INSPIRATION
Find your inspiration, find your journey
This is a collection of journeys we’ve created for clients as well as Escorted Journeys we’ve led. Remember that any journey can be customized.
THE BUCKET LIST TRIP
Athens, Santorini, Mykonos
Embark on the journey of a lifetime with an unforgettable first-time trip to Greece, the epitome of Mediterranean dreams. This adventure explores an enriching blend of enduring history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking natural beauty across three key destinations: Santorini, Mykonos and Athens, creating the ultimate Greek “bucket list” holiday.
Start on the mesmerizing island of Santorini, a place of unrivaled beauty and iconic Grecian charm. Awash with white-washed houses etched against an azure sea, its stunning cliff-side villages are a sight to behold. This once volcanic island boasts romantic sunsets that will etch memories in your heart. Here, you can adjust from your transatlantic journey while relishing in the island’s unique flavours and admiring the sunset from your caldera view balcony. For the bold, the island offers sunrise and sunset fishing trips, and private tours through its villages and vineyards.
Next, transition to the idyllic island of Mykonos, renowned for its cosmopolitan allure and stunning Cycladic architecture. Mykonos offers a dynamic blend of vibrant nightlife, popular beaches, and picturesque windmills. Lose yourself in the labyrinth of winding narrow streets of Hora, its main town, or relax on any of its pristine beaches. Mykonos is a place that beautifully marries luxury with tradition, offering travellers a chance to delve into Greek culture whilst enjoying modern comforts.
Finally, close your epic journey in the historic city of Athens. As the heart of Ancient Greece, Athens houses masterpieces that span centuries, including the iconic Parthenon at the Acropolis. Explore the vibrant streets of Plaka, brimming with quaint cafes and charming boutiques, the perfect juxtaposition against its historic lineage. Uncover the rich history that gave birth to democracy, philosophy and theatre. Walk through time as you traverse the city marvelling at ancient ruins, byzantine churches, and modern landmarks.
This Greek “bucket list” holiday takes you through the enigmatic allure of Greece. Each destination, with its unique charm and character, contributes to a balanced and dynamic experience, creating memories that will last forever. Revel in this unique and diverse Mediterranean journey that intrigically intertwines history with beauty and modernity.
FAMILY ADVENTURE ON NAXOS
Santorini, Naxos & Athens
Greece is a family travel paradise – the birthplace of democracy, it’s filled with history and myth, set amidst a stunning backdrop of breathtakingly beautiful beaches, mountains and villages. Combine this eye candy with mouthwatering foods and flavors of the Mediterranean and you’ve got a family vacation that will surely please everyone.
From the black-sand beaches and the picturesque caldera to the mountaintops and charming villages, Santorini is an island which has much to see & we created a great family friendly itinerary that ticked all the boxes from the the youngest first time international traveler to the intrepid traveling matron of the family.
You, too, can discover the marvels that make up the most photographed and mesmerizing of all the Greek islands …
Onward via ferry to Naxos, where you’ll love your family friendly villa just off one of the island’s most beautiful sandy beaches. Armed with a car and keys, and a curated, customized Real Greece Travel map, you’ll spend your days exploring the island – discovering hidden gem beaches, sailing to hidden coves and mountain biking or horseback-riding on the beach (or both!)
Arriving back in Athens where you’ll explore historic Plaka and visit the Acropolis. And now that you’re more familiar with the flavors of Greece it will be time for a family cooking class, (making for the best “souvenir” from Greece – the recipes and knowledge to create some of the amazing meals you’ve enjoyed on this trip!)
FLAVORS OF CRETE & SANTORINI
OR CLIFFS, FOOD & CULTURE
Santorini, Crete, Athens
Embark on an enriching food and cultural journey through Santorini, Crete, and Athens. This tour not only feeds the stomach but feeds the soul, taking you across striking landscapes, ancient ruins, and locales dripping with history, while also immersing you in Greece’s enticing culinary traditions.
Commence your adventure on the stunning island of Santorini, the ideal starting point for any first-time visitor to Greece. Famous for its cliff-side villages adorned with white-washed houses against the azure sea, Santorini promises striking views and breathtaking sunsets. Recover and unwind from your long journey while soaking in these heartrending landscapes.
Next, venture to Crete via a pleasant ferry ride. As the largest of all Greek islands, Crete is a treasure trove of experiences with its ancient Minoan palaces and diverse terrains encompassing canyons, gorges, mountains and pristine beaches. But more importantly, it is the heart of Greek gastronomy. Regarded as the breadbasket of Greece, the island is steeped in farm-to-table traditions which have been passionately preserved and passed down through generations. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to learn why farm-to-table isn’t merely a trend, but a deeply ingrained way of life brimming with fresh flavours and local produce.
Finally, end your journey in the historic city of Athens. Discover its ancient roots, timeless architectural marvels, and be drawn into its rich, enduring culture. Amongst the historic landmarks, Athens also presents a vibrant culinary scene, beautifully complementing your culinary adventures and cultural immersion in Santorini and Crete.
This thoughtfully curated itinerary blends history, culture, and cuisine, providing an intimate introduction to the life and flavors of Greece. Immerse in the pervasive sense of history, feel the heartwarming hospitality, and indulge in the country’s culinary masterpieces that make up the heart and soul of the real Greece.
Commence your adventure on the stunning island of Santorini, the ideal starting point for any first-time visitor to Greece. Famous for its cliff-side villages adorned with white-washed houses against the azure sea, Santorini promises striking views and breathtaking sunsets. Recover and unwind from your long journey while soaking in these heartrending landscapes.
Next, venture to Crete via a pleasant ferry ride. As the largest of all Greek islands, Crete is a treasure trove of experiences with its ancient Minoan palaces and diverse terrains encompassing canyons, gorges, mountains and pristine beaches. But more importantly, it is the heart of Greek gastronomy. Regarded as the breadbasket of Greece, the island is steeped in farm-to-table traditions which have been passionately preserved and passed down through generations. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to learn why farm-to-table isn’t merely a trend, but a deeply ingrained way of life brimming with fresh flavours and local produce.
Finally, end your journey in the historic city of Athens. Discover its ancient roots, timeless architectural marvels, and be drawn into its rich, enduring culture. Amongst the historic landmarks, Athens also presents a vibrant culinary scene, beautifully complementing your culinary adventures and cultural immersion in Santorini and Crete.
This thoughtfully curated itinerary blends history, culture, and cuisine, providing an intimate introduction to the life and flavors of Greece. Immerse in the pervasive sense of history, feel the heartwarming hospitality, and indulge in the country’s culinary masterpieces that make up the heart and soul of the real Greece.
FABULOUS FOODIE & CULTURE BREAK IN ATHENS
Athens
Greece is a food lover’s paradise – the birthplace of democracy and the Mediterranean Diet. Explore the gastronomic culture of Greece from your own spacious downtown Athens private accommodation – the perfect escape for a small group of friends, a multi-generation family or 3 or 4 couples looking for a pre-island food filled city break.
JOURNEY THROUGH JEWISH GREECE (Private or Escorted Small Group Journey)
Join Real Greece founders, Carole and Basil Kezios, on a voyage through time, history and culture woven together with words, stories, and sites that touch the heart and excite the imagination.
In Athens, the birthplace of democracy, visit the Acropolis and the ancient Synagogue in the Agora. Visit the modern day Synagogues, the Jewish museum and the Holocaust memorial.
No trip to Greece would be complete without island hopping. A 3 island cruise is just an introduction to the more than 6000 islands scattered throughout the Greek seas.
Chalkis, home to possibly the oldest Jewish settlement in Europe, is your next stop before Thermopylae were you’ll learn why you can thank 300 Spartans for their bravery in battle. Say hello to Mount Olympus, home to the Greek gods en route to Thessaloniki, or Salonica, the Madre de Israel, once known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans.
Museums, synagogues, mansions and above all, the warm Jewish community who will welcome you to Shabbat services and dinner, storytelling and song. You could spend years exploring Madre de Israel which until the 1940s was the largest Jewish community of Greece as well as the biggest Sephardic community in Europe. Alas, the time will come to move on – as you head to Pella, the center of the world during Alexander’s time, the royal tombs at Vergina, and Veroia’s Jewish quarter and synagogue will fill the day that ends in the picturesque lakeside city of Ioannina.
Monasteries clinging to the rocks of Meteora, charming Arahova, the “”winter Mykonos”” are some of the places we will see before visiting Delphi. Unfortunately we won’t be able to get the Oracle to give us his prediction about the future of the world, but we will see where Zeus decided the center, the “navel”, of the world was.
Enjoy a final farewell to Greece overlooking the seaside by the magnificent cliffs of Sounion and the Temple of Apollo before returning to your Athens accommodations to prepare for your return home or onward journey
Most amazing and easy trip ever! I felt so overwhelmed when we first booked our travel to Greece, then I spoke with Carole and felt at ease within 5 minutes. Everything was planned so thoughtfully with our own interests in mind. Never have we ever felt so relaxed and at ease on a vacation. If we wanted to change ANYTHING, we could easily reach out via WhatsApp and the request was taken care of within seconds (yes, seconds)! Every little detail was thought of and taken care of. I can't rave enough about how wonderful both Carole and Danai are to work with! This was my first time ever using a travel planner and I truly can't imagine what the trip would have been like without them! Absolutely WONDERFUL!
Real Greece did a fantastic job organizing our trip. The guides were awesome and everything was on time. I would highly recommend using them for our next trip.
A truly amazing trip, thanks to Real Greece. Everyone was so friendly and helpful along the way. I don't know how we would have pulled off such an amazing trip without them. They added several tours and experiences that we would have missed had we done this on our own.We hope to return to Greece again, and I am sure if and when we do, we will rely on Real Greece to provide us with another exceptional travel experience.
The RealGreece Travel team is the real deal !!! They have made our family vacation a memorable one. I am so impressed with all the details they poured into getting us there and having a wonderful time. From the start of the process with sending surveys to each individual of our family group, wanting to get to know us better so they can make suggestions catered to our interests to the constant communication while we were in Greece, with friendly reminders and just being available if we needed them for anything. The tour guides they set us up with were fantastic. They all have this passion for what they do, sharing the history of Greece with love and admiration. The hotels were gorgeous and centrally located within walking distance of even more activities to do, outside of our tours.Thank you again, RealGreece travel team for making this a memorable vacation for our family!!
If you're dreaming of an unforgettable vacation, look no further than Real Greece Travel to plan your trip. They truly deliver everything you hope for in a Greek getaway and more.From the initial planning stages to our arrival in Greece, Carole and Danai made the entire process seamless. They maintained constant communication, ensuring everything was on track and met our expectations. I really appreciated their attention to detail and the personalized touches they incorporated into our itinerary. The excursions they arranged featured some of the most fantastic tour guides! The hotels chosen were gorgeousand in the most perfect locations for us to get the most out of each location.Our Greece vacation was amazing, and I will definitely be using Real Greece Travel again in the future.Thank you to everyone at Real Greece for making our family trip so memorable!
We had the absolute pleasure of booking our first trip to Greece with Real Greece Travel, and it was an unforgettable experience! Our group of 7 friends and family was expertly guided by Carole and her team from the very beginning. From our first Zoom meeting, they customized the perfect, worry-free vacation adventure just for us.We truly appreciated the consistent communication both before and during our trip, which gave us complete confidence that this was going to be a fantastic journey. Every single detail was carefully planned, allowing us to fully enjoy every moment without any stress. It was clear that their expertise was woven into every aspect of the trip.The entire team was amazing, and we can't imagine traveling to Greece again without Real Greece Travel by our side. If you're looking for a flawless, personalized travel experience, look no further!
I can't recommend Real Greece Travel enough! They truly went above and beyond to ensure our trip to Greece was seamless and enjoyable. Before we even arrived, they provided all the necessary information and recommendations, which was incredibly helpful since it was our first visit. During our stay, they were just a quick message away, always ready to answer any questions (though we hardly had any because everything was planned so perfectly for us). Everything was amazing, and I can’t thank Carole, Danai, and Basil enough for their outstanding work in creating such a memorable experience. Highly recommend!
I can’t express how amazing this team was. Carole, Danai, and Basil all worked so hard to ensure we had the best time and were always a message or call away if we ever needed anything!They had the perfect itinerary set up for us. From the excursions, hotels, and dinners they booked for us, everything was wonderful and we had the best trip. 5/5 stars- I will definitely be using them again for my next trip to Greece!
Carole and her team were amazing. The team really tailored our trip based on what the whole family wanted to do. They were super helpful with suggestions of itineraries and places to visit. We had a wonderful Greek cooking class as a family. The door to door transportation made our experience so seamless. While in Athens we stayed in one of Carole's apartments which gave our family some space and allowed us to experience what it is like to really live like a native Greek. I was lost trying to plan this trip on my own. Carole and her team took the stress away and really created a memorable trip that we will all cherish.
Real Greece Travel did an excellent job of scheduling and organizing our accommodations and day trips. Everything was just as they said it would be and we had an amazing trip! Everyone was so congenial!
Carole and the Real Greek Team (especially Danai and Nick!) gave us a wonderful and unforgettable experience in Greece. We had seamless transfers and knowledgeable and friendly guides. We would have never been able to put this trip together ourselves- all of the experiences and hotels and restaurants were fully vetted beforehand and were amazing. It was a zero stress way to experience the best of Greece. Thank you so much!
The team at real Greece was incredible to work with. Highly recommend going with them, especially if it is your first time going to Greece!
Our trip planned by Real Greece Travel surpassed our expectations. They did a wonderful job planning so that we could see the best parts of the islands we visited as well as memorable spots in Athens. The tour guides they set us up with were so knowledgeable, friendly and genuinely kind people with whom we enjoyed spending time. It wouldn’t have been possible to fit everything in that we did without their help. They even helped with us with rerouting our travel last minute after a delayed flight caused us to miss our connecting flight. I’m so grateful to have worked with Real Greece Travel. I plan to use them again!
Carole, Basil, Danai and the Real Greece Travel Team made our family trip to Greece unforgettable! They got to know us, our travel preferences and trip wishes and planned an itinerary we never could have imagined doing by ourselves. We've planned trips abroad in the past, and this is was the first time we decided to hire a travel agent for all the details and they delivered! Real Greece planned a trip for our neighbors last summer and they recommended Carole. In fact, two other families we know are using them this summer! For our trip in June 2024 the hotels were perfect for us and Carole knows the proprietors and visits regularly, so we knew they would be up to our standards. The private guides were eminently knowledgeable about the ancient sites we visited in Crete, Santorini, Naxos and in Athens, and having drivers as well to get us from points A to B meant we could enjoy time as a family. The team was available 24/7 on our WhatsApp chat group and also helped with reservations for dinners and suggestions on side trips too. I will recommend Real Greece Travel to everyone we know, and will always remember the wonderful people who planned our vacation and guided us while in Greece!
We worked with Carole and Danai for our honeymoon. They were both amazing and responsive our whole trip. They really cared about making sure we had an amazing experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better honeymoon. I will for sure be planning my next trip to Greece with this team!
The team at Real Greece created a trip that included something everyone in our family could enjoy. They ensured that everything flowed seamlessly so we did not have to spend our time thinking about the logistics of our trip. We could spend all of our time exploring, relaxing or playing instead of thinking about the details of what came next. I still can not believe how "easy" everything was. Our first European trip as a family was a huge success and much of the credit goes to the support we received from the Real Greece team. Thank you!
To Carol, Danai, Basil and all the those associated with Real Greece, thank you!! I have been waiting my entire life to visit the land of my grandparents and you made that experience beyond special. The guides, drivers and hotel hosts were all so kind, interesting and helpful. Thank you for the many restaurant recommendations! It made our travel that much more enjoyable. We cannot wait to return to Greece with Real Greece and are already making a list of places we want to visit next time!
We had a wonderful 4 days in Athens at Carole and Basil’s Sky Villa. 19 of us fit easily into the connected apartments, Carole and her concierge, Daini also arranged activities for us, including a Greek cooking class. Speaking of class, their Real Greece Travel company is a class act-very accommodating, quick response time for any need and quite kind and friendly people too. Their services continued beyond Athens as they booked activities and restaurants for us at our following destination, Crete. Everything has been just as described-fantastic experience from planning to execution, no regrets at all!
If you are looking for a truly AMAZING travel company, Real Greece Travel is the place to book with! Danai, Basil, Efy, and Carole were the absolute BEST! Our family had the most amazing vacation. Everything they planned for us was spectacular. Words can not describe from start to finish how easy everything was. Traveling to another country and not knowing the language is tough, Real Greece Travel was always there for us when we needed them. Thank you again for making our trip so special, this was a once in a lifetime family trip that we will always remember! Thank you so much!The McGovern Family - USA Michigan
The personal attention was top notch! The group took care of us from the second we signed with them to the minute we left Greece for home. They talked to us and created the experience together, all the accommodation where exactly what we were looking for. They stayed in contact during the whole trip. The tour guides they set up where so informative, friendly and fun to hang out with. This whole experience felt like it was set up by family!!
Real Greece Travel made my family and I’s vacation to Greece the best time of our lives. When we originally planned on going to greece, we knew nothing about the country or what we wanted to do. Carole and her team at Real Greece Travel set everything up for us hassle free with wonderful communication. They gave us a variety of different hotels, excursions, and beaches to chose from with extensive detail on each to include in our itinerary. I highly recommend this team for planning your vacation they did an amazing job, and I am forever grateful.
Carole and company did an amazing job planning our trip. The guided tours through ancient ruins, points of interest and food/beverage spots were first-rate. Our guides were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, patient and friendly. And our transport by car, boat and plane were all punctual. Our drivers were all great too. We highly recommend using RealGreece Travel if you’re planning a trip to Greece. It’s well-worth the price.
What a fabulous vacation we had traveling to Santorini, Naxos and Athens. Carol, Basil and Dania were there for us every step of the way. Having Dania meet us at our hotel in Athens and show us around the area was a wonderful surprise.
We had a wonderful trip to Greece and the Real Greece Travel group were fantastic. They were always available and made sure everything was perfect! Great experience all around!!
I started to plan a trip to Greece on my own 6 months ago and learned of RealGreece so I arranged a brief call with Carole to learn more. After about 5 minutes I remember thinking that I had no business planning a trip to a strange country without her deep experience. She listened, planned and set up every last thing we wanted to do with firsthand experience from every place we wished to go. I could tell she knew many places but stayed focused on our interests. If that wasnt enough, the Real Greece Team really went to work when our trip began. Every last detail was considered and planned for. Personalized attention to our itinerary was their focus. We just LOVED Danai, who looked over us the entire time and was really a Concierge. Many times on the trip we congratulated ourselves for choosing RealGreece - wondering what a disaster it would have been to plan it ourselves. Thank you Carole, Danai and Basil!
We had a great vacation thanks to Real Greece Travel. The entire team was wonderful!
I would highly recommend Real Greece. We have just finished a 2 week trip. Not only did they set up a great agenda for us based on our individual wants, they took care of all the details and changes while we were there at a moments notice. And made it fun! Best agency we have ever hired.
Real Greece tailored THE most incredible vacation our family has ever experienced. Carole, Basil and Denai worked so hard to make incredible moments for every member of our family. And that was just the beginning. At every single turn on our trip the logistics were not only seamlessly taken care of, but the quality of service we received everywhere was absolutely top tier. Every recommendation was fabulous, every detail considered. Throughout the trip Denai was always thinking several steps ahead .... "shall we move your rooftop dining reservation back 45 minutes due to the hot weather expected tomorrow night?". Absolutely every part of the planning and enjoyment of our trip was made far more special by this team and their amazing local guides, extensive accommodation network and connections along our chosen path. I give them my highest possible recommendation in every respect of Greek travel and I can't wait to organize another trip with Real Greece.
Carole and her team were positively fantastic! With my wife and I wanting to experience Greece, but little time to plan, Real Greece was able to create a wonderful experience for us while providing immediate support whenever needed. The hotel/restaurants/tours were all great selections.Throughout the trip we truly felt taken care of and comfortable every step of the way. Carole and Danai even surprised us in Athens (was great to meet in person)! I would encourage everyone to visit Greece and to use Real Greece to make the trip even more wonderful.
Amazing vacation, trip of a lifetime! Wouldn’t have been half as wonderful if not for the efforts of the entire Real Greece team. From planning, to organizing rides/excursions, and everything in between, Carole and her group made the entirety of the trip spectacular. A special thank you to Niko and his team of drivers who provided safe, efficient transportation whenever needed. Would give 6 stars if possible, and will definitely be using their services again when we come back!
Real Greece took care of every detail of our trip. They were wonderful and available if anything came up. They planned interesting tours for us. It was a terrific vacation!
Working with Real Greece was an absolute delight. From the first contact through the end of the trip, they showed concern that everything went how WE wanted it to go. They took our interests into consideration. On the actual trip, everything was taken care of. We had regular communication, sometimes multiple times a day. They were always available when we had a question or a concern. They helped with dinner suggestions and reservations. All of the drivers were wonderful and on time. The cars were luxurious. Special attention was taken to meet our family’s special needs. The guided tours they arranged were better than most we have had in other locations on other trips. I have recommended them to many friends and now that we have completed our trip, I will recommend them to everyone wanting to go to Greece. We got to see the real Greece and we are grateful!
I had such a wonderful and easy trip with Real Greece. Highly recommend booking all your travel needs thru them as they will exceed all expectations and provide an incredible experience
Awesome accommodations and very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful people.Don't go with anyone else!
I cannot express enough how delighted my wife and I are with the exceptional service provided by Carole and Danai. From the moment we enlisted their services for our 4-day stay in Santorini, everything was handled with impeccable precision and attention to detail. Danai seamlessly managed our flight check-ins and all transfers to and from the hotel, ensuring a stress-free experience.The hotel recommendations presented by Carole were outstanding, and the one we chose, Avaton Hotel, exceeded our expectations. Our room boasted a private jacuzzi on the balcony with breathtaking views. The manager and staff at the hotel were not only professional but also incredibly accommodating. Carole orchestrated a tour of two wineries that showcased exceptional wines, delectable food pairings, and stunning landscapes. Additionally, the island tour she arranged, covering the archaeological site of Akrotiri, the traditional village of Megalochori, and an authentic taverna (Ta Dixtya), provided us with a well-rounded and immersive experience.What truly set Carole and Danai apart was the thorough planning of activities that very much suited our tastes, coupled with thoughtful communication (through WhatsApp), keeping us well-informed about our schedule and important details. We visited in October, and the island was blissfully uncrowded. Although we are of Greek heritage and usually make our own travel arrangements, we had never been in Santorini before and are ecstatic that we secured concierge travel support through Real Greece. We wholeheartedly recommend Carole's services to anyone seeking a personalized and stress-free travel experience. Thank you, Carole and Danai, for curating a truly unforgettable Santorini getaway!
When our trip to Israel and Egypt was cancelled, we needed to book a trip for 18 days with three weeks left until departure. We turned to Carole and Real Greece travel, who prepared the most amazing and awesome trip to Greece that far exceeded our expectations. Not knowing that much about mainland Greece, with Carole's thoughtful suggestions, we chose the Peloponnese and Crete.Once we arrived, we were greated by Nico, who was our driver, but who also became our new best friend in Greece. Not only did he drive us to our different destinations, he was fun, knowledgeable about Greek history, and had great suggestions for everything that we needed, including the best tavernas in the area. We spent a lot of time with Nico as he drove us around the Peloponnese, and we will sincerely miss him.Our guides were incredible. We learned so much about Ancient Greek history, mythology, gastronomy, and on, and on. Thanks to Real Greece, the guides are chosen carefully to provide the best experience. Everyday, we appreciated that Danai would check in to see that our day went perfectly.When we had a minor glitch in Heraklion, Real Greece was readily available and helpful to make a quick change of plan at literally the last moment. We had another amazing day!We had not considered going to Greece until the unfortunate events in the Middle East. After this trip, however, I can not wait to go back to Greece next year and explore more of this truly fascinating and wonderful country, with it's incredible history, lovely people, fantastic cuisine, and beautiful landscapes. I would only use Real Greece to plan our next trip!
The team at Real Greece Travel is truly fantastic. My husband and I worked them to plan our honeymoon, and they planned a trip of a lifetime and an experience above and beyond what we expected. The team really took the time to get to know us as and planned a trip focused around the things we were interested in seeing and doing in Greece. Our accommodations, excursions, tours, and meal suggestions were all thoughtfully put together to give us the best experience. Everyone we encountered from drivers to tour guides were so kind and added so much value to our trip. Traveling between the islands and on the mainland was very easy and the team was there every step of the way if we had any trouble or questions. We truly feel we had a unique trip to Greece and got to experience things we would have never thought to do on our own. Truly a world class team!
My cousin Andrea & I first planned our trip to Greece at the beginning of 2023. Thru researching various travel companies, we both really liked the Real Greece staff & their itinerary the best. From the time we sent our depositback in February we were sold on it. I am more than thrilled to say every single day of our trip was phenomenal & it was because of Basil, Carol, Dani, Niko our driver, Efi. As well as any one else not named here! For example, Every single day in Athens from our ride from the airport to our day excursions we were very impressed with our professional caring friendly staff from Real Greece! I will never forget Dani coming to meet us at the hotel that first day and she took the time to walk with us to a cafe. It was such a fun afternoon with her.Thank you to all of you at REAL GREECE in Chicago for your wonderful assistance with our trip to Greece. We will never forget it for as long as we live, that’s for sure!Real Greece was & is the way to go!All the best!Mary Ann & Andrea
Referred to Carole and Team by a friend. Presented various itinerary options that matched our desired pace and level of experience. Arranged a 17-night experience for us that included 6 different hotels and a mix of private and small group excursions. The communication in-country (using What's App) was efficient and the local team was extremely responsive, flexible and helpful with real-time reservations and tweaks to the itinerary. All Real Greece does is Greece, and it shows! Will absolutely use them again and highly recommend the Team!
Our recent trip to Greece was one of our best trips ever. Carole at Real Greece took the time upfront to get to know us and our interests. After some discussions and filling out a fairly detailed questionnaire, Carole gave us three possible itineraries. We picked the one we felt was best for us, tweaked it a bit, and Real Greece took it from there. Basil was helpful with logistics and making sure our communication lines were working properly.Since we moved around quite a bit it was great that Real Greece was in constant contact with us through WhatsApp. Carole and Danai (who is based in Athens) let us know about even minor changes in our schedule. (Your driver to the airport this morning is going to be about 5 minutes late due to traffic!)All of the guides that Real Greece set us up with were very knowledgeable and personable. The guide that we spent the most time with, Niko, who spent six days with us traveling through the Peloponnese, was outstanding. His knowledge of each location was very helpful even when we had a local guide.Our experience with Real Greece was great and I highly recommend them.
The service and kindness of the Real Greece team is unparalleled! Truly! Everyone on the team and all of the guides/services they connected us to were incredibly responsive, kind, knowledgeable, and created fantastic experiences for us. The Real Greece team coordinated transfers, gave us cooking classes, and organized food tour/experience and tours of the city. We had our 3 year-old and 8 month old and we were relieved and delighted by how they all accommodated us and created "kid-friendly" services for us.
The team at Real Greece Travel is truly world class. If you’re planning a trip to Greece I can’t recommend a better team. My wife and I worked with them to plan and coordinate our honeymoon, and everything was above and beyond what we expected. They took the time to really get to know who we were as a couple and as individuals, to craft a unique Greece experience. Their dinner recommendations were always better than anything us tourists could find on our own. If we had a question during the trip we could message them and they were more than happy to answer. The places we got to visit, the rooms we stayed in, and the excursions they planned for us were fantastic. They truly crafted a unique, once in a lifetime experience, that I know my wife will be reminiscing on for many years to come. We even got the chance to see some of our friends who were also on their honeymoon in Greece, all thanks to this team. When we get the opportunity to return to Greece in the future, I know we will be calling the team at Real Greece Travel to help plan it.
My husband and I used Real Greece to plan our honeymoon and the experience could not have been better! From the start they got to know us and tailored the trip to our likes and interests.They prepared us for the trip and were there for us each and every day of the trip. They look care of everything possible which let us focus on having the best time. We really could not have asked for a better trip and recommend Real Greece to anyone traveling to Greece for any reason!
Very pleased with the trip and all that Real Greece Travel did for us. Everything went flawlessly. Our tour guides were great! All the pickups were on time and awesome drivers.
Great people to work with. Very pleasant and knowledgeable tour guides and drivers. And the personel in the office will work with you to get the perfect trip arranged down to the finest detail. This was a trip we will remember and cherish. Thank you Real Greece!
Real Greece Travel made our trip PERFECT! They were always available and checked in with us daily while we were traveling. The guides and drivers they used were all so professional --and fun! I felt so confident that we would have whatever support needed as we traveled. They used great apps to keep us informed and organized. Mostly, they are great listeners and really seek to provide what you are most interested in. Thanks for the trip of a lifetime!
Carole, Danai and Basil are the very best curators of the Greece experience that you could possibly hire. Not only are they experts in extremely reliable logistics, they know all of the regular tourists attractions but many of the special out of the way treasures to make your vacation even more than expected. They pay attention to your wishes and develop a trip of a lifetime tailored just for you. Their partners for tours and transportation go above and beyond and become your friends. Without hesitation my wife and I would highly recommend Real Greece for any time that you plan to visit the wonderful country of Greece.
Carole and Basil and the rest of the Real Greece Travel Team were great to work with. We could not have been happier with the experience we had over our 2 week travels throughout Greece. They very familiar with the hotels they booked for us, the scheduled tours and private drivers, the villages we stayed in, the travel between islands whether by ferry or plane, and through the Trip Plans app and WhatsApp they provided all needed information and were readily available for any questions. Look no further for a travel agent for Greece. Real Greece is the best of the best! Yamas!
Real Greece Travel provided exceptionally wonderful services for us, and made our trip seamless, effortless and enjoyable. Their team members were prompt, polite, knowledgeable, and very responsive. I highly recommend them for A+ accommodations, ground transportation, excursions and cooking classes, and will most definitely be using them for my next trip to Greece!
The Real Greece Team provided a REAL Greece experience!Thank you for ensuring that my Greece visit was custom-made, for me. This trip not only met my expectations, but it also exceeded my expectations.The Real Greece questionnaire really aids in determining how you want to experience Greece. This is a group of professionals that listened and made the entire process seamless and stress free. All we had to do was be at an assigned location, on time.Real Greece recommended we download the Trip Plans app, which was priceless because we always knew where we needed to be within 24 hours of the scheduled event. This allowed proper planning for the evening before and the morning of. If we had any questions, the Team was extremely responsive. Real Greece did such a superb job, we never needed them, except to rave about what we’ve seen and experienced.Every touch point from the car service, island transfers, hotel accommodations, excursions, and communication with the Real Greece Team was exemplary! I don’t know where to start or end with the compliments, so I’ll say, Real Greece is the ONLY way to experience Greece.Carol, Basil and Dania thank you for an amazing 55th birthday and look forward to seeing you soon to visit the remaining islands.
Real Greece,Thanks for all the wonderful accommodations, tours, local expert guides and special extras you arranged for us on our trip to Crete. We loved Crete! We also appreciated the restaurant recommendations and extra communications from your team. Bravo! 😍
Perfectly planned - down to every detail. The entire RGT team was incredibly thoughtful and helpful throughout our entire trip. The most amazing experience. Would recommend Real Greece Travel to all!
Without a doubt Real Greece Travel was an excellent resource for our pre-cruise stay in Athens. There were eight persons in our group and we all loved the four-bedroom apartment that we rented through Real Greece Travel. A delightful bonus was that the unit was ready upon our early morning arrival. That’s unusual when traveling from the States to Europe.Upon arrival our driver, George was easy to find and quite informative about what to see and do and especially eat in Athens.When we arrived at the unit we were met by Danai, another wonderful representative of Real Greece Travel who explained how everything worked. She was a wealth of information and identified where to shop for local food items (beer and wine). She recommended a most perfect restaurant where we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.Real Greece Travel, on very short notice, arranged a tour of the highlights of Athens for several of us. Our guide, Nick, was both congenial and knowledgeable. We spent the better part of half a day getting to see the highlights of Athens from the Acropolis to the changing of the guard at the presidential palace. I believe this is where Real Greece Travel excels. We have been to Athens several times and were part of large travel groups. This one on one experience with deeply knowledgeable individuals made this our most interesting and enjoyable trip.The unit that was stayed in was immaculate and well serviced! The eight of us feel very lucky to have found this organization.Should we visit Greece again the only agency we would deal with is Real Greece Travel!Don P.
There are so many great things to say about RealGreece Travel! Carole and the RealGreece team planned our first trip to Greece and it was a trip that we will never forget! We visited Santorini, Mykonos and Athens. They created an itinerary for us & made arrangements for travel, accommodations and activities while we were there. The itinerary that they planned for us was perfect as it was balanced with culture, fun and some relaxation. The hotels we stayed at were beautiful and all offered great views and service!Communication was great with the team and they were always there to answer our questions and provide recommendations. The entire team was so kind, well informed and thoughtful! We will definitely use them again for future travel to Greece. I could say so much more but the bottom line is you cannot go wrong with RealGreece, book them today!
Our trip to Greece far exceeded our expectations! The attention to detail, quality of experiences, breadth of exposure to the people, food, culture, history, and the incomparable beauty of Greece made for extraordinary memories that we will always treasure!!! Deserving a special shout out are the sheer skill and professionalism of all the people who guided us - Niko, Danai, Vivian, Averkios, Maria, Gregory, and the Santorini cruise staff (among others). By far, the best we have ever experienced on any trip!The moment we arrived in Athens we were greeted by Niko, our driver, and we embarked on a very special and personal tour that was absolutely seamless! How lovely to be gently handed over from one smiling, warm and professional guide to the next as we visited several different areas within Greece during a period of 10 days. Each guide shared their knowledge and provided us unique and thoughtfully planned experiences that were fun-fulled and educational. Everyone made us feel very welcome and comfortable.During my first phone call with Carole when I shared with her our general idea for an itinerary she was so curious about me and my family members and genuinely took interest in our wishes so as to be able to create a tailored itinerary just for us. And that is exactly what she and her husband, Basil, did!! We spent time in Athens, the Peloponnese region, Loutraki and Santorini. We toured the Acropolis and Olympic stadium, ate fabulous food during our “food experience tour,” watched the sun set at the Temple of Poseidon, toured a local olive orchard and tasted a variety of olive oils, learned how Feta cheese is made, watched how a local store owner makes his pasta, swam in the sparkly clear waters of the Gulf of Corinth, learned about and played Greek percussion instruments and then made our own…. and so much more!Real Greece Travel is perfectly named as they delivered a “real Greece” experience like none other!Thank you, Carole and Basil, from the bottom of our hearts for a trip of a life time!!
Real Greece planned a series of experiences for my friends and me to celebrate our milestone birthdays. And found us a perfect villa that suited our group of 15 on Crete. Their attention to us before, and ESPECIALLY during our trip was invaluable. Looking to have a trip with fabulous experiences, connections with interesting locals and great food? And not have to sweat any details? Connect with Real Greece.
We booked a family trip for 4 and had a great experience with Real Greece, from helping us decide which destinations/islands we wanted to visit to planning wonderful experiences our whole family enjoyed. It was also extremely helpful to have a connection/communication with the team while we were in Greece, where they helped book last minute reservations and assisted us in other ways in real-time. Thank you!
The Real Greece team did an excellent job putting together our itinerary. We were a large group with diverse interests, wishes, and needs. They listened to us, and the experience (Crete and Athens) was great. Having a responsive contact in Greece (thanks, Danai!) to deal with details and questions was very helpful, and if there was a glitch (rare, and minor) it was usually resolved within minutes. If I ever return to Greece I will gladly trust them to arrange the trip.
15 of us went to Crete and Athens to celebrate a milestone birthday together, and the Real Greece team helped us plan and create a truly memorable experience! The private cruise and Cretan cooking classes were particularly amazing, but everything from start to finish was just first-class. Carole, Basil, and especially Danai (live on the ground in Greece) were fabulous. Most of our group have traveled a lot, and we aren’t easy to impressed, but Real Greece impressed us.
Real Greece is really Greece. We were impressed with the professionalism, accuracy, knowledge and service from this team from start to finish. They secured the perfect villa on Crete for our group of 16 people. Got us to the most interesting tours and experiences safely and comfortably, the guides were all fantastic, real Greek educators and professionals that were friendly and funny. Our group celebrated a collective 60th birthday - and included history, language professors and other professionals. We are hard to impress. The food was unbelievable the venues perfection, the travel transfers easy and comfortable- hotels in Athens superb- and some even added on trips before and after with Carole and her team.I can’t wait to use them again.
What an amazing experience planned by Carole and Danai. They are truly Greece experts and everything was amazing. The real time support of any questions we had was fantastic. Their drivers and tour guides were so kind and knowledgeable. Thank you for everything!
Excellent experience renting this property. Owner/manager Carole sets up sightseeing options and airport transport with her reliable team if you need it. We took advantage of these options, and had a great experience with George upon pickup, sweet and efficient Danai at check-in, and a tour and departing ride with cool and knowledgeable Nick. Nick's tour offered a lot of history and insights, and assurance that things would go as planned/expected. This entire team offers classy and competent people to assist with your visit as much as you need. While most American visitors will find bathrooms small (true for most of Europe), the other living spaces and outdoor patios of this property are large and very useful. The kitchen is well-stocked with all things you might need, and there are a lot of food and shopping options just downstairs and within one block.
The entire team at Real Greece Travel is fantastic! We have never used a travel service before to help plan a trip, but we are so glad we did. Real Greece Travel has set the bar very high for the next trip. The entire team is so easy to work with, immediate responses whenever we reached out and every single detail was thought of. They planned our tours, transportation every day, and selected our dining- everything was amazing and easy. Please use Real Greece Travel if you are taking a trip to Greece!Kara Joiner
There are only 5 stars but they deserve 10 stars. We had a wonderful week in Greece thanks to this amazing team. Carole, Danai and Niko made sure that everything was properly organized to the last detail. They arranged airport picks ( which were many due to the family group arriving at different times and days ). They arranged tours with excellent local guides. Niko was an excellent tour guide and driver that felt like family at the end of the week.. The apartment was truly comfortable with everything we needed and more. Their attention to detail and our welcome goodies were exquisite. The location is excellent because it’s in a local area with supermarket, bakeries, cafes, pharmacies,everything a few steps away. The restaurants in the area offered delicious meals at very reasonable prices. The view of the Acropolis from the terrace was the icing on the cake. Highly recommend this place to anyone coming to Athens.
We booked an Azamara cruise with two other couples through Italy and Greece. My sister recommended Real Greece for the day excursions and it couldn’t have better or more stress-free! It awesome it was to have private guides for our small group, separate from the pack from the cruise; seamlessly connecting us with the tour guides from activity to activity; a great eclectic mix of activities and a wealth of knowledge custom created for our preferences!. We had access to activities that would not have been possible with a large tour group. Carole and the team set up a group chat for fast communication, awesome app with itinerary and photos and thorough guidance ahead of time. I now want to find a similar tour group for every travel destination! Thanks REAL GREECE! ευχαριστώ
We had an incredible stay with Real Greece. Their AirBnB was clean with great amenities and convenient location. The staff was beyond helpful in setting up activities, dinner reservations, and answering any and all questions. They even set up a dinner class in our AirBnB that was delicious and fun!I highly recommend them for anyone traveling to Greece!
Carole & Basil were not only great hosts at their Sky Villa in Athens ( which was perfect for our large family) , they also planned several great activities for us: a fabulous Chef assisted dinner for our family of 12; trips to Naphlion, Tripolis (to reconnect with family), Cape Sounion, as well as a fabulous Athens tour. Our chef & go-to person Danai Spania, her friend Ourania, & Nikos & Demetri our drivers were all outstanding & could not have been nicer. Our drivers were not only knowledgeable, but they added a lot of local flavor with their personalities. We could not have asked for better or more helpful folks. They made our dream family trip to Greece come true. If/when we come back, we know who to call. Yassas!!
My wife and I's trip/experience was absolutely incredible. I'm so happy we worked with Real Greece Travel because they made everything so seamless, and we didn't have to worry about anything. There was an instance where our was cancelled and they instantly notified us about it, along with other ferry options to choose from around the same time. We would've never known the initial ferry was cancelled if we weren't working with Real Greece and receiving Whatsapp messages! They also set us up with amazing, knowledgeable tour guides, as well as reservations at awesome restaurants. I highly recommend travelling with Real Greece Travel
My family and I just returned from a 2 week Greek vacation that was planned through Carole & Basil from Real Greece. Their help was a huge part of making this trip everything that we hoped it would be. They helped us choose everything from locations within Greece to hotels to activities and dinner reservations. They stayed connected with us throughout our trip via WhatsApp making sure that everything was going smoothly and offering assistance with any changes or additional plans we needed. I can't recommend their services enough.
Fantastic experience! Carole, Basil and team were amazing. Our family of 4 (parents and two teens) only gave them one month to plan a trip for us in June. The hotels were much better than what we would have found on our own and the private excursions were with amazing guides. Communication was always quick and their app made our schedule easy to refer to. We got exactly what I hoped for - a small company with boots on the ground who took excellent care of us. There was nothing they planned that wasn't impressive.
I had a wonderful time in Athens and mainland Greece, thanks to RealGreece. They arranged several trips for us, staffed by outstanding guides and drivers. They made recommendations for restaurants and even reserved our tables. We also took them up on a cooking lesson and dinner at our apartment, a rooftop garden wine tasting, and a Greek folk dancing lesson. Everyone on staff was top-notch: kind, caring, and friendly. My highest recommendation!
My trip to Athens has been a wonderful experience thanks to the team’s professionalism and wonderful nature to care for others. My daughter had a food allergy and it was very stressful. Basil went way beyond and was beyond helpful. He arranged a doctor to come to the apartment, accompanied me to the pharmacy, allowed us to stay an extra day, and respond to any message I sent via what’s up right away for emotional support, etc. Nick has always been available and flexible regarding to the car arrangements too. And Carole and her team have been superb in planning activities and giving us ideas about what to do, etc. We saw the best sunset in Athens, experienced the concert in Acropolis and had a wonderful food tour thanks to their knowledge and love of Athens. Our trip to Athens would have been a disaster without the team’s help. Instead my memory of Athens will be filled with gratitude and humanity. We will definitely come back!!
We just returned from four days in Athens planned by Real Greece Travel . Carole and Basil did a superb job of planning our stay. Their team of driver and guides were excellent. We felt pampered at all times. Carole went out of her way to make reservations for us last minute and delivered. They are a 5+ star agency. Thank you for making our trip magical.
We worked with Carole and Basil for over two years to plan our trip and the trip was everything that we were hoping for and more. Every detail was planned and executed with no issues (every activity, every guide, the accommodations, the transfers and the restaurants - everything was perfect)! The Real Greece team provided lots of advice and suggestions to help us make the most of our vacation which was extremely helpful. We absolutely plan to return to Greece again and wouldn't hesitate to work with Real Greece! Thank you so much!
Planning a trip to Crete for eight couples is no easy feat but Carole and Basilknow their way around Greece expertly. The hotels were excellent, particularly "The Tanneries" in Chania and our guides were enthusiastic andwell informed. Got to love the Greek food and a day at "the farm" was aculinary delight! Highly recommend Real Greece Travel.
We just returned from a 10 day trip to Greece planned by Real Greece Travel. They are a 5 star travel agency, the best I have ever worked with. The guides and drivers they work with were all extremely professional, timely, happy to share their country with us, and we really enjoyed getting to know them. Their team on the ground was amazing! We really appreciated the flexibility and responsiveness every time we wanted to move back a reservation or pick up time. Within minutes it was done! They have an app with your itinerary which was available off line which was absolutely amazing, easy to use, and changes were updated real time! What a great idea and helpful tool! I would also commend them on the choices of activities and accommodations. The perfect blend of history, activities, and free time.
Outstanding company to deal with. 1st Class, would not travel to Greece without using them.
Fantastic team! Very responsive, flexible and organized. Exactly what we needed to get our group organized and they planned a perfect itinerary!
I wholeheartedly recommend Carole and her fabulous team at Real Greece. Our accommodation was beautiful and had all the amenities we needed. From the very beginning when we were brainstorming the trip to the very end adding last-minute activities in our final days there, Carole and her team were wonderful. I typically book all of my own international travel but given the unusual depth of Greece’s history and the country's transportation infrastructure, it was really vital that I involved Carole in the planning. She even helped us book things at the last minute, spontaneously, which was really above and beyond expectation. She also was instrumental in coaching us through the Covid regulations/apps/paperwork, which was daunting but doable once you had the expert on-the-ground advice.As an example, we had a large multi-generational family group coming and going from the airport at different times, and it was super helpful to have her team's help with shuttling people to and from the airport.So grateful for our successful trip!
If your planning, or considering a trip to Greece - Call to Real Greece.I travel the world, and usually handle all my own details. For Greece, I was hosting a group, and didnt know the country that well, so i wanted to hire a professional. Real Greece FAR SURPASSED what i expected.Their trip planning rate is very reasonable, and when you see what they provide, it is an unbelievable bang for the buck!The owners of Real Greece, Carole and Basil, were personally involved with all details, planning and individuals in our group, This is not a canned approach and they will do as much, or as little, as you desire.Carole / Basil - thank you very much. You, your US support and your Greek team were all outstanding. Thanks - Dave
Real Greece Travel was EXCELLENT. Very organized, informative and personal. Site choices were perfect. They we always available for any questions. True professionals through and through. I will be using them again, and often! Thank you for your excellence.
We have travelled to many parts of the world and I have taken pride in my ability to do all of our own travel arrangements. I am quite experienced in researching accommodations, transportation, restaurants and various attractions. We had heard good things about Carole’s services though, and we were pretty busy at the time, so we decided to see what her organization could do for our family vacation (4 adults, 2 children). She was absolutely amazing! Not only were the accommodations in Athens top-notch and exactly what we needed, she ensured that the rest of our trip through Greece was effortless (on our part) and was designed with the specific needs of our family in mind. The transportation arrangements were flawless, with safe, friendly and efficient drivers. The tour guides were all wonderful. Although we had been to Athens before, Carole managed to introduce us to restaurants we would never have found otherwise. We never worried about being stuck or having a problem, anywhere. Her knowledgable competent and friendly staff were always there when we needed. Carole herself gave us numerous heads up tips that avoided many of the mistakes we would have made on our own. We could choose freely to follow her suggestions for an afternoon or a day, or head off on our own.One of the best stress-free family vacations we have ever experienced.
Carole and Basil helped us plan the most amazing trip ever. Not only did they find quaint and authentic places for us to stay, they included things to do around the area that weren’t your typical touristy experiences. They connected us to personal guides that were truly experts in their field and drivers who made our trip that much more fun with conversation and laughs. Many of the people and places we never would’ve found on our own. And, all tailored to our personal tastes. It was truly one of the best trips we’ve ever taken, thanks to their help! If you decide to visit Greece, do yourself a favor and talk to Carole and Basil at Real Greece. You won’t regret it!
Carole and Basil were extremely helpful in our trip to Greece last fall. We needed accommodations, a driver and tour expertise-Carole provided all of the above. She and Basil have a keen sense of what Americans want and need when traveling in Greece and they deliver. I would highly recommend using their services when planning a trip to Greece. Oopa!
It is very easy to give a five-star review to Real Greece Travel. Our trip to Athens was perfect thanks to the help of Carole and Basil. Our accommodations were comfortable and beautiful and every detail was taken care of. Carole and Basil recommended areas to visit and places to eat and every one was spectacular. They also provided a ton of information that made getting around Athens so much easier. They clearly love Greece, and love helping others make the most of their travel. I have recommended their services to friends and they also had a wonderful experience. You cannot go wrong with Real Greece Travel.
Why did I wait so long to visit Greece? The ‘Flavors of the Greek Islands’ tour with the owners, Carole & Basil blew me away in every sense and I am already looking to plan my next trip with them. Prior to landing in Greece, I was provided with an incredibly thorough itinerary, so much so, that I could already taste what was to come (or so I thought!). Each day was filled with jaw dropping history, incredible mouthwatering food, and gorgeous environs. All conducted and beautifully orchestrated by the thoughtful experts of Real Greece Travel. This was truly the trip of a lifetime, and it won’t be my last!
