My list of do’s and don’ts is below:

Do get as much sleep as you can on the plane

Do hydrate

Don’t drink too much alcohol, even though it may be free on your plane

Do stay awake on your first night in Greece until at least 9PM

Do not sleep in the next day on your first night

Don’t take a nap the afternoon when you arrive

Here are a couple of other airplane tips:

Check in early, get to the airport about 3 hours before your flight.  I get there 4-5 hours early and relax with a good meal.

Bring a light change of clothes on the plan with you in case there is a delay in getting your luggage.  For Greece I’ll pack a pair of shorts.

Buckle your seatbelt over your blanket, otherwise you will be woken during the seatbelt checks. 

Turn off your phone completely to save the battery.

Get up, walk and stretch once in a while if you are awake.

Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to freshen up before landing.

You will get fed well but pack a few extra snacks just in case.

Moisturize, the air is extremely dry.

Bring eyedrops if you need them for your dry eyes.

Adjust your watch to the current time at your destination when the flight starts.

The post Flying Tips to avoid Jet Lag appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

1. Keep your purses strap over your head and keep a hand on it in a busy place.
2. If you are at a restaurant in a busy outdoor café, keep your purse wrapped around your chair or on your shoulder.
3. Put your wallet and phone in your front pockets and keep a hand on them in busy places.
4. If you see a disruption, it may be a pick pocket team, just ignore it instead of being distracted.
5. Your passport serves as your ID in Greece, so we usually keep them on us and ensure they are safeguarded.
6. We usually put extra cash in the hotel safe, so in case there is an incident, you won’t lose everything.  There are stories of safes being broken into, but it almost never happens.
7. While we are in busy areas during arrival and departures, I wear a money belt (available on Amazon for about $10) under my shirt if carrying a lot of cash. 
8. You won’t need a lot of cash since credit cards are accepted almost anywhere except for some local restaurants.  If you need more cash during your trip, visit an ATM.

It is good to have a copy of your passport and credit cards to cover the worst case scenario of losing your phone wallet and credit cards.  You can carry a paper copy in your luggage or just take a picture and send it to someone you trust at home or store it in a secure digital space.  

The post Guarding against pick-pockets appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

Sept 25 – we fly from Boston to Athens on British Airways BA0212 and BA0640 leaving Boston at 7:10 PM and going through London to get into Athens at 2:30 PM. To get a great rate, book directly on BritishAirways.com. You can also enter your American Airlines number for frequent flier miles.

A good time to get in is anywhere from 9AM to 3PM, and remember, you will be arriving on Sept 26 if you leave on the 25th.

September 26-28 Myself and several others are staying at Athens21 which is now full. Syd and Matt are staying at Belle Epoique Suites nearby which still has rooms on booking.com.

Sept 28th – Many of us are traveling together on Aegean Air flight A3356, leaving Athens at 11:05 AM and arriving in Santorini at 11:50 AM. Make sure you buy the right ticket for the baggage you will have. It is a large plane, so you should be able to carry on if you choose. To get the best rates book on

Sept 28-Oct 3 – Syd, Matt, and several others will stay at the Agali Houses in Firostefani, https://www.agalihouses.gr. It is right on the cliff about 130 steps down from the road. Make your reservations through me or on booking.com. Call the hotel to get baggage assistance ( +30 22860 22811 or +30 22860 24043) when you get there.

Many from Matt’s family will stay at Tamarix Del Mar Suites in Kamari https://santorini-luxury-hotels.com which is very high-rated and close to the airport.

Sept 30 Event – You are all invited to go on a We will all have the opportunity to join us on a private 74 foot catamaran for a 5-hour cruise with stops for relaxing or swimming. Pickup in Kamari is at 8:30AM and pickup in Firostefani Square is at 8:40.

Oct 1 Event – Wedding Day, wedding Santo Wines followed by a reception at Pyrgos Restaurant.

Oct 2-4 This is when many are leaving Santorini for several various destinations, from other Greek islands via ferry like Paros, Milos, Mykonos, or Naxos. Others are heading home either directly or through Atens.

Several groups are spending their last night near the airport to ensure they can get to their international flight from Athens. Most are staying in Vravrona at the Dolce by Wyndham Athens Attica Riviera https://www.dolceatticariviera.com, you should look at https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/dolce-attica-riviera.html for the best rates. I recommend getting a rate that includes breakfast, it is incredible.

If you get there early enough, there is also an incredible seafood restaurant called Taverna Artemis that you can walk to in about 6 minutes.

The post Our Itinerary appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

While looking at the hotels below please note the following

I chose mostly 4 **** and 5 ***** hotels which are almost always great. The stars correlate to the services they offer. Many times you can also find a great 3 star hotel that may not have all the conveniences of a 4 star, but could be nicer. In the recommendations below I also include the Google Rating (GR) which is a guide to how happy the people who stayed there were.

To get the best rates use https://www.google.com/travel/. If the best rate is the hotel itself, book through them. Otherwise, Booking.com and Expedia are great options.

Athens Hotels

In Athens, I would recommend staying in the Acropolis area since all the great sights are there along with many places to eat. I would also stay close to the main road as shown above by the blue area. Keep in mind that many hotels in Athens have very small rooms, but offer great access to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Two must sees in the city.

Suggested hotels in Athens

Coming soon, don’t worry, these don’t usually fill up

The post Where should I stay in Athens? appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

https://www.ferryhopper.com The best
https://www.directferries.com Also very good
https://www.ferries.gr/en/ A bit cheesy, but it shows some routes that the others do not.

Don’t worry about booking too soon, they rarely fill up. Also, there are fast ferries, but sometimes the slower ones are more enjoyable since you can sit on the top decks.

You can also take the ferry from Santorini to Athens, but keep in mind that it is a 7 hour trip, so a plane may be a better option here.

Some recommended ferry hops that also have flights back to Athens are below

Paros

Can’t say enough about this island, you definitely want to stay in Naousa which has a lively area to eat and drink in. If you have a car or ATV there are also tons of unique beaches all over this small island. As for Naousa, you do not need to stay on the water and I would recommend using Booking.com to find a place. We stayed at the Anemomylos Residence which was right across from an ATV rental place. Just a short walk to the harbor from there which is where all the restaurants and bars are.

You can see my pictures from our last trip there on Flickr

Mykonos

This is the island to hit for the best nightclubs of all the Greek Islands. They also have great beaches and restaurants. It is a bit expensive compared to other islands. Most of the action is in the Old Harbor on the West side of the island.

Naxos

A bit less touristy, but quite a bit to see here. The best places to stay are Plaka Beach or Naxos Town. There are also other resorts scattered in more desolate places on the island. We have not been here, so I can not make too many recommendations.

The post Other Islands & Ferry Travel appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

If you do not have a passport valid through October 2024, it is now time to renew or apply for your passport. The expiration date needs to be after you get back to the US. It currently takes 6-8 weeks for standard requests and 2-3 weeks for expedited. Passports cost $130 and if you need to expedite, that is an additional $60. You can also pay an additional $20 to get expedited shipping which will speed things up even more.

Everything you need starts at this webpage https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html

If you are applying for a new passport, you will need to fill out the forms and bring the appropriate proof of citizenship to a passport acceptance facility which includes many post offices, town halls and some libraries. To find your nearest location look here: https://iafdb.travel.state.gov

If you just need to renew, this can be done by mail, just fill out the forms and send them in with your old passport and some new passport photos. They will send your old passport back with the new one.

All applications require a passport photo, this is a specially-sized photo that is done in duplicate. You can get these photos at any CVS with a photo counter or AAA.

The post Step 1 – Passports Please appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

Keep in mind that you will not be able to use anything high-power like a blow dryer or a curling iron unless it is made for Europe. The alternative option for curling irons is to get one that charges using a USB connection. There are plenty on Amazon, just search for cordless curling irons. As for blow dryers, most hotels have them.

Greece has both type C and type F outlets, the adapters you will need look like the ones below. There are tons on Amazon, but make sure you pick at least one up before the trip.

Type C, F and G
VINTAR International Plug Adapter $25

This set will cover all of Europe and has a standard US outlet with one USB outlet, two USBC outlets, and two US-style outlets delivering 230 volts.

https://www.amazon.com/European-VINTAR-International-American-Attachments/dp/B0BRSQR7Y6

Type C,E and F
2 Pack European Travel Adapter Plug for European Outlets $8

This basic set will cover all of Greece, just keep in mind that you can only plug in 1 device into each.

https://www.amazon.com/Pack-European-Travel-Adapter-Outlets/dp/B071GC3G9G

Power Banks
It is wise to bring along a couple of fully charged power banks. I try to bring one that I can carry during the day in case my phone dies, especially since I rely on Google Maps to get around and you may need your phone to show pre-bought virtual tickets.

The post Do I need Power Adapters? appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

Rental Cars

Probably the best way to get around the island although in crowded areas like Fira and Oia it can be a bit of a challenge to park. In all other areas including Kamari, it is very easy to park and you can pretty much park anywhere there is not a “no parking” sign. I would go small on the rental since it is easier to park and drive on some of the small roads. If it is only two, I would rent a mini vehicle like a Fiat 500 or a Panda. If you have 3 or 4, you should stick to an economy car. Of course, I am assuming you will be driving into Thera (Fira) or Oia, if not then you can rent a larger vehicle, but don’t go too big. The best place to start is https://www.rentalcars.com or https://www.carrentals.com. You likely will need an International Drivers License to rent, you can get them at AAA for $30 and you don’t need to be a member. Do not drink and drive, the legal limit in Greece is 0.05 blood alcohol.

There is a great video on driving in Santorini: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_LY6vt8s4o

Quads

You can rent a quad and it is legal to drive them anywhere on the island. This is a fun way to get around, but it can be pretty dangerous so be cautious. It is about the same price as a car, so I would recommend a small car over a quad. You can also rent one just for a day to get around to some remote areas of the island. If you do decide to rent one, there are typically two sizes; small (up to 300cc) for a single person and large (450cc and up) for two. I would recommend you get one with a backrest if you rent the larger version. You may need an International Drivers License to rent, you can get them at AAA and you don’t need to be a member.

Do not drink and drive, the legal limit in Greece is 0.05 blood alcohol.

Scooters
Scooters are available, but not a safe option, and most places will not rent them to you unless you have a motorcycle license.

Taxis and Uber
Uber is there, but from what I read it is not very dependable. If you choose not to get a car, you should arrange travel with your hotel, who can set up a taxi to pick you up at the airport.

Leo’s Transport Service
I will rent a large vehicle and will share my phone number with anyone who may need a pickup or a ride. (860) 416-1240. I will be at your service, but there will be times I may not be available. The best way to contact me on the island is using WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

Busses
You can get to a lot of points on the island using busses, keep in mind that they all go through Fira. So if you want to go from Kamari to Oia, or Firostefani to Oia you will need to go through Fira. More information is here https://santorinisecrets.com/santorini-bus-schedule/ and on Santorini Dave’s site https://santorinidave.com/santorini-buses. The buses are very clean and accept cash only, they do not give change, so you will need exact change. the cost of each leg is 2 Euros and some Southern beach routes are 2.50 Euros.

The post How do I get around? appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

Below is a view of where the wedding will be at Santos Wines. Located on the edge of the cliff overlooking the caldera (ancient volcano). More info at https://santowines.gr

Below is where the reception will be at Pyrgos Restaurant. It is a 10 minute walk from Santos Wines and we will also have transportation if you need it. More about the restaurant is on their website at https://www.pyrgos-santorini.com

The post Where is the Wedding and Reception? appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.

• Leave the US on Thursday, September 25th for Athens (you will arrive on the morning of September 26th).
• Spend 2 nights in Athens
• Leave for Santorini on September 28
• Spend 4 nights in Santorini. Check in on September 28 and Check out on October 2 to return to Athens or to move on to your next Greek island.

The post When should I be there? appeared first on Sydney and Matthew.