How to Plan a Summer Vacation in the Greek Islands

The Greek Islands are incredibly romantic for couples and wildly adventurous for those who take part in the many island attractions. When you decide to spend your summer vacation cruising around the Greek Islands, it’s like a two-for-one vacation. You get the great Greek history, food and hospitality with sunny beaches and water fun. Follow these steps to start planning your trip.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A pencil or pen and paper
• An Internet connection
• A telephone
• A credit card

1. Consider your budget. Decide how much you can afford to spend on your hotel stay, airfare, ferries, attractions, meals and tips.

2. Collect passports, birth certificates and an additional photo ID for each person in your travel party. Passports valid for 6 months beyond your intended return are required. Travel visas are not for stays less than 90 days.

3. Choose which of the 160 inhabited Greek Islands you’d like to visit. They're grouped into 7 divisions: the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, the North Aegean, the Northern Sporades, the Eastern Sporades, the Thracian Sporades, the Ionian. The two following islands anchor smaller ones surrounding them: Euboea and Crete.

4. Plan to fly into Athens, Greece.

5. Choose and schedule a ferry to take you from the ports of Athens to the island group you'll be visiting.

6. Print the ferry schedule that will take you around to the islands you’d like to visit.

7. Make a list of amenities you find most important in a hotel or accommodations.

8. Search Hotels.com (see Resources below) for hotels, motels and inns that meet your price, location and amenities criteria.

9. Ask your travel agent or search your favorite online travel broker for packages, including transportation and a hotel stay that fits your bill.

10. Pack your suitcases and remember to bring sunscreen, bug repellent and light clothing.

11. Print out your itinerary to bring along with you.

12. Check the weather a couple days before departure to allow you to pack properly.

[MeanDramaQueen]

on 4/14/2008 Okay, this was pretty good. But some people want to take a rest from their vacation once in a while so don't plan so tight. I felt claustrophobic almost when you started about the ferry rides. This advice was pretty good but not really for me.