Greek Island Explorer Tour

Emergency Contact

Travel Zone - Effie +30 698 97 16 199

Head Office (Turkey) Pinar: +90 533 280 77 39 or Canan: +90 532 374 49 51

Hotels used on this tour

The following hotels are used on this tour for departures and pre/post tour accommodation within the given date ranges. They are also the default hotel for pre/post tour accommodation on tours that don't include accommodation, such as day tours. This is intended to give an idea of the type of accommodation that may be expected. The actual hotels used for any given tour may change due to many reasons such as group size, availability, time of year, hotel standard has dropped or simply we found a better hotel. If we do change hotels it will be to a hotel of equal or higher standard and will be at no extra cost. Where more than one hotel is shown for a given an overnight stop this means that one of those hotels will be used.

Aegean Plaza Hotel / Rose Bay Hotel

Address : City : Santorini Suburb : Phone : Web :

The Stanley Hotel / Athenaeum Grand Hote

Address : City : Athens Suburb : Phone : Web :

Vienoulas Garden Hotel / Manoulas Beach

Address : City : Mykonos Suburb : Phone : Web :

Weather

Optional Tours

The prices below are meant only as a guide and are not to be taken as definitive as they change often - ask your tour guide for the current

price. Prices below do not include the tipping. Please note that not all the options below will relate to your specific tour.

Athens

Half Day Acropolis tour

Your Athens city tour starts from the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Continue and pass by the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Parliament buildings and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library and Constitution Square (Syntagma). At the Acropolis visit, the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally 'the harmony between material and spirit', the monument that 'puts order in the mind', the Parthenon.

Tipping

Tips are common place for table service in Greece. Restaurants and taxis, local markets and basic restaurants - leave the loose change. More up-market restaurants we suggest 5% to 10% of your bill. If you think your tour leader has worked hard then s/he will appreciate a tip of a few Euros. You do not need to tip the service staff at the hotels.

Money

The monetary unit in Greece is the Euro (EUR). 1 Euro = 100 Euro cents.

You should always carry back up cash or card separate to the rest of your money and cards. So if you loose your wallet or handbag, you have enough back up money to at least make some phone calls and eat for a few days.

Euro is the currency of Greece since 1 January 2001. Credit Cards and Travellers Cheques are widely accepted in major cities and tourist resorts. ATM's are also accessible at all our destinations and offer the best exchange rate. A mixture of debit, credit cards and cash are the are the best forms of currency.

It is difficult for us to specify the money that you will spend per day, however, as a general rule EUR 4 to EUR 5 per day can provide you with additional meals and optional entrances. Should you wish to purchase souvenirs or other luxuries, of which there is a diverse range, you will have to budget for these.

Exchange rates used throughout this document are correct as at Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:55:03 GMT

General Info

Having exported chaos, drama, tragedy and democracy before most nations stayed up late enough to want souvlaki, Greece boasts a legacy that's unrivalled. From smoggy Athens to blindingly bright islands, there are more ancient fragments than you can shake a stick at: the mother of all ruins - the Acropolis, fallen columns galore on the sacred island of Delos and even, quite possibly, the remnants of Atlantis at Santorini. Greeks also know how to have fun - their propensity for partying dates back to Dionysos. In addition, hot sun and limpid seas conspire to make Greece a compelling place to relax. Whether you're chillin' in a beachside taverna, sipping coffee in a shady plateia or disco-dancing till dawn, chances are the Gods already have you ensnared.

Geographical area

131,957 square kilometers.

Population

10,760,136 (July 2011 est.). Athens (capital) 3.252 million; Thessaloniki 834,000 (2009).

International dialling code

International dialling code: +30

Time Zone

Greece is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meant Time. During day light saving, which is from the last Sunday in March to the last Saturday in October, Greece is 3 hours ahead of GMT.

Electricity

All appliances need a double round pin type plug for 220 volts AC, 50-hertz.

Religion

Greek Orthodox (official) 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Language

The Greek language with a documented record spanning three and a half millennia is a strong element of national continuity. Modern Greek derives from the same idiom used by Homer. The Greek alphabet and the Greek language have contributed much to all Western languages. In this respect Greek, is to be distinguished sharply from Latin, which generated numerous neo-Latin languages from Rumanian to Portuguese before itself became extinct. You'll find you won't have much of a problem with the language barrier. English is well communicated by many Greeks, especially in the Islands.

Eating and Drinking

Its unique tastes are some of the things that set Greece apart. You are in for pleasant culinary surprises while in this country. Contrary to common belief you will soon discover that Greek cuisine does not solely consist of mousaka, souvlaki and horiatiki salata. Greek cuisine has a great variety of dishes and can be an extremely satisfying culinary adventure for both meat-eaters and vegetarians.

Greek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine, sharing characteristics with the cuisines of Italy, the Balkans, Turkey, and the Levant. Contemporary Greek cookery makes wide use of olive oil, vegetables and herbs, grains and bread, wine, fish, and various meats, including poultry, rabbit and pork. Also important are olives, cheese, eggplant (aubergine), courgette, and yoghurt. Greek desserts are characterized by the dominant use of nuts and honey. Some dishes use filo pastry.

Mezes is a collective name for a variety of small dishes, typically served with wines or anise-flavored liqueurs such as ouzo or homemade tsipouro. Orektika is the formal name for appetizers and is often used as a reference to eating a first course of a cuisine other than Greek cuisine. Dips are served with bread loaf or pita bread. In some regions, dried bread (paximadhi) is softened in water.

The national drink is Ouzo. Ouzo, an 80-proof clear alcoholic beverage that is flavored with anise; it turns milky white with water or ice; the best said to be produced on the island of Lesbos. We always recommend drinking 'bottled' water.

Meal for 2 persons, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course EUR 30.

Cup of Coffee / Cappuccino (regular) EUR 3.

Domestic Beer (0.5 litre draught) EUR 4.

Please Note

It is important to note that the Greece component of this trip is escorted by a tour leader, whilst the Turkey component of your trip is escorted by a tour guide. There are important differences between these two roles, and understanding these will help you get the most out of your trip.

A tour leader travels with the group and will provide information regarding optional activities and day tours and will book these for you. Your tour leader acts as a facilitator, and will take care of any logistical issues such as the purchase of ferry tickets and hotel check-ins, and trouble shoot any problems that may arise on tour. Your tour leader will not guide you around historical sites but may give some cultural information and information about the best places to go in your free time. Some of your optional activities in Greece may be accompanied by a tour guide.

A tour guide is a licensed, qualified expert, and is generally a specialist in history and archaeology, and sometimes architecture. A tour guide will guide you around historical sites, providing historical and cultural information in addition to being responsible for the smooth running of your trip. In Turkey, a tour guide will accompany you for your whole trip, guiding you around sites, taking care of logistical issues and will also help you to book any optional activities.