Are you interested in Greece and the Greek islands as a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding?
Today, Norm Goldman, editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest Tom Savvides, Greece expert and co-owner of National Travel Service Inc located in Livingston, NJ.
Thank you Tom for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.
RULE:
Can you tell our readers something about yourself and your experience regarding Greece and the Greek islands?
TOMAS:
I am a co-owner of National Travel Service, Inc. Our agency was founded by my family in 1969 specifically to assist the Greek community in the NY / NJ area with their travel needs. Since then, we have developed into a full service travel agency specializing in travel to Greece. I personally run an annual food and wine tour to Greece and have traveled there since I was a child.
RULE:
Could you give our readers an idea of what sets five of the most popular Greek islands apart from each other from the point of view of topography, climate, and anything else you consider different?
TOMAS:
The 5 most popular islands in terms of the number of tourists visiting annually are:
* Santorini,
* Mykonos
*Crete
*Rhodes
* Corfu.
In my opinion, Santorini is the most unique and beautiful of all the Greek islands.
It is unique due to the fact that it is literally the tip of an ancient volcano whose explosion in 1500 BC was possibly the largest in history.
Experts consider the archaeological site of Akrotiri to be the lost city of Atlantis.
The views and sunsets are the best!
Mykonos is known primarily for its wild nightlife, beautiful beaches, and fine jewelry stores, specifically gold. The island of Delos is close to Mykonos and is the location of an important archaeological site.
Crete is the largest Greek island and offers everything from cosmopolitan cities, ancient ruins, beautiful beaches, and the longest gorge in Europe.
Rhodes is very similar to Crete in terms of diversity of sites and activities and climate, although it is a much smaller island.
Corfu is located in the Ioanian Sea away from all the other islands we have mentioned. It is a popular island for visitors from the UK. It has a diverse climate and terrain that offers everything from beautiful sandy beaches to pine forests.
RULE:
Why would you consider Greece a good choice for a romantic getaway or a destination for weddings and honeymooners, and if you had to pick your 5 favorite Greek islands, what would they be and why?
TOMAS:
This is an easy question. The incomparable beauty of the Greek Islands is what makes them a romantic destination. As I mentioned before, the warm beaches and romantic sunsets are the best. The Greeks are masters at making people feel relaxed and comfortable, which are all prerequisites for romance.
My favorite Greek islands would be Santorini for its sheer beauty and incredible cuisine, Crete for its diversity, wealth of activities and delicious wines and food, Mykonos for its fantastic nightlife and beautiful beaches, Chios and Andros because they are not so popular islands for tourists. tourists. and for all the warm and wonderful people I have met on these islands.
RULE:
What is the best time to visit Greece from the point of view of weather, costs and crowds? As a follow-up, how do the costs vary from season to season?
TOMAS:
Personally, my favorite time to visit Greece is mid to late September. The weather is not as hot as in the peak travel months of July and August, airfares and hotel rates are a bit cheaper, and the crowd has thinned a bit by that time. Clearly, the best time to travel to the islands would be in the peak months of June to September, specifically due to the weather. Most of the islands are fairly quiet in the off-season, except for local residents. It is true that you could save considerably on airfare and especially on your accommodation out of season, but the islands are not the place to be when it is cold and raining.
Note that Greece is now part of the European Union and therefore uses the euro as its currency. As you know, the US dollar is very weekly against the euro, which means that Greece is no longer considered an inexpensive travel destination. This, in turn, has had an adverse effect on tourism to Greece in recent years. It doesn’t mean that you won’t get your money’s worth just that the prices are more on par with those in Italy and Spain, which were typically more expensive destinations than Greece.
RULE:
If you had to choose 5 unbeatable, exotic and unique areas such as parks, beaches, etc. In any of the Greek islands or in Athens to celebrate a wedding, which ones would you choose from the point of view of popularity and beauty?
TOMAS:
* I love Orizontas restaurant in Athens. It is located at the top of Lycabettus Hill and offers the best view of Athens as well as fantastic sunsets. In fact, you take a tram across the hillside to get there.
* The St. George Lycabettus Hotel in Athens is a great choice for the same reasons, as well as its friendly staff, wonderful cuisine, and beautiful rooftop pool and bar.
* Santorini has several areas to consider. The Dana Villas hotel in Fira town offers a fantastic honeymoon suite and a wonderful pool area that hangs from a cliff above the sea, which is a stunning setting for a ceremony or reception. They even have their own wedding coordinator.
* The city of Oia is world famous for its romantic sunsets and the small cove of Ammoudi Beach, which is located under the cliffs of Oia, is another unique destination out of the ordinary with fantastic views of the sea.
I really need to mention a few places on mainland Greece in the Peleponese region. Although it is not a huge tourist area, it offers many interesting historical sites, beautiful beaches, unspoilt villages, magnificent wine regions, and fun cities as well.
* The city of Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, is a beautiful port city with a fascinating history. Above the city is the Nafplia Palace Hotel. It has a private building on two levels for receptions. It is built on the side of a hill overlooking the harbor. Three sides of the building are glass, allowing for beautiful panoramic views. They have an excellent restaurant and wine manager. The coastal town of Tolo is located on the outskirts of Nafplio and is a great alternative to staying within the city.
RULE:
How far in advance should a couple prepare for a honeymoon or romantic getaway in Greece?
TOMAS:
If you are traveling during the peak of the tourist season, I suggest that you plan your honeymoon at least 6 to 8 months in advance. In this way, you can secure the best airfare and accommodation at the hotels of your choice. If you’re traveling out of season, you could literally plan a honeymoon about a month after your departure date.
RULE:
What advice would you give destination brides planning to bring a wedding party to Greece? It is a growing trend that destination weddings now have quite a sizeable wedding party, sometimes around 50 ‘, so it would be great to get your advice on group airline discounts and hotel blocks.
TOMAS:
The only thing you need to consider when considering Greece for a destination wedding is the size of the hotels. If you brought 50 guests to Santorini at the height of the tourist season, it would be unlikely that you would find a single hotel that would accommodate all of your guests. The Greek islands are known for their small, intimate, family-run hotels, not their large resorts. Don’t get me wrong, there are several large resort type hotels on several of the islands, however they are quite expensive and generally have less charm. Whether you are planning a wedding for 10 or 50, you need to do it well in advance.
When it comes to airfare, you would only need 10 passengers traveling on the same flights to qualify for a group discount. This should also be done well in advance if you are looking for discounted airfare in peak season.
RULE:
How can you check the reliability of a hotel or resort in Greece in terms of service, food, etc.?
TOMAS:
One way would be to book your trip through an experienced travel agent like myself, who has personally been to the hotel or resort they recommend or has already sent clients there and received positive feedback. You can also go
online like I do from time to time. There are several sites that offer unbiased reviews of travelers who have stayed at the resort you are interested in. One site that I use quite frequently is TRIPADVISOR.COM. I still think that the best way to be sure of what you are getting is to book through an agent who considers himself an expert in the particular destination you are traveling to.
RULE:
What should people know about planning a wedding in Greece when it comes to legal requirements?
TOMAS:
The details are too many to summarize. It is best to go directly to the website of the Consular Services of the United States Embassy in Athens, Greece at the US EMBASSY for more details. The advice of anyone other than an official representative of the Embassy of Greece or the United States should never be relied upon. It would be very difficult for anyone without direct practical knowledge of these requirements to be constantly informed and updated on each and every change.
RULE:
How safe is it to travel to Greece?
TOMAS:
As for terrorist acts, which seem to worry everyone these days, Greece has just passed the Olympics, which is the largest international event in the world, without incident. Its airport is the newest and the highest technology in terms of security in the world today.
In terms of security within Athens or on the islands, there is no need to take extra precautions when you are away from home. Like anywhere you will go, there are good and bad parts of the city. A little common sense goes a long way toward avoiding problems.
Personal safety should not be an impediment to planning a trip to Greece.
RULE:
Is there anything else you want to add when it comes to romantic and wedding destinations in Greece?
TOMAS:
There are many unique and beautiful Greek islands, however some of the smaller and more remote islands may not be suitable for a destination wedding or even a honeymoon. They are not tourism oriented and may not offer the kind of amenities one may need for this very special occasion. There are many islands that offer everything you want and you should seek the advice of a travel expert to help you choose the perfect location.
Thank you Tom for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.