[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

That was our original thought and the more people we talked to said being on land and taking boat excursions was the better route to go.

That's because it is.

Heads up Greek shop keeps think they are doing you a favour.

[NEfan508]

Traveling with bottles tip: put rolls of toilet paper on the necks, that's the area that'll break almost never the thicker base

My wife has been on over a dozen international trips with me, Greece was her favorite

In Santorini she sliced her fingers open on the rail going down the steep stairs, luckily a nearby clinic gave her stitches, her memorable Greek scar… seeing the black sand beach a couple hours later

Majority speak and understand basic English, especially near tourist areas, we always felt safe, nothing to fear about the area except maybe minor pickpockets or taxi scams that inflate charges, I just tip big at the start not to go through the hassle.

[Alfisti]

Oh there's no excuse to put on weight from the food, you can eat outstanding salads and grilled meats, no need for carbs. I forgot what to ask for though, ask for salad you get shitty iceberg american salad, ask for something else you get a monumental plate of ripe tomato, peppers, cucumber and a whack of cheddar.

Save the calories for the Frappe, you will down dozens.

[Bonk!]

Originally Posted by rebekahb

That was our original thought and the more people we talked to said being on land and taking boat excursions was the better route to go.

These boats can be crazy comfortable. We did Croatia on a 50" cat. Super memorable trip (right up to the point I had an accident resulting in two dislocated shoulders and a concusson, but that's another story!). The skipper knew all the locals and organized our on-land excusrions so we never needed a car or a hotel. It was fantastic.

[damnitBobby]

My wife and I had our honeymoon in Greece a few years ago. We went to Athens and visited Santorini.

Athens was great, but don't spend more than a couple days there. We did one all day tour in Athens and it was actually really good. Lots of guided walking and information about the history of Athens and nothing over the top that would make you feel like you're back in school. In that one day we had pretty much done it all, including the Acropolis and Parthenon. We even did the Acropolis Museum and as someone that really doesn't care for museums it was actually pretty interesting. Pro tip: Don't book the all day tour so far in advance because you never know what the weather will be like. I literally waited till the day before, checked to make sure the weather was good, then booked it.

Santorini was amazing. We stayed in Oia. Did a cat boat ride, watched amazing sunsets off the cliffs, hiked from Fira to Oia (which was probably the best hike I've ever been on), and tasted great wine. Just walking around in Oia was so special. Spent about 4 days there, which was just enough.

[rebekahb]

@damnitBobby you along with everyone else have confirmed a few days in Athens will be enough. We were in Positano not long ago and it was so nice to sit on the balcony, watch the sunset and have some wine. Can't wait to explore Greece.

I've really enjoyed reading what everyone has shared along with great tips. Thank you! Now, September seems so far away.

[Alfisti]

A few days is fine but use them, don't dick around. You can lose a day in the agora alone.

[Joe T]

Originally Posted by Bonk!

These boats can be crazy comfortable. We did Croatia on a 50" cat. Super memorable trip (right up to the point I had an accident resulting in two dislocated shoulders and a concusson, but that's another story!). The skipper knew all the locals and organized our on-land excusrions so we never needed a car or a hotel. It was fantastic.

What's something like that run. We don't mind spending money, but private jets and yacht money seem crazy to me. We've private jetted a couple times before, but only if traveling with another family to split the costs

[Bonk!]

Hmmm, I think it was like $10K for a week, split by 4 couples. The cost of the skipper was on top of this and then we did all the food provisioning. We had one meal on the boat and one on shore each day which certainly kept the cost down. We used dream yacht charters on this last trip.

We're not people "of means" by any sense. Given we didn't need hotels or a car and we could come and go wherever and whenever we wanted, it was a fantastic option.

[Alfisti]

I just don't get why you'd want to be confined to a boat for so long? It just makes it harder to get around.

[Bonk!]

Not at all - the boat was more or less a floating hotel. It actually made it easier to get around from island to island, which is why I thought Greece would be ideal. While traveling to Croatia we were only interested in coastal destinations so the boat made it really easy, plus no traffic to deal with. Being "confined" on these things could hardly be considered a burden! https://www.bali-catamarans.com/en/catamarans/bali-4-8/

It's not for everyone and you do have to like the people you're traveling with tho.

[Joe T]

Originally Posted by Bonk!

Hmmm, I think it was like $10K for a week, split by 4 couples. The cost of the skipper was on top of this and then we did all the food provisioning. We had one meal on the boat and one on shore each day which certainly kept the cost down. We used dream yacht charters on this last trip.

We're not people "of means" by any sense. Given we didn't need hotels or a car and we could come and go wherever and whenever we wanted, it was a fantastic option.

That's not crazy... I watch that show "Below Deck" and they're tipping the crew $18-25K for 3-4 days (on a mega yacht)... I assumed a week would be more

That said, my father had a 33' pacemaker, we'd get 6 people for a day to the vinyard (he kept it in Newton on the Charles)., 8 people plus captain on a 50' may be a bit crowded for a week

[Bonk!]

Oh god no - these aren't boats like those mega yachts but they do have queen sized beds and a head per bedroom. It certainly isn't for everyone. You can hire professionals to do as much or little as you want. We like to cook and and just hang out so sailing is actually somewhat cost-effective.

As for space, we spend very little time in the cabins. The above-deck accommodations on these cats are fantastic. On the Bali we had the bow was set up like a lounge. We spent most of our time there (including a couple nights under the stars). There certainly are limitations but we've done them several times and hopefully will do more in the future.

[Joe T]

Originally Posted by Joe T

We're doing Greece in May. 4 of us wife, 20 & 19 year old daughters and me.

2 days in Athens, 3 days in Santorini and 4 days in Mykonos, I"ll let you know my suggestions in early June

Originally Posted by rebekahb

That would be great!! Thank you so much and enjoy your trip!

So we returned early morning yesterday. 9 hour direct flight from JFK to Athens (10 hours back)
2 days in Athens, 3 days in Mykonos, 3 days in Santorini (and a day of travel on each end)

2 days in Athens was enough for us, plenty to do and see... but ultimately it's another big (European) city. Glad we spent 1/2 day at the acropolis and the museum... it really is cool. Growing up in Boston, "old" was 200 years, seeing stuff that's over 2000 years old is awesome.

Took ferry to Mykonos, 2.5 hours, with some cool views on the way

We LOVED Mykonos, the Hotel, relatively inexpensive by vacation standards, was outstanding. I can't say enough nice things about the staff. we used taxi's to get to dinners, food was great... but european service standards are different than in the US. I GREATLY prefer service in American restaurants, but loved the food in Greece. Great scenery, very relaxing portion of the vacation... until nighttime, if you want to party it up, Mykonos can accommodate the hardest of partying.

took another ferry to Santorini, another 2+ hours of even better scenery from the boat.

I don't think I've ever been to a more beautiful place. We stayed in Firostefani. Fira was a 6 minute walk for all your shopping, some great restaurants. you can walk the entire eastern coast on a trail. But be in shape, and have comfortable shoes... LOTS OF STAIRS, hill and elevation changes (from sea level to 1000' above. We took taxi's to Oia... amazing sunsets, great restaurants.
Spent a day on a catamaran, snorkling, hot springs, lunch, LOTS of beer, seeing the 5 islands, volcano's, beaches that were only available by boat, etc.

flight back from Santorini to Athens, long delay, and then Athens to JFK was a 19 hour day of travel, before the 2 hour drive from JFK

I think total for 4 (wife, 2 daughters- ages 19 and 20, and me) was likely just over $35K for the 10 days. will have to wait to balance checkbooks.... Oh, and just leave your Amex at home, few places we went take AMEX.

sorry about the side pics, I cant get them loaded correctly

[Alfisti]

We stayed at Firostefani too. Hw you spent $35K on 4 people is fucking beyond me though.

[NEfan508]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

We stayed at Firostefani too. Hw you spent $35K on 4 people is fucking beyond me though.

OP has CT money…

as long as he really enjoyed his time with his family (sounds like he did) the budget doesn't matter much, it's a splurge YES but life's short

I now travel to Europe cheaper than going to Fort Lauderdale?!? mixing amex/chase points for hotel/airfare

Next time he go's it'll be 1/2 what he spent the first time

[Alfisti]

I literally don't get how you can spend that much on a 10 day trip unless all business class flights and absolute first class hotels. Even then, takes some effort to hit that number.

[e61it]

We made a trip to mainland Greece and Crete in 2013. Two of the places that still stand out vividly are Delphi and Ancient Olympia. Ancient Olympia very laid back but you can literally walk in the footsteps of athletic history. Delphi one of the very special places for historic scenery and ruins. Both places truly magical to visit if you can.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Joe T

So we returned early morning yesterday. 9 hour direct flight from JFK to Athens (10 hours back)
2 days in Athens, 3 days in Mykonos, 3 days in Santorini (and a day of travel on each end)

2 days in Athens was enough for us, plenty to do and see... but ultimately it's another big (European) city. Glad we spent 1/2 day at the acropolis and the museum... it really is cool. Growing up in Boston, "old" was 200 years, seeing stuff that's over 2000 years old is awesome.

Took ferry to Mykonos, 2.5 hours, with some cool views on the way

We LOVED Mykonos, the Hotel, relatively inexpensive by vacation standards, was outstanding. I can't say enough nice things about the staff. we used taxi's to get to dinners, food was great... but european service standards are different than in the US. I GREATLY prefer service in American restaurants, but loved the food in Greece. Great scenery, very relaxing portion of the vacation... until nighttime, if you want to party it up, Mykonos can accommodate the hardest of partying.

took another ferry to Santorini, another 2+ hours of even better scenery from the boat.

I don't think I've ever been to a more beautiful place. We stayed in Firostefani. Fira was a 6 minute walk for all your shopping, some great restaurants. you can walk the entire eastern coast on a trail. But be in shape, and have comfortable shoes... LOTS OF STAIRS, hill and elevation changes (from sea level to 1000' above. We took taxi's to Oia... amazing sunsets, great restaurants.
Spent a day on a catamaran, snorkling, hot springs, lunch, LOTS of beer, seeing the 5 islands, volcano's, beaches that were only available by boat, etc.

flight back from Santorini to Athens, long delay, and then Athens to JFK was a 19 hour day of travel, before the 2 hour drive from JFK

I think total for 4 (wife, 2 daughters- ages 19 and 20, and me) was likely just over $35K for the 10 days. will have to wait to balance checkbooks.... Oh, and just leave your Amex at home, few places we went take AMEX.

sorry about the side pics, I cant get them loaded correctly

Congrats on the trip! Photos look great.

What didn’t you like about the restaurant service?

Are flights from/to the U.S. included in the $35k?

[rwheels]

Originally Posted by Joe T

So we returned early morning yesterday. 9 hour direct flight from JFK to Athens (10 hours back)
2 days in Athens, 3 days in Mykonos, 3 days in Santorini (and a day of travel on each end)

2 days in Athens was enough for us, plenty to do and see... but ultimately it's another big (European) city. Glad we spent 1/2 day at the acropolis and the museum... it really is cool. Growing up in Boston, "old" was 200 years, seeing stuff that's over 2000 years old is awesome.

Took ferry to Mykonos, 2.5 hours, with some cool views on the way

We LOVED Mykonos, the Hotel, relatively inexpensive by vacation standards, was outstanding. I can't say enough nice things about the staff. we used taxi's to get to dinners, food was great... but european service standards are different than in the US. I GREATLY prefer service in American restaurants, but loved the food in Greece. Great scenery, very relaxing portion of the vacation... until nighttime, if you want to party it up, Mykonos can accommodate the hardest of partying.

took another ferry to Santorini, another 2+ hours of even better scenery from the boat.

I don't think I've ever been to a more beautiful place. We stayed in Firostefani. Fira was a 6 minute walk for all your shopping, some great restaurants. you can walk the entire eastern coast on a trail. But be in shape, and have comfortable shoes... LOTS OF STAIRS, hill and elevation changes (from sea level to 1000' above. We took taxi's to Oia... amazing sunsets, great restaurants.
Spent a day on a catamaran, snorkling, hot springs, lunch, LOTS of beer, seeing the 5 islands, volcano's, beaches that were only available by boat, etc.

flight back from Santorini to Athens, long delay, and then Athens to JFK was a 19 hour day of travel, before the 2 hour drive from JFK

I think total for 4 (wife, 2 daughters- ages 19 and 20, and me) was likely just over $35K for the 10 days. will have to wait to balance checkbooks.... Oh, and just leave your Amex at home, few places we went take AMEX.

sorry about the side pics, I cant get them loaded correctly

Here you go.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by chassis

What didn’t you like about the restaurant service?

In general, service just seems like a hassle. You been standing in a store with a bottle of water and your euro ready and bloke at cash won't look away from his tv.... seriously it's fucking weird.

[M-technik-3]

Been twice but Uncle Sam footed the Bill. Wished the MRT had taken longer to get to us but Souda Bay was in an uproar and wanted us off the field as we took up too much ramp space.