Travel Review: Greece Vacation, Thessaloniki, Athens, Philippi, Vergina, Acropolis, Chalcidice Peninsula, Mount Athos, Cruise

Our travel planner in Greece created a wonderful interesting trip for me my son that met all my hopes and expectations. I will try to describe some my circumstances and the specific ways she solved problems and made the trip so rewarding.   Thirty years ago I had spent more than four months with my wife and young children on Crete, the major tourist islands, and the Peloponnese, but I  had not visited northern Greece, specifically the historic areas.   Except for a month in a rented house on Skiathos we had travelled from day to day in a rented car with no advance plans.  Needless to say, times have changed, and I knew I needed help from a knowledgeable trip planner.  The task was further complicated because my decision to go was at last minute and I changed plans several times and was able add my son.  She accommodated all these changes patiently, cheerfully, and helpfully suggesting several places I had not known, as well as the historic areas around Thessaloniki. She recommended and, with my approval, reserved rooms at hotels, met our plane and arranged transfers within Greece, suppled informed guides and drivers and took care of most other practical arrangements.  I want to emphasize how important it is that this be done effectively and reliably.  No traveler wants to have a necessary pick-up to be late or missed, even if, as happened to us the flight from US was delayed  2 ½ hours.  An even more important example of reliability of her arrangements occurred when I left necessary medicine in the car that brought us from the airport to Athens.  I called her and she arranged to have it recovered and delivered to our hotel within hours.  I also want to compliment the guides she arranged for us.  I have some knowledge of Greek history and culture, but the guides she supplied were informed and interesting, especially the guide/driver who accompanied us for six days in northern Greece, who was knowledgeable about the sites we visited and indeed had written several works on historic Greek architecture.  Finally although the trip was custom designed for us, it was not inflexible.  We had choices with respect to all meals , except breakfast, had three free days, and  were able to make adjustments in the time we spent in places that we found particularly interesting. In all a wonderful job.