Are you interested in Greece and the Greek islands as a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding?
Tours Travel

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, based in Livingston, New Jersey.

Thank you Tom for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

STANDARD:

Can you tell our readers something about yourself and your experience in relation to Greece and the Greek islands?

THOMAS:

I am part 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 grown into a full-service travel agency specializing in travel to Greece. Personally, I lead an annual food and wine tour to Greece and have traveled there since I was a child.

STANDARD:

Could you give our readers an idea of ​​what differentiates five of the most popular Greek islands from each other in terms of topography, climate and anything else you consider different?

THOMAS:

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 in that it is literally the tip of an ancient volcano whose explosion in 1500 B.C. C. 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 mainly known for its wild nightlife, beautiful beaches, and shops for fine jewelry, 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 lies in the Ioanian Sea far 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 offering everything from beautiful sandy beaches to pine forests.

STANDARD:

Why would you consider Greece a good choice for a romantic getaway or a wedding and honeymoon destination, and if you had to pick your 5 favorite Greek islands, what would they be and why?

THOMAS:

This is an easy question. The incomparable beauty of the Greek islands is what makes them such 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 at ease, prerequisites for romance.

My favorite Greek islands would be Santorini for its beauty and amazing cuisine, Crete for its diversity, lots of activities and delicious wines and food, Mykonos for its fantastic nightlife and beautiful beaches, Chios and Andros because they are not that popular islands for tourists. and for all the warm and wonderful people I have met on these islands.

STANDARD:

What is the best time to visit Greece in terms of weather, costs and crowds? As a follow up, how do the costs vary from season to season?

THOMAS:

Personally, my favorite time to visit Greece is between the middle and the end of September. The weather isn’t quite as warm as it is in the peak travel months of July and August, airfares and hotel rates are a bit cheaper, and the crowds have thinned out a bit at 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. True, you could save considerably on airfare and especially your accommodation in the off-season, but the islands are not the place to be when it’s cold and rainy.

Please 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 weak against the euro, which means that Greece is no longer considered a budget travel destination. This, in turn, has had an adverse effect on tourism in Greece in recent years. It doesn’t mean you won’t get your money’s worth, just that the prices are more on par with Italy and Spain, which tend to be more expensive destinations than Greece.

STANDARD:

If you had to choose 5 incomparable, exotic and unique areas such as parks, beaches, etc. on 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?

THOMAS:

* I love Orizontas Restaurant in Athens. It sits on 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 to it.

* The St. George Lycabettus Hotel in Athens is an excellent 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 on a cliff above the sea, which is a stunning location 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 lies below the cliffs of Oia, is another unique destination that is off the beaten path with fantastic views of the sea.

I really need to mention a few places on the mainland of Greece in the Peleponese region. Although not a huge tourist area, it offers many interesting historical sites, beautiful beaches, unspoiled towns, fabulous wine regions, and fun cities too.

* The city of Nafplion, 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 the hill overlooking the port. 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 just outside of Nafplion and is a great alternative to staying within the city.

STANDARD:

How far in advance should a couple prepare for a honeymoon or romantic getaway in Greece?

THOMAS:

If you are traveling during the height of the tourist season, I suggest that you plan your honeymoon at least 6-8 months in advance. In this way you can ensure the best airfare and accommodation in the hotels of your choice. If you’re traveling in the off-season, you can plan a honeymoon literally within a month or so of your departure date.

STANDARD:

What advice would you give destination brides planning to bring a wedding party to Greece? It’s a growing trend for destination weddings now to have quite a large wedding party, sometimes around 50′, so it would be great to get your advice on group airline discounts, hotel blocks.

THOMAS:

The only thing to keep in mind 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, you’d be unlikely to 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 less charming. Whether you’re 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 a discount airfare in high season.

STANDARD:

How do you go about checking the reliability of a hotel or resort in Greece when it comes to service, food, etc.?

THOMAS:

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 are recommending or has already sent clients there and received positive feedback. you can go too

online as I do occasionally. There are several sites that offer unbiased reviews from travelers who have stayed at the resort you are interested in. One site I use quite frequently is TRIPADVISOR.COM. I still think the best way to be sure of what you’re getting is to book through an agent who considers themselves an expert in the particular destination you’re traveling to.

STANDARD:

What should people know about planning a wedding in Greece when it comes to legal requirements?

THOMAS:

The details are too many to summarize. It is best to go directly to the US Embassy Athens Greece Consular Services website at US EMBASSY for more details. One should never trust the advice of anyone who is not an official representative of the Greek or American embassy. It would be very difficult for anyone without direct working knowledge of these requirements to be constantly informed and up-to-date of any and all changes.

STANDARD:

How safe is it to travel to Greece?

THOMAS:

As for terrorist acts, which everyone seems to worry about these days, Greece just got past the Olympic Games, which is the biggest international event in the world, without incident. Its airport is the newest and most high-tech in terms of security in the world today.

In terms of safety within Athens or on the islands, there is no need to take extra precautions when traveling. Like any place you’ll go, there are good and bad parts of the city. A little common sense goes a long way to avoid any problems.

Personal security should not be an impediment to planning a trip to Greece.

STANDARD:

Is there anything else you would like to add regarding romantic and wedding destinations in Greece?

THOMAS:

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 geared towards tourism and may not offer the kind of amenities that are required 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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *