Hello fellow travelers:
I'm starting to plan my trip to Greece and some of the islands next fall (2005) for ~2 weeks. I'd love your opinions on some tour companies: Globus, Trafalgar, Cosmo and Gate 1. I would like to spend a few days in Athens and also see Santorini, Mykonos and Crete. Some of these companies seem to just provide your hotels and transportation to the islands. I like the freedom to do what I want, but would also like access to local tours as well. I'd like to get by on the local transportion. I may be traveling single or a friend may go with me. We're both women early 50s and very fit. We would also enjoy the company of others who may be traveling on the tour from time to time. Any comments or suggestions. This is in the very early planning stages.
KOL

Why go with any of the companies you've listed? You could plan your own trip and do what you want - not stick to anyone else's schedule.
If all the company is doing is providing transport and hotels, then why pay them to do that when you can easily do it yourself? There are short tours you can take in Athens. And on the islands you could easily find local tours or make your own using bus, taxi or private driver. you'd be able to customize and get exactly what you want.

Here is a link to a company that specializes in Greece
http://www.magicaljourneys.com
They do some packages, and I bet they'd have lots to offer you.

Four of us, all women in our 50's used Untours to Greece in March. The apartment we had gets mixed reviews, but we liked the independence. They have a representative in Greece who can help with some of the Greek "mysteries". We had no problem with the language. Road signs are in Greek and English. There is nearly always someone around who speaks English. Their location in Nafplio is not very convenient to the outer islands, but okay for the classical stuff. We left Nafplio early and went to Meteora. It was well worth the trip, but a LONG way from Athens.

I would suggest that you travel independently of any North American tour company. You can easily book a hotel in Athens yourself. If you are interested in the classical sites -- Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Delphi -- there are four-day classical tours with CHAT Tours and Key Tours, two reputable tour operators in Greece. (I suggest these tours only because traveling around the Peloponnese, except by car, is almost impossible.)

You can go to Mykonos and Santorini by ferry or, I understand, faster non-ferry boats that have been introduced since my travels in Greece in the 1970s, from Piraeus. Mykonos and Santorini are -- or were -- on the same route. Crete is -- or was -- on a different route, but you can also fly to Crete.

We used Fantasy Travel that was based in Greece. They met us at every drop off/pick up point with tickets in hand. They really did a great job and made the trip hassle free.

..agree with comment re CHAT..We had a great package which my travel agent recommended. It included the hotel and transportation to each island by plane. we then booked some site tours independetly. We could have booked the hotels and planes independently but when we added it up the "package" was cheaper, included all we wanted and through a few extras in (like being met at the airport by a car and driver..heaven after a delayed flight!) If you do the escorted tour, add insight to your list (globus trafalger and insight are in a similar price range.) In addition carefully see what is included in each tour (and what is included for addditional cost)..beware you will see does not necessarily mean you will visit..careful too even the length of some of the tours is unclear (ex some start the tour when you leave the country of origin..some start counting the night before and others the am the bus takes off)..you will literally need several sheets of paper to figure out what is included so comparisons can be made..also map out your hotel..if you have a lot of freetime at that location, make sure it is central so you dont waste money on cabs ect..good luck!