Sal, October 2021
Chris took my basic plans to travel to Greece as a solo traveler and turned it into the best vacation I have ever been on. I knew which islands I wanted to visit and discussed with Chris what my dream vacation would look like and within less than 24 hours he had a draft plan ready for me. It was so great, I only made minor modifications. What I appreciated about Chris is that he took the time to call me on the phone to get to know my personality and what I was looking to accomplish from this trip. He knew I was traveling alone and that I wanted the best experience ever, so he took my ideas and made them reality. I went sailing in Santorini with a small group, took a cooking class which accommodated my dietary restrictions, drank wine from the best winery in Crete, rented the most beautiful car, had the best tours in Athens, and went on an amazing hike. I saw a lot of history which was important to me and had the most educated tour guides. What was an added bonus is that Chris contacted each vendor to make sure they had my travel plans ready and that I was taken care of; I felt like I had an invisible body guard. I never felt unsafe in Greece. Greece is a beautiful country and I can't wait to plan my next trip.
I don't think I would do anything differently. Everything was perfect. Thank you again for everything, Chris. It was definitely a birthday that I will always remember.
Christopher, September 2021
Hey Chris,
I just wanted to let you know that we are so happy we choose you. Everything was great and went so smooth!
Thanks so much and you will be recommended to anyone I know who is going that way.
Thanks for everything
Chris
Ron, September 2021
Hi Chris, We had a great time in Greece. The hotel (Home and Poetry) was very nice. We especially liked the roof terrace. Believe it or not there is always something to watch on the Acropolis! We will definitely stay there again if we return to Athens. The airport transfers were perfect. They took all the stress out of dealing with Athens traffic. Thank you again for all your help.
Best, Ron and Margaret
Kim, September 2021
Words will not convey all positive aspects of our time in Greece. This trip designed by Chris was perfection!! We spoke by phone for a few moments, he sent me some suggestions for the trip, I chose the suggestion I liked, then everything was prepared in the most professional, the most optimal plan from professional, college graduates for our guides, friendly, warm inviting. We did something different every day (9 days)• We can not thank Chris enough for making 2 ordinary people feel like royalty. Everything was prepared in advance and everyone was expecting us
Our accommodations were absolutely amazing. All future holidays, I will use the Greek Travel Gurus again and I suggest everyone should!
Kim
Michael, September 2021
Late last year we spent weeks with Chris planning a trip to Greece - a nearly three week trip that recently ended. We spent 9 days on 'mainland' Greece, then three days each in Corfu, Naxos and Santorini. The entire trip from beginning to end was well planned and executed. Terrific driver in Greece, amazing guides at each site, in general wonderful hotels, and Chris was always available before and during the trip to answer our questions or address any concerns. I highly recommend the Greek Travel Gurus as a way to find a local travel planner, and also highly recommend Chris.
Brad, September 2021
Marcus the taxi driver in Santorini was HILARIOUS He taught us a lot about the country.
To Briki, Pirouni were the best restaurants in Fira
We felt the hotel room you picked WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! The pool the view the size. Wow!
Everyone was soooo nice and the food was great!!
I would highly recommend Ammoudi bay and the black beach so thank you for those recommendations
The hotel home and poetry was perfect! The breakfast was actually so fresh and delicious and HIGHLY recommended for other gluten free customers!
Jeff, August 2021
Chris and his team were great.
Many questions and issues came up during the trip (like needing to modify our travel plans) that they were instrumental in resolving. It was like having a personal concierge. Couldn't ask for a better experience.
Naomi, August 2021
I am a control freak and usually plan every detail of my trips. I have very high standards and want to make the most of every minute of my vacation. But this time I was just too busy to do the research and wanted the help of a local expert. I struck gold when I found Chris! He took the time to really understand what kind of accommodations and experiences I was looking for, and after a lengthy discussion, he put together a package that looked perfect. We just got back from our 11-day trip to Greece, and it was the best vacation of my life! Every hotel he chose was special - from the Acropolis view suite in Athens, to the luxurious terrace overlooking the Caldera in Santorini, I could not have asked for more. The guides and excursions he suggested were also excellent. Impressively, when I wanted to make a change mid-trip and go to Mykonos a day early, he had me on a new flight with everything arranged including hotel and transfers within a few hours. I would highly recommend Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus to anyone looking to plan a luxury vacation in Greece. He really knows his stuff!
RM, August 2021
Hello Chris,
I hope you and your family are well.
Thank you for everything in the planning of this trip. I know at times we had too many chiefs, but we all loved the trip and enjoyed Greece.
Margo, August 2021
We had an amazing trip! Chris and his team helped us put together an experience we will never forget. They were available to help us before the trip and the whole time we were there. Everything went so smoothly and our trip was incredible. Highly recommend!
Kris, July 2021
This is our second trip with the Greek Travel Gurus and it went just as smoothly as the first one.
Chris did a great job planning the trip again!
The cruise in the Cyclades was beautiful and fun for all the family and the crew was fantastic.
Thanks for an overall beautiful trip and experience,
Vanna, June 2021
Overall great experience!
We were very pleased with our travel and everything was perfect! We are so thankful we used the Greek Travel Gurus. Chris did a great job choosing hotels and excursions for us to do. It was everything we could have asked for! Kostas, our driver in Athens, was great! We loved getting to meet him and he provided excellent service. The staff at the Ammos Hotel went above and beyond to meet our needs. Loved every second of the trip!
Using the Greek Travel Gurus was definitely the best choice for us and we are so thankful for all the time and effort that Chris put in to make our vacation a once in a lifetime trip!
Lynn, June 2021
Chris was an amazing travel planner. He listened to what we were looking for in our trip to Greece and nailed it. We couldn’t have had a better time. The hotels were boutique and beautiful. Everything fell into place. Drivers were there and on time and courteous. Tours were set up for us by Chris and were outstanding! I can’t say enough about our experience. We had a blast. And I will definitely choose the Greek Travel Gurus for our next travel!! Lots of love to your team!!
Lynn
Dianne, November 2020
We enjoyed out Greek holiday in November. I spoke with Chris a couple of times in the early planning stages for the trip so that he could get a good overview of what we wished to see and in general, our preferences when we travel. From the very first contact, it became evident that Chris was not only a great planner but an excellent listener. Chris planned a loop starting in Athens and then driving north to Meteora, back to Delphi, then down to the Peloponnese to Olympia, across to Nafplio and back to the Athens airport. The driving worked out well as we found the roads to be in good condition and easy to navigate (Chris provided excellent GPS links).
We then flew to Santorini for a few days. The accommodations throughout were exactly what we desired and requested, not necessarily luxurious, but very clean and comfortable, and in ideal locations, offering great views and outstanding breakfasts with friendly staffs that went out of their way to satisfy us. We did kind of go overboard on Santorini as Chris insisted that we had to stay at the Alta Vista Suites. What a treat! We are still talking about our stay there and dining while sitting on out our balcony overlooking the sea and the cauldera, with the whitewashed and blue-domed churches and building all around us. It was iconic.
Chris set us up with private guides at each site we visited. They were all seasoned professionals who were friendly, knowledgeable, and immersed us in the history of the sites we visited. I would hesitate to rank any of them as to which was the best because they each excelled providing us with enough information that we could absorb and enough time to appreciate what we were visiting. Our planning guidebook also listed many places of interest and restaurants to occupy our time when not on tours. We traveled in a bit of off-season, however, the weather cooperated and we visited basically all of the locations suggested and quite a few of the restaurants listed and we dined well on Grecian delicacies including seafood and lamb. A highlight was lunch in Itea, where we met up with Chris. It was delightful. Of course, he followed us all along the trip, communicating with us regularly to make sure all was well.
We did suffer an early mishap when I tripped as we were leaving the Acropolis in Athens. We were forced to return to our hotel because I was injured. Our guide at the time, notified Chris who was already in contact with the hotel when we returned. The staff at the hotel sent us off to a hospital where I was treated. I was in almost constant contact with Chris. I was treated at the hospital and discharged feeling much better. By that time Chris had arranged transportation back to our accommodation where the staff was waiting for us.
So, what could have been a ruined vacation turned out to be a travel experience that we talk about and will remember. The Greek healthcare system worked for us and we experienced a bit of the Greek culture that a tourist would never go through.
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C & S, October 2019
We just returned from a wonderful 2 and a half weeks in Greece. My wife and I have been passionate travelers starting with a Portuguese honeymoon followed by living in Paris 50 years ago. We’ve always enjoyed being in charge of planning and discovering on our own but thought that we’d try a different approach with Greece.
Finding Chris Leontopoulos was like having a close friend in Greece who got you to the right places, avoiding the crowds and gave you an insider’s experience. He was invaluable in listening to our interests and matching accommodations and experiences. He respected our travel budget but encouraged us splurge a bit when the experience was worth it.
Another benefit of Chris’s guidance is his wonderful network of hotel managers who provided excellent care at each location. Chris’s on-the-ground team guided us to the right restaurants, local sights as well as what to avoid.
Working with Chris was a great experience and our trip was significantly enhanced by his care and insight. We plan on returning to Greece soon to explore smaller towns and islands and will definitely call on Chris again.
C & S
Rhea and Gerry, October 2019
This was our first holiday in Greece and won’t be the last. The experience was so phenomenal that I am sure we will be back in the not too distant future. For us Greece and Chris are now inextricably linked so that when it happens it will be through Greek Travel Gurus.
I established the link with Chris via the internet and immediately formed a great relationship for the planning phase. He very quickly gathered the details of what we were looking for and created a spreadsheet which became the master plan. Changes were made as needed and the whole thing came together. He immediately responded by phone call or email to queries and suggestions. The method whereby he charges a fixed fee for his services makes it absolutely clear what the cost of each item really is and who you are paying. Before, we traveled to Greece, we received an itinerary of 60+ pages with maps, details of the hotels we were staying at, suggestions for additional places to visit, recommended restaurants, photographs and much more.
All the planned stages worked without a hitch from Athens to Thessaloniki via a tour of Peloponnese Delphi and Meteora. The boutique hotels we stayed at were amazing, for their location, quality and friendliness of the staff. Most of them already knew Chris and as a result I believe we received special treatment.
Greece for us was an eye opener. Chris arranged personal guides in the various historical locations. They were all of the highest quality. We felt we had a superb course in Greek history while we were physically in the places where the history and mythology occurred. The museums were of a very high standard but having a knowledgeable guide at our side avoided the feeling that you don’t really know where to start and was essential for making sense of the exhibits. For example, in the brilliant National Archeological Museum in Athens our guide, Nota guided us through the history of Greek sculpture from the second millennium B.C. to Roman times. Thus, we were able to follow and understand the evolution of this art form and pin it to different time periods. This process happened at all of the sites. In addition, Chris arranged a professional photographer to give us a tour of Anafiotika in the Plaka district of Athens since my hobby is photography. A great way to start and get orientated.
Finally, we had the great pleasure of having dinner with Chris in Galaxdi. It was a lovely and interesting evening.
Well done Chris!
Gerry
Rachel, October 2019
Chris
Our trip had come to an end.
We’d like to thank you for making this a memorable vacation. We loved all the hotels, places that you recommended, and the ease of traveling with all the arrangements made by you. Your knowledge comes through with hotel choices, always in happening places but extremely private. One of the things that we enjoy the most in affection to how attentive and efficient you were is the personal touch. All the hotel managers and personnel made us feel welcomed and they mentioned that you had sent all the info ahead of time.
Thanks for the best vacation ever. Several friends have already asked us for your contact info.
Cheers
Rachel and family
Melissa and Scott, October 2019
I highly recommend working with Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus.
My husband and I worked with Chris to plan our dream honeymoon to Athens, Crete and Santorini. My husband did the planning process and said Chris was so easy and fun to work with. Chris is a great communicator and was very respectful to our budget and all of our interests.
Unfortunately, our flight to Athens was extremely delayed and got cancelled. Chris made sure to contact our drivers and the Hotel. He stayed in communication with us to be sure we had transportation when we finally got to Athens, a day later. We enjoyed our short time in Athens- our tour included the The Acropolis and the museum. It was walking distance from the hotel that Chris recommended. Unfortunately again, our flight from Athens to Crete had issues and instead of landing around 11 AM, we landed around midnight. Once again, Chris was wonderful with staying in touch and canceling the rides and rescheduling them. Our hotel in Crete was gorgeous and right in Old Town aka the center of everything. We loved our olive oil and cheese tour. We ate a local restaurant where we were greeted with such warmth and love. Our experience in Crete was amazing. We ate our way through Crete. Followed by Crete we went to Santorini. No flight issues because we took a ferry. It was literally smooth sailing. In Santorini we stayed at THE most beautiful hotel the Vasilicos, and truly lived our best life. We were blown away with the location and hotel. The Hotel staff knows Chris and raved about him and said how organized he was and he’s one of their favorite agents to work with.
In Santorini we had an amazing wine tour. I have a new appreciation for wine. It included a dinner which was fabulous. We also did a sailing tour, which included lunch— also fabulous. All of our tickets, rides and everything in between was set up to us thanks to Chris. He checked in on us to make sure everything was good especially after our 2 delays.
Since our honeymoon I’ve had the pleasure of emailing with Chris and I can say firsthand how wonderful he is. If you are thinking of planning a trip to Greece you absolutely need to and you need to book with Chris.
Chris, thank you for making our honeymoon a dream come true. We cannot wait to book our next trip to Greece and explore more of the beautiful islands.
A million more thanks,
Melissa and Scott
S & J, September 2019
Hello Chris
Our trip went extremely well. Thanks to your professional help in planning it and even more by helping us with small details once we were in the country on a very expeditious manner.
Greece was an extremely rewarding destination (in relation to many many places we have visited in the past). The reputation is very well deserved because of the very warm people, good food and many many attractions satisfying a variety of interest, from water to mountains, seafood to salads, antiquaries to beaches, and of course shopping, and all this at, what we thought, a very reasonable price.
My problem is that I cannot select one highlight from all the places we visited. They were all great!. From the ruins and neighborhoods of Athens, to the monasteries of Meteora, to one of the best little hotels in the town of Galaxidi (wish we had another day there), the ruins of Delphi, the Cyclades islands and a fabulous ferry ride from Mykonos to Santorini visiting the other islands along the way and ending up in Crete.
We don't know when but we will try very hard to visit again.
Thank you so much and good luck.
S & J
Ted and Kristi, September 2019
Ted and I wish to offer our sincere thanks and appreciation for the itinerary you arranged for our recent visit to Greece.
We loved the easy mix of history, mountain and seaside excursions, FOOD, guides-comfortable vehicles-capable drivers, excellent accommodation and adequate downtime. We returned home relaxed and happy.
Greece is scenic plus diverse in its crops and cultivation techniques and how we loved swimming in the gorgeous sea waters. We found everyone so welcoming and warm and absolutely loved every meal we were served.
Personally I believe my favourite was Galaxidi. Our hosts at Hotel Miramare were so gracious. We made friends, and shared some food, with the resident cat population, enjoyed the village and wharf area complete with taverns each evening and the catamaran tour with Costas. Our visit to Delphi was very moving and we appreciated having lunch with you and your beautiful wife and also having the opportunity to meet your children.
Again, please accept our thanks for all the attention to detail. I overheard Ted telling a good friend "it was the best vacation I have ever taken".
Sincerely,
Kristi
Kathryn, September 2019
A friend used Greek Travel Gurus last year, and recommended Chris to us for our trip. My husband and I were celebrating our 60th birthdays! Chris was great right from the start. He was organized and very prompt about answering my questions. He had several options for tours and really knew what we would like! Our hotel in Naxos was amazing!!! Great food and a beautiful view of the sea. We did a food tour and a "walking in paradise" tour and both were very memorable. All our transfers were very well organized too. In Santorini our hotel was small and personal and we were very well taken care of!!! Our view was stunning! We did a kayak trip that was outstanding!
Thank you Chris for all the beautiful memories!
Kathryn and Stephen
Harohalli, September 2019
We had traveled a lot in Europe when we were newlyweds but somehow missed Greece.
I always wanted to go there. Many decades later, we had the time time to visit Greece. But just reading about places to visit, stay and eat at makes it all the more confusing sometimes. There is too much information out there. This is where Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus came in. He listened to all our requirements and then made suggestions on what to do. After we came up with a plan, he then went ahead and made excellent arrangements - the cute boutique hotel in the Plaka area of Athens, the beautiful resort place in Santorini, taxi rides, tours and a personalized trip to Delhpi! In the 6 days that we had, he managed the time perfectly so we got to do quite a lot, at the same time enjoying our vacation immensely.
We will definitely call him again if we decide to go to Greece again
Pictures attached
Thanks Chris!
Michael, August 2019
This review is long over due.
I don't usually write reviews of services and products. But this time it's different.
I have traveled most of Europe and I've usually consulted the larger agencies, but when it comes to Greece things are tricky. Getting from one place to the next without wasting time is essential, especially when your time is limited and you are also trying to mix business and pleasure like I was.
Chris thought of and coordinated everything, and made our trip perfect. Pick ups, drop offs, all perfectly timed. Guides on time and very friendly and thoughtful. The hotels all as advertised and in terrific locations.
Just perfect.
World class service, Chris.
Bravo!
Michael
Rachim, August 2019
We loved Greece and we loved planning our trip with Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus!
Right from the start, he gave us all the information we needed. Ideas for islands, hotels, tours. The prices, the inclusions, everything. He also gave us alternative ideas for hotels which were just as lovely!
Everything was planned perfectly, and from our first meeting with the driver Kostas at the airport, to our last transfer with George on Santorini, everything was flawless! Great people, and very passionate about their history and culture. Our guides made all the sites come to life, and they never made us feel rushed. They were also happy to give us more information on the area. Many thanks to Nota in Athens for walking us back to our hotel and making the time to have a coffee with us after the tour!
The hotels were just what we were looking for, it’s as if Chris had read our minds! Small, family run, very clean, very colorful, and with amazing staff. After a few days, we started feeling like family! We will always remember Stella at the Veneto on Crete, and Maria on Santorini.
We live on the other side of the world, but we promise to come back again soon.
Thank you Chris for making this trip so special for me and my family!
Rachim
Amy and Marylou, July 2019
Greece is THE most fantastic place in the world!!
Everything we dreamed of came true thanks to Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus.
Two girlfriends looking for fun and relaxation, with a little mix of culture, and we got just what we wanted!
What can I say about Mykonos? The water is so cool, so blue, you never want to leave!
The food and wine tour we did on Santorini was a definite highlight, and the view from our balcony, to die for!
I wish we were still sipping wine on the cliffs!
Thank you Chris for taking such good care of us, and checking in to see about our flights, made it home safely and back to work.
Maybe one day....
Amy
Thomas, July 2019
I had promised my daughter a trip to Greece after her high school graduation. She has been in love with mythology and history since she was a little pup. The time came and I contacted several agencies where we live in Canada and I also looked into a few online travel sites.
Everything I found came out just about the same. Same tours, same hotels, nothing too special or interesting, and a lot of vague replies when I had questions or wanted to make modifications.
I came across the Greek Travel Gurus brochure in a local restaurant and thought I'd give them a try.
Am I glad that I did!
Chris actually lives in Greece, year round, and knows the ins and outs. He arranged for the best hotels for us, in the best locations! My daughter is still craving the breakfasts at the Grotta on Naxos!
The tours that he suggested were not off the rack. He actually listened to what we were interested in and designed special tours that we both enjoyed and arranged for very engaging guides.
Unfortunately we did not have time to see more of your amazing country, but now that we know where to find you, we will be back!
Thank you Greek Travel Gurus!
Jim and Martha, July 2019
I never thought that planning such an exciting and complicated trip could be so easy! But Chris made it all so simple for us! We wanted to cram all the important sites on the mainland into a road trip, but with limited days, and with even less time to plan. Chris took care of everything. Hotels, rented car, tour guides, suggestions for interesting detours, even dinner reservations at amazing restaurants that we could never find on our own!
When we began planning this trip we thought that it would be a nightmare, but after we found the Greek Travel Gurus, it turned out to be the trip of a life time!
All the best, we will return, we still want to see the islands!
Jim and Martha
Sophie July 2019
Like many people, I grew up fascinated with Greek mythology. As an adult, I dug deeper into philosophy and ancient literature where I ended up falling in love with the Iliad and the story of the Trojan War. I have been wanting to go for many years, but I had no idea where to even start planning a trip. With extensive knowledge, helpful connections, and a great amount of patience and care, Chris helped my husband and I make the most of our time there.
Chris knew the Iliad well and was able to suggest many places that we could go to learn more about the time period and see archaeological sites directly connected to the legendary figures from the stories I loved. He connected us with expert private tour guides that would answer all of my questions and let us move at our own pace. It was an incredible experience being able to go and see the places that I had read about and hear the tour guides speak with so much passion about the characters that I love as well. The guides gave us up to date information on the sites that are still being searched and examined- giving us our first peak into the mysterious, and on-going search for the past.
There were so many places that I loved, it’s hard to only talk about a few. Particularly, I was awed to the point of tears by seeing the view from Odysseus’ castle in Ithaca, knowing that his wife must have spent so many painful nights watching the same waves as she waited for her husband’s return. I was also inspired by the rolling hills of Delphi- especially when I found the spot where the statues depicting the warriors from the Epigoni once stood so proudly. I was even able to stop by a memorial created by Alexander the Great’s father to honor the Sacred Band of Thebes after their defeat (there may have been more crying).
The country itself was also breathtakingly beautiful. Both the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea are so blue the sky pales in comparison, and the hills are covered with olive trees that seem to gleam silver in the sunlight. Then there are all the pink and white flowers that line the roads! While at first I had been nervous about renting a car, I was so glad that we did because we were truly able to enjoy the views as we traveled around at our own pace.
Besides that, Chris also made sure our stay was smooth and comfortable. Every hotel we stayed at was beautiful, extraordinarily welcoming, and came with a fantastic view! In all the countries I’ve traveled, I’ve never had such wonderful hospitality. There was always such a personal touch and genuine care shown. Plus, whenever we had trouble, Chris was just a phone call away, and he was always ready to help- even when we needed to reschedule certain plans last minute.
Thanks to Chris, we were able to relax and enjoy the beauty and comfort of Greece while learning more about its ancient heritage. I still have so much to see, and though it may take some time before I can go back, I already know that I will ask Chris to help plan that trip as well.
Sophie
Janelle, June 2019
We loved our trip to Greece planned by Chris, especially our sea view hotels in both Naxos and Santorini and our hotel in Athens. We really appreciated having a driver to pick us up and drop us off at the airports, they were all exceptional, professional, efficient, and well dressed. The Greek Travel Gurus team was quick, professional, and responsive when we had questions and or concerns. There were only a couple of hiccups: we were promised double beds in each hotel, this only happened at Athens Gate, but Chris was expedient in correcting the situation though and was able to reach the hotel and straighten it out. All and all in was a great trip, and for the most part smooth sailing. We are happy with the Greek Travel Gurus and services provided and would travel with them again! Many Thanks, and warm Regards,
Janelle
Cynthia, June 2019
We had an exceptional experience in Greece! We were a group of 11, arriving in Athens and excursions to Mykonos and Santorini. Our travel to and from these islands was thoroughly enjoyable. Our hotels were exquisite, as well as our catamaran trip in Mykonos and wine tour in Santorini. Chris gave us the most memorable experience we could have imagined! Bravo to the Greek Travel Gurus!
Cynthia
Chris, June 2019
IWe had a wonderful time, and everything went like clockwork. I don’t think we could have asked for anything better. We especially enjoyed the tours in Athens and the cooking class at Avli in Crete. We just had a great time. Thanks for all the arrangements!
Chris
Joel, June 2019
Chris did a great job and the trip to Greece was one of our best vacations. Everything was handled and all the staff were professional and wonderful to deal with.
I would definitely recommend the Greek Travel Gurus to handle your travel needs.
Patrick, May 2019
I always use local guides and drivers when I travel. This is the first time I used a service online without using a travel agent from where I live. I was skeptical and a bit nervous at first. It turned out to be one of the best decisions. The best things about the Greek Travel Gurus is that they are living in the places that you want to travel so they have the most up-to-date info of where and when to go. My local agent, Chris is very knowledgeable of Greece. He listened to my unique requirements and custom built an itinerary for four people in my group. We all loved the schedule and places that we visited. We visited the must see archaeological sites and enjoyed the peaceful Naxos island. Chris was able to find me rooms where I had a direct view of the sunset in Santorini and Aegean Sea from my room in Naxos. Local guides for the "Taste of Athens" walking tour and Acropolis were very friendly and accommodating. Eva, the local guide for the "Taste of Athens" tour changed the itinerary throughout the day to accommodate our needs. She is the best. Chris was always in contact with us to make sure everything was ok. Although there were problems in transportation, Chris resolved the problem to my satisfaction. Overall, I am very satisfied with the services provided by Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus.
Margaret, May 2019
Our holiday in Greece was remarkable. Chris planned an interesting and outstanding itinerary and arranged great hotel accommodations as well. I especially enjoyed our suites in Athens, Rethymno, and Mykonos Town!
The Catamaran Cruise in Santorini was delightful and so much fun. Made friends with several other travelers. Also wanted you to know that our private drivers were all wonderful! They were attentive to your needs and polite, and extremely knowledgeable which made our travel time with then educational and allowed for interesting discourse with then. My son, Kenny and I will continue to relive our fabulous holiday that Chris planned for us in such detail to assure we were able to visit all the historic places I wanted my son to see. We have many happy memories which we’ll cherish forever. Thanks again, for an exciting and wonderful experience in Greece!!!
Suzanne May 2019
I found the Greek Travel Gurus on the internet when I was looking at going to Greece for a holiday.
I dealt with Chris and he listened to what I wanted to visit and as a woman travelling on her own, safety was top of this list.
Not only did Chris put together a fantastic itinerary, he sent draft copy to me first to peruse, along with some excellent comments on due to his knowledge of the area.
From start to finish everything rang like clockwork, the best was having someone there to pick me up at airport or cruise port do deliver me to my hotel or pick me up at hotel to take me somewhere else. Everyone was so accommodating and lovely.
I started in NZ ..Auckland 10 hour stop over at Dubai then onto Athens. From there to Crete for 4 days, awesome beaches outside my door. Then onto Santorini for 6 days, went on day cruise to other sights around island.
On to 4 days on Naxos, such beautiful beaches, ideal to relax. Back to Athens then home.
Once again a huge thank you to Chris and the Greek Travel Gurus.
Will be referring them to all my friends and will use them.
Gigi, May 2019
Hi Chris,
I just wanted to thank you for all the arrangements you made - everything went smoothly and MaryAnn and I both had an amazing vacation! The only glitch was the hotel on Santorini - which was the hotel WE chose! Next time we’ll go with your recommendation! =)
MaryAnn and I both loved the food tour in Athens, and the wine tour and sailing - all three events were spectacular and we couldn’t have had a better time!
We had the most wonderful time and both of us fell in love with Greece!
Thanks again! If anyone I know plans to visit Greece I will definitely refer you! =)
Gigi
George, May 2019
We have just come from an unforgettable trip to Greece! Loved it!
We got in touch with Chris " Greek Travel Gurus" and received an immediate call back where we discussed our expectations and interests.
The first part of the trip (1 Week) was spent in Greek islands: Mykonos and Santorini. From Mykonos we were able to take a boat ride to Delos. The second part of the trip (2 weeks) was spent driving from Athens to Thessaloniki making stops in beautiful places and nice hotels. We were able to see Athens, Nafplion, Olympia, Delphi, Galaxidi, Meteora, Larissa, Palais Panteleiomon, Pozar, Fort Roupel, Thessaloniki, and everything in between!
Chris has prepared a step-by-step itinerary for us, which was very helpful as we could use the links provided for google maps and we didn't have any problems with driving in the unknown place. Besides that we had a very thorough description of what to expect from this or that area with all the highlights and optional sights we could visit while in that area! All that info is easily saved in files on the phone and links to hotels, sites, etc worked really well for us. We felt we knew where we were going !
Chris took into account all our likes and dislikes which had been discussed on the phone and I think we have taken maximum possible out of the trip, enjoyed hospitality from all the people we met on our trip, and at all hotels we stayed.
From the very beginning when we started talking on the phone and exchanging emails Chris has demonstrated high professionalism, great knowledge of the country and history. His detailed preparation and concern during the trip exceeded our expectations. We travel a lot but the best-organized trip out of all was the one arranged by Greek Travel Gurus! We are so glad that we felt that trust to Chris from our first conversation and decided to go with his proposal.
Thank you for making our trip to Greece comfortable and unforgettable.
Diana, October 2018
Dear Gurus,
Thank you so much for your patience working with us. We had an absolutely incredible vacation. Everything was better than we expected. We enjoyed our accommodations in Athens (right in the Plaka and the only room with a balcony) and on Kythera. We loved our Food Tour with George! He was so much fun and knowledgeable and was willing to also show us the Street Art which he was very familiar with. The Acropolis Tour was great as well. It was a long day and involved lots of walking, but that day was one of the highlights of our trip.
The cruise was excellent. Our captain, Andreas, was so personable and professional. He had to alter the itinerary because of the bad winds, so we never made it to Mykonos, but we weren’t terribly disappointed about that. The cruise staff was wonderful and went above and beyond to help us. I actually had to visit a pharmacy and then a doctor because of a bad herpes outbreak, and Nadia, the cruise director, accompanied me and translated for me.
Of course, the best part was our trip to Kythera. Kevin and I both fell in love with the old world simple charm of the island. We have many stories of all our attempts to find living relatives, which we were unable to do, although we found two cemeteries and numerous geneaological links, including the grave of my grandfather’s parents and sister and brothers. But there were many interesting coincidences, and people were all so kind and tried to be helpful. The most surprising thing was finding that in Melopotomas (where all the Stratigos’ are from) there is actually an area called Stratigradika! (Which we now refer to “Stratigos Town.”) Unfortunately, (or maybe it is a good thing?) many places were closed for the season, and all the Australians had gone back home. Kapsali looked much the same as I remember it from 1971.
Everything about our trip was wonderful, and it makes me proud to be Greek! Kevin and I both want to go back to again, although I think I would just go to Kythera and stay there. Thanks for all you did to make our vacation so memorable.
Diana
John, October 2018
The return of my phone in Athens was perfect as was every thing else on my wonderful trip to Greece! Every guide, every bit of transportation, every needed document was delivered on time at the right place, it was all seamless. The entire trip was great in every respect! I am home safely now and bragging to all my friends about the Greek Travel Gurus and recommending they give you a call first then visit your beautiful, delightful country. I'll be in touch with you again sometime in the future to arrange a trip to Rome and southern Italy.
Thanks again for everything!
John
Carla, October 2018
The most amazing trip we have taken. Everything was taken care of down to our airline tickets being delivered to our room. First class throughout the entire trip. Will definitely use again. Crete was amazing. Wish we had another day in Crete
Eric, October 2018
Thanks Gurus!
We found the open-air cinema for our last evening here, and are waiting for the movie to start shortly. Alas, we’ve begun packing, so will be ready for the boarding passes in the morning.
We will get back to you with our thoughts after we get home (95% raves, I expect), but we have had a great time, and we really appreciate your choices, your recommendations, and all the people at the places we’ve stayed.
Thanks again!
Eric
Josh, October 2018
The planning and execution of our trip was handled perfectly by our travel agent from the Greek Travel Gurus. Every flight, excursion, and car service was on time and got us to our destination exactly when we needed to. He took my uncertainty and worry about planning a trip in a foreign place by myself and laid it to rest by delivering a trip of a lifetime for us!
My wife and I really loved Santorini! We were told by a few locals that we would enjoy the party atmosphere of Mykonos more being that we’re a younger married couple. However, it turned out to be much the opposite. Astra Suites in Santorini was one of the most incredible places we’ve ever been. From the stunning views off of our private terrace complete with our own personal pool, to the friendly and excellent staff, Astra Suites is the only place we’ll ever stay when returning to Santorini.
We also enjoyed a few of our excursions while in Greece. Nota was the perfect host while showing us around The Acropolis in Athens. It was a very rainy cold day and she never complained once. She seemed just as excited as we were to be there and was extremely knowledgeable. Our Catamaran Cruise with Blue Lagoon was incredible. The Captain took us up close to the cliff side where we were able to take some great pictures, and the food was absolutely delicious. One of the best meals we had in Greece which was a pleasant surprise. Lastly, our guide Kara who toured us around Acrotiri did a fantastic job. This was such a fun and educating experience that it made us want to continue to research this lost city upon returning home.
Next time we return to Greece we’ll most likely skip Athens and Mykonos. While these were great to experience, we enjoyed Santorini a great deal more. We will probably return to Santorini and then also explore some of the other islands. Overall we loved the trip and will return to Greece and use the Greek travel Gurus again.
Susan, October 2018
My husband, my sister-in-law, and I recently returned from an amazing vacation in Greece planned by the Greek Travel Gurus. We visited Athens, Naxos, and Santorini. The Gurus planned just the right number of outings for us - and they were spectacular. From a fabulous food tour in Athens (with fun Panos) to a day trip to Delphi, which is not to be missed. Our great driver, Yannis, took us to an olive farm and olive oil tasting outside Delphi which was a highlight of this beautiful mainland for us. Our tour guide, Penny, in Delphi, was also a highlight. She was so passionate and joyful that it brought the place alive for us. Our accommodations right at the foot of the Acropolis were lovely.
Then on to Naxos, which we loved. It is very laid back and the staff at Naxian on the Beach (Vasso and Kostas) could not have been lovelier. We loved the town of Chora (close by) which is so fun to roam around!
Then onto Santorini where the views are spectacular. Again, our outings were wonderful - a particular highlight was the archaeological site at Akrotiri (not to be missed). Also, our small group catamaran sailing with Santorini sailing was great. We also loved Nektaria, who was our tour guide for a full day in Santorini.
One recommendation for future travelers to Santorini: We stayed at Agali Houses and our suite was beautiful with unbelievable private patios and views. However, because it was on the cliff side, it was 186 steps down to our room, which meant 186 steps up whenever we left the room (and I mean literally 186 stairs - more steps because some stairs take two steps to climb). If we were to go again, we would definitely stay somewhere with fewer steps.
Oh also, the food was so wonderful in Greece that in hindsight, I would take a cooking class! So, I guess we will need to return for that.
Thank You Greek Travel Gurus for the great trip. Greece is an amazing country and you provided us with a great experience.
Megan, September 2018
Our trip to Greece was wonderful! The Greek Travel Gurus were great and very knowledgeable about the country, and set up incredible experiences for us. Everything went smoothly, the locations were perfect, and everywhere we stayed was beautiful, well located, and friendly.
We especially enjoyed our private guided tour of Athens, the cooking class on Naxos, and the sunset cruise on Santorini.
We would visit some different islands. There are so many. Other than that, there's nothing we would do differently.
Abbye, September 2018
The itinerary and all transfers and lodging went above and beyond all expectations.
All of my visits to the ruins and the awesome guides. The trip to Delphi and my day catamaran trip.
I would forgoe Athens so I may visit another island or spend more time on Crete.
Wendy, September 2018
The Gurus did a great job of arranging our tour of Greece. They listened to my requests and arranged everything perfectly. All our hotels were in great locations and had welcoming staff. Our driver/guide (Vasilis) while on the mainland was wonderful; we really enjoyed his company. All our guides were very knowledgeable and seemed to love sharing their knowledge. I would highly recommend the Greek Travel Gurus for anyone who wants an easy, high-end vacation in Greece.
Peter and Maria – Stefania, September 2018
Hello Gurus
How are you? We hope you enjoyed your little holiday!
We had a wonderful time overall! We came back sick and jet lagged but all worth it :) The flight home was actually delayed believe it or not (the one going to Toronto) because of a few people who were having issues - it was a long day!
THANK YOU again for outdoing yourself in helping us book this wonderful holiday that we will remember forever. We tell everyone about you and how awesome it's been working with you lol
When the time comes that you do visit, you know how to reach us! It would be nice to meet face to face!
All the best and I'm sure our paths will cross again in the future :)
MS&P
Mark, September 2018
The Greek Travel Gurus think of everything!
The sunset cruise in Santorini was amazing!
Next time, I would definitely stay longer!
Pete, September 2018
Hi Gurus!
I just wanted to thank you. Again. We had a trip of a lifetime, and it was in large part due to you. You listened to what we wanted, asked questions, and found amazing experiences for us in all three locations. I need to go back! Hopefully with the kids. And we hope to also one day go to Turkey!! So we will be in touch. We are also recommending you (and Greece! Of course) to everyone who will listen.
Thank you
Pete
This was a trip of a lifetime- and my husband and I couldn’t be more thankful for the wonderful job the Greek Travel Gurus did. In planning our 10 year anniversary trip they took great care in listening to us and the trip we had invisioned. Every single detail was amazing - his recommendations were fantastic, every excursion, hotel, and transfer. They made sure to check in during the trip to make sure that we were happy. I would absolutely use them again and have already told all my friends that he was amazing and they should use him!
Diane, September 2018
Hi Gurus, We all had a fabulous time. Everything ran smoothly. All the tours were excellent. The guides were helpful and knowledgeable. I will highly recommend the Greek Travel Gurus to our friends. Thanks for helping make the experience memorable. We will be seeing Joel on Saturday to share with him and Karen our pictures and experiences.
Regards, Diane
Charles, September 2018
Arrived safely back in MN.
Thanks for arranging a great trip
Chuck
Kim, September 2018
The Greek Travel Gurus developed an itinerary to provide extraordinary experiences that will last a lifetime. If you wan a customizable trip for a group with wide-ranging interests that incorporates the best of Greece's history, culture, food and lifestyle, then the Greek Travel Gurus is the perfect travel company to work with.
Part of our group's flight was delayed and they made arrangements to pick them up later to rejoin the group. The tour guides for the historical sites were excellent; they were knowledgeable, used visual aids to help understand ruins and artifacts as they were in their original eras and were enthusiastic and energetic about their topics. Were skirted long lines and tours were perfectly timed to when the crowds were thinner or the weather the most comfortable. The selection of hotels could not have been better; smaller, local, boutique, excellent service and unique for the town or area.
I have traveled extensively and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved the portion of Greece that I was able to see. I really enjoyed the people I met there; they were warm, funny, interesting, and effusive about their love of their country.
I unreservedly recommend travel to Greece and the Greek Travel Gurus to plan your trip. I am already thinking about my next visit!
I surveyed our group of 8 people and here were our top, favorite memories and places from our trip:
Athens Acropolis
Olympia
Meteora
Klio's Bee Keeping & Honey Farm
Olive Oil Tasting in Crete
Catamaran Sunset Cruise
I would reduce the number of monasteries we visited in Meteora. However, I requested the original number and it was not the result of our travel specialist's recommendations.
Of course, I would have visited more of the Greek islands, if I had more time. My next visit will include a return trip to Crete and new visits to Naxos, Rhodes, and Hydra.
Dear Gurus,
The majority of our group has arrived home and we are in the process of readjusting to our time zones and schedules.
I wanted to express our group's appreciation for the wonderful itinerary and coordination for our group. We loved everything! We especially liked all your choices of hotels, the tours, and the tour guides. Several of us have dreams of returning to Greece to see more. When we do, we will contact you to help us plan our next trip.
I have a couple of photos, which I wanted to share with Iliana, who was our tour host on the mainland tour. I have her phone number, but I couldn't get my photos to go through. Could I ask you to forward them to her?
I also included a photo of all of us. Perhaps next time we come to Greece, we will meet. Enjoy the rest of the summer and fall.
Thanks again for everything!
We have fabulous memories to last a lifetime!
Kind Regards,
Kim
Scott and Jamie, September 2018
We had an AMAZING trip. Everything went so smoothly and the accommodations and tours were simply first rate. I will be making time this weekend to write reviews and I suspect that I will have several friends who want your contact info to have when they plan their dream trips to Greece.
Thank you so much for everything you did to make this trip a reality for us, it was truly magical.
Warmest Regards,
Jamie
Our trip to Greece was everything we dreamed and more thanks to the amazing itinerary that the Greek Travel Gurus put together for us. From the accommodations to the transfers and the excursions everything was top notch. We loved every minute, just wished we had stayed longer! We will definitely use them again for our next trip to Greece!
I did also want to let you know that our tour guides were simply amazing.
Pantelis was our guide for the Athens tour- he was very knowledgable and engaging and we felt he did an excellent job of showcasing all the important historical sites and stories. He also returned to our hotel the next morning to drop off one of the items from our welcome bag that had fallen out in his bag during our tour- way above and beyond for sure!
On Santorini, Foutis was our tour guide for the Wine and Cooking tour. He too was fun, engaging and knowledgeable. We had a great time and loved the cooking location (Safron Restaurant)
The catamaran tour was also excellent- they took such good care of us with homemade snacks and lunch- and lots of wine :)
Thanks again for everything!
Jamie
Abbie, August 2018
The Greek Travel Gurus, and our planner were fabulous! They listened to me about what what we were looking for (we planned a trip for my husband and I and my parents) and designed an itinerary that fit. We asked lots of questions and changed the itinerary a few times before we got to a final version but he was patient and thoroughly answered every question and email. From the moment we arrived in Athens through transitions to Naxos and Santorini, everything went smoothly and was just as we had expected. The tours our travel planner recommended were perfect and we had just the right balance of leisure time and structured tours and activities.
The cooking class in Naxos was our favorite experience. It was small, just us and another family, and at a beautiful restaurant owned by a Greek family. They fed us food they had grown and cheese they made that morning and talked with us, and even gave us an impromptu tour of their farm, all while sharing in the experience of preparing a traditional meal together.
I would not change a thing!
Dawn, August 2018
Hello Gurus,
The trip was incredible. More than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for suggesting Naxos what a beautiful island and hotel Grotta felt like home. Each hotel and location was perfect. Your country is incredible!
Dawn
John, August 2018
For the most part the trip went well. The tour guides were excellent. Julie and I really liked the hotel accommodations. The drivers in Rome and Tuscany did a good job as well. Unfortunately the drivers on the Amalfi coast did not speak English and drove rather fast on the curves. Julie is prone to motion sickness, and it was hard to ask them to slowdown. She survived though.
Besides the driver being late in Positano, we also failed to receive our train tickets on time departing Rome. There was nothing in the itinerary indicating when we should have received them, and we had checked with the hotel, so we assumed the driver that morning would have them. He did not have them and it took several panicked phone calls to Maria to finally receive them via email. All this 45 minutes before our train was to depart. After blaming the hotel she told us we just needed the "pnr code". We had no idea what this was and what to do with it so I insisted upon her emailing the tickets. Having never taken a train in Rome/Italy (the last train we took in Europe was in 1980), being unfamiliar with the train station, and so little time it was extremely frustrating and upsetting. It all could've have been avoided if she had indicated in the itinerary where and when we would receive the tickets or emailed us the tickets in advance. Fortunately, we were able to make the train.
Overall the trip was great. We probably would have picked a different town on the Amalfi coast. Positano was a bit too congested and trendy for our tastes but we still enjoyed it.
Thanks for all your help.