and all in was a great trip, and for the most part smooth sailing. We are happy with the Kimkim team and services provided and would travel with them again! Many Thanks, and warm Regards, Janelle Miconi

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Mother/Daughter trip to Greece, these are the moments that count | Photo taken by Janelle M
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After 30 hours of travel and no sleep, these were still sites worth seeing | Photo taken by Janelle M
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Trip to Greece · Greece - Jun 28 - Jul 6, 2019

Traveler: Cynthia M. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

We had an exceptional experience in Greece! We were a group of 11, arriving in Athens and excursions to Mykonos and Santorini. Our travel to and from these islands was thoroughly enjoyable. Our hotels were exquisite, as well as our catamaran trip in Mykonos and wine tour in Santorini. Chris gave us the most memorable experience we could have imagined! Bravo Chris!
Cynthia and Grace Moriarty

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suzannes holiday · Greece - Jun 1 - Jun 16, 2019

Traveler: suzanne c. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

I found Kimkim on the internt when i was looking at going to Greece for a holiday.
I dealt with Chris and he listened to what i wanted to visit and as a woman travelling on her own, safety was too of this list.
Not only did Chris put together a fantastic itinery he sent draft copy to me first to peruse, along with some excellent comments on due to his knowledge of the area.
From start to finish everything rang like clockwork, the best was having someone there to pick me up at airport or... read more

I found Kimkim on the internt when i was looking at going to Greece for a holiday.
I dealt with Chris and he listened to what i wanted to visit and as a woman travelling on her own, safety was too of this list.
Not only did Chris put together a fantastic itinery he sent draft copy to me first to peruse, along with some excellent comments on due to his knowledge of the area.
From start to finish everything rang like clockwork, the best was having someone there to pick me up at airport or cruise port do deliver me to my hotel or pick me up at hotel to take me somewhere else. Everyone was so accommodating and lovely.
I started in NZ ..Auckland 10 hour stop over at Dubai then onto Athens. From there to Crete for 4 days, awesome beaches outside my door. Then onto Sanorini for 6 days, went on day cruise to other sights around island.
On to 4 days on Naxos, such beautiful beaches, ideal to relax. Back to Athens then home.
Once again a huge thank you to Chris and his tem.
Will be referring them to all my friends and will use them .

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Crazy window cleaners | Photo taken by suzanne c
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Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Suzanne

Thank you very much for taking the time to post your review,
I am extremely happy that you enjoy the trip that we put together for you, and all the hotels and locations!
I'm delighted that everything went off without a hitch and that you could relax and enjoy the beautiful islands!
I look forward to planning your next trip to Greece, there are several amazing islands and wonderful hidden corners on the mainland,
I'd love to show them to you!

Chris

athens, mykonos, santorini · Greece - May 20 - May 28, 2019

Traveler: Joel A. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

Chris did a great job and the trip to Greece was one of our best vacations. Everything was handled and all the staff were professional and wonderful to deal with.
I would definitely recommend kimkim to handle your travel needs.

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Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hi Joel,

Thank you very much for taking the time to post your review!
I am delighted that you and your family had a wonderful time in Greece,
It was a pleasure to plan your trip for you!
Please give my regards to Louise,
All the best!

Trip to Greece · Greece - May 23 - Jun 5, 2019

Traveler: Margaret r. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

Our holiday inGreece was remarkable. Chris planned an interesting and outstanding itinerary and arranged great hotel accommodations as well. I especially enjoyed our suites in Athens, Rethynmo,, and Mykonos Town! The Catamaran Cruise in Santorini was delightful and so much fun. Made acqpanitiness with several other travelers . Also wanted you to know that our private drivers were all wonderful ! They were attentive to your needs and polite, and extremely knowledgeable which made our... read more

Our holiday inGreece was remarkable. Chris planned an interesting and outstanding itinerary and arranged great hotel accommodations as well. I especially enjoyed our suites in Athens, Rethynmo,, and Mykonos Town! The Catamaran Cruise in Santorini was delightful and so much fun. Made acqpanitiness with several other travelers . Also wanted you to know that our private drivers were all wonderful ! They were attentive to your needs and polite, and extremely knowledgeable which made our travel time with then educational and allowed for interesting discourse with then. My son, Kenny and I will continue to relive our fabulous holiday that Chris planned for us in such detail to assure we were able to visit all the historic places I wanted my son to see. We have many happy memories which we’ll cherish forever. Thanks again, for an exciting and wonderful experience in Greece!!!

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Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Margaret and Kenny
Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a kind review, but most of all thank you for taking the time to meet me for coffee during you Delphi trip!
It was wonderful to meet you and Kenny after such a long time that we were in planning!
I m very happy that I had the opportunity to help you and Ken reconnect with Greece and I look forward to hearing from you again in the near future when you want to "get your Greek on" again!

All the best!

Chris

Discover Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete - 14 Days · Greece - May 16 - May 25, 2019

Traveler: Patrick L. - Local specialist: Chris Leontopoulos

I always use local guides and drivers when I travel. This is the first time I used kimkim online without using a travel agent from where I live. I was skeptical and a bit nervous at first. It turned out to be one of the best decisions. The best things about kimkim is that its' travel agents are living in the places that you want to travel so they have the most up-to-date info of where and when to go. My local agent, Chris is very knowledgeable of Greece. He listened to my unique... read more

I always use local guides and drivers when I travel. This is the first time I used kimkim online without using a travel agent from where I live. I was skeptical and a bit nervous at first. It turned out to be one of the best decisions. The best things about kimkim is that its' travel agents are living in the places that you want to travel so they have the most up-to-date info of where and when to go. My local agent, Chris is very knowledgeable of Greece. He listened to my unique requirements and custom built an itinerary for four people in my group. We all loved the schedule and places that we visited. We visited the must see archaeological sites and enjoyed the peaceful Naxos island. Chris was able to find me rooms where I had a direct view of the sunset in Santorini and Aegean sea from my room in Naxos. Local guides for the "Taste of Athens" walking tour and Acropolis were very friendly and accommodating. Eva, the local guide for the "Taste of Athens" tour changed the itinerary throughout the day to accommodate our needs. She is the best. Chris was always in contact with us to make sure everything was ok. Although there were problems in transportation, Chris resolved the problem to my satisfaction. One suggestion for Chris is to provide acknowledgement and update to changes or requests within 24 hours. This is very important especially to clients who have never used Chris before. Overall, I am still very satisfy with the services provided by kimkim staff and Chris.

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Chris Leontopoulos, local specialist, responded to this review:

Hello Patrick,

Thank very much for taking the time to write such a wonderful review!
The opinion of seasoned and happy travelers such as your self means a lot to us,

It was my pleasure planning this trip for you and all the crew, and I hope to hear from you again in the future if you ever want to uncover more of Greece hidden treasures. There are countless amazing islands, and many gems on the mainland, and I'd love to show them to you!

All the best,
Chris