First and foremost, Angela was fantastic. Sh...
Greece
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Jul 31 - Aug 9, 2023
First and foremost, Angela was fantastic. She listened to what we were interested in and did not just do the standard greek itinerary. She was very responsive to our questions and always very professional even when we asked the same question twice. She also was super responsive during the trip when we had questions the day of - - she typically responded within minutes. As someone who travels quite a bit, I appreciated her approach and attention to detail.
In terms of the trip, we are not big fans of looking at historical stuff. We are more nature, wildlife and beach people. Having said that:
- we flew into Athens and landed around noon local time. We checked into our hotel and walked around to Zeus' temple and the parliment for the changing of the guard. We then did an organized tour of the Parthenon, which was great. We liked the tour guide and he was very informative. There is also a large museum at the base that I am sure would of been interesting to visit, but we skipped it in favor of island time.
- we loved milos.. Angela recommended it after listening to what we were interested in. It is not as touristy or crowded as the other islands but has a ton of picture perfect beaches. we rented a car (note the streets are very narrow, so be forewarned) and had a great time. We did the catamaran cruise which we loved - fantastic. we also did a 3 hour see kayak tour - we liked it as well, but it is not for everyone as it can be moderately strenuous.
- we enjoyed santorini. the buildings built into the cliffs are something to see and the views are fantastic. The shops and restaurants are nice, but duplicative. We are not big dress up for pictures people or bigger shoppers so although beautiful, Santorini is probably a once in a lifetime visit for us. We did a hummer tour which was nice - drive to various picture spots and then a nice lunch. We also did a catamaran. Other than the beautiful sunset at the end, it was good but not great compared to the milos one.
None of these critiques are about Angela or even Greece, but just observations to help you plan the trip.
Hotel Reviews
We enjoyed our stay at the Niche Hotel in Athens. It was clean, nice, and had a lovely restaurant on top where we had breakfast. Its central location was also a plus.
We stayed in an apartment-style housing at Vira Vivere Houses. Initially, we weren't impressed by its location as it wasn't by the water. However, as we explored the island, we realized that most accommodations were similar. The unit was nice, and the owner was accommodating!
We enjoyed our stay at Oia. The hotel was beautiful, like a cave built into the hill. However, we would have preferred a pool that was more in the sun.
Activity Reviews
The Acropolis tour was a great experience. Our guide was very informative, respectful, and overall a nice guy. While we are not that into history, the tour was enjoyable. However, unless you are really into Greek history, I wouldn't recommend it.
Our all-day catamaran cruise in Milos was fantastic. The crew was great, and the snorkeling spots were good. We were with multiple other people, but it didn't detract from the experience. We loved this tour more than the one in Santorini.
We also did a sea kayaking activity in Milos. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and we had no complaints. The experience was enjoyable!
The Santorini catamaran cruise was good but not as enjoyable as the Milos catamaran cruise. The crew was nice, the food was good, and it ended on a beautiful sunset. However, we felt the sights were not as pretty as in Milos.
Our Hummer tour was okay. We drove up to the top of the mountain, to the monastery, and a few other places. The guide was nice and did a good job. However, the excursion starts on the other side of the island, about a 45-minute drive.
Yeia sou John and family!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience of travelings with us. I am really happy that I was able to assist whenever needed and thrilled that you loved Milos Island. 🙂
I will be here and more than happy to assist you with your next trip to Greece - hopefully soon!
There are so many more amazing spots and islands I would love to show you and so many more things I'm sure you would love to do.
Until then take care and Yamas!
Angela