Gearing up for ABD Greece!

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm planning to do a mini trip report, but we'll be leaving on Sunday for the start of our Greece Adventure on Tuesday June 28th. I called yesterday and was very happy to hear the final number of 35 Adventurers! Yay!!! So much better than 49 we had on our ABD last year. The even better news is that it sounds like there will be lots of company for my older teen/young adults. DS is 19 and DD is almost 17, and I think there were 5 18-year-olds, 1 19-year-old, and 1 16-year-old as well as a few more in the 13-15 range. Our guides are Christopher and Mary, whom we haven't had before--anyone had them? I'm packing lots of shorts and light clothes as temperatures are going to be in the high 90s. Expected, but not looking forward to that. Any reason to bring anything fancier? It sounds like most of the activities are pretty casual. I'm really looking forward to the food on this one--I know previous DISers have loved it.

 

[sayhello]

Congrats!! Enjoy; it's a spectacular trip!

The activities *are* all pretty casual. There's one night on Crete where you can chose to eat in a fancy-ish restaurant, but it's like business-casual, not super fancy. Other than that, you should be good to go. And yes, the food is great on this ABD!

Looking forward to hearing about how you like it!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

I think it's interesting to note. I just looked over this year's itinerary for the Greece trip, and it's virtually unchanged since I took it in 2013. The only change I can see off hand is that the kayaking is after you return from Spinalonga, rather than being an option for how to get to Spinalonga. (I wonder if it was because of the lack of anyplace to dry off/change once we got there?) But considering how much fiddling around they do with most of the itineraries, to see this one so unchanged is, I think, a testament to just how good an itinerary it is!

Sayhello

 

[Luv Our Doodle]

I'm so excited you are doing a trip report!! Our family is scheduled for the July 10 ABD Greece. I am looking forward to the food too

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Congrats!! Enjoy; it's a spectacular trip!

The activities *are* all pretty casual. There's one night on Crete where you can chose to eat in a fancy-ish restaurant, but it's like business-casual, not super fancy. Other than that, you should be good to go. And yes, the food is great on this ABD!

Looking forward to hearing about how you like it!

Sayhello

Awesome, thanks for the confirmation. I will throw in a pair of kaki's for the guys just in case, but otherwise, they are in shorts or jeans for travel, LOL.

I think it's interesting to note. I just looked over this year's itinerary for the Greece trip, and it's virtually unchanged since I took it in 2013. The only change I can see off hand is that the kayaking is after you return from Spinalonga, rather than being an option for how to get to Spinalonga. (I wonder if it was because of the lack of anyplace to dry off/change once we got there?) But considering how much fiddling around they do with most of the itineraries, to see this one so unchanged is, I think, a testament to just how good an itinerary it is!

Sayhello

That is awesome to hear. I think they also fiddle with things for cost reasons (i.e. to increase their profits) so it's great to see that they haven't done that on this one. The most egregious case of that I've seen of fiddling is Scotland and the ABD add-on for the Alaska cruise.

I'm so excited you are doing a trip report!! Our family is scheduled for the July 10 ABD Greece. I am looking forward to the food too

I will try to do it as we go, but we'll see how exhausted I am, LOL! Super excited! I guess we'll wave to you in the airport

 

[carpenta]

Have a wonderful, exciting trip CaliGirl09. Looking forward to you report. Cheers.

 

[sayhello]

I keep meaning to post this. If you have ANY problems with sea-sickness, be sure and take whatever prevention works for you before you get on the ferry from Santorini to Crete. It was seriously windy when we went, and I think 90% of the folks on the ferry were looking pretty green around the gills!! I had on the patch, and still felt kind of queasy! They aren't kidding when they call it a "high-speed" ferry!

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I keep meaning to post this. If you have ANY problems with sea-sickness, be sure and take whatever prevention works for you before you get on the ferry from Santorini to Crete. It was seriously windy when we went, and I think 90% of the folks on the ferry were looking pretty green around the gills!! I had on the patch, and still felt kind of queasy! They aren't kidding when they call it a "high-speed" ferry!

Sayhello

Uh oh. DD16 is very prone to sea sickness. She gets it pretty much all the time. We haven't found anything that really works for her, but I'll take some bonine. Not enough time to try to get the patch... we have those wrist things but they never seem to work with her. Thanks so much for the head's up. I think I'll avoid telling her the bad news

 

[calypso726]

Cool! This one is also on our radar so I'm looking forward to reading your TR!

 

[bamagoofy]

I hope the Mary you have is the same one I had last year. She acts as the local guide for the whole trip. She lives in Athens and is very knowledgeable. You will love this trip!

 

[sayhello]

Uh oh. DD16 is very prone to sea sickness. She gets it pretty much all the time. We haven't found anything that really works for her, but I'll take some bonine. Not enough time to try to get the patch... we have those wrist things but they never seem to work with her. Thanks so much for the head's up. I think I'll avoid telling her the bad news

Hopefully it won't be as bad for you, but I always feel it's better to be prepared!

If you can find it, I find candied ginger to be very helpful. Or in a pinch, any kind of ginger candy. It doesn't prevent, but it does sooth.

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Cool! This one is also on our radar so I'm looking forward to reading your TR!

We need to do a better job of overlapping that radar, LOL.

I hope the Mary you have is the same one I had last year. She acts as the local guide for the whole trip. She lives in Athens and is very knowledgeable. You will love this trip!

Oooh!! Great to know. I'm sure it's probably the same. Love those local ABD guides. Did you guys have a great trip last year? I haven't seen any recent trip reports from Greece and was just curious.

Hopefully it won't be as bad for you, but I always feel it's better to be prepared!

If you can find it, I find candied ginger to be very helpful. Or in a pinch, any kind of ginger candy. It doesn't prevent, but it does sooth.

Sayhello

Ginger can be really helpful. Used to do it quite a bit for car trips (she thankfully outgrew most carsickness). I'll throw some of that in, too

 

[bamagoofy]

We had a fantastic trip. I hate to inform you if you love feta all other feta you eat after this trip will be lacking. If I had to pick my favorite day it would be the day on Crete where we went to a local village. The "mayor" was a hoot! But then I remember Delphi, or maybe Santorini, or you get the point. I am very jealous you are getting to experience it for the first time. The people, the food, the scenery were all amazing.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We had a fantastic trip. I hate to inform you if you love feta all other feta you eat after this trip will be lacking. If I had to pick my favorite day it would be the day on Crete where we went to a local village. The "mayor" was a hoot! But then I remember Delphi, or maybe Santorini, or you get the point. I am very jealous you are getting to experience it for the first time. The people, the food, the scenery were all amazing.

Oh no, LOL, the entire family loves feta! Thanks so much for posting about the trip. It sounds fabulous, and I'm even more excited!

 

[acndis]

We had a fantastic trip. I hate to inform you if you love feta all other feta you eat after this trip will be lacking. If I had to pick my favorite day it would be the day on Crete where we went to a local village. The "mayor" was a hoot! But then I remember Delphi, or maybe Santorini, or you get the point. I am very jealous you are getting to experience it for the first time. The people, the food, the scenery were all amazing.

We still talk about the mayor and Andreas (the shepherd) and his Ma-CHEESE-Mo. That is an amazing day. We loved this trip. My husband took about 100 pictures of the mayor because he was just fascinated! Every year we are worried that they will get dropped from the trip. They are not very Disney! I am so glad to hear about them each year. It makes me want to do this trip all over again!

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

We still talk about the mayor and Andreas (the shepherd) and his Ma-CHEESE-Mo. That is an amazing day. We loved this trip. My husband took about 100 pictures of the mayor because he was just fascinated! Every year we are worried that they will get dropped from the trip. They are not very Disney! I am so glad to hear about them each year. It makes me want to do this trip all over again!

OMG too funny! Now, I'm even more intrigued! I'll look forward to meeting him and report back!

 

[calypso726]

We need to do a better job of overlapping that radar, LOL.

I know! Ok so here is what is on the radar: We've got the ABD Danube river cruise July 7, 2017, ABD Winter in Wyoming Dec. 28, 2016, Aulani March 10, 2017, ABD Italy adults only Aug. 18, 2017. Planning for ABD China in 2018, ABD or other tour company for Africa 2019, 2020 travel hacking our way to Maldives or Bora Bora and an ABD don't know which one (Backstage Magic, Greece, Germany, Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Rhine River cruise), 2021 Maiden Voyage of new DCL ship and maybe an ABD, 2022 undecided but something that's on the ABD radar maybe they will have finally decided to add Japan to the list, 2023 Maiden Voyage of DCL's other new ship.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I know! Ok so here is what is on the radar: We've got the ABD Danube river cruise July 7, 2017, ABD Winter in Wyoming Dec. 28, 2016, Aulani March 10, 2017, ABD Italy adults only Aug. 18, 2017. Planning for ABD China in 2018, ABD or other tour company for Africa 2019, 2020 travel hacking our way to Maldives or Bora Bora and an ABD don't know which one (Backstage Magic, Greece, Germany, Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Rhine River cruise), 2021 Maiden Voyage of new DCL ship and maybe an ABD, 2022 undecided but something that's on the ABD radar maybe they will have finally decided to add Japan to the list, 2023 Maiden Voyage of DCL's other new ship.

The best chance for overlap is probably the 2021 Maiden voyage and Japan. The saddest part about changing our river cruise this year was missing out on you guys. I'm sure you'll carry on without us, LOL, but still sad not to vacay together. You may overlap with Calfan to Africa--I think she's planning to go back there at some point. You guys aren't hikers are you? Calfan & her hubby & I are planning on NatGeo Patagonia in winter of 2017 for the big birthday celebration I think you're a year behind us, but ...

 

[Calfan]

I know! Ok so here is what is on the radar: We've got the ABD Danube river cruise July 7, 2017, ABD Winter in Wyoming Dec. 28, 2016, Aulani March 10, 2017, ABD Italy adults only Aug. 18, 2017. Planning for ABD China in 2018, ABD or other tour company for Africa 2019, 2020 travel hacking our way to Maldives or Bora Bora and an ABD don't know which one (Backstage Magic, Greece, Germany, Grand Canyon, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Rhine River cruise), 2021 Maiden Voyage of new DCL ship and maybe an ABD, 2022 undecided but something that's on the ABD radar maybe they will have finally decided to add Japan to the list, 2023 Maiden Voyage of DCL's other new ship.

CaliforniaGirl09 is right. We have overlap!! Africa is our plan for 2019, although I'm pretty focused on Tanzania (and possibly Kenya, if it's safe). We went to Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2001 and loved loved loved it. I've been wanting to go back to Africa for years, but I've been waiting for the kids to be old enough to truly appreciate (and handle) the experience. Out of all the places I have been and the trips we've taken, our 2001 Africa trip is still my very favorite. For Tanzania, unless ABD adds a trip, we will probably choose amongst NatGeo, Thomson Family Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent or possibly Tauck.

 

[calypso726]

The best chance for overlap is probably the 2021 Maiden voyage and Japan. The saddest part about changing our river cruise this year was missing out on you guys. I'm sure you'll carry on without us, LOL, but still sad not to vacay together. You may overlap with Calfan to Africa--I think she's planning to go back there at some point. You guys aren't hikers are you? Calfan & her hubby & I are planning on NatGeo Patagonia in winter of 2017 for the big birthday celebration I think you're a year behind us, but ...

I know I'm excited for your Greece trip but we will miss having you guys on board. I didn't like the idea of hiking until we did that bit on the Scotland ABD. Then I decided I really like hiking!

CaliforniaGirl09 is right. We have overlap!! Africa is our plan for 2019, although I'm pretty focused on Tanzania (and possibly Kenya, if it's safe). We went to Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2001 and loved loved loved it. I've been wanting to go back to Africa for years, but I've been waiting for the kids to be old enough to truly appreciate (and handle) the experience. Out of all the places I have been and the trips we've taken, our 2001 Africa trip is still my very favorite. For Tanzania, unless ABD adds a trip, we will probably choose amongst NatGeo, Thomson Family Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent or possibly Tauck.

I wish ABD did Victoria Falls. This is one of the reasons I am looking beyond ABD for this trip. Thanks! I will look into the ones you mentioned as well.