Greece

The group leader on this Greece group trip will be one of our U.S. or European based group leaders. His/her job is to ensure the safety and well being of everyone on the trip and, of course, to show everyone the most amazing time ever! While he/she will have a basic knowledge of the history, culture and customs of Greece he/she is not an expert in the matter.

A passport is required for this Greece trip. While your passport must have at least 3 months validity from the time you leave Greece it is strongly recommended that your passport have at least 6 months validity to avoid any problems. If you hold a U.S. passport you will not need a visa for entry to Greece as long as you are not staying more than 90 days (during a 180 day period starting from the day of first entry). Please note that Greece is a member of the Schengen area and, therefore, the 90/180 rule applies if you’ve visited other Schengen countries, too.

You will be staying in boutique, independently owned 3 star hotels (five nights) and a 2 star hotel (three nights) for the duration of this trip. All the hotels are clean, safe and in excellent central locations. All the hotels are in walking distance to top restaurants and night venues: In Athens you still stay in the central neighborhood of the Historic Triangle / Plaka, on Santorini island you will stay in Fira complete with Cycladic style architecture, on Naxos island you will stay in the city center of Chora, and on Paros island you will stay near the town of Naoussa. While none of the hotels have pools you are walking distance from the towns (and beaches) at each (island) hotel.

Please note that European hotel rooms are often smaller than ones in the U.S. (with equivalent star ratings).

In order to budget properly please consider the following items which are not included in this Greece group travel trip:

• Meals: You are responsible for 7 lunches and 5 dinners. Budget around 250€ for meals not included.
• Tipping
  • Local drivers, guides and restaurant staff: Tipping is not compulsory but can make a big difference to individuals in the local hospitality industry in Greece. Therefore, we recommend budgeting around 75€ for these services.
  • Group leader: Tipping your group leader is completely discretionary. For outstanding service you may consider tipping your group leader ~$10/day.
• Transportation: Airport transfers are not included. Upon arrival (in Santorini) you can choose between a bus or taxi: the cost of a bus ticket is 1.80€ while the cost of a taxi is approximately 35€. Upon departure (from Athens) you can choose between the metro or a taxi: the cost of the metro is 10€ while the cost of a taxi is approximately 45€.
• Travel insurance: Travel insurance covering our minimum requirements ($100k+ in medical coverage including emergency evacuation) is compulsory for all participants. Budget anywhere from $50 to $130 for travel insurance (from a 3rd party) depending on your specific coverage inclusions.

The single room supplement on this Greece trip is $699. You will be able to select your preference for a single room supplement when filling out the application. If you are applying for this trip within 3 months of the departure please contact us for single room availability before applying.

Upon arrival in Santorini you will take the bus (or taxi) directly to the hotel where your group leader will be waiting for you! After getting checked-in you will have free time until around 7pm upon which you will meet the group in the hotel lobby and then walk to a nearby spot for sunset drinks followed by dinner as you begin to get to know one another!

While you will not physically meet your group mates until the evening of the first day you will be in contact with everyone well ahead of time in the group WhatsApp chat and, in addition, we will provide you with everyone’s traveler bios so you’ll already know each other a little before physically meeting!

On day 3 (in Santorini) and day 5 (in Naxos) you will have the opportunity to tailor the trip to your style by selecting an optional excursion. You will be able to select the optional excursion during the application process and, after, you’ll be sent an invoice to pay.

Day 3 (Santorini):

• Sunset cruise: 120€
• Cooking class: 110€

You can read more about the optional excursions here.

We recommend bringing a combination of cash and credit/ATM card (assuming your credit card does not have foreign transaction fees). You will be able to use a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) at many shops and restaurants in Greece but it’s good to have a cash reserve as a backup in case the card machine is not working or if a restaurant is cash only. ATMs are readily available but withdrawal limits and transaction fees could occur.

You may bring any size luggage that you wish though we recommend packing as lite as possible since you will be traveling a lot during this trip (staying in 4 different hotels). Further, please note that you will need to carry your bag onto and off of the ferries.

Yes, you will have WiFi access at all the hotels and most restaurants.

Greece (especially the Greek islands) are world known for having some of the best nightlife and for good reason. In Athens you will have every available option: rooftop cocktail bars, craft breweries, hookah lounges, clubs, etc. The islands (especially in July and August) are very nightlife focused with cocktail bars, lounges, and clubs. The decision to go out at night or not is completely up to you!

Upon arrival in Santorini you will either take the bus or a taxi to the hotel. The bus is most cost effective as it’s only 1.80€; we will provide you with detailed instructions (via your trip documents) on how to arrive at the hotel if you choose to take the bus. Alternatively, you can take a taxi though we recommend booking in advance as there are not a lot of taxis on the island. Further, you could also share a taxi with other participants on your trip by coordinating through the group WhatsApp chat.

There are 3 ferries and 2 optional boating days on this Greece group travel trip. While the sea is generally calm during the summer (when our Greece trips run) it’s impossible to guarantee it. Therefore, if you get seasick easily this might not be the best trip for you. However, if you only get mildly sea sick we recommend consulting with your doctor to discuss possible seasick remedies such as medication or patches.

When purchasing airfare consider a roundtrip flight to/from Athens and then, separately, a one way flight from Athens to Santorini. You might be able to find a better deal this way as there are many daily flights from Athens to Santorini operated by local European carriers! Please note, however, that when booking flights independently and amongst different carriers any checked baggage will need to be reclaimed upon landing and rechecked for your next flight. Hence, this strategy is best for those either traveling with a carry on or those with a longer layover in Athens (en route to Santorini).