Greece-8/2023

Greece | Aug 8 - Aug 19, 2023

Our trip to Greece was perfect in every way. From the first email correspondence with Eleni, it was clear she was in tune to what my family of 5 wanted to experience on this trip. She helped create an itinerary that included the perfect staying accommodations for my husband and 3 kids, excursions, activities and culture. Each stop was exciting and different and memorable.

In Santorini, we stayed at the Tsitouras Collection which was so luxurious and breathtaking, with our own pool and terrace overlooking the Caldera. The service and hospitality at the hotel was incredible. Eleni arranged a driving/walking tour that was led by Jacob, a Santorini native, who taught us a great deal about the island’s rich history, and showed us all the necessary sites, including many off the beaten path. He then returned to our hotel the next day with cucumbers and figs from his garden and an eggplant dish made by his mother. He was wonderful. Our remaining time in Santorini was spent walking through the towns, enjoying our Villa, and eating at great places that were recommended by Eleni.

Then back in Athens, we stayed at Amalia Athens Hotel which was ideally located in central Athens and, while a bit cramped, included two adjoining rooms which worked out perfectly. Eleni arranged for us to have a great meal at Dionysos Zonar the night we arrived which had amazing views of the Acropolis and the food, wine, and service were excellent. The next day in Athens, we met our guide, Dorina, who took us to the Acropolis and Agora, among other ancient sites. She was an incredible enthusiast about Mythology and Greek history and made what would otherwise have been a very difficult, crowded and windy trek up to see the Parthenon into an unforgettable experience. She left us with recommendations to shop and eat for the raminder of the afternoon. We really enjoyed her company and expertise.

We then made our way to the Marina where we met our crew and boarded our catamaran, all arranged by Eleni, as my one specials request for the trip was to spend a week on the sea. She recommended we tour the Saronic Gulf and arranged for two tours during the week, one on Aegina and the other in Epidauras. Our day on Aegina was the only time we felt we could have had a better organized experience, particularly with the Pistachio farm tour (we essentially just looked at a couple of trees) and the beach where our guide/driver dropped us off (way too touristy). Ultimately our requests to buy pistachios and eat ice cream and shop a little allowed our driver to open up a bit more and show us some great spots. He was very kind and even located a spearmint plant (which he bought himself) for us to take back to our catamaran. Our Epidauras tour of the Asclepius Healing Center by Katarina was amazing. A bit off path to get there by catamaran, but well worth the trip. The city of Nafplio was very cute and quaint and we had a very nice time there.

Lastly, our catamaran experience through Vernicos Yachts was arranged by Eleni, and we scored the most amazing crew consisting of James (captain), Anastasia (chef), and Danai (hostess). These three made sure we were immersed in the Greek culture as much as possible. We found the best swimming spots, snorkeled, ate at great Tavernas, went to fish markets when able, and explored the island towns together. Anastasia made the best meals and we felt very safe at sea with James. Danai was the kindest person. always making sure we were comfortable and well fed with snacks and drinks. We will always remember them and hope to return one day for another sailing adventure through Vernicos.

Overall, our experience with kimkim was amazing. Communication with the travel team via WhatsApp once we arrived in Athens was seamless. Any questions we had were answered right away. Any last minute requests by us were addressed with enthusiasm (yoga mats and fishing poles for the boat, for example). Our local transportation arrangements, domestic flight bookings, and tours were perfectly executed. Special touches included a Happy Birthday text on my 50th birthday by the team, and a bag of small gifts from Eleni (which included two yoga mats!) when we arrived at our Athens hotel.

Kimkim’s guidance, personalized planning, professionalism, expertise, and responsiveness went beyond our expectations. I would definitely recommend them to others who have a specific travel itinerary in mind but are chartering unknown territories, or even those who just want help planning the perfect vacation. We definitely look forward to working with them again to plan future trips. Thank you, Eleni and team!!