Greece Master Thread

[chopapeih]

I’m getting into ATH at 130am with a 5 hour layover. Does anybody know a post midnight tour guide who would drive me around Athens for 2-3hours?

[yahaatim]

I’m getting into ATH at 130am with a 5 hour layover. Does anybody know a post midnight tour guide who would drive me around Athens for 2-3hours?

as it is theres not much to do in athens. I dont see a point in going at night when the little to do there is closed. anything open late you dont need a tour for.

[Jacob88]

10 hour Layover
Anyone know of a left luggage service at the airport?

[MHP]

10 hour Layover
Anyone know of a left luggage service at the airport?

https://www.care4bag.gr/

[Abebee]

Booking 2 separate flights. One landing 8:05am and next one is 10:25am. Enough time?

[Naftuli19]

Booking 2 separate flights. One landing 8:05am and next one is 10:25am. Enough time?

Should b even with checking in

[tavster]

Should b even with checking in

If you have checked suitcases, doesn't leave much room for error/delays

[Abebee]

If you have checked suitcases, doesn't leave much room for error/delays

There are later elal flights that day. Thats my room for error?!

[tavster]

There are later elal flights that day. Thats my room for error?!

If the flights are on separate PNRs how does that help

[esh]

im planning a trip to santorini for the last week of october. Looking for a hotel with private pool, im seeing 22k hyatt points for the santorini sky, which seem to be much cheaper than many other options, it seems its at the top of the mountain so not so close to the water, wondering if thats why its cheaper. any recommendations?

[PlatinumGuy]

Check SLH hotels with Hilton points

[esh]

comes out about the same, hyatt seems to be a bit cheaper. 63k hyatt vs 140k Hilton (assumig id trasnfer amex to hilton 2:1)

[esh]

But as far as the locatioan is Santorini, is there  a difference where i stay? Is closer to Oia better or near Pyrgos is good too?

[esh]

What type of outlest does greece (santorini) have? how may volt? can i bring an israeli sanwhich maker to use there? does it make a differnce if its 3 prong?

[mlardi]

Is anyone transitioning in ATH and can help me with left luggage (carry on) that needs to get to NYC please pm

[Sam1297]

Is anyone familiar with the Hechsher of Chabad? Like is it recommended by the CRC or similar?

[MHP]

[esh]

Never wrote a TR before, but being there wasnt much about Santorini I figured I'll write about my trip.
10/28-10/31

Flights:
We were leaving from Israel but going to the US first. Due to the war flights were hard to find, we eneded up booking Arkia rt TLV-ATH then a seperate booking on United, and another booking on Sky Express ATH-JTR rt. The self trasnfers were a bit annoying but wasnt much of an option at the time. We flew out of ORD to ATH with a stop in FRA. Instaed of taking all our luggage with us to Santorini, we dropped off 2 of our bags at care4bag (was about $60 for the 2 bags for 3 days). Sky express flew small propeller planes, was a short 45 min flight, was a bit noisey, and they dont fly high (prob didnt go above 10k feet). Santorini Airport is small, walked off the plane into the baggage claims.

Transportation:
I rented a car because of where i was staying - all the way up on top of Pyrgos, so would need some transportation anywhere i wanted to go. If your staying in Oia, then you can take a shuttle to your hotel. In Oia you can walk around or rent atv's.
I reserevd a car through National (with insurance was about $220 for 3 days), though they dont actually have rentals there rather its through a Greece rental company - Drive. The guy was waiting for me at baggage claim and drove me to their location, was about a 5 min drive. It was the end of the season so things were calm, was the same guy picking me up and working at the location. Super nice guy. As i heard before i went everyone in Santorini is very friendly and nice.
Probably would have made more sense to rent from Avis, they're at the airport and price was basically the same.
I didnt rent an ATV because i didnt have enough time, but theres tons of places that rent them (around $35-50/day depending where and what type), its a way to get around and can just be fun way of exploring the area.

Hotel:
I was looking around for a nice place with a private pool. I found some options in Oia (from some other post on ddf) but they werent fully private and were a bit pricey (over $400/night). I saw Santorni Sky resort on Hyatt (a Mr and Mrs Smith property) for 22k points/night for a private villa with a plunge pool and hot tub. However it is located on the opposite  side of the island from Oia, so i wasnt sure. After lots of searching, everyone i saw online said its a great view and enjoyable, so i booked it. The staff was super accommodating, they whatsapped us before we arrived to make sure they would have what we need. The property is high up the mountains so the view is gorgeous. The villa was down a bunch of steps but the staff carried all our luggage so that was a huge help. We stayed in the Sky Retreat Villa. The pool was offically heated, but when we arrived they told us it gets heated from the sun! Being it was the end of the warm season the pool was cold, but the hot tub was boiling hot.
Santorini Sky has an option to rent sky domes for sunset (was around $100), its for 2 hrs. Was amazing! Bring some snacks and drinks along and just enjoy.

Food:
Before leaving Chicago i went to Romanian and picked up some Burgers, Hotdogs, and salami. We also brought bread,cheese, milk, tuna and a bunch of snacks. In santorini i went to a appliance store and bought 2 sandwhich makers with removable plates (so i can toivel them and use right away) and thats what i used to "grill" my burgers/hot dogs and make grilled cheese. There was almsot no kosher (or at least with a hechsher) food in any stores. The onyl products i saw with a hechser was Arizona Tea and Barilla pasta.
The room had a microwave (i actually cracked the glass plate, i whatsapped the resort to tell them, their response was As long as no one got hurt its ok) and a nespresso machine which also had an option for just hot water. The resort was trying to  accommodate for my kosher needs, there wasnt much they can do, but they did get me paper bowls and cups.

We mainly wanted to enjoy the sun, chill in the pool and relax, but also wanted to get around a bit. We arrived on Monday evening, all stores were closed - Oct 28 is Ochi Day, some Greece legal holiday, so we had to wait for the next day to go get some stuff from the stores.
Tues morning we chilled, went to the grocery store and appliance store... Tues evening we rented the Sky dome and watched the sunset, well worth the money (the sunset was nice, but the experience was much better).
Wednesday we got a 5hr private yacht tour by Spirdakos sailing cruises. It was the end of season so we were able to bargin them down to $500 for a totally private tour (was originaly $1000 including a meal, we told them we only eat kosher and will bring along food). The tour is  MUST! I had read about these tours and everyone said its a must see, so i took their word and spent $500 hoping it is worth it - It was well worth it. The tours leave from the vlychada marina and go along the Island into the Caldera, they stop a few times for you to get out, the water was "refreshing" as they called it. It was cold at first but was fine. When we got out by the hot springs it was a little warmer. The views along the tour are just amazing. On our way back to the villa we stopped at the Prophet Elias lookout point to watch the sunset. (it is around the highest point of the Island, and was just a few min past the villa)
Thursday we were checking out. We enjoyed the pool/hot tub some more and checked out at 1:30. Our flight wasnt until 9pm so we had some time to see  get around some more. We first went to the Lost Atlantis museum. Was nice, but nothing to go out of your way for. We then went to Fira, took the cable cars to the old port and just walked around the town for a bit. After that we finally made our way to Oia to watch the sunset. Was a bit of cloudy night so wasnt the best sunset but was still very nice.
After that we headed back the airport...
This was my 1st trip with my wife and we both really enjoyed. Santorini is great place for Honeymoon!
Hope this is helpfull for anyone planning.

[OrlandoKashering]

Has anyone been to rhodes for shabbos, or crete for durring the week who can help me w a few questions?
Thanks!

[tavster]

Has anyone been to rhodes for shabbos, or crete for durring the week who can help me w a few questions?
Thanks!

Crete I've been many times