Greece 2022

[Candycane83]

Hi All!
After moving my trips a few times over the last few years, I’m really hoping the end of the year or next year would be a good year for trips! I have booked the river cruise the end of the year (Christmas Danube) but I don’t think I’m comfortable going on a cruise. So thought of going on our own to Japan instead for a land trip... or March... and move the ABD trip to the summer. It is me DH and DS who will be 8 by next summer. I was thinking of Greece and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about it? I’ve read it’s a good mix of some time to relax but lots of activities too. Would you recommend adding a day in the beginning or end? Any other tips? Or if not Greece, where would you recommend? Thanks in advance!

 

[sayhello]

I *adore* the Greece ABD! Greece is such an amazing country, and the ABD *is* a really good mix of activities. I would recommend adding days at both the beginning and the end. At the beginning just to give yourself a buffer for travel issues (and to get over jetlag) and at the end, because the Porto Elounda Resort on Crete is *spectacular*, and I really wish I'd given myself some extra time there to just relax and enjoy it. I would highly recommend the Greece trip!!! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!!

Sayhello

 

[abdgeek]

Hi All!
After moving my trips a few times over the last few years, I’m really hoping the end of the year or next year would be a good year for trips! I have booked the river cruise the end of the year (Christmas Danube) but I don’t think I’m comfortable going on a cruise. So thought of going on our own to Japan instead for a land trip... or March... and move the ABD trip to the summer. It is me DH and DS who will be 8 by next summer. I was thinking of Greece and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about it? I’ve read it’s a good mix of some time to relax but lots of activities too. Would you recommend adding a day in the beginning or end? Any other tips? Or if not Greece, where would you recommend? Thanks in advance!

Greece is one of my all time favorite ABDs. I came in a couple of days early to see the sites and museums ABD wasn’t going to. At the end of the tour, I flew back to Athens from Crete and spent an additional day or two sightseeing. If I remember correctly, flying out of Crete necessitated a layover in Athens so I decided to do more in Athens.

The historic area of Athens is very walkable and they have a great metro system. ABD has changed the hotel they stay in, but it looks like it‘s about two blocks from Syntagma Square where they do the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There are also lots of eateries and shops in the area. Basically, you are central to most things(Agora, metro station, Acropolis, etc) and won’t have any problem walking to most places.

Restaurants in Greece charge a bread service fee. Don’t be alarmed and yes, you have to pay it even if you don’t have bread. It is basically a fee for the use of your table. Unlike in the US, you won’t be rushed when you are dining at a restaurant. You basically have the table for the night if you want it.

 

[Candycane83]

I *adore* the Greece ABD! Greece is such an amazing country, and the ABD *is* a really good mix of activities. I would recommend adding days at both the beginning and the end. At the beginning just to give yourself a buffer for travel issues (and to get over jetlag) and at the end, because the Porto Elounda Resort on Crete is *spectacular*, and I really wish I'd given myself some extra time there to just relax and enjoy it. I would highly recommend the Greece trip!!! Feel free to ask any questions you might have!!

Sayhello

Greece is one of my all time favorite ABDs. I came in a couple of days early to see the sites and museums ABD wasn’t going to. At the end of the tour, I flew back to Athens from Crete and spent an additional day or two sightseeing. If I remember correctly, flying out of Crete necessitated a layover in Athens so I decided to do more in Athens.

The historic area of Athens is very walkable and they have a great metro system. ABD has changed the hotel they stay in, but it looks like it‘s about two blocks from Syntagma Square where they do the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There are also lots of eateries and shops in the area. Basically, you are central to most things(Agora, metro station, Acropolis, etc) and won’t have any problem walking to most places.

Restaurants in Greece charge a bread service fee. Don’t be alarmed and yes, you have to pay it even if you don’t have bread. It is basically a fee for the use of your table. Unlike in the US, you won’t be rushed when you are dining at a restaurant. You basically have the table for the night if you want it.

Thanks so much for the tips! The trip sounds really awesome! I’m getting excited even though I know I shouldn’t, going by the past years’ experiences.
Depending when we get to go to Japan, I might be able to add almost a week before and a day after. Is there any island we can go to from Athens that would be good to visit? I Heard island hopping is something to experience there and I think ABD does take a ferry from Santorini to Crete but just thinking if there’s something we could do before... thanks again for all the advise!

 

[Marthasor]

Thanks so much for the tips! The trip sounds really awesome! I’m getting excited even though I know I shouldn’t, going by the past years’ experiences.
Depending when we get to go to Japan, I might be able to add almost a week before and a day after. Is there any island we can go to from Athens that would be good to visit? I Heard island hopping is something to experience there and I think ABD does take a ferry from Santorini to Crete but just thinking if there’s something we could do before... thanks again for all the advise!

We did 3 weeks in Greece on our own with DS when he was 10. Since you will be seeing some of the main sites in Athens and going to Santorini and Crete on the ABD, I would highly recommend seeing some of the mainland Greece sites prior to your ABD. The ABD itinerary doesn't include Olympia or Delphi which I highly recommend. We used a company called Private Greece Tours for our mainland tours (they drove us around the country, organized the tour guides, hotels, etc.). We also saw Epidaurus, Corinth and Mycenae with Private Greece tours. There are some lovely islands close to Athens (Aegina, Hydra, Angistri, etc.) We hired Aegina Cruise to do island hopping from Athens and they were fantastic. If you just want to chill a little prior to the ABD to get used to the time change and get ready to tour, I would recommend looking at booking a hotel in Vouliagmeni which is a beach town just south of Athens. If you would like to add some sites in Athens, I would highly recommend the Agora, the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeology Museum.

 

[sayhello]

Thanks so much for the tips! The trip sounds really awesome! I’m getting excited even though I know I shouldn’t, going by the past years’ experiences.
Depending when we get to go to Japan, I might be able to add almost a week before and a day after. Is there any island we can go to from Athens that would be good to visit? I Heard island hopping is something to experience there and I think ABD does take a ferry from Santorini to Crete but just thinking if there’s something we could do before... thanks again for all the advise!

We did 3 weeks in Greece on our own with DS when he was 10. Since you will be seeing some of the main sites in Athens and going to Santorini and Crete on the ABD, I would highly recommend seeing some of the mainland Greece sites prior to your ABD. The ABD itinerary doesn't include Olympia or Delphi which I highly recommend. We used a company called Private Greece Tours for our mainland tours (they drove us around the country, organized the tour guides, hotels, etc.). We also saw Epidaurus, Corinth and Mycenae with Private Greece tours. There are some lovely islands close to Athens (Aegina, Hydra, Angistri, etc.) We hired Aegina Cruise to do island hopping from Athens and they were fantastic. If you just want to chill a little prior to the ABD to get used to the time change and get ready to tour, I would recommend looking at booking a hotel in Vouliagmeni which is a beach town just south of Athens. If you would like to add some sites in Athens, I would highly recommend the Agora, the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeology Museum.

While I did not do any island hopping (which I *have* heard is great) I did both pre- and post-days in Athens. I concur with @Marthasor's recommendations for Athens. Delphi *used* to be on the Greece ABD itinerary, but they got rid of it recently. It's fascinating, and I highly recommend it, but would also recommend going there with a Guide of some sort, because there were things I would never have noticed or understood without one. (It's funny, because one of the things I did on my pre-days was Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, which replaced the trip to Delphi on the ABD.) The Ancient Agora, the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeology Museum are all wonderful. I have Rick Steve's Audio Europe app on my phone, and downloaded some walking tours for the Ancient Agora and the National Archaeology Museum. They were a perfect accompaniment to those places, giving context and detail of what I was seeing. And the Rick Steves app & walking tours are all free! And the Acropolis Museum is just really cool, wonderful exhibits, and a really excellent cafeteria with a spectacular view of the Acropolis.

Sayhello

 

[Candycane83]

We did 3 weeks in Greece on our own with DS when he was 10. Since you will be seeing some of the main sites in Athens and going to Santorini and Crete on the ABD, I would highly recommend seeing some of the mainland Greece sites prior to your ABD. The ABD itinerary doesn't include Olympia or Delphi which I highly recommend. We used a company called Private Greece Tours for our mainland tours (they drove us around the country, organized the tour guides, hotels, etc.). We also saw Epidaurus, Corinth and Mycenae with Private Greece tours. There are some lovely islands close to Athens (Aegina, Hydra, Angistri, etc.) We hired Aegina Cruise to do island hopping from Athens and they were fantastic. If you just want to chill a little prior to the ABD to get used to the time change and get ready to tour, I would recommend looking at booking a hotel in Vouliagmeni which is a beach town just south of Athens. If you would like to add some sites in Athens, I would highly recommend the Agora, the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeology Museum.

While I did not do any island hopping (which I *have* heard is great) I did both pre- and post-days in Athens. I concur with @Marthasor's recommendations for Athens. Delphi *used* to be on the Greece ABD itinerary, but they got rid of it recently. It's fascinating, and I highly recommend it, but would also recommend going there with a Guide of some sort, because there were things I would never have noticed or understood without one. (It's funny, because one of the things I did on my pre-days was Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, which replaced the trip to Delphi on the ABD.) The Ancient Agora, the Acropolis Museum and the National Archaeology Museum are all wonderful. I have Rick Steve's Audio Europe app on my phone, and downloaded some walking tours for the Ancient Agora and the National Archaeology Museum. They were a perfect accompaniment to those places, giving context and detail of what I was seeing. And the Rick Steves app & walking tours are all free! And the Acropolis Museum is just really cool, wonderful exhibits, and a really excellent cafeteria with a spectacular view of the Acropolis.

Sayhello

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will definitely look into these! Delphi, Mount Olympus and acropolis sounds like great things to see while there. So much to see and so little time! I really wish travel would start soon, working from home and using my vacation days to do more work is not fun. All my vacation days need to be used for travel so I don’t work! Hahaha! Thanks again you both! I really appreciate the input and suggestions!

 

[sayhello]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will definitely look into these! Delphi, Mount Olympus and acropolis sounds like great things to see while there. So much to see and so little time! I really wish travel would start soon, working from home and using my vacation days to do more work is not fun. All my vacation days need to be used for travel so I don’t work! Hahaha! Thanks again you both! I really appreciate the input and suggestions!

Just a quick clarification. It's the Acropolis Museum, which is not actually a part of the Acropolis, it's across from it. You do the Acropolis as a part of the ABD!

Sayhello

 

[Candycane83]

Just a quick clarification. It's the Acropolis Museum, which is not actually a part of the Acropolis, it's across from it. You do the Acropolis as a part of the ABD!

Sayhello

Oh yes! I meant to type museum and looks like I missed it, thanks!!

 

[Blondie58]

Hi All!
After moving my trips a few times over the last few years, I’m really hoping the end of the year or next year would be a good year for trips! I have booked the river cruise the end of the year (Christmas Danube) but I don’t think I’m comfortable going on a cruise. So thought of going on our own to Japan instead for a land trip... or March... and move the ABD trip to the summer. It is me DH and DS who will be 8 by next summer. I was thinking of Greece and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about it? I’ve read it’s a good mix of some time to relax but lots of activities too. Would you recommend adding a day in the beginning or end? Any other tips? Or if not Greece, where would you recommend? Thanks in advance!

We are booked on the Christmas Danube trip for this Christmas. We are going to stay the course and hope the cruise happens.