dina4

Hi Tripgirl!

I'm trying to plan a trip for my parents for June 2006 in Santorini and found your trip report VERY helpful and very fun to read!

I do have a question about your Santorini "tour" and wine tasting. Can you tell me a little more about that? How you booked it and what it was like? I think my parents would really enjoy that.

They are staying in Oia at Volcano Villas--not too many stairs and fit their budget.

Thanks!
Dina

tripgirl

Thanks dina, glad to be of help.

The wine tour and Santorini half day tour was arranged by my travel agent. We were the first visitors this particular wine producer ever had. I'm not sure how I can be of help to
you here as I did not do the arrangments.

I know there are tours of the island and perhaps brotherleelove2004 might jump in here. Again, everything we did was private and not through a an office you can walk into.

I guess I have been of rotten help to you and I'm sorry for that. But you will love Greece, its fantastic!!!

dina4

You HAVE been helpful. Thank you.
And Brotherlylove has already given me a winery tip on another thread!
This trip to Santorini I'm planning for my parents. I wish I were going, too!
Dina

tripgirl

Dina,

I think your parents will love it!!

Just warn them about ALOT!! of stairs!!!

Don't you wish you were going????????

lkj2

Tripgirl--loved your trip report! Thanks for all the useful information. We are returning to Santorini this May and staying again at Perivolas (Katikies was sold out). I wondered if you saw Perivolas and how you would compare it to Katikies Suites (now Kirini). I think they still have availability, and I am struggling with this choice. We also are booked at Casa Delfino in Crete, but they only have standard rooms available. I wondered if you still thought this was the best place to stay in Chania. Any feedback you could provide would be greatly appreciated!

tripgirl

lkj2

Yes, Perivolas was next door to Katikies Suites ( now called I think Krini). You made an excellent choice!

For Casa Delfino, e mail them and let them put you on a waiting list for an upgrade if they get a cancellation. I would still stay there; you'll enjoy the central location and public spaces. From what else I saw in Chania, Casa Delfino is the most upgraded and I think you really can't go wrong. The standard rooms are not gorgeous, but are pleasant enough. It's just that their rooms vary so widely and if you had an upgraded room, you would have the WOW factor.

Have a great time; Greece is fab!

Ask any more ?

tmcmahon

Tripgirl,

Thanks for your report. We will be taking the same trip in June. It looks like you spent 3 days in Athens. Did you find that enough time to see everything? Would you recommend more or less?

tripgirl

t-

I think you could spend more and see more, but three days was fine. I persoanlly like cities and foudn Athens to be great. Glad I came after the Olympics.

did not see a few things I wanted to, but that's always the case with any vacation; you get tired and some things just get deleted!

Anyway, June should prove beautiful.

are you also going to Santorini and Crete?

tmcmahon

Yes, we'll be spending a week in Crete and 6 days in Santorini. We plan on renting a car in Crete. Should we do the same in Santorini? We like to rent either scooters or motorcycles when we can, but in some place we've traveled it was definitely safer (or at least felt that way) to be in a car. Would you suggest renting a motorcycle or scooter in either Crete or Santorini?

tripgirl

We did not have a car or use a scooter on either island. But again I had my group scheduled for activities that our private transportation was all worked out.

The scooters on Santorini looked like fun though and it might be fun to just try them for a short scoot around. But be careful!!

You'll love Santorini and Crete!

Dreamer2

How did you find your travel agent? Had you worked with them before? Did they contact you after you returned for any input? I was quite surprised that mine did not.

tripgirl

my agent I originally found through Wendy Perrin at Conde Nast Traveler Mag.

Since then we've become close and good friends; we talk several times a week!

Bettina222

tripgirl,
My husband and I are planning a trip to Greece possibly April of 2007.
I noticed your trip was just about a year ago.
Would you happen to know if much has changed in the line of hotels, restaurants etc?
I've loved reading your trip report.
It's exciting to start planning our trip.

tripgirl

bettina,

Thanks for asking.

Our hotel Katikies Suites is now called Kirini ( too much confusion with Hotel Katkies, Katikies Suites, Villa Katikies...)

I think all of our restaurants are still there.

Whhere are you going specifically; let me know if I can be of help, but the biggest help here is brotherleelove2004. He always has the best ( and nicest) advice!

ssarw

Hi tripgirl....loved the write-up and found it very helpful. We are going to Athens/Crete/Santorini in August '06. Question is...flight from Crete (thru Athens) to Santorini or chance the hydrofoil? And did you pre-book all the tourguides or let the Hotels coordinate? Thanks for any insight.

tripgirl

As i wrote, the entire trip was planned by myself, my agent and the wholesale land company, of which as an individual traveler, you would not have access to.

With that said, I think you should pre-book whatever you know for sure you want to do and leave the rest for booking on site; not sure what events you wish to do, so perhaps you can share.

We did not take any hydrofoils as they were not running the days we needed them, so we flew from Athens to Santorini then went back to Athens airport from Santorini to fly to Crete. I found this perfectly fine and we got to Crete much earlier inthe day this way. But I know alot of people love the hydrofoils and on a return trip, I will want to have at least one turn on a hydrofoil.

Feel free to ask any more ? !!!

roothy123

Hi tripgirl...can I go with you next time? I'm a neighbor (Silver Spring) and I also love planning independent travel. Am going to Santorini, Rhodes, Delos,Athens on a cruise in early Oct. Can't wait. Keep traveling.....and thanks for the report!

tripgirl

Roothy,

Have a grand time, you'll love Greece, first time???

gruezi

Hi Tripgirl,

So glad I finally found your report

Have seen your postings on many of the greece sites...

We head to Santorini the 8th of Oct. We are staying at Karini - nothing avail at Katikies in our price range...

Thanks for this great report!!

gruezi

brotherleelove2004

Don't think you're shortchanging yourselves by staying at Kirini. It's an excellent hotel. I actually think it's a better pick than Katikies.