We loved our luxury trip with this travel company! Our travel specialist arranged a trip that gave us a mix of everything we asked for: history and museums, food and wine tours, gorgeous beaches, and, of course, shopping. She found guides for us who were knowledgeable, friendly, and imparted a warmth that was well appreciated.
At times, the trip challenged us, but we met those challenges. We were a tour of women united by family and friends, as close as family, who came to feel as if Greece held family too. The special touches began on day one with a welcome box.
We cannot thank our travel specialist enough for this once-in-a-lifetime trip! This will live on in our memories and we are truly grateful. Efcharisto poly! We are also so happy to have met you in person in Athens. We were strangers and now we are not.
Athens:
All I have to say is we survived the Parthenon... more than half of us were not fully prepared for the difficulty of this tour and the other half had seen the TikTok video. It was an amazing thing, definitely worth visiting. At the top, it's level and you can catch your breath. Before that it's chaos, slippery marble, steep inclines. After my panic attack, though, I appreciated it. If you have a fear of heights, be warned. I've climbed steeper, but the slipperiness adds another layer to the anxiety. On the plus side, everything else was smooth sailing for me because it was nothing compared to the Parthenon.
Our guide was a wonderful, informative, and caring. He tried to look out for our comfort and give insight into Greek life as we walked to the Parthenon gates, at the Parthenon, and later at the museum. The museum was probably too much for us after the Parthenon, though.
Food tour (not part of the travel company):
Our guide was a patient, unassuming guide whose food tour set the standard for food in Greece. This was the best calamari, my favorite bean dish, roasted eggplant, and baklava. There were so many choices in the appetizer portion of this progressive dinner. We went on to delicious tacos and dessert at different places.
Naxos cultural tours:
Naxos was incredible and we felt like family. Our food tour was enhanced by our delightful guide. We loved the dessert and will be searching for that in the future. The cheese shop had so many spices and other delicious goods that we brought some home with us. The olive bread was a tasty treat and several of my family bought more breads at the bakery. Dinner was also delicious and the atmosphere added to it.
I have to say, though, that the unique citron, both dried and as a liquor, as well as the rakomelo, were true highlights. Our guide timed our ascent to the temple as the sun was setting, providing another gorgeous view and pictures. I can't put into words how special this tour was for us. We had a lot of great guides, but she was our favorite. We were also able to pick up some well-crafted mementos and learn some historical facts, especially at the girls' boarding school. Thank you so much! Thank you and the others for so warmly welcoming our all-women's tour. Efcharisto poly!
Second cultural tour:
We enjoyed this tour very much, though it was a bit more walking than expected. We learned about the Mediterranean lifestyle and the inner workings of an olive mill. More importantly, we got to sample olives and a traditional meze, which several of us are still trying to incorporate into our daily lives. Our guide did a good job.
A local restaurant was another establishment that truly welcomed our all-women's tour! We loved the food, especially the cheese pie and snapper, and were invited back the next night for dancing! My family and I dancing in a circle over broken plates to traditional music is a memory I'll treasure.
Santorini:
This all-day tour with our guide and our driver was a mix of humor, history, knowledge, and fun that made him a close second for favorite guide. We rocked our way with our own playlist connected to his Bluetooth speaker to the highest point in Santorini, a Greek church, and delicious food bites. Also, shout out to a local host and the chef for welcoming us and providing an excellent meal.
Spend more time on the islands.
Travel Company Comments
Dear Ryan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a wonderful review. It truly means a great deal to all of us.
It was an absolute pleasure helping your family discover Italy, and knowing that each destination, guide, and experience came together just as we had hoped is incredibly rewarding.
I have to say, one of the highlights for our entire team was receiving all the beautiful photos you shared along the way. Honestly, they looked as though they had come straight out of a travel magazine! Seeing your family enjoying every moment reminded us why we love what we do.
Thank you once again for placing your trust in us. We would be absolutely delighted to welcome you back to Italy in the future, there are still so many wonderful corners of the country waiting for you.
Until then, please give our warmest regards to your whole family.
Un abbraccio from your italian team always