Shannon loves to plan "Go with me trips" and this year we travelled with a fun group of friends and family to Greece. For many of us it was our first trip to Greece. We started in the south in Crete and moved north through a few picturesque islands and ended our vacation in Athens.
Crete
After landing at the Heraklion airport we travelled east about an hour to Elounda. We stayed at the beautiful and quiet resort - Domes of Elounda; on a quiet bay overlooking Spinalonga island and the Mediterranean Sea. The resort had a private beach club with food and drink available. The water was warm enough to walk straight in and enjoy! A great place to start a fun and relaxing trip!
We had a few excursions into Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos where we viewed ancient relics, shopped a bit, and enjoyed amazing food!
In Crete, water is never far. We enjoyed our tranquil boat ride around Spinalonga Island, a historic leper colony, and a fun dinner at the marina in Elounda.
Santorini
Our next stop, after a nice high speed ferry ride, was the amazing island of Santorini. Every spot where you stand on the island makes an amazing photo opportunity.
Great photos on Santorini are to be had everywhere. Sometimes even in the smallest details.
Santorini provided a great backdrop for new photos of Shannon for her Premiere Luxury Travel Website
Naxos
After a short high speed ferry ride we landed on the foodie island of Naxos. We stayed at the quiet beachfront resort of Ammothines Cycladic Suites. The resort was full of beautiful flowers and herbs and provided great outdoor spaces to enjoy a meal, a conversation, or just to relax.
One of the highlights of the trip was our cooking class on Naxos. We were led by Yaya, an amazing cook who used only an open fire and no electricity. We all helped prepare a sumptuous feast and loved their homemade white wine. Although Yaya spoke little English, preparing great food was universal!
The final result was an outstanding meal. Everyone returned to our resort happy and full!!!
Some of the group enjoyed a day visiting small villages in the hills of Naxos including a visit to a sheep herder who made famous Naxian Cheese.
Athens
Our final stop on our trip to Greece was Athens. We stayed at the world-class Hotel Grand Bretagne. The customer service, food, and atmosphere exceeded our expectations! We began our time by enjoying High Tea at the hotel and finished with a walking tour of the Acropolis and downtown (one more Souvlaki before leaving Greece!). Sometimes flexibility is key while travelling. Several of our group's checked bags took their own side trip before arriving in Athens from Naxos. However we worked through the delay and enjoyed the wrap-up of an amazing adventure.
Our Greece trip wrapped up with a farewell dinner on the roof of the Hotel Grand Bretagne. One final great meal and the sharing of a beautiful Greece sunset!