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