Help me plan Greece portion of anniversary trip
 

We have a big anniversary coming up in September 2015. We're thinking a week on Amalfi Coast (been there once) and a week in Greece, where we have never been. Will try to fly into Rome and out of Athens (or vice versa?) - will be using miles to book tix or to upgrade.

I want to see Delphi and Santorini for sure but don't know much else. We don't do group tours generally and haven't cruised but would consider it for Greece portion of trip since we know so little about the area.

Mostly looking for places to go in Greece; budget is flexible. We're in pretty good shape walking/hiking wise; love culture but also views/beauty. We like to alternate sightseeing and relaxing; enjoy cafes and antiquities. Prefer train or boat travel generally.

Advice and suggestions welcomed!

The first time we travelled to Europe was to Greece and because we were complete novices we booked a four day bus tour of the Peloponnese. It was a bit of a nightmare. Average hotels, some very nasty meals etc. the worst part was that at the numerous retail opportunities the tour guide wouldn't budge until she was absolutely sure there everyone had finished shopping (she got a % of the total spend). For those who didn't want to shop, it was a very boring experience.

We did meet some nice people and enjoyed some good laughs with them. For those reasons I would suggest a self drive trip.

Highly recommend a visit to Meteora!

Once you utter the word "Greek island," your ability to move around gets constrained and slowed down. For one week stay including Delphi and Santorini, you can probably only add Athens. Look at the math assuming 7 days including travel days.

1 day= fly into Greece
1 day= fly out of Greece
1 day= day trip to Delphi
1 day= move to/out of island that cannot be attached to other flight

Leaves you 3 full days in Santorini.

Look at what choice are available to you within your ticketing constraints. There are choices with pros and cons. Looks like you are from the U.S.? Some choices are

1. US-Athens(Delphi)-Santorini-Fly to Rome vis Santorini-Rome/Napoli-US

2. US-Rome/Napoli-Santorini via Athens-fly back to Athens(Delphi)-US

3. US-Rome/Napoli-Athens(Delphi)-Santorini-US (this one likely comes with an excruciatingly long travel day to come home from Santorini, and this is not recommended unless you buy Santorini-US as one reservation)

Delphi can be done as a public bus trip, driving yourself, or as a bus tour. It is a long day trip from Athens.

We took a trip very similar to this two years ago. My best advice is to go to Athens first, connecting through to Santorini.

Spend four days on Santorini, then fly back to Athens.

Spend three days in Athens, with a day trip to Delphi. Several
bus companies do this tour from Athens, starting early in the AM.

Now for the slightly complicated part... Two years ago, there was a flight ( small plane) I think on Alitalia from Athens to Naples. This greatly reduces your travel time to the Amalfi Coast.

If it's unavailable ( also check Aegean, but I don't think they fly this route?), fly to FCO ( Rome).

Two options: Private transfer from FCO- Amalfi Coast destination, but costly ( around 400E) OR fast train Rome- Naples ( 70 minutes) then private transfer ( around 130E) to Amalfi Coast destination.

My favorite town on the AC after many trips, most recently last June, is Positano. Favorite hotel is Hotel Poseidon, but there are several others in all different budget ranges that are quite good, too.

When you need more help, just post again! Good luck!

I just wanted to add a recommendation for a wonderful hotel in Athens. We are going back this June to AVA Hotel in the Plaka. It has gorgeous rooms, some of which have terraces facing Hadrian's Arch in one direction, the Acropolis in the other.

This hotel has seriously become one of my favorites anywhere in Europe. The location is ideal for exploring Athens,(10 min walk-if that- from the Acropolis and in the heart of The Plaka) and the hotel staff can't do enough to help guests.

Many thanks for these suggestions! Will really help us get started. Any other thoughts, send em on!

Only got to Corfu (the greenest of the Greek isles) and then into Athens. We were going to rendezvous on Myknos but in late Sep - the seas were up for a couple days (on a post law school budget - never thought about flying) so the boats stayed in port and we didn't make that.

Aussies we met and traveled with loved Crete.

So many choices. Enjoy the "research". :)

Thanks, Tom. Will be going for using miles so will have until October (335 days ahead) to book air tix.

I wouldn't spend four nights on Santorini. We did and it was too long for a place where you look at a view. Add it to the Peloponnesian Pen.

How long on Santorini, Happy?

Also, how long in Athens? Suggestions?

wwk kindly suggested 3 days in Athens -- about right? One day would be day trip to Delphi (unless we stay near Delphi -- do people do so or know a place to stay?

Agree with HT about Santorini. I found it (late September) teeming with cruise ship passengers, and apart from the architecture and the views of the caldera, not all that interesting.

Hi annw!
The problem I see is that each destination works different for each person and you do not mention any detailed plan on what exactly you want to see/do on each area and on what pace. People's advice so far is well-meant, but based on what criteria exactly?
For example I find that many people tend to under-rate what Athens has to offer, there are many sights and activities, different districts, many "faces" on this city, but people are hardly willing to do some homework beforehand or try to explore while localy. It is important to customise a visit based on your own interests rather than go by the so called "must sees/dos" or what you heard.
Then Delphi is one few-hours-long visit for many people, while a small minority comes here year after year, often for many days. There is scenery, landscape, the ancient sites, the museum, hiking, interesting surrounding area with caves, traditional mountain and sea-side villages, beaches and coves, mountain refuggees and climbing oportunities, occasionaly parachute/paragliding, racing and bicycling races etc etc (plus maybe the most popular snow ski center in Greece operating on winter).
The same goes for Santorini which I admit I am not very fond of, but still depending on your traveling style and interests, there are many things to do and see there other than the famous caldera view... Restaurants for foodies, cooking lessons, wine tours, watersports, small but important museums, important archeological sites, many boat trips, hiking and horseback riding and so on....
Maybe you want to read up a bit and decide on so and so activity/site, then see how much time you need for each. This way it is easier to decide how long to spend on each area than having people tell you this and that.

Hi again annw,

I suggested three days in Athens because: You need one day for a trip to Delphi; one day for the Acropolis and its wonderful museum; one day to explore The National Archaeological Museum, the Plaka, and Hadrians' Arch.

There is much more to do in Athens- The Benaki Museum, the marketplace, the area right in back of the Acropolis- etc, but with your time limits, this is a start.

I highly recommend AVA Hotel ( we are going back there in a few weeks) which is in The Plaka, and within a 10 minute walk of the Acropolis.

Rooms facing the front of the hotel have great views of The Acropolis on one side, Hadrian's Arch on the other.

If that's too expensive, check out Athen's Gate, also centrally located near The Acropolis, or, for a splurge The Grande Bretagne, though I think Ava's rooms blow it away!

Now about Santorini: How much time to spend really depends on your travel style. We've spent many happy times there, wandering around Oia and Ammoudi Bay, with side trips to Red Beach, a day long boat trip to the Caldera and sulphur springs and a winery.

Yes, there are tons of tourists, but we found it easy to plan around them. Just avoid getting caught wandering around Oia at sunset, etc.!

saving for great info for our "empty nest" trip...hopefully coming up soon!

Many thanks, more good info! Yes I know what you mean about travel style. We are not so much into water sports, cooking lessons, or wine (I love to drink it but DH doesn't much); more wandering, cafes, views, some archeology and eye candy. I love the idea of staying near Delphi vs. a day trip.

Any thoughts on independent travel here vs. cruise (we've never taken one)?

I'll be loading up on the travel books for sure, but this helps me get a start, so thanks!

I know some Italian, Spanish, and French, but only know the Greek alphabet; should I learn much more before going? It seems ambitious, but I do have over a year.... :)

Hi annw,

I don't like the idea of Greek Island cruises because you have only a few hours on each island and spend the rest of the time at sea. Other people love cruises, so it's a matter of personal choice.

There is no need to learn the Greek language for a trip to Athens, Delphi and Santorini. English is the <i>lingua franca</i> of the tourist trade in Greece. Learning a few curtesy phrases in a foreign language is always a good thing, though.

Heimdall gave you great advice, as always. I'll just agree with him that "there's no need to learn the Greek language" for your trip. In fact, we've found that most Greeks speak fluent English. The only time I really needed some Greek was on the island of Paros in a part of the island that was far from the main cities.

Sorry, forgot to say that I also agree with Heimdall about cruises. You don't get to choose your itinerary, and you miss out on the many options for reasonably priced wonderful Greek food!