| Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of and is pleased to | | | | destination that's off the beaten path with fantastic |
| have as a guest Tom Savvides, expert on Greece | | | | sea views.I really need to mention a few places on |
| and co-owner of National Travel Service Inc located | | | | the mainland of Greece in the Peleponese region. |
| in Livingston, New Jersey.Thanks Tom for accepting | | | | Although not a big tourist area it offers many |
| our invitation to be interviewed.NORM:Can you tell our | | | | interesting historical sites, beautiful beaches, unspoiled |
| readers something about yourself and your expertise | | | | villages, terrific wine regions and fun cities as well.* |
| pertaining to Greece and the Greek Islands?TOM:I am | | | | The city of Nafplion, the first capital of modern |
| a co-owner of National Travel Service, Inc. Our | | | | Greece, is a lovely port city with a fascinating history. |
| agency was started by my family in 1969 specifically | | | | Above the city sits the Nafplia Palace Hotel. It has a |
| to assist the Greek community in the NY/NJ area | | | | private split-level building for receptions. It is built on |
| with their travel needs. Since that time we have | | | | the side of the hill overlooking the harbour. Three |
| evolved into a full-service travel agency specializing in | | | | sides of the building are glass which allows beautiful |
| travel to Greece. I personally lead an annual food and | | | | panoramic views. They have an excellent restaurant |
| wine tour to Greece and have traveled there since I | | | | and wine steward. The beach town of Tolo is just |
| was a child.NORM:Could you give our readers an idea | | | | outside of Nafplion and is a great alternative to |
| as to what differentiates five of the most popular of | | | | staying within the city.NORM:How far in advance |
| the Greek islands from one another from point of | | | | should a couple prepare themselves for a honeymoon |
| view of topography, climate, and anything else you | | | | or romantic getaway in Greece?TOM:If you are |
| consider different?TOM:The 5 most popular islands in | | | | traveling during the height of the tourist season I |
| terms of the number of tourists visiting annually | | | | would suggest planning your honeymoon at least 6- 8 |
| are:*Santorini, | | | | months in advance. This way you can secure the |
| *Mykonos | | | | best airfare and accommodations at the hotels of |
| *Crete | | | | your choice. If you are traveling in the off- season |
| *Rhodes | | | | you could plan a honeymoon literally within a month |
| *Corfu.In my opinion Santorini is the most unique and | | | | or so of your departure date.NORM:What advice |
| beautiful of all the Greek Islands.It is unique due to | | | | would you have for destination brides who plan to |
| the fact that it is literally the tip of an ancient volcano | | | | bring along a wedding party to Greece? It's a |
| whose explosion in 1500 BC was arguably the largest | | | | growing trend for destination weddings to now have |
| in history.The archaeological site of Akrotiri is | | | | a fairly sizeable wedding party sometimes about 50' |
| considered by experts to be the lost city of | | | | so it would be great to get their tips on group airline |
| Atlantis.The views and sunsets are the absolute | | | | discounts, hotel blocks.TOM:The one thing you need |
| best!Mykonos is known mostly for its wild nightlife, | | | | to keep in mind when considering Greece for a |
| beautiful beaches and fine jewellery shops, specifically | | | | destination wedding is the size of the hotels. If you |
| gold. The island of Delos is close to Mykonos and is | | | | brought 50 guests to Santorini in the height of the |
| the location of a significant archaeological site.Crete is | | | | tourist season it would be unlikely that you would find |
| the largest Greek island and offers everything from | | | | a single hotel that would accommodate all of your |
| cosmopolitan cities, ancient ruins, beautiful beaches as | | | | guests. The Greek islands are known for their small, |
| well as the longest gorge in Europe.Rhodes is very | | | | intimate and family run hotels not for their big |
| similar to Crete in terms of the diversity of sites & | | | | resorts. Don't get me wrong there are several large |
| activities and climate although it is a much smaller | | | | resort type hotels on several of the islands however |
| island.Corfu is located in the Ioanian Sea far from all | | | | they are quite expensive and usually have less charm. |
| the other islands we have mentioned. It is a popular | | | | Whether you're planning a wedding for 10 or 50 you |
| island for visitors from the UK. It has a diverse | | | | must do it way in advance.As far as the airfare goes |
| climate and terrain offering everything from beautiful | | | | you would need only 10 passengers traveling on the |
| sandy beaches to pine forests.NORM:Why would you | | | | same flights in order to qualify for a group discount. |
| consider Greece a good choice for a romantic | | | | This would also need to be done well in advance if |
| getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination, and | | | | you're looking for a discounted airfare in the high |
| if you had to choose your 5 favourite Greek Islands, | | | | season.NORM:How does one go about checking on |
| which ones would they be and why?TOM:This is an | | | | the reliability of a hotel or resort in Greece when it |
| easy question. The unrivalled beauty of the Greeks | | | | pertains to service, food, etc?TOM:One way would |
| Islands is what makes them a romantic destination. | | | | be to book your trip through an experienced travel |
| As I mentioned before the warm beaches and | | | | agent like myself who has either personally been to |
| romantic sunsets are the best. The Greeks are | | | | the hotel or resort they are recommending or has |
| masters at making people feel relaxed and | | | | sent clients there already and has received positive |
| comfortable which are all prerequisites for | | | | feedback. You can also goon-line as I do occasionally. |
| romance.My favourite Greek Islands would be | | | | There are several sites that offer unbiased reviews |
| Santorini for its sheer beauty and amazing cuisine, | | | | from travelers that have stayed at the resort you |
| Crete for its diversity, wealth of activities and | | | | are interested in. One site that I use quite often is I |
| delicious wines and food, Mykonos for its fantastic | | | | still think the best way to be sure of what you're |
| nightlife and gorgeous beaches, Chios and Andros | | | | getting is to book through an agent that is |
| because they are not such popular islands for tourists | | | | considered an expert in the particular destination you |
| and for all the warm and wonderful people I've met | | | | are traveling to.NORM:What should people know |
| from these islands.NORM:What is the best time to | | | | about planning a wedding in Greece as far as legal |
| visit Greece from the point of view of weather, | | | | requirements are concerned?TOM:The details are far |
| costs, and crowds? As a follow up, how do costs | | | | too many to summarize. It is best to go directly to |
| vary from one season to another?TOM:Personally my | | | | the web site for the U.S. Embassy Athens Greece |
| favourite time to visit Greece is in mid to late | | | | Consular Services at US EMBASSY for details. One |
| September. The weather is not as hot as in the peak | | | | should never rely on advice from anyone other than |
| travel months of July and August, airfares and hotel | | | | an official representative of the Greek or U.S. |
| rates are slightly cheaper and the crowds have | | | | Embassy. It would be very difficult for anyone |
| thinned out somewhat by that time. Clearly the best | | | | without a direct working knowledge of these |
| time to travel to the islands would be in the peak | | | | requirements to be constantly informed and up to |
| months of June to September specifically because of | | | | date of any and all changes.NORM:How safe is travel |
| the weather. Most of the islands are fairly quiet in the | | | | to Greece?TOM:In terms of terrorist acts, which |
| off- season except for local residents. It is true that | | | | everyone seems to be concerned with these days, |
| you could save considerably on airfare and especially | | | | Greece has just made it through the Olympics, which |
| your accommodations in the off -season but, the | | | | is the largest international event in the world, without |
| islands are not the place to be when it's cold and | | | | any incidents. Their airport is the newest and most |
| rainy.Please keep in mind that Greece is now part of | | | | high tech in terms of security in the world today.In |
| the European Union and therefore uses the Euro for | | | | terms of safety within Athens or on the islands it is |
| its currency. As you know the US Dollar is very | | | | not necessary to take any extra precautions when |
| week versus the Euro, which means that Greece is | | | | out and about. Like any place you will ever go to |
| no longer considered an inexpensive travel | | | | there are good and bad parts of town. A little |
| destination. This in turn has had an adverse effect on | | | | common sense goes a long way in avoiding any |
| tourism to Greece the past few years. It does not | | | | problems.One's personal safety should not be a |
| mean you won't get your money's worth only that | | | | deterrent from planning a trip to Greece.NORM:Is |
| the prices are more on par with those in Italy and | | | | there anything else you would wish to add as it |
| Spain which were typically more expensive | | | | pertains to romantic and wedding destinations in |
| destinations than Greece.NORM:If you had to choose | | | | Greece?TOM:There are many unique and beautiful |
| 5 unequalled, exotic and unique areas such as parks, | | | | Greek Islands, however, some of the smaller more |
| beaches etc in any of the Greek Islands or in Athens | | | | remote islands may not be suitable for a destination |
| to celebrate a wedding, which ones would you | | | | wedding or even a honeymoon. They are not geared |
| choose from the point of view of popularity and | | | | towards tourism and may not offer the type of |
| beauty?TOM:* I love Orizontas Restaurant in Athens. | | | | amenities one may require for this very special |
| It sits on top of Lycabettus Hill and offers the best | | | | occasion. There are many islands that do offer |
| view of Athens as well as fantastic sunsets. You | | | | everything you would desire and you should seek the |
| actually take a tram through the hillside to reach it.* | | | | advise of a travel expert to help you choose the |
| The St. George Lycabettus Hotel in Athens is an | | | | perfect location.Thanks Tom for accepting our |
| excellent choice for the same reasons as well as their | | | | invitation to be interviewed.For over thirty- five |
| courteous staff, wonderful cuisine and a beautiful | | | | years, Norm practiced as a Title Attorney and Civil |
| roof top pool and bar.* Santorini has several areas to | | | | Law Notary in Montreal, Canada. After his retirement |
| consider. The Dana Villas hotel in the town of Fira | | | | from the legal profession, Norm pursued two of his |
| offers a fantastic honeymoon suite and a wonderful | | | | passions - book reviewing and travel writing, |
| pool area that hangs off a cliff over the sea, which is | | | | implementing many of his research skills he had been |
| a breathtaking location for a ceremony or reception. | | | | practicing for 35 years.Norm and his wife Lily are a |
| They even have their own wedding coordinator.* | | | | unique husband and wife team, writer and water |
| The town of Oia is world famous for its romantic | | | | colorist, who write and paint about romantic |
| sunsets and the small cove of Ammoudi Beach, which | | | | destinations and wedding destinations. |
| is located below the cliffs of Oia is another unique | | | | |