We have been very busy and tired everynight, but this post will catch you up through last night.
Day 8 – Santorini
We left the hotel at 8:30 for a 10:30 flight to Santorini. It was confusing when we arrived at the airport because although we had our boarding passes we had to check in with our luggage, but Aegean Air had a special line for us. At this point if you are a member of a star alliance frequent flyer program you can give them your number and receive 136 frequent flyer miles. Security was slow and all electronics must be removed from your bag. If you have a DSLR they will also check all your lenses. Upon arrival in Santorini we went directly to the Volcan Winery. The wine tasting was first, then grape stomping, then lunch, and then a few minutes of free time. The group suggested lunch should have been first and then the wine tasting. I must admit I was very bored during the wine tasting as I do not drink and could care less about wine. The grape stomping was fun and lunch was pretty good. The museum has old animated figures and can be a bit scary for children. We arrived at the hotel in Santorini and were assigned rooms. The rooms on the road side of the hotel have a view of the sea right out their window and from their balcony. The other side of the building also has sea views, but in the distance. The hotel is two stories with no elevator. The rooms are typical European hotel rooms that are smaller than the typical US hotel. There is free internet and the town is about a 10 minute walk as you turn right out of the hotel. There are ATM machines in town and one about a 5 minute walk if you turn left out of the hotel. The guides will tell you to make sure you have Euros because many shops do not take credit cards and there are none available on Crete. We had dinner as a group that night and I would suggest you bring a jacket. The food was OK for what it was.
Day 9 – Santorini – Cruising the Caldera
After breakfast we left to start our sail on a private sailboat. They took us to the volcano for a climb first that took about 90 minutes. My knee was bothering me so I did not go on the hike and stayed on the boat with another couple. Following the hike we sailed to an area to swim and what was put on the itinerary as hot springs, but is actually just a spring. The water is very cold and took your breath away when you jumped in. Everyone enjoyed the hour or so, even those that did not get in the water. It was a fun time watching the reactions of those that did get in the water. We then sailed to have lunch at Captain John’s Taverna. I am not going to go over every meal, just realize you will not have beef on this trip, but a lot of pork, chicken, and salad. After lunch we sailed to Oia where you had the choice to take a bus to a meeting point, walk up 200 or so stairs, or ride mules up the stairs. I must warn you the mules run up the stairs and it is very difficult to hang on. We really got a work out just staying on the mule. The town is beautiful and is nothing more than restaurants and stores. There is a church in the square that is open to visitors. We stayed an hour or so and returned to the hotel. Dinner is on your own this night and there are several nice places in town.
Day 10 – Santorini in the Morning Sailing to Crete in the evening
We departed for the Pompeii of at 11, spent about an hour inside and then left for Kamari Beach and had lunch on our own. The ruins are inside a building and can be very boring as there is not much description and you have to listen to the guide to understand what you are seeing. At Kamari Beach you have just enough time for lunch on your own with maybe 15 minutes to spare before you head back to the hotel for the remainder of the afternoon before you leave for the ferry to Crete at 5. You will be given box meals with a ham and cheese sandwich and a salmon sandwich, chips, fruit, and water. The ferry ride is 2 hours and if you have any chance of motion sickness I suggest you take something before you leave because the ferry ride can be rough and the 90 minute ride to the hotel is on a very windy road. We arrived at the hotel around 9:15. It was mass confusion getting our rooms, but the rooms are very nice. The views are fantastic and it is definitely a 5 star resort. The internet is only wireless in the lobby and the beach bar. In the rooms you have to use an ethernet cable so Ipads and Iphones do not work in the rooms unless your room is very close to the lobby.
Day 11- Cretan Coastline
Those that wanted to sea kayak left the hotel at 9:30 the others at 10:30. I did not do the sea kayaking, but those that did said it took upper body strength and the water was a bit warmer than Santorini. We then toured the island of Spinalonga. It is an interesting island with a long history, including as a leper colony. We stayed about 90 minutes, took the boat back to shore, and had lunch on our own before returning to the hotel for an afternoon to enjoy the resort. You need reservations at the restaurants and are provided a voucher to pay for your meals. We ate at the Old Mill and I must say it is perfect for couples and those that appreciate exquisite settings with background piano music, beautiful scenery, and food worthy of 5 stars. Definitely not for kids or those that want a loud or boisterous environment. I will not forget this meal for a very long time, if ever.
confused...you keep refering to HO/HO bus, cost of your meals, buying tickets ahead, and such. You also haven't mentioned meeting your guides and other travelers in your group. Are you on a pre trip and staying at the same hotel Disney uses for ABD?
