samejia

My daugher is studying in Copenhagen for her spring semester. She really wants to go to Greece. Is it better to go on an organized tour and go on your own? She will have 1 week free that is not already planned during the semester or she will travel after the semester in May. She wants to see the ruins in Athens but does want to explore some of the islands.

brotherleelove2004

One week is enough time to explore Athens and one island unless she will be satisfied with the scratch-the-surface glimpse a group tour will provide of more. Weatherwise she should wait until May to visit the islands.

travelgourmet

I don't think a tour is especially necessary but, if she can't find a friend to go with her, then a tour aimed at young people may actually be a good thing. From CPH, you can fly direct to Athens pretty easily. I would doubt you would see direct flights to any of the islands until maybe late April or May - you would need to connect in Athens until then.

Personally, I would consider waiting until after the semester ends. You can visit Athens much of the year, but the islands will be pretty deserted during the winter and many hotels won't be open. Even in May, they won't be in full swing.

samejia

Thanks for your reply. I'm sure she'd prefer to go on her own but for some reason I am hesitant about her doing so in Greece. She has been to Italy, Ireland, England and Spain on high school sponsored trips so she is used to the group tour pace. Her friend visited Zykanthos, Olympia and Corfu. I've heard that Santorini is the one!

travelgourmet

I don't see much reason to fear her going to Greece on her own (other than I would find it lonely by myself). She may run into some local wannabe Lotharios, but can't imagine it would be much worse than anywhere else. Besides, after the hyper-equality of Copenhagen, it will be a funny contrast.

samejia

Oh, I fully expect her to go with friends. I meant without a tour company or on a school sponsored trip.

Heimdall

Greece is very easy to do on your own - no need to go with a tour company. Athens is one of the world's safest capital cities, and the Greek ferry system makes it simple to get to islands such as Santorini.

Don't worry, mom, your daughter will be fine. ;-) And I do agree that May will be better than earlier in the year.

Palenque

she may well meet other students there who may want to go too

check www.whichbudget.com for cheap air connections

samejia

Thanks everyone. Ok, May it is for when to go. Any island suggestions?

Heimdall

I don't like to make island suggestions. Too much depends upon personal interests (beach, trekking, ancient sites, scenery, nightlife, etc.). Best for your daughter to begin with some research in the guidebooks, and let her decide for herself.

From Athens the Saronic Gulf and Cyclades island groups are easiest to reach. Saronic Gulf islands can be reached by day trips from Athens, while the Cyclades require at least two or three nights (for one island) to make it worthwhile. May is a quiet period, even on such busy islands as Mykonos, so don't believe some of the nonsense you read about wild parties and overcrowding.

samejia

Thanks for the info. I'll add a guidebook to Greece on the list of Christmas presents for her!

dfr4848

FWIW - our daughter studied in Athens this past fall semester ('08). She and sometimes one or 2 friends would travel to parts of Greece most every weekend. She/they never encountered any problems (except for her complaints about how slow and crowded the Greek trains were). Never ran into any kind of hassles, threatening or uncomfortable experiences, etc. Think your daughter should be fine - just exercise the usual precautions she would anywhere.

I agree that it's difficult to focus on specific islands without knowing someone's interests. The guidebooks will definitely help. [Though we/she did think Santorini was as beautiful and interesting as its usually described]

Just another option - one of her favorite places was Nafplion (on the Peloponnese southwest of Athens). Beautiful city on the coast with some great shops, restaurants and history. Very reasonable in terms of costs. 2 hr bus ride from Athens. Cost about 11E.

samejia

Thanks for sharing your daughter's experience, dfr4848. I'm sure my daughter will have fun planning this trip. Now all she needs to do is figure out where she wants to travel during the semester!! The school has some interesting trips one of which is a scientific expedition to Greenland. No one has answered my post yet on that experience. Thanks to all!

HappyTrvlr

FYI:I felt safer in Greece than any place we've traveled.