What should I do with a couple of days in Greece?

[Savij]

I'm going to Athens, Greece in a few weeks for a business trip and I'll be free from Thursday night and fly out from the Athens airport on Sunday morning. I'm looking for suggestions on what to do and/or where to stay. I don't want to stay at the same hotel that the meetings will be at since that place is apparently $250/night. I thought their economy had collapsed and was hoping to buy a few villas but apparently I can barely afford a place to rest for the night.

I haven't been there before and the only thing I will see before hand is the Acropolis as part of some work related event. I am open to hanging around Athens or going to another city if that's better Mostly I'm looking to try to keep things simple and cheap while avoiding a situation like the one pictured above.

 

[Cuda1447]

You want to avoid getting into a wrestling match?

 

[Harabec]

Don't go there.

 

[Newbian]

Um why isn't your business paying for your room?

Sounds like a issue if they require you to go there but make you pay.

 

[Savij]

Um why isn't your business paying for your room?

Sounds like a issue if they require you to go there but make you pay.

They are paying for the $250/night room for the week of the conference. I delayed the return flight by a couple of days so that I can see a bit of the country while I am there.

 

[Savij]

You want to avoid getting into a wrestling match?

You can call it whatever you want, I don't want any part of that kind of ancient Greek tradition.

 

[Savij]

Surely someone has been there before.

 

[silverpig]

Greeks. You want to do some greeks. Preferably the hot ones.

Can you get to Santorini easily? Everyone I know who has been there has loved it.

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g189398-i192-Greece.html

 

[GTaudiophile]

Athens is crap.

Take a flight from ATH to JTR. Spend a night or two in Oia, Santorini. Some of the best money you'll ever spend. Splurge a little and book one of these rooms.

 

[GTaudiophile]

FYI, I've been to Athens and various GR islands many times...

1990
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2010
2011

 

[Savij]

Athens is crap.

Take a flight from ATH to JTR. Spend a night or two in Oia, Santorini. Some of the best money you'll ever spend. Splurge a little and book one of these rooms.

That place looks nice. I wonder if I can reasonably take a ferry there and stay for one or two nights or if the flights are pretty cheap.

 

[GTaudiophile]

That place looks nice. I wonder if I can reasonably take a ferry there and stay for one or two nights or if the flights are pretty cheap.

The Blue Star is about 8 hours one-way but certainly cheaper than flying. Flight is 30 mins in the air.

 

[RossMAN]

Athens is crap.

Take a flight from ATH to JTR. Spend a night or two in Oia, Santorini. Some of the best money you'll ever spend. Splurge a little and book one of these rooms.

I would love to visit Santorini one day.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/santorini/pool/

 

[GTaudiophile]

Piraes - Santorini is 37,50 EUR for deck seats or 42,00 for the inside air seats. One way. Deck seats are fine if temp above 70-ish, you can handle noise, Diesel fumes, and ocean spray. If not, get the air seat.

 

[Savij]

The Blue Star is about 8 hours one-way but certainly cheaper than flying. Flight is 30 mins in the air.

I only have Thurs. night till Saturday night. I have noon flight back from Athens. I'm seriously considering the flight now out there now.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I would love to visit Santorini one day.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/santorini/pool/

I have stayed in this exact "VIP Suite" unit with the pool and gratto:

 

[GTaudiophile]

I only have Thurs. night till Saturday night. I have noon flight back from Athens. I'm seriously considering the flight now out there now.

 

[GTaudiophile]

OP: Seize the day man. Carpe Diem. I don't care if it costs you $1K in total for flight, lodging, and food. How many times do you find yourself in that corner of the world? $1K is worth it for a night or two in Oia. Especially if the weather is good, warm, and you have a camera!

 

[Savij]

OP: Seize the day man. Carpe Diem. I don't care if it costs you $1K in total for flight, lodging, and food. How many times do you find yourself in that corner of the world? $1K is worth it for a night or two in Oia. Especially if the weather is good, warm, and you have a camera!

Yeah, you guys have convinced me. I'm pulling out my meeting schedule and seeing just how early I can get out of Athens to get to Santorini.

 

[GTaudiophile]

BTW...the Greeks haggle...on everything. There is often a "Greek" price and a non-Greek price. Say for things like taxi fare. If you ask...20 EUR for trip X...they may accept. Same goes for hotels. If you get to Oia, Santorini...have plan A and B. A may be the VIP Suite deal. B may be something like this. Play them off each other. Haggle.

The Greek economy is in the shitter. Tourism is WAY down. But the Greeks are VERY proud and won't show any weakness.

 

[GTaudiophile]

BTW, once you see the Parthenon, there is nothing more to see in Athens. It's an armpit of a city...now 3-4 years with all sweat and no deodorant...if you will.