IMPORTANT: Using Travel Agents in Greece

Are Travel Agencies a Thing of the Past?

What is the best way to book your holiday to Greece? Can you really save by using auto-booking systems or by booking directly with the hotels? Are Travel Agencies a thing of the past? From my experience sites like Travelocity and Expedia are great for booking your flights but for booking hotels in Greece and arranging your trip it makes much more sense to work with someone who knows the territory. The number one cry for help I get is from people who booked their accommodations on their own and found themselves committed to hotels they could not reach because there was not a ferry that day or any day. What many people don't understand when they book hotels in Greece is that by booking directly with a hotel you are not getting a better deal or saving money. The travel agent does not pay the same price as you do for a hotel and add his commission. He pays less than you, in most cases a lot less. He is then able to offer you a price equal to or lower than the hotel offers when you book directly. The same with cruises and tours. The travel agent's commission does not come from you. In essence the hotel pays it by taking less money. So not only are you paying the same or less but you now have someone who can answer your questions, book your ferry tickets and assist you in planning your holiday.

Read my article Endangered Species about the Internet and the disappearance of the small personalized-service travel agency for more on this subject. Personally I think travel agents are an under appreciated and important group and if they get squeezed out of business by automated systems we are going to really miss them.

My Recommended Greek Travel Agencies...

That being said let me introduce the travel agencies in Athens that I have been recommending with confidence for years.  There are hundreds of travel agents in Greece who have websites and with a good webmaster anyone can have an impressive site that resonates with efficiency and professionalism. The trouble is not all agencies are as impressive as their websites. These agencies are.....  

Established in 1983 by Mr George Gerassimidis,  Fantasy is a team of experienced travel agents, who insure each client has an unforgettable holiday in Greece. Specializing in the Cyclades Islands and cruises to the islands and Turkey, they offer numerous combinations of islands including hotels, ferries, transfers, excursions, cruises and can take care of all the details so you can sit back and enjoy the holiday instead of worrying about ferry schedules and tickets.

They have contracts with the most popular hotels and in many cases will have availability for hotels which are supposedly booked full and in all likelihood better prices. They have earned the reputation of being one of the most efficient and professional companies in their field, covering all aspects of travel to Greece, Turkey and Egypt. The Fantasy Travel office is conveniently located a block from Syntagma Square so you can easily meet with them for advice or to fine-tune your itinerary by adding tours and excursions. They are also happy to help you create your own specialized itinerary and in fact invented the Create-an-itinerary page that has become so popular with people using my website. Their website has dozens of suggested itineraries and different island combinations which can be customized to fit your taste. Visit George and his staff at www.fantasytravelofgreece.com or contact them with this form. Or see what others have said at www.greektravel.com/testimonials/fantasy.html

Meet Fantasy Travel Video

Dolphin Hellas Travel

I wholeheartedly endorse Kostas, Aliki, Uli and the gang at DOLPHIN HELLAS TRAVEL, one of the oldest and most respected travel agency in Athens, Greece that has been in business for almost half a century. They can help you book reservations in Hotels all over Greece, Flights, Cruises, Tours, Buses, Ferries, transportation to and from the airport, and supply you with all the information you need to have the best holiday of your life. Dolphin Hellas has booked thousands of people through this site and others and have a stellar reputation. They have what many agencies want, repeat customers who come to Greece every year and do their hotel bookings and get information from Dolphin.

You can read the testimonials of travelers who have used Dolphin Hellas or you can visit their website at www.greecetravel.com/dolphinhellas or if you know exactly what you want you can contact them directly by using this form. Sorry about the photo. It was the only one I could find that had everybody in it!

Aegean Thesaurus Travel

One of the most efficient travel agencies in Greece is not even based in Athens but on the small Cycladic island of Sifnos. Aegean Thesaurus Travel has all the capabilities of any of the Athens travel agencies. Apostolis Dimopoulos left the hustle and bustle of Athens and opened his agency on this quiet island because he realized with the internet and other modern tools of communication it would not matter where in Greece an agency was physically located. Putting together a terrific staff and running a high-tech efficient agency is the reason why Aegean Thesaurus Travel is one of the fastest growing travel agencies in Greece.

For the best prices for Sifnos as well as other islands and Athens visit www.greecetravel.com/aegean

Aegean Thesaurus also has a Create-an-Itinerary Page which you can use if you have a good idea of what you would like to do. It is a great way of making first contact with the agency because it gives them a good idea of what you want on your trip to Greece, if not an exact idea, and they can come back right away with a price.

Christianakis Travel for the Disabled

Specializing in tours for the disabled with a fleet of accessible vehicles. They also know which hotels are wheelchair friendly in Athens and the islands and are the best agency to use if you or someone in your group is in need of assistance. They are the first and only Greek tour operating company that specializes in tailor-made itineraries for the physically challenged. They can fulfill all of your travel requirements by providing you with transportation, hotel booking and guides to escort you around historic sites and attractions in Greece and Europe. They can also provide you with business/conference facilities, or if you prefer, arrange a custom-made itinerary to suit you, featuring any of the above choices. They have over 20 years of experience in the traveling business and guarantee the best service for you. See Christianakis Travel