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active 5 days ago

Maria Blana

I was born and raised in Volos, a picturesque seaside town in Greece, at the foot of Mt Pelion. I studied Law and English Language, Literature & Culture. When I’m not planning extraordinary travels, I translate literature; I have translated the work of Charles Dickens, Jackie Kay, Suzan Sontag, and other major literary figures, in Greek. Travels and Literature are my passions – both a means of venturing into the unknown. With 3 years of experience in the tourism industry and more than 20 years of experience as a world traveler, I hope to make your vacation in Greece the time of your life!

Maria is part of the following groups: Greece Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Maria

Greece trip of a lifetime!
Greece | Mar 4 - Mar 14, 2024

Jason
Jason B.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2024
The KimKim team in Greece made every moment of my trip effortless and memorable. From coordinating transfers, to suggesting attractions and tavernas, Maria and the entire team took my modest description of a dream trip, and made it a reality. The private food and culture tours they coordinated were informative, delicious, and introduced me to aspects of Greek cuisine and culture that would have taken me years to discover. They even coordinated shipment of a few bottles of mastiha and tsipiro... Read more

The KimKim team in Greece made every moment of my trip effortless and memorable. From coordinating transfers, to suggesting attractions and tavernas, Maria and the entire team took my modest description of a dream trip, and made it a reality. The private food and culture tours they coordinated were informative, delicious, and introduced me to aspects of Greek cuisine and culture that would have taken me years to discover. They even coordinated shipment of a few bottles of mastiha and tsipiro that I bought, and followed up with packing and package arrival. The KimKim team acted as a private concierge service while I was there, coordinating church visits and transportation. I am already planning my next trip, and will recommend and only use Maria and the Greek KimKim team on future trips. 5 stars!!!

Local specialist: Maria Blana
Maria
Maria Blana
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Apr 30, 2024

Dear Jason,
thank you for your kind words - we are overjoyed to know that your stay in Greece was a memorable one and is to be repeated soon! It was a pleasure meeting you and getting to guide you around the beauties of the mainland of Greece. All the Be A Greek team sends warm regards and will be thrilled to host you again in Greece!
Wishes for a blessed Easter,
Maria

I left Greece with new friends
Greece | Mar 15 - Mar 23, 2024

A
Amity G.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024
Using Be a Greek was the best choice I made in planning my vacation. There was so much I didn't have to worry about. And if anything confused me, I would send a text to the team and be answered immediately. Their local providers were all top-notch. The Greeks are pros since tourism is their biggest industry, and so many of them seem to know exactly what makes a visitor feel safe and at-home. We are history buffs, so the personalized tours and Ph.D. level tour guides were worth any added... Read more

Using Be a Greek was the best choice I made in planning my vacation. There was so much I didn't have to worry about. And if anything confused me, I would send a text to the team and be answered immediately. Their local providers were all top-notch. The Greeks are pros since tourism is their biggest industry, and so many of them seem to know exactly what makes a visitor feel safe and at-home. We are history buffs, so the personalized tours and Ph.D. level tour guides were worth any added costs. But it was Maria who helped me plan the trip and gave me the most personalized experience. She even came to tour one of the sites with us! I felt like I made friends with the people at Be a Greek. I recommend this company without hesitation or reservation.

Hotel Reviews
The Foundry Suites
Athens

Fabulous and unique. Being here with our two teens was a great way to start our visit to Greece. The lobby looks like a little library, and a hotel staff person was always sitting there waiting to welcome you at any hour. We loved breakfasts on the rooftop. Great for those who care about design. I recommend without reservation.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Residenza Vranas Boutique Hotel Chania
Chania

We got a spacious suite on the top floor of this adorable little place. The balcony overlooking the harbor alone was worth the cost. We also soaked in the hot tub during our chilly March visit. The staff, like George, were so eager to please and to help. I recommend this beautiful place with no hesitation!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ibis Styles Heraklion Central
Heraklion

The photos of the "family suite" did not represent what we got. Maybe I should have looked closer, but there is no sitting room, desk, or any social space to hang out as a family. The joined rooms were small with a single window. The worst part was the beds for our teens. They were both hard futon-like mattresses, and my tall son was barely supported by the cot frame. We ended up switching hotels. This is a business hotel, and seems perfectly fine for that purpose. Safe and clean. Just not good for families!

Family Friendliness
Activity Review
The Real Cretan Cooking Small-Group Experience
The Real Cretan Cooking Small-Group Experience
Chania

I loved our experience with the family who showed us how to cook! First of all, the meal we made was the best thing I ate in Crete, and I ate many great meals. The experience is long but well-paced. The only thing was that the history lesson offered was a little redundant for us, and my 11 year old drifted off. I might shorten the experience just a little. But if you want to get your hands into the herbs and veggies that Greek food is so famous for, take this excursion! The people are sweet and fun. You won't regret it.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Antonis Chatzis
Antonis
Antonis Chatzis
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Apr 06, 2024
Dear Amity, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Company! We are thrilled to hear that your vacation planning was made effortless and enjoyable with our services. Our Team takes great pride in providing top-notch experiences and ensuring that our Travelers feel safe, at home, and well taken care of during their stay. It's wonderful to hear that Maria and the rest of our Team created a trip to remember for you and your family and we are delighted that you... Read more

Dear Amity,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our Company! We are thrilled to hear that your vacation planning was made effortless and enjoyable with our services. Our Team takes great pride in providing top-notch experiences and ensuring that our Travelers feel safe, at home, and well taken care of during their stay.

It's wonderful to hear that Maria and the rest of our Team created a trip to remember for you and your family and we are delighted that you felt like you made friends with us. We feel exactly the same way!

We truly appreciate your kind words and we look forward to welcoming you back to Greece in the future!

Antonis