hotels in athens, santorini, and crete & is a travel agent worth it

It all depends on how self-reliant you are if it would be fun for you to challenge yourself a little. If you start out feeling doubtful it makes the process more difficult than necessary. There's really nothing to it. The ferry system is easy once the schedules are available for your island choices. For Athens to Santorini or Crete there are daily ferries from the port of Piraeus. From Crete to Santorini (or in reverse) there are daily ferries between April 10 and October 31 with a few no-sail Wednesday exceptions.

If you don't want to bother contact Dolphin-Hellas Travel or Fantasy Travel in Athens for help designing your trip. Both have websites. They are very used to helping people coming to Greece for the first time. They have excellent reputations for reliability and follow-through. It's a much better idea to deal with a Greek travel agency than with one in the States. If there's a problem you can call them immediately and they can do whatever it takes to make it right, and they will.

As the ferry schedules are finalized they will appear here:

http://www.openseas.gr/OPENSEAS/index_en.vm

Select 'Piraeus' for Athens, Heraklio for Crete. For an idea of what to expect you can even backtrack to see what was available last year on your travel dates by using that website's calendar function. Just don't assume it'll be the same this year. There are always changes.

Thank you.
I don't mind doing some legwork. We manuveured London/Bath in September, but that was English speaking of course. I have spent hours already trying to find a hotel, but can't find a way to search for JUST the ones that will allow 4 in a room.
I have been in contact w/the travel agents you mentioned, but the price is still steep.
thanks so much!

Once you've done the necessary research for Santorini and have decided on a village and the amenities you want, let me know when you plan to be there, what your maximum daily room budget for the 4 of you will be, which village you've chosen and what amenities you require and I'll help you find something appropriate. Be sure to mention if a caldera view is a "must".

If you do some web research, you may well come to the conclusion that to travel the islands that a travel agent is MANDATORY (check Matt Barrett's site) But really it is not. Matt has a great site with lots of info (www.greecetravel.com) but I get the sense that advertising income from agents and the multitude of Georges that drive taxis influences his advice. He tends to play up the ideas that ferries are very unreliable and a cancelled ferry means losing your hotel or paying for a night that you were not there, not sure if that really happens. For the majority of the season, you will be fine making arrangements yourself and getting ferry tickets a day or two before departure. The exception would be most of August and then the weekend of Orthodox Easter (in April). For your family, when contacting hotels, rather than requesting a quad, explain you are looking for a room for a family, parents and two children, more options will open upon than for a true quad for say two couples.

Melissa

In Athens it might be worth you looking at an apartment rather than hotel.

We've used this site a few times and they are efficient.

http://www.travel-library.com/apartments/europe/greece/athens/

The downside is that you will be less central than some hotels, but as long as you are close to a metro station that shouldn't be too big a problem.

In terms of whether you need a travel agent I would say no. Everyone in the travel industry in Greece speaks English and will be used to dealing with customers who don't speak Greek. If you can understand the transport system in England then Greece should be a doddle!

Alan

Melissa, one of your problems is that you are thinking in USA terms -- a huge USA hotel room with 2 queen-size beds, plus that buffet breakfast ... hello Red Roof or Best Western! Greece is not like that ... but it may be something better as Alan indicates.

at least in Santorini, or in Crete (Where in crete? you don't say) There are very often hotels that have "1 br studio" arrangements... this has a bedreoom with a double bed (or 2 singles) and a main room with a very mini-kitchenette in one corner, plus 2 "daybeds", and table & chairs. NOTE: this is often no more costly, or LESS costly, than finding a "quad" size room. Greek rooms don't run big.

Frankly with an 11 & 12 year old, you can save a bundle with this kind of arrangement because u can feed them when hungry (which for my kids was all the time). I don't mean COOK ... you can get great cold cuts/produce/treats of all kinds at local stands. Great fun to eat lunch or snack on your balcony.

Yes, you CAN use those 2 excellent Athens-based agencies, and they don't charge YOU a fee... they get their commission from the hotels/transport co's. However, you do realize that they won't deal in the small budget hotels run by a famiily -- those small hotels don't charge enough to afford an agency fee too. And those are places you might like best of all!

PM me, giving your dates of travel and your definition of "reasonable" and perhaps I can steer you in the right direction; the Steves site doesn't allow long enough messages so that I can provide full details -- and besides u don't give enough info to enable the best advice (such as WHEN, and how many days total).

Definately check out Matt Barretts website...
http://www.greektravel.com/

We arrive Athens 17:30 May 12, were thinking of looking around Athens on the 13 and 14, maybe drive Mycenae, Nafplio on the 15th. 16th- ferry to Santorini, 18th- ferry to Crete (#1 goal to see the Palace at Knosses, so stay near there), 19th Fly to Rome, spend 20/21 in Rome, Maybe day trip Pompeii on the 22, Rome on 23rd, fly home morning of 24th.
Yes, I have read hours on Matt's site, but this one has been so valuable to us in the past.

We also say sleepers/cots are OK for the girls when searching rooms. A place we stayed in London had a shower my husband could barely turn around in, and the "buffet" breakfast was sandwich meat, toast and yogurt every day.... OK for wife and kids, but got old for sweet husband. Our desires are split. Wife would like close to historical sites (or transportation system) , husband would like a step up from a Ramada with a variety breakfast... price? can we meet these needs for less than $300? $200? Thank you all so much. This is a trip of a lifetime, and I'm trying to have all the kinks/details worked out for a smooth, fun trip!

Santorini:

In Fira check Porto Fira Suites, Aigialos Houses, Scirocco Apartments, Studios Caldera and Panorama Studios Hotel.

In Firostefnai check Villa Ilias, Hotel Keti, Dana Villas, Villa Maria Damigou, Hotel Mylos, Mama Thira B&B, Blue Dolphins Apartments and Ira Hotel.

In Imerovigli check Artemis Villas, Gizis Apartments, Astra Hotel, Andromeda Villas and Iliovasilema Suites.

In Oia check Aspa Villas, Strogili Houses, Rimida Villas, Nostos Apartments, La Perla Villas, Atrina Houses, Kima Villas, Filotera Villas, Fragkiskos Houses, Caldera Villas, Chelidonia Villas, Aris Caves, MyBlue, Ifestios, Aspaki Suites, Lena's House, Casa Sofia, Old Oia Houses, Fotinos Houses, Marizan Villas, Golden Sunset Villas and Esperas Villas.

I just looked at your schedule again, and realized that in 12 days you want the highlights of TWO countries. I would not bother booking any hotels if I were you -- you will not have time to sleep.

And it's always people from California or Texas who casually say they will do a day in Nafplio, a day in Crete -- your home states are Flat, you have large modern highways and big cars, you drive 400 miles in an afternoon. Greece is different. But there is no way to tell you that; you have to find that out for yourself. I take back any suggestions. Go to a travel agency. They will explain the realities.

Melissa -- when you are asking for valuable and specific advice, it is considerate for you to give your budget in Euros, since that's the way most hotels etc quote their rates; otherwise WE have to go to currency-conversion sites to do that FOR you. $300 or $200 in Euros = $236 or $157, and I don't know whether or not it's feasible to get something up to your husband's expectations since you still fail to tell us WHEN you are going... May or June is less expensive than July/August.

At least in Athens & Santorini in July-August, I don't think it's possible. Re Breakfasts -- you may have to supplement the average breakfast by buying fruit & pastries at local shops; it's fun. NO, you are not going to get bacon, eggs, pancakes breakfasts. If he wants that kind of breakfast he can stay in the USA and go to Ramada, and the rest of u can go to Greece. And Large Bathrooms will only be found at Hiltons & the like. Hmm. Is your husband ready for Greece?

Apologies... in your subsequent e-mail you DID divulge the timetable (when one hits reply, all messages disappear but the original so I could not see that). In May u have better chance for getting lodgings, but I still believe that a room for 4 is less usual than the "studio" arrangement I described.

In athens, hotel Cypria has adjoining connected rooms; surely your kids are big enough to manage that, they do at home I trust. Is the 1 room for 4 strictly a budget thing?? or are you habitual communal sleepers?

Wow, Jan, you've really got a larger-than-normal bug up your butt these days. I've been reading some excessively impatient and intolerant postings of yours the last few days. Perhaps you need to take a step back and realize that not everyone knows what to ask or how to ask it. Not everyone has the travel experience you think you do. Relax, take a chill pill, and when you feel the impulse to snap at someone again take a deep breath and repeat after me: "I Am a mere mortal, I Am not Saint Christopher, the Patron Saint of Travellers. I Am here to serve my fellow travellers, not to berate them."

Oh dear, please let me clarify. 1)I was not trying to complain about our room before, just expressing we would like to upgrade a tad. We don't need the Grande Bretangne (not that it wouldn't be lovely), just out of our price range. 2) we don't have to have 1 bedroom, maybe we just didn't use the correct terms- we noted cots/sleepers were fine, the studio idea is helpful, when we gave our details to a travel agent, she could not guarantee the rooms would be connected. We just don't wish to have the girls across the hotel.3) I am sorry about the price range in dollars, I will go via euros in the future.
4) We actually got the Nafplio, Mycenae, + off of online iten.....5) we have been in touch with a travel agent for a couple of weeks now, but that is also why we are scouring this site, others, and books for any and all helpful information prior to leaving.
We are trying to listen to and learn from others who have the first hand experience we do not. We are trying to do our homework and research. I feel as if this site has a family atmosphere where the readers are like-minded budget conscientious travelers who are gracious and kind in the sharing of information and we appreciate you very much.

OK, Melissa, Lee has called me out & rightfully so, because I got impatient. Guess I was upset when I saw how much you thought u could do in 12 short days! I fear you wd spend entire time in transit & everyone will get SO crabby. Let's see what we can do:

ATHENS- DAY #1,2,3
Problem with cots or "sleepers" (what are they?) is that more beds won't FIT in most hotel rooms in your budget range. Try Hotel Acropolis View: rooms for €94 in May & u can request 2 adjoining ones -- garden terrace has teriff view of Acropolis & RIGHT NEAR an entrance. I advise u print out R Steve's Athens section on Acropolis & Parthenon for a D-I-Y tour, also the AGORA section. Excellent! Also for kids, find the FREE Museum of Traditional Musical Instruments! U put on earphones & hear what each sounds like.

NAFPLIO - DAY #4,5
not worth it for 1 day; do 2. Stay at Hotel Leto if you can, they have a triple room & a single. If not, try Hotel Victoria; they accommodate families. There is now a FREE audio tour u get at a kiosk by seafront of the Old Town. Kids will love Palimidi fortress. Drive up back way; walk DOWN the 999 steps! have ice cream & lite dinner along seafront at glorious sunset!! Next AM, drive to Epidaurus for the neat theatre; your girls will LOOOVE it, then drive back; drop car at PIraeus & get OVERNITE ferry to Santorini.

SANTORINI- DAY #6,7
Lee can advise what hotels u can afford that have studio rooms. Stay here the rest of your time... DON'T attempt Crete for 1 day, you'll be hot, tired and disappointed. Relax and get ready for your Italian Sprint! I forget, do you fly to Rome?

Lee and Janet,
You need to e-mail each other and keep this site for those of us who really want travel info on Greece.

Yes, Kathy, exactly like you just did........

I'm lurking here because I plan to visit Greece sometime in the new few years and I'm trying to get some ideas. I just wanted to say that, nothwithstanding one extracurricular exchange which is now smoothed over, both Lee and Janet are extrememly knowledgeable and helpful with incredibly specific advice. I do appreciate that sometimes it can be a bit frustrating when posters don't seem to have a full appreciation of what travel in some parts of Europe can be like and seem to be unrealistic about what to expect. (I get lots of PMs about itineraries to Turkey and have to gently suggest that doing 2000 miles of Turkey in a week isn't such a good idea.)

I hope both Lee and Janet continue to post here--they have both been so generous in sharing their in-depth knowledge about Greece with us all.

I'm going to skip the rather tumultuous comment thread that has been created in response to your questions and send you a message directly :).

It's worth paying a travel agent if you don't want to deal with the stress but you can do it on your own a lot more cheaply. The one big advantage of using a travel agent is that if something goes wrong (storm preventing ferries from leaving Santorini, ferry/bus strikes, etc.) they have more pull than you do (and can argue in Greek on your behalf). I have actually had this happen but only once so it may be worth the chance for the money.

Someone earlier said to look for an apartment for four people; this is the best way to go. Most hotels would not be able to accommodate you in one room and would split you into 2 doubles (as you have found out!) but "apartments" can be very reasonable (for example, I'll be in Chania, Crete this summer and have a four-person apartment booked for 120 euro a night) plus have the added perk of your own kitchen, etc.

Since you haven't been there before, be aware that if you are driving anywhere in Greece it will take more time than you think. Use viamichelin.co.uk to get a general idea and then add a bit more time onto that.

Hopefully this info isn't too repetitive for you. Good luck!

Kim