first greece trip ... Amanzoe and ??
#121
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Don’t focus on luxury hotels in Greece, this limits you too much. There are lots of amazing, beautiful islands that have nothing better than a 3-4 star property. Still 100x better there than being overrun with tourists and staying at a 5-star in Fira or Oia on Santorini.
#122
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Don’t focus on luxury hotels in Greece, this limits you too much. There are lots of amazing, beautiful islands that have nothing better than a 3-4 star property. Still 100x better there than being overrun with tourists and staying at a 5-star in Fira or Oia on Santorini.
#123
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Don’t focus on luxury hotels in Greece, this limits you too much. There are lots of amazing, beautiful islands that have nothing better than a 3-4 star property. Still 100x better there than being overrun with tourists and staying at a 5-star in Fira or Oia on Santorini.
Also, I want a luxury hotel and all its bells and whistles and great service and F&B--and better chances to deliver me reliable air con. If I was willing to forego those, there are plenty of campgrounds and such that offer incredible locations that I also could enjoy. But I won't!
Also, there often are reasons there are so many tourists in these high demand locations. There often are great restaurants to enjoy in these high demand locations. And there often are great luxury hotels taking advantage of them in those locations. It doesn't have to be mutually exclusive proposition if one stays in a luxury hotel in one location and visits or also stays in a less touristy but also beautiful location elsewhere.
We will be visiting Meteora while staying at the Grand Bretagne in Athens--as a day trip by helicopter. There are no great hotels at which to stay in Meteora despite it being an incredible place. And it's a long 5 hr drive there and back from Athens. I want to avoid less impressive hotels and onerous drives. The helicopter day trip allows us to do both while still getting to see an incredible spot.
#124
https://dellasboutiquehotel.com/
What a shame to see and experience Meteora as a day trip.... it deserves more time.
#125
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Have you been to Meteora before? I wholeheartedly disagree that there are " no great hotels" in Meteora.... great and luxury don't have to mean the same. The Dellas Hotel ( we stayed two nights) was one of the most magical lovely experiences at ANY hotel in the world I have had. From the hotel staff to the sublime breakfast to the sound of nightingales singing us to sleep. I still dream of our two nights there and long for more.
https://dellasboutiquehotel.com/
What a shame to see and experience Meteora as a day trip.... it deserves more time.
https://dellasboutiquehotel.com/
What a shame to see and experience Meteora as a day trip.... it deserves more time.
We will get to see 2-3 monasteries and enjoy two fly-overs of all 5 monasteries for our helicopter day trip. The average visitor staying nearby supposedly sees 2-3 monasteries, too. And we'll get the flyovers that most don't get at all.
It may deserve more time for you, but it's just about perfect for me--not to mention that I dreaded the onerous 5 hr drives to and from Meteora. Instead, we will enjoy much shorter 75 minute flights each way. That absolutely is luxury to me.
Keep in mind that I also shortened our Santorini stay from 5 nights to 3 nights because I wasn't sure there's enough there to hold my interest. That view will hold my attention for maybe a day or two and then I'll be ready to move on.
I think I know myself pretty well. I don't need to see 4 monasteries to get a sense of what a monastery looks like. Churches in Europe come to mind...
Different strokes...
#126
No shame whatsoever! This will be our first visit to Meteora. While I'm delighted that you enjoyed the Dellas, that isn't luxury to me at all. Nor is the 5 hr drive each way from/to Athens.
We will get to see 2-3 monasteries and enjoy two fly-overs of all 5 monasteries for our helicopter day trip. The average visitor staying nearby supposedly sees 2-3 monasteries, too. And we'll get the flyovers that most don't get at all.
It may deserve more time for you, but it's just about perfect for me--not to mention that I dreaded the onerous 5 hr drives to and from Meteora. Instead, we will enjoy much shorter 75 minute flights each way. That absolutely is luxury to me.
Keep in mind that I also shortened our Santorini stay from 5 nights to 3 nights because I wasn't sure there's enough there to hold my interest. That view will hold my attention for maybe a day or two and then I'll be ready to move on.
I think I know myself pretty well. I don't need to see 4 monasteries to get a sense of what a monastery looks like. Churches in Europe come to mind...
Different strokes...
We will get to see 2-3 monasteries and enjoy two fly-overs of all 5 monasteries for our helicopter day trip. The average visitor staying nearby supposedly sees 2-3 monasteries, too. And we'll get the flyovers that most don't get at all.
It may deserve more time for you, but it's just about perfect for me--not to mention that I dreaded the onerous 5 hr drives to and from Meteora. Instead, we will enjoy much shorter 75 minute flights each way. That absolutely is luxury to me.
Keep in mind that I also shortened our Santorini stay from 5 nights to 3 nights because I wasn't sure there's enough there to hold my interest. That view will hold my attention for maybe a day or two and then I'll be ready to move on.
I think I know myself pretty well. I don't need to see 4 monasteries to get a sense of what a monastery looks like. Churches in Europe come to mind...
Different strokes...
P.S. Jealous about the helicopter ride and over fly.
#127
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No need to defend yourself....I get it.....and you are absolutely right.... the 5 hour drive is the worst and I would never do it again. The drive is through a boring landscape littered with half built factories never finished or abandoned. Perhaps my romance with Meteora in part was simply a relief to be there after the long dusty drive.
P.S. Jealous about the helicopter ride and over fly.
P.S. Jealous about the helicopter ride and over fly.
Out of curiosity, which monasteries did you see?
Which 2-3 Meteora monasteries do you or others recommend we prioritize to see?
#129
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I am well aware, there are some awesome islands with NO true luxury though, it would be a shame to miss out on them because they don't have a proper 5-star. I also construe this forum to be "closest to luxury" when people ask about destinations without real luxury.
#130
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There’s a lot of world and only so much free time to travel around it. We’re all going to miss plenty. There’s no shame in that for me. I’ll prioritize what I want to see and leave it to everyone else to prioritize what they want to see.
#131
https://www.visitmeteora.travel/theo...000-years-ago/
#132
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That could make you even worse than me.
My husband likes to say that my favorite way to see a museum is to fly over it in a 747. I normally don’t last more than an hr in the Louvre.
Here’s hoping I’ll enjoy at least 2 monasteries.
#133
Checked in at FS Astir Palace yesterday. Before my stay I was very skeptical as many may know. It's of course not in Athens and if sightseeing is the mainfocus the wrong choice. The rooms are nicely done with some minor failures which will be a problem over the time (f.e. carpets are already full of stains and some furniture at the balcony already is worn do n and shabby). Beach is OK if you compare it with other European beach-hotels, of course if you compare with the top-choices in Asia, Seychelles etc. it's a completely other league. Service is good.
#134
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 7
I fully support Crete. Was in Athens three times, there is nothing to compare. I was relaxing at the Alexander Beach Hotel and this trip is now one of the most pleasant memories.
The location was perfect. Settled in the villa, overlooking the ocean, with its pool and sunbeds. Very quiet, comfortable with green areas, white stone walls and incredibly beautiful plants.
Insanely delicious and varied Greek cuisine. Tables are choked with food. The main thing is that the hotel is very quiet, calm, music and no movement is heard. But after literally 3 km, you find yourself on Malia Street, with many bars and nightclubs. Plus in Crete there are many beautiful places where excursions and the best beaches lead.
The location was perfect. Settled in the villa, overlooking the ocean, with its pool and sunbeds. Very quiet, comfortable with green areas, white stone walls and incredibly beautiful plants.
Insanely delicious and varied Greek cuisine. Tables are choked with food. The main thing is that the hotel is very quiet, calm, music and no movement is heard. But after literally 3 km, you find yourself on Malia Street, with many bars and nightclubs. Plus in Crete there are many beautiful places where excursions and the best beaches lead.
#135
I fully support Crete. Was in Athens three times, there is nothing to compare. I was relaxing at the Alexander Beach Hotel and this trip is now one of the most pleasant memories.
The location was perfect. Settled in the villa, overlooking the ocean, with its pool and sunbeds. Very quiet, comfortable with green areas, white stone walls and incredibly beautiful plants.
Insanely delicious and varied Greek cuisine. Tables are choked with food. The main thing is that the hotel is very quiet, calm, music and no movement is heard. But after literally 3 km, you find yourself on Malia Street, with many bars and nightclubs. Plus in Crete there are many beautiful places where excursions and the best beaches lead.
The location was perfect. Settled in the villa, overlooking the ocean, with its pool and sunbeds. Very quiet, comfortable with green areas, white stone walls and incredibly beautiful plants.
Insanely delicious and varied Greek cuisine. Tables are choked with food. The main thing is that the hotel is very quiet, calm, music and no movement is heard. But after literally 3 km, you find yourself on Malia Street, with many bars and nightclubs. Plus in Crete there are many beautiful places where excursions and the best beaches lead.