The airport at Santorini is very small so don’t expect to be able to do any shopping on the way home! There was one very small duty free store with magazines, snacks and a few souvenir gifts.  We collected our bags and found our Thomas Cook Rep who showed us to our coach.  Half an hour later we were on our way to the hotel.

We arrived at The Thera Mare Hotel which is a 4 star Boutique Hotel.  The rooms were quite basic but we had been previously advised that a Greek 4 star rated hotel is somewhat different to a UK 4 star hotel etc.  We had a partial sea and partial land facing room which was great as to our left we could see the dramatic cliff views and to our right was the ocean.  Our stay here was on a Bed and Breakfast basis and to my husband’s disappointment there was no option of Cooked Breakfast, only Continental.

Perivolos, the resort that we stayed in is very small, there are no nightclubs and only a couple of late night bars.  The main road boasted plenty of wonderful restaurants, mainly specialising in Greek Cuisine and Seafood Dishes. A walk along the seafront one evening showed us that there were also a few Italian and other European Menus available.  When we go abroad though, we like to keep everything local and try as many new things as possible so dishes that we could find at home were not an option but instead, Moussaka’s and Greek Salad’s etc are what we chose to stick to.

We took an afternoon/evening coach tour to Oia and the Capital of the island – Fira.  On the way there we were actually taken back a little by how traditional things still are. Workers and farmers still moved things around using donkeys and groups of youngsters travelled around with about four people piled onto a little scooter somehow!   We had to get from one end of the island to the other which took a whole total of about 40 minutes. During this time, we passed some wonderful scenery and views as well as passing over the narrowest point of the island.  This was quite unusual, the coach driver stopped briefly on a narrow stretch of road, out of one side we could see the ocean and on the other side of the coach we could see…. well, the ocean!

Oia is a very pretty town and is famed for its sunsets and small white and blue buildings built into the cliff edges.  This is the place that you see in the guide books, postcards and pieces of artwork.  We were taken to a viewing area which overlooked the port. We watched cruise liners arrive and were made aware of a group of smaller islands out slightly to sea which were part of an active volcano.  We were then taken along to the Capital, Fira where we had dinner in a restaurant which too was built into the cliff edge.  We decided to take the bus back to Fira on another day when all of the shops were open for a little retail therapy.

We spent one day on a boat ride (more the size of a gulet) around the volcanoes and at one point were allowed off of the boat to take a swim. We were pointed in the direction of a narrow passage which took us to the hot springs!  Because the volcano was still active, in between some cold blasts of water was lovely 30 degrees worth of warm water.  I would strongly recommend that you wear light cloloured swimwear though as the sulphur stains dark clothing.

I don’t have anything negative to say about the island; all I would recommend is that holidays in Santorini are for families and couples wanting a quiet break. It is definitely not a lively island.

Recommended links:
Santorini info
Santorini on Wikipedia
Santorini tourist information

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First stop is the city of Athens. Everyday, there are hundreds of tourists visiting the staggering city of Athens, particularly in Acropolis. If you are a fan of skyscrapers and other fascinating modern structures, you will surely appreciate the architecture that can be found here in Acropolis. Moreover, the city of Athens is also known for the military ceremony when the guards change their shifts. This can be seen at the residence of the president of the country. Aside from that, you will also get to enjoy Athens at night, especially if you are an avid fan of night clubs and bars.
Because of the activities that can be done here in Athens, some people opt not to leave the city and spend the most of their holiday here.

Another popular tourist destination here in Greece is Thessaloniki. Just like Athens, foreign visitors also rush to Thessaloniki because of the amazing architecture, particularly the Byzantine churches. These religious sites are considered by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Sites all over the world. In this city, you may also visit the archeological museum. Be prepared to be amazed with the huge collection of jewelry that serves as the remains of the Macedonian era. Moreover, you can also find antique as well unique marble statues here in Thessaloniki.

You will probably get tired with all the walking and sightseeing you’ll be doing on your holiday in Greece. Therefore, to experience relaxation, fun, and the best of the country, you should not forget to hit the Greek islands for some sun, sand, and sparkling waters. There are different tropical islands here in Greece, including the infamous Santorini and Crete. Several water sports activities can be enjoyed on these islands, such as scuba diving, parasailing, wind surfing, and more. And because of the unspoiled environment within reach, you may also partake in some hiking and trekking as well.

You don’t have to sulk in your hotel room once the night strikes in Greece. In Mykonos, you can jump from one club to another until the small hours. The nightlife here in Mykonos is vibrant and you relax (or party!) in all kinds of nightclubs, trendy bars, fine dining restaurants and of course, luxurious hotels. And with all the beautiful people that you will find during your holiday, you would think that the Greek Gods and Goddesses came down to Earth just to party.

See to it that you discover the best of Greece before you leave, so you will not regret anything once you are back at home.