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Greece Master Thread
Chabad has an awesome restaurant (and a cool chabad house) in Athens (Rated Number 2 of all restaurants in Athens on TA).
They also ship to all islands which you can warm up in your hotel. The food is awesome as as well!
Find them on facebook or on their website

Bunch of kosher travel related info here: http://koshergreece.com


Trip Reports: CS91's Santorini & Athens

Zaggurus TR: zagguru's


Sam28 TR Santorini : Sam28's


Athens:
Hotels
Hotel Grande Bretagne (Starwood)
King George Palace  (Starwood)
Both hotel's are right near each other, grand Bretagne is a little more upscale.
Both are walking distance to Chabad (Around 10 min) and to most of the action in Athens.
Other hotel's are a little further out of all the action.

Stuff to do
GOSTIJO kosher restaurant (They have a small grocery where you can get a variety of Israeli products) [See above]
Acropolis (Akropolis) and the Acropolis (Akropolis) Museum
Anafiotika (old town with some shopping)
Plaka 
Monastiraki
Panathenaic Stadium (Panathinaiko Stadio) first modern Olympics game.
Day trip to Delphi
Water-skiing in the Aegean Sea

Athens Chabad Pdf

Mykonos:
Hotels

Kosher
https://koshermykonos.com
whiteandblue.kosher@gmail.com
+331 84 60 70 70

What to do


Santorini:
Hotels
There are only two options which take points.
1. Vedema, this hotel is in Megalochori, it is a little off the path (Not near the water) and you don't get the views you would expect in Santorini. (Not a great option, but if you want to stay with points, it is a nice hotel)
2. Mystique, rated as one of the best Starwood hotels in the world. Availability is almost impossible, because they only have 27 rooms. Never mind the shocking 70K Starwood points a night in high season. 

Stuff to do
Kamari Beach, there is a cliff there which has a nice jump into the ocean. (Please be careful!)
Red Beach
Hiking Trail Fira - Oia (You can take a Donkey which is quite freaky, or take a tram)
Sunset in Oia (A must do, to get away from the crowds go to Sun Spirit, it is near the windmill and has great views and not packed. They only serve drinks.)
Santorini Volcano, Hot Springs.
Rent a ATV go around the island (At your own risk, the drivers in Santorini are crazy!)
Highest point of the island near the town of Prygos. Awesome panoramic views of the whole island.

Rhodes
Hotels
Sheraton Rhodes, large resort very centrally located. nice pools.
https://chabadrhodes.com

« Last edited by davidmal on October 16, 2023, 08:49:36 AM »

Author Topic: Greece Master Thread  (Read 256287 times)

Offline Drago

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #180 on: November 25, 2013, 05:33:08 PM »
No it was with Aegean and was about 130 USD. If you do it that way it may pay to also visit Crete once you are there. From Crete you can fly to Santorini in 20 minutes. (don't take the ferry takes so much longer).
What airline did you fly btw Crete and Santorini? I don't see anything direct online.

Offline jmansour

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #181 on: November 25, 2013, 05:38:41 PM »
What airline did you fly btw Crete and Santorini? I don't see anything direct online.

i went to both crete and santorini and santorini is much much nicer..
no need to fly just take the 2 hour ferry if i recall it was called the flying cat 4

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #182 on: November 25, 2013, 07:34:39 PM »
i went to both crete and santorini and santorini is much much nicer..
no need to fly just take the 2 hour ferry if i recall it was called the flying cat 4
Ferry takes 2 hours and costs same amount as 20 minute flight, plus they have horrid reviews on TA. If short on time I can't see why anyone would do that. Main reason is though that if there are stormy seas they cancel the ferries. That happened to people I met when I was there, but luckily we flew.
« Last Edit: November 25, 2013, 07:38:07 PM by Fan of Dan »

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #183 on: November 25, 2013, 07:36:40 PM »
What airline did you fly btw Crete and Santorini? I don't see anything direct online.
Minoan air

http://www.minoanair.com/en/Home

You can also email them, sales@minoanair.com

Offline avadah

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #184 on: January 09, 2014, 08:20:46 AM »
Was there any kosher food in any of these places?

Offline hocker

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #185 on: January 09, 2014, 11:13:03 AM »
Was there any kosher food in any of these places?
Athens has a Kosher restaurant.

Offline SrulyP

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #186 on: February 01, 2014, 01:35:11 PM »
So I am planning on going to Greece from Israel Friday early morning March 7th to Sunday late night March 9th, and have a couple of questions...

I see that everyone seems to like Hotel Grande Bretagne better than Hotel King George. Is there any difference in shabbos use that would make one hotel better than the other? For example in regards to lights in the room/hallway/fridge, key cards or metal keys, A/C turning off and on when the door opens or closes.

I am also a little confused in regards to distance. I want to join chabad for meals and davennings on shabbos. Can you please let me know how far it is to whatever shul I will be davenning at and the distance from the shul to the resturaunt and how far that is from the hotel (is the restaurant where chabad hosts the shabbos meals?)

I am planning on following the weekend itinerary from Chabad. http://www.koshergreece.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2217417/jewish/Weekend-in-Athens-program.htm

If I am able to do everything i suggests on Friday and Shabbos then what is the best plan of actionn for sunday. I need to leave to the airport at approx at 8:00pm and would love to get dinner before that. So let us say that the activities could only go to 7pm. Should i do the 3 island tour or stick to one island, Aegina, and rent an ATV and go around there? How long would this one island take and what else do you think I can do that day?

I would like to go somewhere as romantic as possible with my wife, I am guessing that early March it will be coldish at night so I would prefer a romantic view from an indoor location...

Is there any way to get cholov yisroel milk in Athens?

Is it worth renting a car from Athens Airport or should i just stick to using a train to hotel Hotel Grande Bretagne, as I do not have a kid but I am traveling with a pregnant wife.

Thanks a lot for all of your help.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2014, 01:55:35 PM by SrulyP »

Offline Drago

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #187 on: February 01, 2014, 03:56:10 PM »
Enjoy Sruly!
How are you flying, and what's making you go for such a short period?

Offline chucksterace

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #188 on: February 01, 2014, 04:15:09 PM »
So I am planning on going to Greece from Israel Friday early morning March 7th to Sunday late night March 9th, and have a couple of questions...

I see that everyone seems to like Hotel Grande Bretagne better than Hotel King George. Is there any difference in shabbos use that would make one hotel better than the other? For example in regards to lights in the room/hallway/fridge, key cards or metal keys, A/C turning off and on when the door opens or closes.

I am also a little confused in regards to distance. I want to join chabad for meals and davennings on shabbos. Can you please let me know how far it is to whatever shul I will be davenning at and the distance from the shul to the resturaunt and how far that is from the hotel (is the restaurant where chabad hosts the shabbos meals?)

I am planning on following the weekend itinerary from Chabad. http://www.koshergreece.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2217417/jewish/Weekend-in-Athens-program.htm

If I am able to do everything i suggests on Friday and Shabbos then what is the best plan of actionn for sunday. I need to leave to the airport at approx at 8:00pm and would love to get dinner before that. So let us say that the activities could only go to 7pm. Should i do the 3 island tour or stick to one island, Aegina, and rent an ATV and go around there? How long would this one island take and what else do you think I can do that day?

I would like to go somewhere as romantic as possible with my wife, I am guessing that early March it will be coldish at night so I would prefer a romantic view from an indoor location...

Is there any way to get cholov yisroel milk in Athens?

Is it worth renting a car from Athens Airport or should i just stick to using a train to hotel Hotel Grande Bretagne, as I do not have a kid but I am traveling with a pregnant wife.

Thanks a lot for all of your help.

Wow. Enjoy your trip. Makes me want to go there now.

Must keep this for future reference. Thanks
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline SrulyP

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #189 on: February 01, 2014, 06:17:13 PM »
Enjoy Sruly!
How are you flying, and what's making you go for such a short period?

Flying 35k r/t UA miles on Aegean Airlines.

I was looking on united and realized that I never end up using points cuz my wife hates stopovers and flying in general so when i found this flight (less than 2 hours) i figured i should just do it.

I had to make it a weekend trip cuz of work...


Offline SrulyP

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #190 on: February 05, 2014, 04:25:27 PM »
So I am planning on going to Greece from Israel Friday early morning March 7th to Sunday late night March 9th, and have a couple of questions...

I see that everyone seems to like Hotel Grande Bretagne better than Hotel King George. Is there any difference in shabbos use that would make one hotel better than the other? For example in regards to lights in the room/hallway/fridge, key cards or metal keys, A/C turning off and on when the door opens or closes.

I am also a little confused in regards to distance. I want to join chabad for meals and davennings on shabbos. Can you please let me know how far it is to whatever shul I will be davenning at and the distance from the shul to the resturaunt and how far that is from the hotel (is the restaurant where chabad hosts the shabbos meals?)

I am planning on following the weekend itinerary from Chabad. http://www.koshergreece.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2217417/jewish/Weekend-in-Athens-program.htm

If I am able to do everything i suggests on Friday and Shabbos then what is the best plan of actionn for sunday. I need to leave to the airport at approx at 8:00pm and would love to get dinner before that. So let us say that the activities could only go to 7pm. Should i do the 3 island tour or stick to one island, Aegina, and rent an ATV and go around there? How long would this one island take and what else do you think I can do that day?

I would like to go somewhere as romantic as possible with my wife, I am guessing that early March it will be coldish at night so I would prefer a romantic view from an indoor location...

Is there any way to get cholov yisroel milk in Athens?

Is it worth renting a car from Athens Airport or should i just stick to using a train to hotel Hotel Grande Bretagne, as I do not have a kid but I am traveling with a pregnant wife.

Thanks a lot for all of your help.

Anyone able to help please?

Offline shimino1

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #191 on: February 05, 2014, 07:57:41 PM »
Wow. Enjoy your trip. Makes me want to go there now.

Must keep this for future reference. Thanks
+1 How much were the flights from israel with VA miles?
Also from what I saw, the cp athens is BRG'able. 

Offline Drago

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #192 on: February 06, 2014, 12:39:03 AM »
+1 How much were the flights from israel with VA miles?
Also from what I saw, the cp athens is BRG'able. 
You mean VS (Virgin Atlantic)?
You can fly through Cyprus for 15k RT from Israel w/ stopovers in LCA in both directions.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club/flying-club-partners/airlines/cyprus-airways.html

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #193 on: March 27, 2014, 09:09:55 PM »
Just snagd a couple of free BRG nights at the crowne plaza Athens and want to do a couple more.
Im looking for some advice from pepole who have been to greece before:
Is the crowne plaza within walking distance of chabad ?
If not should we just skip shabbos and come afterwards? or is shabbos really nice and we should actually pay for a hotel (shudder)?
Which is better to see santorini or crete? and how much time do you need there?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #194 on: March 27, 2014, 11:31:42 PM »
Just snagd a couple of free BRG nights at the crowne plaza Athens and want to do a couple more.
Im looking for some advice from pepole who have been to greece before:
Is the crowne plaza within walking distance of chabad ?
If not should we just skip shabbos and come afterwards? or is shabbos really nice and we should actually pay for a hotel (shudder)?
Which is better to see santorini or crete? and how much time do you need there?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
My vote is with Santorini. I was only in part of Crete however as the island of Crete is huge. Also stay at the Grand Bretange for at least one night in Athens. It's a really cool place.

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #195 on: March 28, 2014, 03:04:19 AM »
+10

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #196 on: April 27, 2014, 09:24:59 PM »
Is there a minyan on any of the nice islands??

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #197 on: April 29, 2014, 03:52:50 PM »
is there any functioning minyan in greece
from the chabad website it lists 7 shuls, some of which have times for minyan, but on the actual website of the one of the shuls it doesnt look like they have a daily minyan (eitz chayim in crete)

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #198 on: May 02, 2014, 03:01:11 PM »
Any idea If the Hilton in athens is shabbos accesible?

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Re: Greece Master Thread
« Reply #199 on: May 02, 2014, 03:08:33 PM »
Any idea If the Hilton in athens is shabbos accesible?

I think you will be better off at starwood --plus much better location for tourist and would be a 5 star in any city --

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=101