I will be visiting Santorini and Crete starting next week. I decided not to rent a car. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good driver/guide? Any idea what I should pay for a day for the driver/guide?
Thanks
Helen
Santorini and Crete
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Hi Helen
I would probably hire a scooter in Santorini, as it is such a small island that with a car it would be difficult to get to place that scooter can. I have been in Thira and the island over all is stunning. As for the guide, they always can tell you something you probably would miss out, so if that is you interest then do so. However there is a lot of info on the internet nowadays. Here you got a guide a friend of mine wrote about Crete/
http://www.directline-holidays.co.uk/blog/best-of-the-best-of-crete-beaches-walks-and-sights/
Crete is much larger and if you wants to see the island then a car is advisable. Try and get to doe the gorge in the Western part of the island. It is absolutely beautiful
All the best
Have your hotels make arrangements for guides . Santorini is tiny while Crete is quite large. Focus on tne western end of Crete.
How long do you plan to stay in Santorini? We spent 4 nights/3 days without a car or a scooter. We used a combination of taxi/bus/tour bus to get around. Our hotel in Oia paid for a taxi from the airport. We took a bus tour to Akrotiri that included a beach visit in the afternoon.
Santorini is a nice place for relaxation rather than wall-to-wall sightseeing.
Do not rent a scooter especially if you don't drive one at home..
If you really want to see more of the island, a car is advisable.
There are NO drivers/guides...
Guides have to be official, there are fixed prices depending on the length that you will hire them.
Regardless of internet, books etc, only an official guide can tell you more about Greece and the sites that you will see.
Having someone driving you around, makes me ask the following question.. will you be insured ? what if something happens ?
If you want to book a guide, do it either directly or through a travel agency.. definitely not through the hotel.... ( they will most probably charge too much )
As for Crete public transportation is excellent, especially between the big cities. You will have problems visiting smaller places, as buses aren't very frequent.... their itinerary often is made to serve locals and not tourists..
I would probably hire a scooter in Santorini,
If you don't have a driving licence that allows scooter use (ie you have a motorcycle licence) then hiring a scooter would be illegal.
And if you don't have a scooter licence why are you hiring a scooter in the first place?
SOME places in Greece now hire out quads which are legal for car drivers
In another post Helen wrote: "We are two older women...", so somehow I don't see her renting a scooter. Santorini has a good bus system, and there are a number of tours to the vineyards, etc. Crete, of course, is a much larger island where a car might be an advantage. If you hire a driver you get just that, and not a guide. Drivers may have a wealth of local knowledge, but aren't alowed to accompany you into museums and sites – for that you will need a guide.
When I go to the Greek Islands I always use public transport, and have seldom felt I have missed much. You could also check with the local travel agencies to book a private tour with a guide.