Just back from Greece - Fantastic!
Sep 27th, 2008, 07:18 AM
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Just back from Greece - Fantastic!
Hello Fello Fodorites,
We recently returned from Greece, and welcome any questions regarding our trip - whilst the memories are fresh. Here's what we did:
Flew into Athens and spent 2 days seeing the Acropolis(of course!), National Archeological Museum, Roman and Ancient Agoras, Theatre of Dionysis, Hadrian's Library, Temple of Apollo and Zeus (a 12 Euro ticket permits admission to about 7 sites within a 4-day period)and exploring the Plaka area.
Took the CHAT 2-day tour to Mycenae, spent the night in Nafplion(beautiful city with three fortresses - one of which you climb about 900 steps to reach the top)and visited the Mycenaen site of Tiryns in the morning, followed by a visit to Epidaurus later in the day. Returned to Athens.
Flew to Santorini for 3 days: stayed in Fira, visited Oia, hiked down to the port(whilst trying to avoid being crushed by the donkeys sharing the path!), and scuba dived at the beach below the cliffs at Akrotiri(still closed - with no immediate plans to reopen). Then flew to Rhodes(with a change at Athens)and spent our last 4 days there. Incredibly historic place, with ancient ruins amidst medieval buildings, arched cobblestone streets - all surrounded by massive stone walls, extensive fortifications, bastions and gates.
All questions are welcome. And - thanks again for all of your input and suggestions.
Larz
We recently returned from Greece, and welcome any questions regarding our trip - whilst the memories are fresh. Here's what we did:
Flew into Athens and spent 2 days seeing the Acropolis(of course!), National Archeological Museum, Roman and Ancient Agoras, Theatre of Dionysis, Hadrian's Library, Temple of Apollo and Zeus (a 12 Euro ticket permits admission to about 7 sites within a 4-day period)and exploring the Plaka area.
Took the CHAT 2-day tour to Mycenae, spent the night in Nafplion(beautiful city with three fortresses - one of which you climb about 900 steps to reach the top)and visited the Mycenaen site of Tiryns in the morning, followed by a visit to Epidaurus later in the day. Returned to Athens.
Flew to Santorini for 3 days: stayed in Fira, visited Oia, hiked down to the port(whilst trying to avoid being crushed by the donkeys sharing the path!), and scuba dived at the beach below the cliffs at Akrotiri(still closed - with no immediate plans to reopen). Then flew to Rhodes(with a change at Athens)and spent our last 4 days there. Incredibly historic place, with ancient ruins amidst medieval buildings, arched cobblestone streets - all surrounded by massive stone walls, extensive fortifications, bastions and gates.
All questions are welcome. And - thanks again for all of your input and suggestions.
Larz
Sep 27th, 2008, 07:31 AM
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Almost forgot - while in Rhodes, went scuba diving in the Kalithea Bay, on the east coast. Beautiful area. Spent a few hours in Lindos, but the Acropolis was covered in metal scaffolding - not a whole lot to see. The white town below is an interesting maze of old builings but way too many shops, bars and restaurants. Also, the bus system returning to Rhodes is extremely disorganized (e.g., when I asked the fellow at the bus ticket window, after purchasing our tickets, when the next bus would arrive, he replied: "when it gets here."
The fact that it was about to rain at any moment certainly didn't help the situation either.
The fact that it was about to rain at any moment certainly didn't help the situation either.
Sep 27th, 2008, 12:21 PM
#3
Glad you had a good time, we have been to most of these places too and love Greece.
Your comment about the man at the bus ticket office reminds me of the very unhelpful woman in the tourist office in Rhodes. When I asked her about the boats to Symi she shrugged and gave a one word answer, which turned out to be the wrong answer anyway, we found out the next day. I had asked about where you catch the boats and she was wrong. Tourist offices in Europe often offer dreadful service, in our opinion. But it hasn't put us off travelling, we just do our research first!
Kay
Your comment about the man at the bus ticket office reminds me of the very unhelpful woman in the tourist office in Rhodes. When I asked her about the boats to Symi she shrugged and gave a one word answer, which turned out to be the wrong answer anyway, we found out the next day. I had asked about where you catch the boats and she was wrong. Tourist offices in Europe often offer dreadful service, in our opinion. But it hasn't put us off travelling, we just do our research first!
Kay
Oct 11th, 2008, 06:51 AM
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Hi KayF,
just back from Greece / Rhodes last week, and I have to reply to your comment about the Tourist Office.
That place shouldn't even have a sign CLAIMING to be a tourist office! It's basically just a "shill" for every tour operator or hotelier in Rhodes to drop off their brochures. They probably pay a small monthly fee to have their buisnesses displayed.
I've never seen such a poor excuse for a Tourist Office - they have NO generic information about Rhodes, the surrounding area, historical background - just touting local companies.
Melodie
just back from Greece / Rhodes last week, and I have to reply to your comment about the Tourist Office.
That place shouldn't even have a sign CLAIMING to be a tourist office! It's basically just a "shill" for every tour operator or hotelier in Rhodes to drop off their brochures. They probably pay a small monthly fee to have their buisnesses displayed.
I've never seen such a poor excuse for a Tourist Office - they have NO generic information about Rhodes, the surrounding area, historical background - just touting local companies.
Melodie
Oct 11th, 2008, 01:15 PM
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KayF
Did you eventually get to Symi on that trip?
Believe me, the experience you had in Rhodes with the unhelpful lady in the tourist office there would have been easily matched with her counterpart on the island.
Her rudeness was unbelievable (and legendary!) and I felt sorry for first time visitors to Symi who had the misfortune of calling at her office for assistance.
Bill
Did you eventually get to Symi on that trip?
Believe me, the experience you had in Rhodes with the unhelpful lady in the tourist office there would have been easily matched with her counterpart on the island.
Her rudeness was unbelievable (and legendary!) and I felt sorry for first time visitors to Symi who had the misfortune of calling at her office for assistance.
Bill
Oct 11th, 2008, 01:30 PM
#6
To respond to the tourist office people, we have found the same rude attitude when travelling in Italy.
I thought it was because our Italian wasn't very good, which frustrated them.
The one country, however, that always had courteous people, even in the smallest towns, was France. BTW, we don't speak much French either.
We haven't been to Greece, but I liked reading your review. We go to Europe every year, and are always looking for new places.
I thought it was because our Italian wasn't very good, which frustrated them.
The one country, however, that always had courteous people, even in the smallest towns, was France. BTW, we don't speak much French either.
We haven't been to Greece, but I liked reading your review. We go to Europe every year, and are always looking for new places.
Oct 14th, 2008, 09:19 AM
#7
Hi Bill,
yes, we did get to Symi and loved it. We only did a day trip but would like to go back and stay there for a while. It's such an attractive place and seemed very peaceful.
Tourist offices in some European countries are just a joke - Italy is particularly bad. A guidebook is much more helpful and will always be available - unlike the Italian tourist office which will most likely be closed when you want some info.
The best idea, of course, is to do your research via Fodors Talk before leaving home!
Kay
yes, we did get to Symi and loved it. We only did a day trip but would like to go back and stay there for a while. It's such an attractive place and seemed very peaceful.
Tourist offices in some European countries are just a joke - Italy is particularly bad. A guidebook is much more helpful and will always be available - unlike the Italian tourist office which will most likely be closed when you want some info.
The best idea, of course, is to do your research via Fodors Talk before leaving home!
Kay
Oct 23rd, 2008, 11:26 AM
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Larz,
My husband & I would like to go to Greece next year. We have just returned from Switzerland & Italy which we enjoyed very much. My husband has knee problems & all the stairs we had to deal with were hard for him. That makes me wonder how difficult travel in Greece, including 2 or 3 islands, would be. Any thoughts? Thanks!
My husband & I would like to go to Greece next year. We have just returned from Switzerland & Italy which we enjoyed very much. My husband has knee problems & all the stairs we had to deal with were hard for him. That makes me wonder how difficult travel in Greece, including 2 or 3 islands, would be. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Oct 23rd, 2008, 12:01 PM
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Marsh, regarding your query about Greece for those with dicey knees -- it CAN be done if you plan carefully, and choose your destinations well. It may cost you a bit more, but you will not be like the unhappy people I have seen, staying in their tour busses because they cannot handle the climb at that particular site.
I advised a couple in 2007 who had such problems; she had knee replacement and couldnt do stairs; he had shoulder surgery & couldn't lift bags. Working with an agency we arranged so that they had hotels with elevators and transfers where people carried their bags. You would have to avoid some ferry boats but can take others (which don't have steep stairs), and take more planes. They went to Rhodes, Santorini,Naxos and Athens and did much sightseeing in rented cars.
I think you could do something like this, and see a lot! The only thing you might be unable to visit would be the top of the Acropolis because the lift is only for wheelchair-bound -- but otherwise, there are strategies if you plan wisely! YOu can e-mail me to discuss.
I advised a couple in 2007 who had such problems; she had knee replacement and couldnt do stairs; he had shoulder surgery & couldn't lift bags. Working with an agency we arranged so that they had hotels with elevators and transfers where people carried their bags. You would have to avoid some ferry boats but can take others (which don't have steep stairs), and take more planes. They went to Rhodes, Santorini,Naxos and Athens and did much sightseeing in rented cars.
I think you could do something like this, and see a lot! The only thing you might be unable to visit would be the top of the Acropolis because the lift is only for wheelchair-bound -- but otherwise, there are strategies if you plan wisely! YOu can e-mail me to discuss.
Oct 23rd, 2008, 04:31 PM
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Hi
A couple of questions:
1."a 12 Euro ticket permits admission to about 7 sites within a 4-day period" Where do you buy the permits?
2. What was your accommodation like? Any chance of a brief review?
Cheers
A couple of questions:
1."a 12 Euro ticket permits admission to about 7 sites within a 4-day period" Where do you buy the permits?
2. What was your accommodation like? Any chance of a brief review?
Cheers
Oct 24th, 2008, 06:22 PM
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Hi worldinabag,
1. We purchased the 12-Euro ticket at the Acropolis(one of the 7 sites included over a 4-day period). I think you could purchase it at any of the sites. When you visit one of the attractions, they tear off one of the 7 tickets.
2. We stayed at the Acropolis House Hotel, located in the Plaka district, which was less than a 5-minute walk to the main strip of cafes and restaurants. Another 5 or 10 minutes of walking takes you to the promenade around the acropolis - passing by the Theatre of Dionysis, etc. A really excellent location. The staff at the hotel were friendly and informative - but the rooms were rather small and quite plain.
Any other questions?
1. We purchased the 12-Euro ticket at the Acropolis(one of the 7 sites included over a 4-day period). I think you could purchase it at any of the sites. When you visit one of the attractions, they tear off one of the 7 tickets.
2. We stayed at the Acropolis House Hotel, located in the Plaka district, which was less than a 5-minute walk to the main strip of cafes and restaurants. Another 5 or 10 minutes of walking takes you to the promenade around the acropolis - passing by the Theatre of Dionysis, etc. A really excellent location. The staff at the hotel were friendly and informative - but the rooms were rather small and quite plain.
Any other questions?
Oct 25th, 2008, 02:59 AM
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Larz is correct; we purchased ours at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, just happened to be the first place we hit. It is also good for the New Acropolis Museum. Although it doesn't yet contain the acropolis gems, it is a cool stop just to see the architecture and what they have planned.
Oct 28th, 2008, 02:07 PM
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Hi Worldinabag,
We stayed at Loizos Apartments, a brightly-painted blue and white(of course!)building in FIRA. It had a small swimming pool and an excellent location: a right out of the front door and a few minutes walk takes you to the tremendous views over the caldera, while a left takes you into the center of town. Breakfast was extra(I think around 6 Euros/person), and the rooms were simple but clean.
We stayed at Loizos Apartments, a brightly-painted blue and white(of course!)building in FIRA. It had a small swimming pool and an excellent location: a right out of the front door and a few minutes walk takes you to the tremendous views over the caldera, while a left takes you into the center of town. Breakfast was extra(I think around 6 Euros/person), and the rooms were simple but clean.
Oct 30th, 2008, 01:44 AM
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Hi,
I'm palnning a trip to Greece in November end-December begining with my Husband. I need someone to guide me about the weather around this time of the Year and also whether I can plan for a couple of days at Santorini!!!???or is it a bad idea due to the rains..?
If I miss Santorini coz of the rains is it still worth going to Greece in the winters..?
I'm from India and from what I hear that the Greece winter is quite like the Indian winter.
Wat are the places that I could plan to see in Greece for a week. How can i plan my stay-- day wise breakup in different towns.... Wat's the state of shops and resturants in off season..? are they mostly shut and only the basic ones are open for the locals...? Suggestions are welcome..
Thanks
Amrita
I'm palnning a trip to Greece in November end-December begining with my Husband. I need someone to guide me about the weather around this time of the Year and also whether I can plan for a couple of days at Santorini!!!???or is it a bad idea due to the rains..?
If I miss Santorini coz of the rains is it still worth going to Greece in the winters..?
I'm from India and from what I hear that the Greece winter is quite like the Indian winter.
Wat are the places that I could plan to see in Greece for a week. How can i plan my stay-- day wise breakup in different towns.... Wat's the state of shops and resturants in off season..? are they mostly shut and only the basic ones are open for the locals...? Suggestions are welcome..
Thanks
Amrita
