flatstanley

On the 6/6/15 sailing, they were on the first at sea day and Katakolon days.

Just off Splendour on the June 6th Turkey and the Greek Isles itinerary. We had 2 formal nights, both on the sea days (days 3 & 6 I believe). We had a great time with awesome service in the dining room and cabin.

We got the sandals from the Poet Sandalmaker, Stavros Melissinos. His shop is at Agias Theklas 2, near Monastiraki.

I've seen handmade masks for Carnival, the Greek version of Mardi Gras--not sure if that's the kind of thing you mean? But finding those in October would be very hit or miss.

There's a guy in Athens who makes gorgeous handcrafted sandals. Not sure how they'd do for gifts since he molds them directly to your feet, but I love mine!

Worry beads (komboloi) are a fun local item that can be bought at a variety of price points. They're made of everything from plastic to precious stones.

And it would be helpful to know where else you're going since different regions of Greece have local specialties!

Cruise ships dock just outside of the Old Town of Rhodes--you'll get a beautiful view as you sail in and out! It's a pier just east of where the ferries dock. I think the only beach you can walk to would be Elli, in the New Town. It would be a 30-40 minute walk. If you're willing to take a local bus, you could also go to the beaches at Ialysos, Kallithea, or Faliraki.

None of the beaches have entrance fees, but if you want a lounge chair or umbrella, you'll have to pay. Often chairs and umbrellas are owned by bars or restaurants, and come free with a drink or meal.

You're free to enter the beaches whenever you want, but I think many of the nearby businesses will be closed for the winter by that time. And it will probably be a little chilly. We went to Rhodes in late May, when it was around 75 degrees F, and found it just warm enough for lounging and too cold to swim. I imagine November would be even cooler.

Hope this helps!

flatstanley, are you not allowed to take photos anywhere at Vergina? Or just in the museum?

They're very strict about not taking photos inside the museum--we were warned that cameras might be confiscated and saw that happen to others. I believe they're allowed in the ruins of Aigai (palace, theater, etc.), but that area was unfortunately closed for excavation when I went.

I agree that it really depends on your interests. For me, the Thessaloniki tour would have an edge because the half day will also give you time to explore on your own. It's a city worth seeing--pretty and very distinct from other places I've been in Greece. But if you're interested in ancient Macedonia/Alexander the Great, you cannot beat Pella and Vergina.

I've attached a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what you might see on each tour. One is from the Rotunda in Thessaloniki, which has some of the most exquisite mosaic work I've ever seen. The other is from Pella, which has both an archaeological site and a nice museum. (I've been to Vergina but no photos are allowed there.)

You'll have a lovely time no matter which you choose!

Something just occurred to me re: bargaining. Although we didn't bargain directly in Greece, I did notice that if I looked at something and then walked away, the shopkeepers offered a lower price.

Also, for what it's worth: My daughter lived in Athens for awhile. She can easily pass for native Greek and speaks some of the language. Whenever she spoke Greek to the shopkeepers in Plaka, they would cut their prices, often in half. They didn't do that if she spoke only in English. I don't know if one or two Greek phrases would have the same effect as a full conversation, but it might be worth learning a few words! (Daughter tried to teach us, but you can guess how that worked out...:))

As lovely as it might be I don't think the OP will have a chance to watch the sunset on the Acroplois from a rooftop bar. By mid Oct the sunsets at 6:47 and I imagine the OP will be headed back to the ship by that time.

Listen to Chairsin. ;) When you said October, for some reason I imagined a much earlier sunset. And they don't light the Acropolis up until it's pretty dark. But I still recommend a rooftop bar for a daytime view if you decide you want to sit and relax somewhere!

Given your list of sights and the fact that you're traveling with someone whose energy level is uncertain, I would recommend a private driver. A driver will minimize walking and waiting--he'll get you as close to the sites as possible, and when you're done, you won't have to walk to the nearest stop and then wait. Most drivers will also provide you with cold bottled water for free. We used Private Greece Tours and loved them; I'd be happy to share more info if you'd like.

If you do decide to DIY, most of these sites are relatively close to each other and accessible by public transportation. Lycabettus Hill is the one exception, and I honestly don't think that would be doable without a driver. There's a funicular to the top, but if you use the bus or metro, you'll still have a good climb uphill to the station. The view is nice but not worth the time and effort it would take in that situation.

The Panathenaic Stadium is also out of the way, but there are multiple buses and trolleys that stop right in front of it. However, a driver or taxi would be handy here--most people just stop for 5 minutes to take pictures, and you'd likely wait quite awhile for the next bus.

If you want to see the Acropolis lit up but don't think Lycabettus is doable, there are many hotels near Plaka that have rooftop bars with lovely views. Given that you plan to be in that area anyway, I might recommend that instead.

Have an excellent trip, and all the best to you and your mom!

When we left the Acropolis, we went down on the north side (near Hadrian's Library) and shopped around there before catching the Metro back to the port.

I highly recommend heading in this direction if you're interested in shopping. The area around Hadrian's Library is technically Monastiraki, not Plaka, but we preferred that area. The shops there carry some really interesting things (certain streets are also known for good antiquing). We found more unique goods there than in the heart of Plaka, where the merchandise tends toward standard souvenirs.

Here are the pictures! One is a daytime view of the Acropolis from the top of Mt. Lycabettus. The other is an evening view from the rooftop bar of one of the hotels, to give you an idea of what you might see if you go that route.

How would I get there and do you think it would fit in with our plan?

 

 

 

I just read a little on it, that it is 7 euros, RT. Would I take a taxi there or the Metro or?? If taxi from Acropolis, any idea the cost? Thanks

I think there are two ways you could do this. You could take a taxi to the base of Mt. Lycabettus straight from the port, then go to the Acropolis after, or go to the Acropolis first, take a taxi, and watch the sunset from Lycabettus. Just be aware of the funicular's schedule--it runs on the half hour, I believe. 7 euros round trip is what we paid.

We walked from our hotel, so I'm not sure what a taxi would cost. You do have to make a pretty good climb to get to the funicular station. A taxi would spare you some of that, but I don't know if they can drive you right up to the station (the area immediately around it seemed to be pedestrian-only when we were there). You would ask the driver to get you as close to Ploutarchou (the street name) as possible.

I'm on my phone right now, but when I get back to my computer I will upload a picture or two!

I think I have a plan now, thanks. Acropolis visit, Acropolis Museum and drinks on their patio! I would love to go ride the funicular up the mountain too. I will have to research more on that.

 

Cruisemom42, there is a current warning about Syntagma Square on the Dept. of Labor or whomever's website. Would you still venture there?

 

In 2010-2011 when I was last in Greece, there were lots of strikes, bad economy, warnings, etc. Has that all been resolved? I haven't seen much about this on CC now. I hope things are better. Please advise. Thanks

I think that your plan sounds lovely! The Acropolis Museum's cafe has a great view--just be sure you're not there on a Monday, when they close mid-afternoon.

What specifically are you interested in knowing about the funicular up Mt. Lyabettus? We did it in May and thought the view was well worth the trip. You can look through the columns of the Parthenon to the Aegean, which is spectacular. There is also a cafe/bar on top of the mountain.

Syntagma is perfectly safe these days. We stayed in a hotel a few meters away with no problems whatsoever. You would only want to avoid the area if there's a particularly large demonstration, which isn't likely. Don't be afraid to go to one of the hotel rooftop bars if you want--they also have great views.

If you'll have a cane and would prefer to spare yourself the inclines, you might be able to use the lift at the Acropolis. I understand that the staff can be a little touchy about who they'll allow to use it, but my daughter also had a cane for knee problems when she was in Athens, and it was always offered to her as an option. (Though she, being stubborn, preferred to make the climb.)

We spent about 2 hours on the Acropolis, including the walk up and down. If you're also interested in the Acropolis Museum, that would take another hour or so.

Sounds like an amazing vacation you're going to have! :) We enjoyed Athens and are also really looking forward to Ephesus on our next cruise.

I remember seeing a map next to the airport taxi stand that outlined the inner ring. Unfortunately I can't find it online, but at least you'll be able to verify before you get in the taxi. As Dakota Traveler said, the area near the Acropolis is most likely within the inner ring.

Another thought: One of the hotels we stayed in specified on their website what a taxi from the airport should cost. Maybe your hotel has something similar posted.

The thing about taxis from the Athens airport is that the 35 euro flat fee only applies if your hotel is inside the designated "inner ring." If it isn't, taxi drivers are allowed to charge you the metered rate plus surcharges, and they will.

If your hotel is in the inner ring, keep in mind that the flat fee is supposed to cover everything, including baggage handling and tolls. Some drivers will try to make a little extra by claiming that it's 35 euros plus those things. But they'll usually back off if you tell them no.

My husband and I had no problems with taxis when we were in Athens in May, and our daughter had no issues in the six months she lived there. For the record, they can and will make change, but not in huge amounts. Paying for a 35 euro ride with a 50 euro bill is fine, though.

Have a great trip!

My husband and I stayed at this hotel a few months ago when we visited our daughter in Athens. It's a very nice location and an easy walk to the majority of the sights, including the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum. The only place you might need transportation for is the National Archaeological Museum.

The rooms were quite nice. A little small by American standards but standard for a major European city.

We really enjoyed the rooftop bar--gorgeous view. It was a bit too cold to swim while we were there but the pool looked pretty nice as well. I definitely think you made a good choice!

My family of 3 used Private Greece Tours a few weeks ago to take an all day tour of Delphi from Athens, including a private tour guide at the archeological site and museum.

I highly recommend them. They were prompt, knowlegable and everything we wanted. We were provided with a cell phone which enabled us to keep in contact with our driver. They also provided cold bottled water. I would happily use them again.

We were not on a cruise this time (they pick us up from our hotel), but I have cruised with Royal Caribbean and gone on their excursions. I found I now have a strong preference for the private tours as my tolerance for other passengers that want to talk over the tour guide gets worse every year.

I was really happy to see this thread because I was also wondering what was included as premium coffee and tea. My daughter and I drink our coffees with soy milk. Does anyone know if that's included in the beverage packages, or would we just pay the surcharge for soy milk?