Thoughts on travel to Greece?

[soulcougher73]

First of all. Take my wife and I with you. Second of all..when i make it to Greece i really want to see: https://www.google.com/search?q=met...5AsmQqgawmIGQAg&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1043&bih=620

We think Greece is going to be our first European trip..someday..hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

there's more to do in istanbul than athens. athens can be seen in 2 days. or even 1 - parthenon, agora, and temple of olympian zeus in the morning, antiquities museum in the afternoon. 4 days is probably good for istanbul, visiting troy would eat up another day or 2.

santorini is a must see, but i've heard good things about milos and karpathos for off the beaten path relaxing. milos is on the way to santorini so that'd be less time on a boat.

We plan on flying to Santorini from Athens to save valuable time rather than taking a boat. I think I'll remove a day or two from Athens and research Troy, as I would like to see it or maybe we'll spend more time in Istanbul or Santorini (or another island).

 

[IndyColtsFan]

First of all. Take my wife and I with you. Second of all..when i make it to Greece i really want to see: https://www.google.com/search?q=met...5AsmQqgawmIGQAg&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1043&bih=620

We think Greece is going to be our first European trip..someday..hopefully sooner rather than later.

My advice? Travel while you're young and as far as a first trip, I'd recommend Paris.

 

[soulcougher73]

My advice? Travel while you're young and as far as a first trip, I'd recommend Paris.

I'm just a bit younger than you at 41 and have started putting travel as my highest priority in the past couple years. Just havent left the US yet. Did Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Palm Desert, Colorado. Just got our passports and going to Cancun area in October. Wasnt my first choice but its a family wedding so making it a vacation/wedding for 9 days.

But i really do want to see that Meteora area of Greece. Just looks breath taking as does Santorini obviously.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm just a bit younger than you at 41 and have started putting travel as my highest priority in the past couple years. Just havent left the US yet. Did Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Palm Desert, Colorado. Just got our passports and going to Cancun area in October. Wasnt my first choice but its a family wedding so making it a vacation/wedding for 9 days.

We went about an hour south of Cancun in 2012, stayed at the Grand Sirensis resort, and then took a long day trip to Chichen Itza. The area is beautiful and even though I don't like beach vacations and didn't appreciate it at the time, I'd probably go back.

But i really do want to see that Meteora area of Greece. Just looks breath taking as does Santorini obviously.

It does look cool. I'll do a little research on how to get there and what to see when I get there. It isn't set in stone that we're going to Greece (the wife favors Germany and Ireland), but going to Greece is a dream I've had since I was a kid so I hope we go.

 

[Exterous]

It isn't set in stone that we're going to Greece (the wife favors Germany and Ireland), but going to Greece is a dream I've had since I was a kid so I hope we go.

Regardless I expect pictures

 

[GTaudiophile]

Germany/Ireland vs. Greece/Turkey: two totally different experiences.

During the summer, the southern European option takes places in a hot, arid climate. You're going to sweat a lot want to jump in the crystal clear blue waters. The food is amazing and sure you're going to see ancient stuff. The people tend to be friendly towards tourists while also having a southern European attitude towards prices: one rate for tourists, one for locals, and room for haggling. Behind your back they may also curse the day you were born for being a Westerner, etc. But you'll never know this.

The northern European option will be greener, cooler, and a little more humid with greater chance of rain showers. Ireland (Dublin/Galway) is full of fun-loving people, green rolling hills, music, etc. What you see is what you get in regards to pricing and interaction. In Germany, you enter the crossroads of the 20th Century for better or worse. You have tons of options from focusing your vacation on beer to fast cars to battlefields to the Holocaust and everything in between. You have museums and cultural activities that cater to every interest. And in both northern cases, you can expect the food to be of the meat and potatoes variety with less spice and flare compared to the south.

Flip a coin?

 

[amdskip]

We visited last summer but spent most of our time in Italy.

1. Yes, this caught me off guard.
2. Rick Steves' is basically the man.
4. We were in Turkey for a day. I was somewhat worried about what to expect but the people were nice and we had a really good time.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Germany/Ireland vs. Greece/Turkey: two totally different experiences.

During the summer, the southern European option takes places in a hot, arid climate. You're going to sweat a lot want to jump in the crystal clear blue waters. The food is amazing and sure you're going to see ancient stuff. The people tend to be friendly towards tourists while also having a southern European attitude towards prices: one rate for tourists, one for locals, and room for haggling. Behind your back they may also curse the day you were born for being a Westerner, etc. But you'll never know this.

The northern European option will be greener, cooler, and a little more humid with greater chance of rain showers. Ireland (Dublin/Galway) is full of fun-loving people, green rolling hills, music, etc. What you see is what you get in regards to pricing and interaction. In Germany, you enter the crossroads of the 20th Century for better or worse. You have tons of options from focusing your vacation on beer to fast cars to battlefields to the Holocaust and everything in between. You have museums and cultural activities that cater to every interest. And in both northern cases, you can expect the food to be of the meat and potatoes variety with less spice and flare compared to the south.

Flip a coin?

We're going at the end of September and first week in October so hopefully heat won't be an issue.

I have friends in Germany so I have no concerns about it when we go eventually go there. Greece is more of a mystery to me.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I got a few questions about a vacation to Greece. Figured I'd just add to this thread than start a new one.

I've got a trip to Greece coming up in a few months and still hashing out details. We'll be flying into Santorini for a little over a week, but we'll take a few days in the middle to stay in Mykonos.

With regards to ferrys to Mykonos and back, how much are tickets and is that something I can just purchase the day of? Or do I need to book ferry tickets early in advanced like a plane ticket?

Thinking about taking a day trip to Ios as well. Same question about ferrys for that.

And what are average ferry prices?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Northern Lawn]

Home of modern civilization yet you can't flush toilet paper... why not?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Home of modern civilization yet you can't flush toilet paper... why not?

british engineering

 

[OlafSicky]

First of all. Take my wife and I with you. Second of all..when i make it to Greece i really want to see: https://www.google.com/search?q=met...5AsmQqgawmIGQAg&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1043&bih=620

We think Greece is going to be our first European trip..someday..hopefully sooner rather than later.

I went there and liked it. I also stayed at a great little hotel with a wonderful swimming pool just under the monasteries.
But for a first EU vacation I would recommend Germany/France or Italy/France. Greece is one of my least favorite places in EU. Don't put off traveling into old age like 40's or something you will be too old too fat and too tired to enjoy it.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Home of modern civilization yet you can't flush toilet paper... why not?

From what I understand, they have two issues:

1. In some places, the plumbing is too small to handle it.
2. In some places, they have small septic systems and TP just accumulates and fills them up more quickly.

I think it is pretty disgusting, but I'll have to make it work.