Greece tour, 20 days

 Accommodation  On the mainland we stay in tourist class family hotels, which are mostly located within walking distance of downtown. These are comfortable and convenient, not luxurious. 

On the islands, the location within walking or short driving distance of the harbor. The reserved rooms are neat and have a private shower and toilet and most have air conditioning. Breakfast is included in the fare. The Greeks use a simple breakfast, usually consisting of bread, butter, jam, ham and cheese and coffee or tea. 


A few typical hotels (subject to change)

Hotel Extension -  If you should need an additional hotel night upon arrival, please let us know on your booking form. That is recommended if the Dutch participants are scheduled to arrive very early in the morning.  You will want to be available for the first group meet-up and it is always great to be well rested when the trip begins. 

Our Athens accommodations are typically centrally located and there are several restaurants and cafes in the vicinity. The price is $55  based on bed and breakfast in a double room per person per night. The price for a single room is $85. Per night. An extension of Crete accommodations is possible. The price is $55, - based on accommodation in a double room per person per night and $85, -. Per night for a single room.  The prices do not include transfers to / from the airport.

Single room -Djoser is single friendly! If you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. If we cannot match you, there will be no additional room charge. For a reasonable charge, you may request single accommodations, subject to availability. Just indicate this preference on your booking form. You will find pricing for single accommodations on "Dates & Prices" page.  

In July there are a limited number of single rooms available.

Subject to change

Meals   Only breakfast is included in the price of the trip.   You  can find a restaurant for lunch and evening meals. The tour leader can make suggestions. The simple breakfast in the hotels usually consists of baguette, butter, jam, ham and cheese and coffee or tea. Greece is justly famous for its extremely varied cuisine. Except for roast meats and stews with meat and vegetables (such as mousaka) there is a huge choice of fish caught in Greek waters. Greece is famous for its fine wines and ouzo, the aniseed-flavored aperitif.

Booking your international flight - We provide the land package and transportation within the program as described. We do not arrange international flights from or to the United States or Canada. The land program will begin approximately two hours after the arrival of the Netherlands (NL) participants who will be arrive from Amsterdam. The land program will end about 4 hours prior to their scheduled departure time, which allows for time to get to the airport. The proposed flights for the Dutch participants and the land beginning and end times are listed in this section. They are subject to change based on flight delays or changes. We will keep you posted of any flight changes that we are aware of prior to the trip. When scheduling your flights, keep the following times in mind.

Flights for the Dutch Participants (subject to change)

  Transavia 

   Amsterdam - Athens 16:15 - 20:35

   Heraklion - Amsterdam  21:30 - 0015

Group will meet for the first time in the morning.  

The July 21, 2015 has a different flight schedule. Please inquire. 

Before you book your flight - To avoid flight change or cancellation costs get email confirmation from our office that the trip has enough participants to be a “GO”.

Verify the spelling of your name-within 24 hours - When you book your flights, double check your flight records to confirm that your name is spelled on your ticket exactly as it appears on your passport. Some companies (for example, ORBITZ) will only allow a 24 hour window to correct any errors without penalty. You may incur heavy fees for changes, forfeiture of your flight ticket, or even worse, you could be denied entry to a border upon arrival.

Send us a copy of your flight itinerary - We will forward to the tour leader so they will know when to expect you at the hotel and when you will be departing.

Keep in mind hotel extensions - If the Dutch travelers arrive early in the morning, we recommend that you arrange to fly in the day or night before so you will be meet the group. Some trips involve an immediate transfer from airport to the next town so make sure you will arrive before the others so you don’t miss the first meeting or transfer to the next location. We can arrange an extension hotel night for you. Prices for hotel extensions can be found in the "Dates & Prices" section

If the Dutch participants arrive in the late evening - Should they arrive very late in the evening, the group will have their first meeting in the morning in the hotel lobby. You can check in earlier and relax or explore on your own.

Airport transfer to/from hotel (not Included) - If you will be arriving and or departing on the same flight as the Dutch travelers let us know. Then you can join them on the bus for the group transfer at no additional charge. Notify us in advance so we can alert the tour leader. If you schedule your flight at the same time as theirs, or later, you can join them on the group transfer to the airport at no additional charge. Otherwise, you can take an authorized taxi to the first hotel on the list we have provided for you. Private airport transfers can be very costly . If your flight is delayed, they are difficult to reschedule or cancel. With a taxi, you are not charged for waiting time or cancellations.

Useful Links for booking your flights

Orbitz.com

Expedia.com

Kaykak.com

Local Transport    On this trip we travel frequently by ferry, the best way to travel from island to island in Greece. On almost all ferries you can relax on the deck and enjoy sun and sea. The crossings take approximately between 1½ and 5 hours.

rip Costs 2015

Land package begins $2620 

Single Room  $310 

Extension hotel night in:  ATHENS

Double Room (PER PERSON)  $ 55

Single room   $85

Extension hotel night in:  CRETE

Double Room (PER PERSON)  $ 55

Single room   $85

Estimated out of pocket expenses per person, per week:  $280   

Visa needed?  No 

Inclusives   Land package,  transportation during the trip , hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast, excursions according to the program, Dutch tour leader (speaks Dutch & English). 

The trip includes

• Land program

• Tour leader leader (speaks Dutch & English) 

• Transportation by air-conditioned bus

• Accommodation in comfortable hotels with breakfast and sometimes a swimming pool

• Crossing by ferry from Piraeus - Naxos, Naxos - Santorini and Santorini - Crete

• Relaxing stay in Crete

• Visit the mysterious town of Mystras

• Visit Mycenae

Exclusive    Flights from/to the U.S. or Canada.   Travel insurance, other meals, entrance fees, optional excursions, gratuities, personal expenses

Payment Schedule 

$500 deposit is due upon booking to hold your place

Payments by charge card or check are accepted

Balance is due 60 days prior to departure date

In Greece, the EURO is the currency.

ATMS: Available in many places but we recommend to take $300, per person in cash
Credit cards: are accepted in many places.

Estimated Out-of-Pocket Weekly:  $280 

As a guideline for costs not included in the fare, such as meals, entrance fees, optional excursions and personal expenses, please budget a minimum of $280 per week per person.  Prices in small towns are cheaper. 

Entrance fees to museums and major attractions range from  €5 , to € 15  (or $5 to $16). With an international student or a senior citizens' card, entry is often free or reduced. 

When you exchange money overseas, do your calculations in advance.  Keep in mind that fees are added in.  Count your money before you leave the window.  Once you leave, you can’t correct a mistake. 

Tipping    It is customary to tip for services rendered. To prevent you becoming tips to share out, sets up a tip jar at the beginning of the trip, from which the (joint) tips to drivers, guides, hotel staff, etc. are paid.  The typical amount for the tip jar for this trip is $30 per person

 Excursions  In Djoser you decide which sights you find worth visiting. One may wish to roam the markets looking for bargains, while another wants to look around in a museum or relax on the terrace, have a glass of wine and observe the local daily life. In most cases, you can explore on your own or with peers, with or without the help of our tour guide, on foot or by local transport.Entrance fees are not included in the price, so you have the freedom to determine your own preferences. Some sights are not to be missed, or they are  difficult to reach or are en route to our next overnight stay.  Such excursions are built into the program however, the entrance fees are not included. Refer to the Prices/Dates page for an estimate of your out of pocket expenses.    During this trip through Greece, the following excursions in the travel program included:

• Visiting the monastery Osios Loukas, one of the most beautiful buildings of Byzantine Greece.

• Excursion to the Meteora near Kalambaka 

• Visiting Mystras

• Visit of Mycenae, the ancient Lion's Gate

• Visit to Epidaurus

• Visit to the Corinth Canal
Locally there will be other excursion possibilities.

When you book a trip we will provide you with more details about necessary documents. Passports should be current and valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date. If a visa is required, you may need extra pages in your passport for your stamps. Check all visa requirements carefully and leave yourself plenty of time to send and receive documents before your trip.

Travel documents needed for Greece

Only a passport is required for this trip. Bring your drivers license if you wish to rent a scooter or a car.

Visa & Passport Expeditor   For an extra fee, you can hire an expediting service to process your passport or visa application. They will look over your paperwork and they can offer a faster return of your visa or passport. We recommend  TRAVISA. 

Recommended Vaccinations etc.  For the Greece trip there are no required vaccinations. However, this does not mean that the sanitary conditions are the same as in the States. Especially in the summer when it can be very hot, it is wise to watch what you eat. Also, drinking tap water is not advisable everywhere. Bottled water is available almost everywhere for sale.

Health     Center for Disease Control – Travelers information– Travelers information for recommendations. Keep in mind that they may recommend an inoculation or medication such as malaria pills, which may be necessary for one specific part of a country but not another, or for a particular season. Shots are expensive. Make sure to get only what is needed. We recommend asking your doctor for a prescription to combat a more serious intestinal disorder.

When you book a trip we will provide you with information regarding the usual recommendations for the region we will visit. You will be responsible to check with your travel clinic or physician to review your plans and to find out the most up-to-date recommendations and needs for your particular situation. Plan to get your inoculations four to six weeks in advance of your trip. Some offices may need to preorder the medicines so call in advance. It is wise to pay careful attention to what you eat. Also, we recommend you bring medicines such as pain-killer and for remedy for intestinal disorders (such as IMMODIUM) Bring a small first aid kit. Tweezers, band-aids, antiseptic cream, insect repellant, salt rehydration tablets. The tour leader will have a first aid kit.

Climate or altitude changes can sometimes cause illness. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Bottled water is readily available. Excessive alcohol intake contributes to dehydration and makes you more vulnerable to illness. Make sure that you get plenty of rest and enough food and drink during the trip.

Insurance - For peace of mind, we recommend that you procure travel insurance. For example, in the event of an illness or injury, an emergency evacuation can be incredibly expensive and you would want access to the best possible facility. Also, lost baggage or missed flights can mean added expenses. Even events at home may prevent you from taking a trip, such as a lost job or ailing family member. Check your providers policies regarding coverage for expenses incurred due to political turmoil or natural disasters.  Djoser is not responsible for costs incurred for changes or missed portions of a program or missed flights due to such events,  so make sure you check your policy.   It is important to get travel insurance immediately after booking. Most companies have a brief window (within 10 days of booking) for coverage for a preexisting condition. You will be asked to provide us with travel insurance contact information before your departure.

You are free to choose your own provider. Over the years, we have recommended TRAVELEX. They offer a variety of plans and most importantly, they are responsive. Should you choose to go with TRAVELEX, you will contact them directly and the cost of your coverage will depend on the plan you choose. The cost will be based over the total cost of your trip and flights, and the amount is also subject to your age. Ask about the TRAVEL PLUS plan and the more economical TRAVEL LITE plan. * Arrange for insurance immediately after booking your trip so that you are covered for any pre-existing situation. TRAVELEX  1-800-228-9792

Group Composition
Djoser travelers are active, enthusiastic travelers of all ages. Join an international group with travelers from the Netherlands, Belgium and North America, who will be the minority group on these trips. Most of our trips range from a minimum of eight participants to a maximum of 20 or 22. You will find couple and singles on our trips. Feel free to call us if you wish to know the demographic make-up of a particular trips (number of singles and age range).

Minimum group size: 8 
Maximum group size: 22

What to expect when traveling with an international group - Djoser, Inc. (the United States office) has been a Greece tour operator for over 15 years. Djoser, B.V. (the Netherlands office) has been a Greece tour operator for over 25 years. So together we bring vast experience. Most of our trips are arranged in cooperation with Djoser, B.V. in the Netherlands. Because they cater to the voracious travel appetites of the Dutch, we can offer a vast number of programs around the world with hard-to-find itineraries, with numerous departure dates.

On our Greece group tour, you will travel with an international group, with most participants from Holland and Belgium. The international make-up of our groups is the attraction for many regular Djoser travelers and adds another cultural element to the trip. Typically, there are only one to five North Americans per group. You will find that almost all of your fellow travelers have an excellent command of English and most are very willing to socialize. It’s a great idea to extend an invitation to a few travel mates for coffee or a drink early in the trip. They will appreciate your effort and this is a great way to break the ice. It will be easier for them to test out their English skills in a quiet, one-on-one setting. Group members tend to warm up to one another in a day or two. As with every tour group, compatibility has most to do with individual personalities.

The Dutch are experienced and hearty travelers. We attract travelers of all ages and we enjoy the mix! You will find our participants welcome opportunities for independent explorations in addition to group activities. No matter their age, Djoser travelers expect, and are up to lots of walking, hiking, biking, or whatever comes our way. The Dutch and Belgian travelers will fly as a group from Amsterdam. You will meet the group and tour leader at the hotel where you will begin the land program with the group.

This journey is guided by an experienced Dutch guide, who speaks Dutch and English. Our tour guides are responsible for the organizational and technical aspects of the trip. Their extensive travel experience and expertise adds value to the Djoser journey. Careful and comprehensive training lays the foundation for their preparations. 

Greece has a stable Mediterranean climate with a pleasantly warm spring from March to June and hot, dry summers from June to October. In general, it is warmer on the islands than on the mainland.

Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at worldweather.org