Greece Beyond the “Big Two”

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We get it — pretty much everyone has Mykonos and Santorini on their mind, and on their bucket list, when they think about Greece.

These two popular islands have done a fabulous job of capturing the hearts and minds of American travelers. But it’s starting to have some unintended repercussions in terms of crowds, prices, and overall experience.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures]

When we were in Santorini last April (before the tourist season had even really kicked off) the crowds in Oia, and the lines for the cable car, were already unpleasant. Flash forward to July/August, and add in a couple of giant cruise ships making a port call for the day, and it would have been a madhouse.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures]

With that in mind, we have some suggestions for ways to experience Greece in a more low-key, less-stressful way:

Focus on the Peloponnese Peninsula

Athens itself merits more than the quick one- or two-night stay that most Americans give it. With a longer stay, you can use Athens as a home base for day trips to places like Meteora, Delphi, and the Corinth Canal.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures]

And then you can discover some of the other hidden gems of the Peloponnese, and spend a few nights in a romantic seaside town like Nafplio or Monemvasia.

[Photo Credit: Mike, view from Nafplio via Shared Adventures]

Choose More Under-the Radar Islands

Mother with her two daughters overlooking a green mountain in Greece

If you want to stick to a traditional “Athens and the Islands” itinerary, you don’t have to use Mykonos and Santorini. Choose smaller, quieter islands like Naxos, Paros, or Milos for a taste of authentic Greek culture and natural beauty. Or combine Athens with a longer stay on just one island – perhaps a larger island like Crete, which offers a wide variety of experiences in one place.

[Photo Credit: Alicia & Jay via Shared Adventures – read about their family vacation to Greece Here]

Set Sail in a Smaller Yacht

Cruising the Greek islands is a magical experience, but it can be even more magical if you stay away from the big cruise ships that can only visit the bigger/busier islands.

Join a small-group sailing adventure hosted by a tour company, if you want to make some new friends along the way. Or charter a private yacht for just you and your travel companions, and you can explore (at your own pace) smaller islands with secluded beaches and laid-back beachfront restaurants.

[Photo Credit: Mary via Shared Adventures]

Rent a Private Villa

For the ultimate avoid-the-crowds hack, why not rent a private villa with its own pool, a chef to prepare local cuisine, and onsite contacts who can arrange drivers, tours/experiences, restaurant reservations, and more.  Depending on the specific location, and the number of people you’re traveling with, this option might not be as pricey as you think. And you can’t beat the experience!

[Photo Credit: Rafael via Unsplash]

Regardless of how you structure your Greek adventure, it is still a place that should be on everyone’s list. Let us help you make the smartest choices and design the most customized itinerary so that you get the most out of the experience!

A London & Paris Client Trip Report

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Sabrina and her daughter were so excited to plan their first trip across the pond. They wanted to see and do “all the things” and we knew that combining London with Paris would be the perfect adventure! Here’s how their trip went…

First and foremost I want to thank you for making our trip such an enjoyable experience. From our initial consult to using the app to navigate our day-to-day and everything in between…it was fabulous and exactly what we imagined. 

I journaled while we were gone, so below I’ve included info/observations to capture our experience but made it relative to your services! And we would adore working with you on future travel and recommending your services to others. 🙂

The Flight Across the Pond

With the long layover in Miami we went into the American Flagship Lounge which is the nicer of the two options there. They have a quiet room with chaise lounges, great food (including prime rib), coffees, cocktails and a place to shower and freshen up. Completely worth it even for a day pass. 

Landing in London and following your advice on staying up and calling it an early evening to get on London time proved successful. Our driver from the airport was lovely to chat with on the way to the hotel and gave us great tips and hidden gems to look out for. Originally from Portugal, he convinced me to consider Lisbon as our next adventure. Lol!!

London

We were also glad we had an early morning Tower of London sightseeing tour planned for the next day because it motivated us to actually keep with that goal. The tour ended up being the perfect way to get the lay of the land. It included a lot but it wasn’t overwhelming. The tour guide was incredible.We had a terrific experience. 

The London Eye, Book of Mormon and of course, the Tour of Windsor was equally as fabulous. Windsor was gorgeous and we had the opportunity to see both the changing of the guard and the Queen’s burial site at St. George’s chapel. We appreciated the guide’s history of the city as we drove out of London and him getting us on to the Palace’s grounds so we could then explore on our own. 

The Rubens Hotel

However, the star of this leg of our journey was the Rubens. They had us checked in by about noon that day because they knew we had been traveling and called us while we were out shopping. They also hand delivered scrumptious macaroons to our room upon arrival to the room.  High Tea there was incredible, which I highly recommend. Thanks to my friend Mara, we knew to request seating on the couches facing the window across from the Mews at the palace. We also caught a glimpse of blacked out carriage coming out of the palace while we were enjoying our tea. 

They treated us to a fabulous cook to order breakfast (worth about $50 per person per day). An additional $100 food and beverage credit plus a 15% discount on all other restaurant charges during our stay. In total it was an added value of $625. The breakfast was incredible and the one morning we needed to get in and out quickly because of our Windsor Tour, they prepared a yummy breakfast off menu so we could eat and walk down to the coach station in time. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how fabulous the front desk staff and doormen were. Andrew, in particular, made sure we got into our cabs safely and always made sure if we were walking we knew where we were going. And gave great suggestions on food, etc. 

Across the Chunnel to Paris

Overall it was the perfect number of days and activities for England before venturing to France via the Eurostar. The train was an experience all its own. Comfortable and efficient. Getting a taxi was easy to navigate, as you relayed, but after that, we only used a taxi one more time. After that we made a point to use Uber. The taxi drivers didn’t speak English and while the Uber drivers didn’t either, the app makes it easier to get to where you need to go. And you could choose different service levels for efficiency. 

Paris Hotel – The Legend

The Legend Hotel was equally on par with the Rubens. While it was more modern, had a much smaller staff and a less elaborate breakfast, it was absolutely fabulous. The rooms with all hardwood floors, no upholstered beds, tempurpedic mattress and pillows. As well as TONS of closet space allowed us to avoid the bed bug concerns. The room was also larger than I expected with a rain head shower, a mini fridge and a terrific view. It was overlooking the street with a tiny balcony. The staff was amazing and super helpful. It was also centrally located in a great section of town with lots of shopping and great restaurants. I would HIGHLY recommend this hotel! 

Paris Tours

Our tours and activities in Paris were equally as awesome as our experiences in London. The Eiffel Tower was great. The guide got us into the gates and to the lift then we could explore on our own, which we loved.

The Louvre was incredible. I am so glad we opted for a guide because it would have been overwhelming otherwise. He was also so insanely knowledgeable and passionate about art that it made the experience even better.  We did break away a little early from the group. But he was so sweet! And, took a few minutes to help us navigate the best way out so that we could see more. Our trip to the Catacombs was also amazing and our guide there was also terrific. The semi private option that allowed us to access areas only available to the group tours was totally worth it. 

Our final tour to Versailles was a great way to end our adventure. However, my only complaint was that the tour guide (while very knowledgeable) spent longer than necessary in stops in each room. Repeating herself but then rushing at the end. So much so that we ended up leaving the Palace area and exiting into the gardens before we could get her attention to let her know we wanted to stay in the palace so we could get more pics, visit Laduree and the gift shops. Of course, I have to take ownership of the fact we were pretty tired. And on info overload so I should have tried to speak up earlier. We were able to end our time there with amazing crepes. At a little restaurant there in town that was a hidden gem.

Again, such a minor thing that I hesitated to even mention it but it’s worth noting in case you have other clients interested in that tour. The train ride there was nice and she did do a good job initially explaining how it worked in contrast to the metro. We had to navigate the train back on our own. It was pretty easy with the help of Google Maps. Since we wanted to end up back at a station closer to our hotel. 

Heading Home

The driver who picked us up to return us to the Paris airport was early. And they came into the hotel lobby to ring our room. He was helpful in getting the luggage loaded and getting us to the right place very efficiently. It was the perfect amount of time at the Paris airport to check bags, do a little last minute shopping, and have a yummy breakfast. With the long layover on our return flight too, we bolted to the Flagship Lounge again! It was a great respite because it was a long day. A much less chaotic environment than the terminal and the perfect way to end our trip. 

Again, thank you for everything! I’ll be touching base before the end of the year to plan our next adventure!

-Sabrina

Top 6 Multi-Destination Travel Tips

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If it’s your first or second time traveling to Europe, it’s understandable to want to see it all. The flights are long and it’s difficult to choose just one destination. We always recommend creating balance in your trip and ensuring you have some days in the middle to slow down, relax, and enjoy the local experience. When you’re trying to craft the perfect multi-destination adventure, here are a few more tips to keep in mind to ensure you have the best time.

Choose Locations Which Are Close Together

If you’re going to be moving from place to place – look for destinations that are close together and easy to travel between. Take into account travel time, and find well-connected cities/towns. This will give you more time to enjoy new destinations without spending too much time in transit. Don’t forget to include travel time in your plans. If it takes 4 hours to get from one destination to the next, then that is only a half day you get to spend in the new destination.

Balance Overnight Stays with Day Trips

Moving from place to place isn’t the only way to maximize an adventure. You can stay in the same home base each night and enjoy that city in the evening while taking day trips to nearby locales — giving you the best of both worlds. Look for home bases that offer lots of fun daytrips in the surrounding area.

[Photo Credit: Kendra & Shad via Shared Adventures. Read about their adventure to Portugal here!]

buildings in Sintra Portugal

Spend At Least 3 Nights in a Destination

At least 3 days/ nights is what we recommend for almost every city, with very few exceptions. The first night you arrive is always disorienting. You’re getting used to the new destination and learning about your surroundings.

A family visiting the Acropolis in Greece

The second night is when you start to settle in. The first culture shock has worn off a little and you can enjoy the sites you’re seeing, maybe find a favorite gelato place or café. You’ll spend the day seeing the major sites and attractions – what the city is known best for.

[Photo Credit: Alicia & Jay via Shared Adventures. Read about their family trip to Greece here!]

Then comes the third day. You have a better sense of where you are and how to navigate the city. You can start to relax and enjoy where you are. Make note of the little things and find a few hidden gems. More time is always better but without three full days, you won’t get a proper taste of a city.

Pack Smart and Travel Light

Nothing’s worse than dragging a heavy suitcase from hotel to hotel through Europe. Make sure you pack light. If you have multiple destinations on your itinerary, especially with trains where you’ll need to lift your luggage up a few steps, doing your best to pack lightly will make your trip that much more enjoyable.

[Photo Credit: Liz via Shared Adventures]

Prebook The Key Attractions

To make the most of your time, make sure you pre-book skip-the-line tickets for the major sites and attractions in your destination. This way you avoid waiting in long lines and can make the most effective use of your day. If you want a good overview of the major sites of a city, booking a walking or golf-cart tour is a great way to start your stay.

Traveling Off the Beaten Path Takes Time

Finding local experiences and hidden gems of a city takes time. The longer you spend in one city the more time you have to truly understand the city and explore the unexplored. You’ll enjoy the local culture and local experiences. Although it may not seem like it, sometimes maximizing your travel means visiting a few places more profoundly.

[Photo Credit: Ann via Shared Adventures. Read about her week in Rome here!]

If you’re ready to strike the perfect balance in your multi-destination adventure – let us know! We’ll give you expert advice and help you to plan a customized itinerary that maximizes your experience!

An Adventure in Portugal

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Kendra and Shad love to visit places where they can be active and adventurous. Places with stunning scenery, a bit of hiking, and incredible food. We knew the perfect destination for their 2023 adventure that would incorporate all of the above: Portugal. Here’s their feedback:

Hotels

The Sintra Boutique Hotel (Sintra) was wonderful. The concierge was super helpful, the location was convenient, the room was comfortable, and the food at breakfast was the best (of the hotel breakfasts) we had during our trip.

The AP Oriental (Portimão) was gorgeous. Front desk staff was friendly and helpful, the room was spacious and comfortable. The food was great; the pool was quiet and clean. The weather didn’t cooperate for us to spend time on the beach, but it looked like a beautiful set up. Convenient location to walk everywhere, including along the boardwalk and beach. It was nice that it was a quiet, adults only hotel. The trade off was that most of the other guests were much older (more of a 50/60+ crowd). Wi-fi was a bit spotty.

Brown’s Central (Lisbon) was right in the thick of things. If you like to be where the people are, it’s the place for you. That being said, once inside the room it was quiet and comfortable. The decor is hip and unique. The bar downstairs had great bartenders and drinks. Walkable to many points of interest, bars and restaurants – just make sure you’re ready for cobblestones, narrow side walks and some hills/stairs. And A LOT of people.

Excursions

We LOVED the food tour in Lisbon. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable and gave great info everywhere we stopped, plus additional tips and recommendations. 10/10 would recommend.

The boat tour of the caves was so much fun. It was a little choppy the day we went out, but definitely worth the hour or so we were on the water. The boat was smaller than some other tours, so while we traded off some comfort, it allowed us to get closer to/into some of the caves, including Benagil.

It was nice to spend a night in Sintra. While crowded during the day with day trippers, it was peaceful to walk around at night. We had a delicious dinner, got some gelato and walked around town. We visited Peña Palace, which is a must see. Unfortunately there was a workers strike the second day and we weren’t able to visit the Moorish castle, but we still hiked up to it and saw the outside

We spent an afternoon in Cascais and would highly recommend anyone going to Lisbon make the trip, even for a few hours. We also stopped at St Vincent lighthouse in Sagres (aka the southernmost point in Portugal).

Food

The food was incredible. Restaurant F in Portimão was our favorite meal. Everywhere we stopped on the food tour in Lisbon was also amazing.

Pastéis de Belém may be touristy, but it really is worth it. We didn’t go inside, but we took pastéis to go and ate them in a nearby park.

The southernmost point of Portugal featuring sea and lighthouse

Overall, we had a wonderful time! Thank you for helping us plan this trip and for making such great recommendations!

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

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