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