I saw enough to confirm what I had heard previously. November is an odd month for travel. Not cold enough for snow (usually) yet cold and not comfortable by any means. It didn’t really have a holiday feel either. Europeans do not really start celebrating Christmas in early November like we do here in the United States. Hell, we start in August, so maybe they are on to something. Really Paris in November is a mixed bag as far as the good and the bad are concerned, you will have to decide what is important to you when traveling.

The Weather (average Temperature 54F/39F)

This might be the biggest reason to avoid Paris in November. According to this site here it rains about 10 days out of the month with the remainder usually being cloudy. I can confirm this. The temperatures usually hover around the 50s during the day, colder at night. To me this isn’t all that bad since I like cooler weather, it certainly beats a scorching hot Summer. Yet, it was the type of cold that I do not like since it is wet, bone chilling at times.

The rain is what took away from my experience the most. They weren’t kidding when they said November is one of the wettest months. Now, mind you I was only there three days, but it was three days of on and off rain. Our first night, we almost needed to canoe to our restaurant. Other times weren’t so bad. Luckily, we were able to get to the Eifel tower when it was dry, but for the most part we were drenched walking the streets. I like strolling in a city, that is how you get a feel for it, rain certainly will take away from the experience.

One other thing to consider is Paris in November has less daylight. Since you were born on planet earth this might not be a shock to you. Still, it is something to consider, less sunlight means it cools faster. Paris is beautiful at night, that is if the rain isn’t blocking the views.

Things to Do

Like every month in Paris, you should walk around when you can. As mentioned, the weather in Paris is unpredictable. If your trip is anything like mine, you will spend most of your time either dodging raindrops or inside. Lucky for you Paris has some amazing museums (assuming you like Museums).

The Louvre is a must. You don’t go to Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa, might as well skip the Eifel tower as well. Just a warning, she is an unimpressive wench, but you need to see her anyway. The other exhibits are fantastic, the Louve is one of those bucket list museums for art and history lovers. It is a perfect way to spend a rainy day in Paris. Other museums like Musée d’Orsay, are also available, but I just had three days in Paris, and I had to eat.

Speaking of which the food in Paris is outstanding, I will get deeper into that in other posts. Eating and drinking always seem to be a great way to spend a wet day. I sat at a bar outside for over an hour and killed part of a rainy night. That was one of the more relaxing evenings I have had when traveling. You should try a lot of different foods in most cities, but when visiting Paris bring your sweatpants. Kidding, we Americans are already getting looked at like there is something wrong with us, do not give Parisians any ammunition!

A little planning goes a long way. We all have super computers in our pockets, you can easily time when the weather is good. Take that time to go for a walk or jump on a hop on hop off bus. Yes, I know they are for tourists, but I still like them. Plus… I was a tourist on this trip.

The Crowds

I do not have much to compare it to, but they say Paris is a lot less crowded in November than the more popular months. I can confirm that I was not overwhelmed with people. Not sure if that was the rain or the lack of visitors, but it was not a hassle. That is not to say the city was empty. There were still major lines at the Louve and Eifel tower. Still, I could breathe as opposed to Tokyo, (or even Madrid) in which I felt overwhelmed at times.

I would say Paris did not feel touristy, even in the tourist spots. No one selling selfie sticks, a few trinket salesmen, but not many. It felt authentic. This may be due to the fact that November in Paris is the low season, possibly all the grifters have gone home. I think it is fair to say that November in Paris is emptier than in other months.

Expense

Lower Crowds and the off season naturally translate to a lower cost to visit Paris. Although the cheapest months are December through February, you should be able to find some decent deals in November. Having said this the city was still not cheap on my stay.

Airfare was better and is always cheaper in the offseason. My Flight was less than $1000 to Madrid, then just $200 more to Paris. You always have to time it right, these days it is difficult to find a good deal.

As for the hotel, I searched high and low and found a good, not great hotel in Paris for around $230/night. Whether or not you consider that cheap depends on how you travel, but it was more expensive than anything I dealt with precovid. Paris is an expensive city, traveling in the offseason will allow you to do it for less.

It is Still Paris

Regardless, what the weather and temperature are like you are still in Paris, and Paris is an amazing city. I am not going to feel bad for you if you “have to” be in Paris in November. The art, the food, the culture, I believe it would be hard not to have a good time there.

Yes, rain can be annoying, but do not let it detract from your trip. You are in one of the premiere cities in the world, I assume you can make the very best of it.

Conclusion: How is Paris in November

Whether you would want to travel to Paris in November depends a lot on your personal preferences. I would rather have a little rain than 90-degree heat with a ton of tourists all around me. Yes, there may be better months to visit, but I still would be shocked if you had a bad time visiting Paris in November.

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If you read most of my food posts, I may sound like a broken record when comparing America to the rest of the world. This is especially true when talking about areas in the Mediterranean. I go on and on about the Seafood and freshness of the ingredients worldwide. It is true that Santorini cuisine is seafood heavy, but there is a lot more to it than that. All the ingredients were fresh, whether it was wine, meat, or produce, which is a difficult task for an island. Greece has a wonderful food culture, Santorini may be a bit touristy at times, but the food was unusually good for a place with so many visitors.

My goal is to direct people to the best things to eat in Santorini. It is safe to say that I did not have any bad meals in this area, but there were also a lot of “must try spots.” Let me preface this, as I have with all my recent posts, I am not guaranteeing that a lot of these places will be still in business after this terrible year. If you were to read this today most of Europe is closed and many restaurants have shuttered for good. It is my hope you discovered this post in better times and it still provides value. Below is where to find the best Santorini food and some of the things to order. FYI…If you’re feeling like you do not want to read the whole post I provided a table at the end.

Seafood

Any place near the water in Europe is going to have outstanding seafood and Santorini is no exception. Most seafood is amazing here, but my preference was always the grilled calamari and octopus. Americans usually only have calamari fried, this way you cannot even tell what you are eating. I like my calamari to look like the sea monster that attacks ships in old movies. The more tentacles the better! The same goes for my octopus, it needs to creep you out.

The good news is Santorini is swimming with seafood (pun intended). The octopus is fresh, many times you will watch the ships bring it in while you are sitting at your table. The boats are out all night so you can eat well, the least you can do is oblige them! Santorini meals should start with seafood… I had it all over the island, but one of my favorites is the below spot.

Katina Fish Tavern (Taverna Katina)

Katina Fish Tavern was one of the best restaurants in Santorini for seafood that I visited. There is a more popular, but also more touristy place right next door (Ammoudi Fish Tavern) it is good, but they dropped the ball on the Octopus. Katina Fish Tavern delivered a home run in terms of freshness and a relaxed atmosphere. There is nothing fancy about this spot. Just delicious, extremely fresh food that will have you coming back for more.

Katina Fish Tavern was one of those places you order the same meal twice. This is exactly what I did, after polishing off a full arm of an octopus and some delicious calamari (and multiple Greek beers) the check came. Oh no I said, please deliver me the same meal (beers included). The views are amazing, but amazing views are a dime a dozen in Santorini. Katina Fish Tavern is located in Oia, right on the water, on the lower port. Keep walking down the many stairs until you come across it. If you are a seafood lover, you will agree this is one of the best restaurants in Santorini.

Gyros/Souvlaki

First, I want to point out that although one might find them similar there are certainly differences between these two meat sandwiches. It comes down to how the meat is cooked, a Gyro is peeled off a giant cone and a souvlaki is cooked on a spit, it is in more of a tubed form. Hope that clarifies it, sure it kept you up at night. Both are delicious and are classic Santorini sandwiches. Most of the best ones I tried are in Fira, here are my top three.

Lucky’s Souvlakis

So many of a drunken night (and day) I spent enjoying Lucky’s Souvlakis. Most likely you will find the owner hanging around, I remember him being a friendly guy. The souvlakis are outstanding, and very cheap. To be fair they are cheap in most places in Santorini. I really enjoyed the atmosphere as well as the food. Maybe it was just all the good memories, but when reminiscing about the best restaurants in Santorini for Souvlaki or Gyros, Lucky’s pops into my mind.

Nick the Grill

A close second is Nick the Grill, which is about twenty feet away, this restaurant was better at Gyros than Souvlakis (although both were good). One advantage to this establishment was that it ventured into some Americanized foods (hamburgers, hot dogs, fries) if you are with some picky eaters, this might be helpful. Nick the Grill had food that was just as satisfying as Lucky’s, but the atmosphere was maybe a step down. I am splitting hairs, both places are incredible

Obelix

Maybe a step behind the other two, Obelix is a great alternative for your meat in pita needs. Obelix was a bit more crowded and a bit pricier than the other two (probably due to its location), but still great. All three of these spots are in Fira, I am sure Oia has one or two that can be competitive.

Wine in Santorini

I know this article is about Santorini food and where to find the best Santorini restaurants, but I think discussing the wine scene is a must. First, because the wine is so delicious in Santorini and secondly, most of the wineries serve food. In most cases extremely good food. There are 18 wineries throughout the island (most of which you need to get a ride to from the more popular areas). My favorite was the Venetsanos Winery.

Venetsanos Winery

This is the type of place you go for a 5-euro tour and end up unable to dial a cab 4-hours later. It is still my favorite winery that I have been to worldwide. The view alone is something special, for some reason it felt even better than the rest of the island (may have been a wine memory). The wine itself is incredible, I did a tasting that allowed me to figure out which bottle or two (or three I believe) I wanted to end the night on.

Venetsanos Winery doubles as a Santorini restaurant, at least from May 1st – Oct. 1st. The cafe serves a variety of cheese as well as much of the Santorini food you have grown to love, such as Greek salads and saganaki. If you are a drinker and love good food head to Venetsanos Winery.

Other Santorini Foods to Look out For

Santorini food has a great variety. There are several other items one should look out for when visiting this island. Let me give you another six. These are in no particular order and found throughout the island.

1. Fava me Koukia – Traditionally mashed up, although I had one of my best Fava bean experiences in a place I will get to in a minute, and they were not. This is a staple in most Santorini restaurants. It seems like a simple dish, but when done right it is outstanding.
2. Tomatokeftedes – Tomato fritters are another common food found in Santorini. I had mine at the Ammoudi Fish Tavern, as mentioned it is a bit of a touristy place located next to Katina Fish Tavern in Oia. Have a batch of these and a nice Greek salad then move next door for the main course.
3. Roasted Lamb – Once again something the Greeks excel in; the lamb is delicious all over Greece and Santorini is no exception. If you get tired of sea monster, you will not be disappointed with some local lamb.
4. Pomegranate– You can just pick these from the trees (or probably buy one from someone on the side of the road, otherwise you may be stealing). I love Pomegranates and they are growing everywhere on the Island.
5. Saganaki – Fried Cheese with honey, enough said! Enjoy your hardened arteries.
6. Kofta meat balls– Delicious lamb meatballs in a red sauce. Seasoned differently than Italian meatballs, they have more of a middle eastern flair.

The Best Restaurants in Santorini

I have given you a list of Santorini foods to try, let me expand on the best restaurants in Santorini. As mentioned most places on the island were great, but there were some exceptional spots as well. By far my favorite restaurant in Santorini was this one below.

METAXI MAS

Certainly, one of the best restaurants in Santorini, if not the best. Far and away the most exceptional meal of my trip and I was lucky enough to end my time on the island with such a high note. Grab a cab, if I remember correctly this restaurant is about a 20 minute or so drive from Fira. It is worth the extra expense of a taxi and the drive to a faraway location. As much as I loved all the food in Santorini, sometimes it was a bit repetitive. Metaxi Mas is a local favorite, where you get the best and most unique versions of traditional Santorini food.

The atmosphere was amazing, I went on a cool October night and the tables were glowing with candlelight. It is right next to an old church, you do not have the traditional views of the water, but the views are great none the same. The food was exquisite, starting even with the bread and the appetizer (had the best Fava beans of my trip here). There was nothing I did not like. There Is a reason Metaxi Mas is voted one of the best restaurants in Santorini by so many locals. Great food, great atmosphere, and nice people. It was a perfect end to the trip.

Taverna Tzanakis

This is another one that is out of the way a bit. Taverna Tzanakis was about a 25-minute walk north of Fira. This spot also offered a unique dining experience. Not that I have anything against squid, I clearly love it. It is just a man needs some roasted lamb every now and again, and they had a good one.

Parea Tavern

This was a staple for me in Fira, Parea Tavern served some consistently great food at good prices. It happened to be right near my hotel the Athina Luxury Suites (read my review at the link) it is a bit more upscale than some of the other spots. Still the prices were very good overall, and the food was excellent with a lot of variety. Given I went there so many times I got to know the waiter very well, the poor guy wanted to jump off the balcony after 6-months of working 7-days a week, dealing with hordes of cruise ship zombies! Parea tavern is a great place to stop if you are in Fira and hungry.

Honorable Mention (For Drinks): PK Cocktail Bar

Not a place I ate at, but if you are looking for a bar after a day of walking and eating highly recommend PK Cocktail Bar. The prices are high when compared to the cheap Greek wine, but nothing out of the ordinary, especially if you are coming from the United States. It is an extremely classy establishment, with really well-made drinks. I needed to slip this one in here considering how much time I spent drinking at the PK Cocktail bar.

Tips for Finding the Best Santorini Restaurants

If you want to find authentic food in Santorini, you need to take some preemptive action. I did not have many bad meals here, but some were better than others and some meals you paid twice as much for lower quality food. If you want to find the best Santorini restaurants follow the below:

1. Go Inward my Son: Remove the great view from the equation and the food must be stellar for a place to survive. There for go toward the center of the island. Santorini is all about the atmosphere, a place cannot have no view and bad food. They will work harder to make for a better experience if they are further from the water.
2. Trust Locals (be weary of the hotel Staff): Whenever you can ask a local where they like to eat. Who else but someone who lives on the island can give you the inside scoop to find truly traditional Greek food at a reasonable price? Hotel staff can be tricky, many times in the past I have had people send me astray for a kickback from the restaurant. Not so much in Greece, but in other countries. I was lucky enough to get to know the woman who worked at my hotel and she gave me some great advice.
3. Be Weary in Fira and Oia: Maybe a bit contradictory since I recommended so many places in these areas. Still, these towns are the most expensive areas and they cater to cruise ship zombies that mull around. When an eatery knows they will not be seeing a guest again they may not put forth your best effort.
4. Do not put down the Hotel Breakfast: I usually hate to eat at the hotel, but the Athina luxury suites gave me a great experience every morning. Fresh fruit, eggs greek yogurt delivered to my door along with Champagne. who can complain? At least check it out, see how it holds up.

Before I go let me give you a quick chart if you do not want to read my long-winded post!

Conclusion: Santorini Food: The Best Santorini Restaurants

Finally, my masterpiece is complete! I am looking forward to HBO making a T.V show about it! This post brings back memories. I cannot wait for the time when we can travel again to faraway lands and enjoy paradise. Santorini food is amazing because it is fresh and uncomplicated. Soon we will be back in the swing of things and enjoying great European destinations. In the meantime, all we can do is read about them while fantasize about being away.

The post Santorini food: The Best Restaurants in Santorini appeared first on Man in Flight.

I am going to give you the best Sorrento restaurants I can remember. Please consider that this is still a tourist town, so the food will be a notch lower. Like Positano, when thinking of the best restaurants in Sorrento there was one stand out and others that were just very good, but not outstanding. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the restaurants in Sorrento, I was not expecting much but I did not think the food was bad.

I probably should discuss the elephant in the room. Clearly these days many of us Americans will  not be traveling to Sorrento anytime soon. It is still good to have a couple of the best Sorrento restaurants in your back pocket for when travel does open again. I will also give you an alternative spot to eat, near Pompeii if you are site seeing from Sorrento. Additionally, I will add three spots in Sorrento that I was told were good, but did not make it to. To begin with here is where to eat in Sorrento, my 5 best Sorrento restaurants. One last disclaimer, I wanted all the places on my list to be within walking distance from the main square, there may be a lot of good ones on the outskirts, but these are not mentioned here.

1. Porta Marina Seafood

This restaurant is a little gem right near the docks. It is a bit of a maze to find, and it is exceedingly small, but worth the work to discover. Even though it was only a lunch, I would say this was one of my favorite lifetime eating experiences and certainly the best restaurant in Sorrento.

The Atmosphere

Maybe it was the (almost) perfect weather…although it did sprinkle for about 10 minutes. Or more likely it was the view since we were almost on top of the water. We must have sat outside for over two hours after eating, just drinking wine and relaxing. This is the kind of restaurant experience you do not get in the United States, where a 17-year old waitress comes by every two seconds and then just drops the bill off after 15 minutes. The relaxed atmosphere of Porta Marina Seafood makes you realize we are doing something wrong in America. Unfortunately, our way of eating is spreading to other countries.

The Food

All the great atmosphere in the world means nothing if the food is not up to par, luckily the food is just as good as the setting. The first course was fried calamari, I usually hate calamari (or anything) fried. Give me a grilled squid any day. This was the best fried dish I have ever had. The calamari were so light you could blow them off the plate. It was so good that after our meal, we ordered a second round.

My main course was Frutti di mare, with beautiful shrimp and mussels. The seafood was so fresh I looked over in the water and I noticed the mother of the shrimp crying (holding his lunchbox) as I bit into him. The octopus was also delicious, my one regret is that we missed out on visiting this establishment a second time. To make this all even better, the price was right, I think it was like $60 (after conversion) for all the food and at least two liters of wine. It almost makes me sad to think about how poorly we eat in the United States.

The Service

I believe (do not quote me) this place is run by two sisters who were both genuinely nice. Once again, a family run establishment shows why it is superior to a chain. Yes, maybe it takes longer to get your check, but I was not trying too hard to grab it. I would much rather have a long, relaxed meal where I felt like I was at someone’s home, than a rushed Applebee’s experience. Therefore, Porta Marina Seafood was one of the best Sorrento restaurants (if not the best).

2. Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso

This place was odd, it felt like a fine dining establishment, yet once you cleared your plate, some things did not add to that environment. Still I really enjoyed my meal here, since the restaurant has such good Margherita pizza, it is hard not to like. I found the pizza here to be better than most places and I certainly would return.

The Atmosphere

The restaurant was quiet when we arrived, but nice inside. White tablecloths and an open, almost courtyard like atmosphere and interesting decorations. One of the more interesting decorations was our plate, which had a naked woman staring at us. It was a weird combination, like someone from Teasers Strip Club snuck over and swapped dinnerware. Yet, I liked the inside, it was quiet and a bit more upscale.

The Food

The wine was great, but all wine in Italy is typically good. I did not sample a large array of the menu, it is called Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso, so I ordered…you guessed it Pizza. Two different types, one plain Margherita and one with sausage. The pizza was of course, incredibly good. Margherita pizza is in a different class then what we get in the United States (although I love New York Pizza also). The price is also right, the pizza was on average only 10 euro. You can get out of there for under $40 even if you go crazy on drinks. I am always looking for the best Pizza in an area, if you are looking for the best pizza in Sorrento Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso is a good contender.

The Service

I found the service to be good, but not too memorable. The wait staff was friendly and professional given the upscale atmosphere. Overall, no complaints with the service.

3. Fauno Bar

Of all the Sorrento restaurants I went to the Fauno bar was the most frequented. It happened to be right outside the apartment style condo I was staying in. Located in the middle of Piazza Tasso, you would think this place would be a tourist trap. In some ways it is, but it had consistently good food and service. I felt like this is the best option when trying to figure out where to eat in Sorrento and you are in the Piazza Tasso. Do not expect a fancy meal, just a solid bite to eat at a good price.

Atmosphere

This place feels big, and yes it feels a bit touristy. It is still a really nice atmosphere; I personally like to watch people and this Piazza is a nice place to do it. Sit back enjoy some wine and watch the hustle a bustle of the family from Louisville wearing cargo shorts holding an upside-down map. It could get crowded due to its location, but overall a nice spot.

Food

I was pleasantly surprised that everything we tried we liked in this establishment. Somethings were just pretty good, others were excellent. I think we ate at Fauno Bar at least 7 times in our short stay. It was open late, so it made for a perfect evening snack. The pizza here was almost as good as the Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso (some would say better), and I believe a bit cheaper. Everything was surprisingly fresh for a place that looks so touristy, especially when compared to other places in the area, and we tried them all in the Piazza

Service

We had an unfair advantage here, since we came back so many times and at such off hours, people remembered us. Therefore, I found the service to be great, very personable. There was one time I had something wrong and they replaced it without a second thought. The staff really worked hard to make things right. I do not care if there are errors, I care how spots respond to those errors. People were very nice here, but we were turning into regulars by the end of our trip.

4. Da Lucariello

I should probably give a full disclosure on this one. There was a lot of alcohol involved when we stumbled into this place. Still from the flashes I have it was an excellent experience. If you are looking for the best sandwich in Sorrento, Da Lucariello can be given that distinction. The service was great, and the sandwiches are perfect for a late-night snack/meal.

Atmosphere

This is not a place to bring your date after the prom…it is a small shop with barely enough room for a tiny group. The owner was extremely friendly, and we talked most of the time. One odd thing, it is always strange to see dogs in a restaurant, but this is something that is common in Italy, so I had to accept it.

Food

As mentioned, Da Lucariello serves up the best sandwich in Sorrento that I could find. This establishment is a perfect snack after you just got through sampling every limoncello within a mile. It is drunk food for sure, but good drunk food. Da Lucariello probably will even make a nice quick lunch. Not a sit-down dinner with the family, but something unique and high quality for a quick meal.

Service

Just good people work at Da Lucariello, they were friendly and welcoming. As opposed to Positano (read my review here) the restaurants in Sorrento just had nicer locals. That might be why I hate Positano so much, the staff in all the restaurants were cold and aloof. Places like Da Lucariello had a much warmer atmosphere.

5. Acqu’ e sale

If you are looking for another solid seafood place near the water come to Acqu’ e sale. I do not think it holds a candle to the food at Porta Marina Seafood, but it is better than anything you will get in almost every corner of the United States. Take the long (kind of cool) staircase down to the docks, and you will come across this establishment.

Atmosphere

Maybe the main reason why this is on the list is for the atmosphere. I can see fish swimming from my table, that is how close you are to the water. This was another spot that we were drinking at and before we knew it, they were picking up the tables. It is a perfect place to grab a cocktail and a snack. Maybe it was just the time of year we went, but I think the long walk prevents the crowds from overwhelming this establishment. The atmosphere is why I put Acqu’ e sale as one of the best restaurants in Sorrento.

Food

I am about to shock you…you get fresh seafood here. For me this was more of a drinks and snacks place than a full meal place, but others would disagree. The mussels we ordered were tasty as well as all the other seafood. Being that close to the water, even by accident a restaurant will have fresh seafood.

Service

Admittedly, fine, but not memorable. It is a big place, they do not have time to hobnob with all the guests which is understandable. The price was a bit higher than a lot of other places, but Sorrento is not known to be cheap. Overall, no real complaints.

That is where to eat in Sorrento: A Recap

• Porta Marina Seafood – Best overall restaurant in Sorrento. Laid back great food amazing atmosphere
• Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso – A little more upscale (but still a casual vibe), quality food…very nice pizza
• Fauno Bar– A great place to eat in Piazza Tasso, good for families and solid food.
• Da Lucariello – The best sandwiches in Sorrento. Perfect for those who were overserved wine. Nice people very good food.
• Acqu’ e sale – Really nice atmosphere, pretty solid food.

Other Restaurants in Sorrento

I did not try EVERY restaurant in Sorrento, I am only human. Below are a couple that I missed that some people recommended.

Il Buco – If you are looking for a fancy (IE expensive) place to have a romantic dinner Il Buco was recommended by more than one person(and website).

Bagni Delfino – Another Seafood spot right on the water. Just looked great, but for some reason it was closed when we went.

Trattoria dei Mori – We walked past this many times and I am still kicking myself for not trying it.

If you run into any of the above when deciding where to eat in Sorrento, please give me your opinion of the places you tried.

If You are Visiting Pompeii

I know this is an article on where to eat in Sorrento, and you are looking for the best Sorrento restaurants. If you are visiting Sorrento, there is a good chance you will be breaking off to see Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. I would be doing a disservice if I did not mention the following:

Cantina del Vesuvio Russo Family Winery

This is first and foremost a winery, but it is a great place to eat as well. There were kids here so it is not exclusively a wino establishment, but I am not sure if I would go if I did not drink. The wine was amazing, the pasta was very fresh. It is a preset meal, pasta, antipasto etc… So at least glance at the menu before you go to see if you like it. If you like Italian wine and great pasta stop by if you are in the area. It is somewhat of a trek from Pompeii, so you will need to take a cab…it is well worth the price.

Conclusion on Where to Eat in Sorrento: The Best Sorrento Restaurants

Everyone has their own list as to where to eat in Sorrento. I tried to find the best Sorrento restaurants that were somewhat close to the center of town. Sorrento is a walkable area; so there is no need to take a cab to find great food. Sorrento is still a touristy destination, the food was not stellar like much of Italy. It was still better that Positano; which is not hard to do and had its standouts.

The post Where to Eat in Sorrento: The Best Sorrento Restaurants appeared first on Man in Flight.

The short answer is yes, there are many reasons why Santorini in October is considered one of the best times to visit. Visiting the island in October gives you all the advantages of a touristy area, without the headaches of a tourist trap. There are certainly pitfalls to enjoying the island in October, but I find the benefits of visiting Santorini in October outweigh the costs.

Of course, every trip is different, and everyone has things they value when traveling. This post is coming at it from my perspective. Another thing to consider, October is very transitional in Santorini, what can be true on October 1st on the island, may not be true on October 31st (such as weather).

I would like to also point out that Santorini is a very seasonal vacation spot, few people will be visiting it during Christmas (maybe Santa). If you are looking at the pictures and think that this is a great place to escape the misery of February than I have bad news for you, Santorini is mainly for Spring-Summer travelers, I will make my comparisons on these. Let me break down the pros and cons of visiting Santorini in October and you can decide if it is right for you.

If you want a quick view, I put a chart at the bottom of this post to determine if Santorini in October is what you are looking for…

Pro #1 October in Santorini: Crowds

Santorini is an extremely popular tourist destination, especially in the Summer. It is a hub for cruise ship zombies, these are the people that get off the cruise ship, lumber around gawking at everything, only to leave to get to their all you can eat shrimp buffet. They piss off locals and those of us that are actually staying on the island. They crowd the streets and do not usually buy anything, taking selfies everywhere, blocking the streets and views. October in Santorini still has these monsters, but there are far fewer of them.

It is estimated that October has 40% less tourists than in the peak of Summer. Every morning I would count the cruise ships, this would tell me how many people would be strolling around. The highest amount was 13, the lowest was around 3. The island is still somewhat crowded, but not nearly as crowded as in the summer. I was able to wander the streets for the most part with no problem, even with the tour groups jockeying around.

There was almost no wait for any of the restaurants, we were able to duck in and out of them and be on our way. Museums, wineries, and archaeological sites were all wide open. Now there were still people there, just not enough to make it uncomfortable. I don’t like to travel when everyone else does, traveling to Santorini in October allows me to enjoy some peace.

On the Flip Side…Possible Con #1: Less Crowds

A wide variety of people can be reading this masterpiece, different people have different interests. Low crowds are what I enjoy, but may not be your thing. Some people thrive on the hustle and bustle of a tourist area and find fewer crowds to be a drawback. This is not my view of things, but I understand some are different.

If you are younger and are going to Santorini to party (god bless you doing this at an early age) you may find Santorini in October to be a bit dull. Many of the clubs have closed for the season by the time October comes around, and you may find the nightlife lacking. Unless you want to party with Gertrude from Royal Caribbean, you will not get the same excitement as the busier summer months. Do not get me wrong, Santorini isn’t a ghost town in October, there are crowds to be found, but it is starting to unwind.

Pro #2 Santorini in October: Less Heat

Like a fine wine and expensive cheese, nothing pairs as well as a huge number of crowds and 98-degree heat. I have traveled extensively in the summer months, everywhere from Japan to New Orleans (read my review here). If you are a walker and not someone who lounges around, the August heat can be too much to bear. Summer heat combined with mobs of people can turn a relaxing vacation into an anxious one.

Santorini in October solves the problem of excessive heat, especially towards the end of the month. High temperatures rarely get past 75-degrees (f) and humidity was nonexistent when we went (source). Nighttime temperatures can fall into the 50s (F), but usually stay in the 60s. Walking around for hours under these conditions is made a lot easier when compared to the sun roasting you.

Santorini is also relatively dry in October. I think we received one day where it sprinkled for about an hour. Other than that, it was dry and low 70’s the entire trip. This is backed up by most of the research I did.

Activities such as hiking, wineries, or just walking the streets are just easier under these conditions. We took the trek from Fira to Oia, the most beautiful hike I have ever experienced. It was also extremely tiring, if it would have been 95 and humid, they would have to have sent a rescue party for me. Personally, I recommend concentrating all your travel time to October (not just Santorini), unless…

Possible Con #2 Santorini in October: Lack of Heat

There are beach people and there are those of us who can care less. Do not get me wrong, I like the water, just hanging around on the beach all day isn’t my idea of a good time. Jumping into the water after a weeks’ worth of 50 degree nights will be a little more than eye opening. The sea gets cold and summer activities like swimming may be a bit uncomfortable. Even sunbathing might be a challenge, the wind tends to pick up in October, making for a chilly experience.

What goes for the ocean also goes for pools. We had a beautiful pool in our hotel (see below), right outside our personal jacuzzi (Love saying that). I did swim in it, but was out in five minutes, running to my warm jacuzzi. Point being, whether or not you want heat depends on what you like to do when traveling.

One last note about the October weather, it can make packing tricky. Do you bring fall clothes, or do you bring summer clothes? Really, a little bit of both, you never know when you will get a fairly hot day or a cold night, so you may need to be more selective when packing.

Pro #3 Santorini in October: Expense

I am now entering fantasy mode and pretending we are not in the mists of a global pandemic. During normal times October is much cheaper than peak summer months. I did an entire post on the cost of Santorini here, these prices where based in October about two years ago. Looking at Hotels.com, at the Athina Luxury Suite (awesome hotel read my review at the link), for the same date range, it is about $150 cheaper than two years ago for 6 nights. In comparison; currently people are not booking trips for July, but still the prices are higher, it is showing about $700s more for 6 days in July.

Under normal conditions, hotel rooms that cost you $250/night in October can be double that to around $500/night in July and August. You are saving over a thousand dollars by picking October over mid-summer. Of course, these are rough estimates, I do a lot of playing around until I can find the price that is right for me. Hotels are not the only things that are cheaper, less tourists mean cheaper airfare (your biggest expense) cheaper meals and shop owners willing to give you better discounts. Everything varies, but on a whole October is much less expensive to visit in Santorini than the middle of the summer. These falling prices start to cause one problem…

Con #3 Santorini in October: It Closes Down

Does Santorini close down? I can say with the greatest confidence that yes it does. How do I know this information? It was happening all around me on the last two days of our stay. There is something surreal to seeing the cafes’ and shops that you loved go dark for the season. It happens slowly at first, then more and more places shut their doors.

Almost all the locals on the island work in hospitality in one way or another. They work crazy hours 7-days a week. Come November they all leave the island and take a couple of months off. I am not sure if I would like or hate this job schedule, but it works for them. Result, starting in late October, a lot of what you want to visit might not be open. I touched on clubs closing around the beginning of October. They are joined by restaurants, shops, and even hotels. We were the last person to stay in our room for the season, the hotel closed after we left. This by no means is to say Santorini is closed in October, but the place starts to settle down. Strangely, the cruise ship zombies keep coming…the last day there were still 5 boats in the water.

Let me put this all together in a handy Chart:

Conclusion: Should You Go to Santorini in October?

Clearly for me the answer is yes, go to Santorini in October… The two big ones that attract me are the lower expense and the crowds, I hate places that are overcrowded, I feel like they are herding cattle. When we first landed in Santorini it was on the morning of October 23rd, our anniversary. It was silent, and awe inspiring, looking at the most beautiful views I have ever seen. People did start to pile off the boats eventually, but I was able to duplicate the peaceful experience daily. Santorini in October made this possible, I am not sure I would be able to do this in the busier summer months.

The post Santorini in October: Pros and Cons appeared first on Man in Flight.

It seemed to be popular and looked beautiful, so we made our mind up and booked our trip. Not even a major f-up from Delta and Orbitz could stop us from visiting Split, Croatia.

Getting to Split, Croatia

When the car service dropped us off, we were taken into the gates of the Diocletian palace, through a tunnel, where there is an underground market selling trinkets. Already I was liking what I saw, who doesn’t like a good dungeon? I was sporting a heavy coat, it was late October after all, everyone else was walking the boardwalk in shorts. The temperature was about 80 degrees (F) and sunny…so much for averages.

After the typical research we picked the Mijama Suites. If nothing else, it was perfectly located, and strangely empty. The room was nice enough, even though I didn’t get the balcony I saw in the pictures. I didn’t care too much about that; it was time to eat. After we changed, we were on our way.

The Good about Split, Croatia

The People

Our first stop was at the restaurant Kod Sfinge Vaneuropske Zviri, where we met some of the nicest locals we have encountered while traveling, that was a theme that seemed to repeat itself. It didn’t matter if it was on a small tour, a restaurant or bar, everyone was genuinely kind. Maybe we just got lucky, but they treat you like they have known you for years.

I am sure they have their share of arseholes…everyplace does, but we did a good job at avoiding them.

The History

Split was the home to the pagan Roman Emperor Diocletian; this means Split, Croatia is oozing with all things Roman. The Diocletian Palace is beautiful, and I was lucky to have my hotel right in the center.

Most of the city (at least the part that most people visit) is inside the palace walls. The city is one of those places you should take a SMALL tour in, due to the fact that there is a lot to learn about the area. You just don’t want to be stuck with a couple hundred 80-year-old’s with fanny packs and big sun glasses, since your purpose is to learn something. There were so many walls, alleys, hidden temples, and statues from the Romans; the knowledge you gain gives one a whole new perspective.

There are other historic monuments in the city, such as the Cathedral Bell Tower and the statue of Gregory of Nin (See the big toe..). Both great, but I come for the old stuff.

There are Plenty of Day Trips

We went on four day/partial day trips in the 9 or so days we were in Split, Croatia. I am not usually big on day trips, but I made an exception here. It is a quick drive to Mostar, Bosnia which is worth it if you are in Split for an extended visit.

We also went to Trogier, and spent a good part of a night at a winery (great experience) and took a full day Game of Thrones tour. I know it sounds touristy, but we learned a lot of real history from that tour as well. Plus, you get to see a great Castle that was featured in the show (Meereen).

Other tours include Hvar,  Plitvice Lakes National Park, Dubrovnik, hell you can even go to Italy if you are so inclined. You can probably go to Split for ten days and spend all of them outside the city.

Some Restaurants Treat You Like Family (In the right place)

There were a couple of restaurants we kept coming back to in Split, this was due to the great food and great people. I speak about that more in my post about the best restaurants in Split. When traveling, I tend to go to a lot of different places, but here that was a bit more difficult.

Luckily, that didn’t matter, as some of the restaurants in Split were so welcoming and the food was so good that I kept repeating the experience. We were given free drinks, invited to the staff closing party in one place, and invited to hang out with the owner after they closed in another. This all was bitter sweet for reasons I will lay out below..

The Bad About Split Croatia

It’s Small

I will preface this by stating, we spent a lot of our time in the city walls, but we did walk up and down the coast several miles.

I must have lapped the inner part of the city 50 times on our trip. At first, the city felt like a maze, but soon I knew every nook and cranny to the point I was almost too used to it. This led to…”what do we do now”? Even after we spent days at other locations outside of Split, I felt like we saw the entire place. When we travel, we travel hard. It is amazing how much you can see when you hardly sleep. In this city, you might as well take your time, it is so tiny.

The smallness can be felt in the restaurant scene also. Tripadvisor lists about 400 restaurants in the whole city. To keep this in perspective, there are 462 listed in Lancaster, Pen. and over 90K in Tokyo.

I realize I am comparing apples and meteoroids, but I am trying to make a point. Since Tripadvisor is so loose with its definition of restaurants, you can probably eliminate two thirds of those and find yourself looking for something to eat.

It is on The Verge of Being a Tourist Trap

We went in October, the off season, and it was still a mad house. It isn’t fun dodging a 500-person tour, with their blank stares cameras and headphones when going through narrow streets. Cruise Ship zombies were everywhere, and it got overbearing at times.

Worse than that, the area was being eroded by tourist traps. Yes, we found some good places, but many were made for the masses, with overpriced underwhelming food.

The owner of our favorite restaurant said there maybe three non-tourist traps left in the city. Before the boom there were over a hundred good places (or so we were told). Grandmas kitchen just can’t compete with Big Don’s Freshly Defrosted Calamari & Hamburgers (I may have made that one up, don’t google it.)

This could be seen in the places that were touted as authentic, yet only had 3-day old fried calamari on the menu. The phony traveler can brag they had a “real European experience,” when in reality they were eating the equivalent of frozen fish sticks from Long John Silvers. It doesn’t matter to the owner if they liked it, once someone eats, they are back on the cruise to play dollar slots and Bingo never to be seen again. The authenticity of the country, like so many others, is getting watered down by tourists.

Lastly, I don’t like paying $13 for a drink, when I know in Europe they are usually half that price. This is what happens when you pick the wrong drink stand. Tourist traps bring about over inflated prices, this was felt on more than one occasion.

The Season Closed Down Early

This might not be a problem for you depending on when you are going, but for us it was a little disappointing. We went toward the end of the season in October. Our favorite restaurant closed down three days into our trip, which changed the vibe. Our second favor place closed after four days, others followed behind it, so our options were limited. By the last day we almost had to grab a fishing net and pole

Even most of the tour zombies (but not all) had died down toward the end. Hell, a place was open, that advertised porchetta sandwiches, told us they stopped making them for the season…have some two-day old pizza. They probably will be serving that slice next year. As we walked the streets the last day, with the rain falling down and the cold kicking in, I was ready to go. I loved Croatia, but I felt like I did all there was to be done.

Mixed Reviews on The Food Overall

Of all the Mediterranean areas, we visited I would say that Split was toward the bottom of the list when it comes to food. Now, to be fair, that is because Spain, Greece and Portgual were exceptional. The olive oil was some of the best I have had. There was the classic grilled calamari (when it could be found) in numerous places. Octopus was lacking due to a poor season on this trip. One additional disappointment there wasn’t much of a fish market, at least not on the scale of Greece and Barcelona.

That said, there were more than a few great pasta and pizza dishes to be had. In addition, there were fantastic traditional dishes such as Crni rizot (squid ink risotto) and Pašticada, a rich, stewed dish that I actually liked. I normally don’t eat stewed meats, but the sauce helped.

Still something was lacking… First, as mentioned, there weren’t a lot of authentic places to choose from, that were open. There were three places we loved and a couple we liked, but it wasn’t a river of good food as is typical of other places / countries. As mentioned, (ranted about) the tourist traps where plentiful, especially near the water. Plus, everything closed down early, both in the season and at night. …and yet the food was still heads and tails better than where I live now.

Would I go Back to Split, Croatia?

Go back? Not any time soon, do I regret going? Absolutely not. Contrary to the tone of this article, I did enjoy the city. We met great people, both foreign and local. The history alone is worth experiencing, as well as risking one’s life to climb the bell tower. Not to mention it is really just a great city to walk around.

Personally it isn’t calling me back like other areas. I have no fantasies about pulling up my roots and settling down in Croatia, just a satisfaction that I went and I am planning for my next destination…

My advice to you is to do what most do, plan on combining it with another location like Dubrovnik. If you move like us you can see it in three days. If you find yourself going longer, plan on a lot of day trips…when else can you go to Bosnia, for example? Go to Split yes, just leave before you get sick of the city.

The post An Honest Review of Split, Croatia appeared first on Man in Flight.

A couple of key themes came up in all of the best restaurants in Split. 1) Freshness of ingredients 2) A smaller menu 3) A clear care/love for food. What differentiates a tourist trap from a solid local experience is how they value food. If I feel like I am in your home kitchen before I have even taken a bite, I am usually in for a good experience. It may be incomplete, but it is our list of where to eat in Split, Croatia.

The Best Restaurants in Split, Croatia

Using the criteria of food, value, originality and service I came up with my five best picks of the trip. I will also add a few honorable mentions, places where we received a good meal (or snack) and returned. Everyone has different experiences, I stand by mine.

 Kod sfinge vaneuropske zviri

Don’t let the long name scare you away, this place is amazing. I don’t usually hit a spot numerous times when on vacation, but we went daily until they closed for the season. We started planning our day around our meal here. It was one of the top “tavern” restaurant experiences of my life. It is always a good sign when the owner won’t give you items that are on the menu, because the catch was poor that day. On some days it was like she had more menu items not available then available. When I did get my meal, nothing disappointed. We would order the grilled calamari every day for an appetizer (it is a main dish). The calamari were so fresh they were giving me the finger as I started to eat them.

Another treat was the pasta dish. I felt like I was breaking a commandment when eating it. The dish consisted of fresh mushrooms and a wonderfully creamy sauce. I would eat it every day if I could, but I wouldn’t be able to see my feet.

What I loved about this place was that the owner truly cares about the people who regularly visit. It was like we were visiting her home, places all around the world should take notes on how to treat tourists from this spot.

So what dish would I recommend from Kod sfinge vaneuropske zviri? Whatever the owner tells you to order.

PORTOFINO Steak – Pasta – Seafood

How can a restaurant steps away from a main tourist attraction serve some of the best food in Split Croatia? It just does. We went here twice, the first time it was very good, and we recommended it to a couple we had met. They came back and raved about it so much, we needed to try it again. I will say the second time is the charm for this establishment, because our last meal, was up there with one of our best. Portofino is definitely one of the best restaurants in Split, Croatia, who cares that is near a tourist attraction, it certainly isn’t a tourist trap. 

With both meals we ordered an octopus appetizer as well the scarlet shrimp. Scarlet shrimp are not in the Adriatic Sea, but these were good none the less. Our second stop, which was dinner, really put this place above the rest. My wife ordered the lamb, and I ordered a truffle pasta dinner that was extraordinary. I thought the dish was great at Kod sfinge vaneuropske zviri. Somehow this was better. The pasta was in a cream sauce, again with fresh mushrooms…the picture doesn’t do it justice, although I chipped my tooth on the screen just now.

Of course, the service was incredible. Our waiter Ivan was top notch, it just so happened the other couple had him as well, and they also gave him rave reviews. Great Wine + Great Service + Great Food = one of the best restaurants in Split, Croatia.

Pikulece

My wife found this one by accident, while I was sleeping off the beating I gave my body in the prior days. If you get a chance squeeze into this tiny restaurant. It has one table inside, a counter and two tables outside. If you are lucky enough to get a table, you are in for a treat. This is another place that makes you feel like family (a nice family). After our last meal, of cuttlefish, anchovies, and various cheeses (among other things) we were invited to drink homemade liquor with the owner and staff. Now I can’t promise you that you will get free shots, but from our experience I can say you most likely will get a great meal.

You are treated like you are in someone’s kitchen because you basically are. If you sit at the counter you can watch them cook, the place is that tiny. The only downside is that the season ends in October and remains closed until February, like many of the places on the list. Still, when deciding where to eat in Split, Croatia, Pikulece should be near the top of your list when open.

Pizzeria Bokamorra

Man cannot live on seafood alone, unless you want it on top of your pizza. This restaurant was recommended by many locals, telling us that it was the only place that did pizza correctly. It was an outstanding pizza, made in front of us in a brick oven. I couldn’t help but eat an entire pizza myself (and then some). What I liked about this place was they had a small menu, and they only make pizza.

First, we dove into the meat lovers which was about five different types of pig all on top of the best sauce and cheese I have tasted in a while. We then went for the strict pepperoni, which had a nice spice.  Overall if you need a break from things that swim, this is a great start. Don’t go in expecting a huge slice or extremely crisp crust like New York, but still expect to be treated to a hell of a pie. Bokamorra is also known for their mixology. Now I had beer, like I normally do with pizza, but their drinks are rumored to be as good as their food.

Kantun Paulina

I would  be remiss if I didn’t mention this spot. If you need to know where to eat in Split after being over served, you’re in luck. Imagine a giant sandwich with up to ten sausages, shoved into the bun. Add to this a delicious red pepper spread along with creamy goat cheese and you have a ćevapčići. If I ate one of these every night I would die happy. I would also die quickly; these can’t be good for you. If a ćevapčići is wrong I don’t want to be right, this little spot is certainly one of the best restaurants in Split. Of course it differs from others on this list, the service is a bit surly, there is no seating, but if you’re drunk and looking for a late bite this may be the perfect food. They also tastes good sober, but who wants to be sober?

The Best Restaurants in Split: Honorable Mention

A couple of places deserve mentioning, because we did hit them a lot. These were staples in our trip and should be in your back pocket.

Corto Maltese Freestyle food – Great meat and cheese trays with some interesting menu items. This place has as a very cool vibe and the prices weren’t outrageous.

Tavern Kod Hvaranina – Another recommendation, definitely a good fallback if your other places are full. Good traditional food at a great price.

Misto Street Food Factory – We came here for our daily Mojito, it was much cheaper (and better) than on the main strip. We also tried the food and had some tasty items.

Conclusion on Where to Eat in Split, Croatia

Split, Croatia is full of tourists, therefore full of tourist traps. Follow this list and I would be surprised if you were disappointed. Fresh food, great service and a small menu all make for an exceptional restaurant and fantastic experience.

The post Where to Eat in Split, Croatia: The Best Restaurants in Split appeared first on Man in Flight.

For starters, Athens, Greece was a pain in the ass to get to, to facilitate paradise. Others I know have supported this statement, so it isn’t just me whining about my first world problems. Santorini took that pain and adds a second big foot to said ass, given the extra flight. You may feel good in your budgeting for Santorini, finding decent rates. Only to realize the flight will take you over Antarctica and has two 10-hour layovers. Finding a good flight to Athens (less than 24 hours) was a chore, but again…worth the journey.

I remembered this vividly, because the price slightly scared me.  This is especially true when compared to other European cities. We stayed at the Athina Luxury Suites, (click the link to read my review).  The cost in October was a pricey $275/night. I looked at the same hotel in the summer and it jumps to nearly $500 a night. That is expensive, but worth every penny. It is also worth mentioning I paid extra for the honeymoon suite, which made the price higher. You will be able to score a much cheaper room, although always pay extra for breakfast and a hot tub. 

Using Hotels.com, I discover an interesting situation. I pulled up the same hotel, same room, with two different devices and got two separate prices. The website was deep competition with itself, and losing. I made the tough decision to go with the lower price. When budgeting for Santorini, search sites multiple times to get the best price (but clear your cookies). In this case I saved $30/night, by using my phone rather than my PC. The say they don’t adjust the price if you check it often, I say someone is fibbing.

Check Out This Great Travel Bag for Your Trip

Now even at $275/night that might seem like a big expense, but I say it is well worth it. Considering, some Asheville, North Carolina hotels charge more, and you can’t even use their pool, you’re getting a great deal.  This hotel was the nicest I have been too (but you know that you read my review). It was worth every penny, especially considering they gave us a huge breakfast with Prosecco every morning. Hell, a full breakfast was 10% of our daily food budget! If you don’t believe my reviews, click on the TripAdvisor comments below to see what others are saying.

Click Here to Read Reviews and Compare Prices of the Athina Luxury Suites Hotel in Santorini 

To begin our budget, we are at $275/night X 6 Nights so $1650.

Cost of Santorini: Travel Expense

Things spiraled out of control quickly here, because the flight to Athens alone was expensive. Then, get ready to bend over a little further, because you still have to go from Athens to Santorini. Luckily for me the cost was mostly blunted by the Chase Sapphire Reserve generous credit card offer of 100K points. They have since lowered that to 50K, but I signed up as soon as it started. This is your biggest expense, If you are going to use points here is the spot to use them.

There were two choices when we were shopping flights to Athens, take a 33-hour flight or pay through the nose. We able to find a decent combination of the two, with two very long layovers in London. The layover on the way back allowed us to spend a night in a the city of London. So how much did it cost me? My 160k points and an additional $300.

Given that your points are worth 150% when booked through Chase the actual “true cost” was around $2500 for two tickets, or $1250 per person. One annoying thing, I always do, was check the travel site multiple times and found a great deal. I found a flight that was $850 per person,  while casually checking my phone at the dentist. Unfortunately, I procrastinated and within an hour it was gone. My gator arms hurt just thinking about this travesty. Your cost of Santorini will go up or down depending on dumb luck.

Athens to Santorini.

As an infomercial would say…but wait there’s more. Now you have to pay for your flight to the island.  I explained all these costs in the above post, (link is the heading). To sum it up, the total cost for our tickets was $375 for two, with one bag each. Now once you get to the airport you can’t walk to the hotel so the car service to and from the Santorini airport (combined) will set you back $55. Other travel expenses are minimal. You can take the bus to most areas for 3-Euro. You will pay a little more to get a cab to places, but for the most part you bus is the best option (or your feet.)

So putting it all together, for two $300 + $375+$55+$75 (total estimate or cabs/buses for 6 days) = $810 for me. Without points it is $2500+ $810, $3310. As a reminder this can be lower if you check early and often..and significantly higher ($3k) if you don’t have travel points.

Food & Entertainment

Food and alcohol is more expensive on Santorini than in Athens, by what seems to be 20%. I still found it reasonable compared to what I spend in the United States. The food was excellent and about 1/3rd of the price of Disneyland (without kids screaming).

The below prices can be a quick reference guide, but things change like the wind so don’t write it in stone.

Beer – $3

Liter of Greek Wine $9

Fancy Drink with Umbrella- $11

Lunch (with wine of course) – $30

Gyro – $3

Dinner for Two – The highest usually $100 (but it can be much lower.)

To put it all together I will assume you eat like a normal person, 3 meals and two giants snacks a day. Five meals a day sounds like no food compared to what I am used to, but some can squeak by.

Everything is subject to the tastes of the people involved. We ate a lot of salads, calamari and octopus. Our lunches were a bit more expensive than average. Breaking down the meals, breakfast as mentioned, is paid for so that is free. A snack, plus alcohol, beer or cheap wine $20. If you do two gyros and some beer probably more like $10.

As mentioned, lunch varies in price, octopus isn’t that expensive, but isn’t cheap either. Get two and it bumps up lunch to $50 after you get a couple of drinks in you. Dinner at a nice spot will be around $100- $150 per meal, but a great meal can be had for cheaper. Add some more random cocktails and the prices start to skyrocket.

Let’s add it all up, taking some averages…two snacks for $20 (each), lunch for $30 and Dinner for $100…maybe a bottle of wine at a winery for another $20. Total daily food spend = $190/day for two or $1,330 for 7 days. More gyros, less wine and you can get away with less, especially if you go conservative on dinner.

Budgeting for Santorini: Entertainment

We finally get to a reasonable cost in Santorini. There are plenty of things to do that cost next to nothing. Taking a hike from Fira to Oia is free. Going to a beach is free, hell even the winery tours are relatively cheap. The best part about Santorini is just wandering the towns and taking in the scenery.

The Wine Museum is 9 Euros a person ($11), Akrotiri is 12 Euros a person or $15 give or take. You may also want to do a tour which will cost you $100/ person. Overall your daily spend should be cheap. I say for two, you can get away with on average $50…some days nothing, some days a bit more for a tour.

Total Cost of Santorini (For Me)

I am not like most travel bloggers, I am not sending you to a hostel and telling you to eat tree bark. I know, it is all about the experience, I want both the experience and the luxury. This represents the total cost for us as a couple, not including our time in Athens. Looking at it now, my stomach hurts a bit digesting this…but I did use points on the most expensive part, the flight. So really I spent closer to $4,000, although the points do have a monetary value. It helped for me to pay it at different times. I planned the trip for four months, so I could buy everything in pieces.

Remember I went to Santorini in October, it is much cheaper at this time. We flew from the east coast of the United States, you can be flying to anywhere and it can be more or less. We also combined it with a long layover in London (tongue twister) that actually cost a bit more. Not doing this should shave about $300 off your tickets.  Everything is a rough estimate depending on your  travel point situation and your ability/need to gorge yourself…

I realize there is a big discrepancy between points and no points, I wanted to show the options. That is for two people and there are easy ways to shave money  off when budgeting for Santorini.

Tips to lower the Cost of Santorini

This was one of the most expensive trips I took, and I didn’t hold back. Having said this, I learned some lessons.

1. 1. Go during the Off-season – There are multiple reasons you should go to Santorini during the off-season, the biggest being the money saved. As mentioned, hotels are almost 50% cheaper in October. The weather was amazing, and the crowds are much smaller.
   2. Don’t be like me – I missed an opportunity to get my airfare for about $700 less due to not acting on a deal. In my post about Istanbul, I mentioned how I got my flight basically half off due a swing in the prices. I had the chance to do this here as well, but I didn’t act on it. Plan your trip early and check the prices almost daily.

                

1. Don’t eat like me – My food and drink budget were almost as much as my hotel…and the hotel gave me a huge breakfast. You probably can get away with much less, especially if you like Greek wine. Only you know how much you will spend on food and drink, I do recommend, even when being cheap, add 25% when budgeting in Santorini.
2. Use Coupon Codes – As I mentioned I used credit card miles to book my flight. I didn’t stop there. I went through Ebates and got 5% back on my hotel, I also used a coupon code when booking my hotel which saved me a couple of bucks. There are a ton of cash back deals out there, combined them for profit.
3. Par down your Hotel costs – Yes, I like luxury, but maybe you don’t need the honeymoon suite. I loved waking up in Fira with the view I had, but other towns might be cheaper. Oia and Fira are the two priciest places, but you can get the same view in Firostefani or Imerovigli.

Final Words on Budgeting for Santorini

The cost of Santorini is higher than most places in Europe. This is driven by an expensive ticket to Athens, along with hotel rooms that are far pricier than most of Europe. The biggest expenses are the flights, so if you can get them under control it will go a long way. I gave you some tips to do it cheaper and you may be able to find some good deals. Having said this, I did a lot of wheeling and dealing and still paid a lot, but it was worth the cost. Santorini Greece was the nicest place I have ever been…but it is a long life.

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Some places you automatically fall in love with as soon as you step foot off the plane. I felt that way about Santorini, Greece. There are other places that envelope you, until you wake up and feel like you’re home. Or at least what you would like home to be. Lisbon, Portgual was that place for me. Everyday of our trip, I liked the city more than the previous day, the food, the history, the atmosphere, it all just grabbed me, and in a good way (not in a creepy, kinda way..). Lisbon, Portgual has a ton to offer; whether you want to eat, go on one of the many day trips from Lisbon, eat, explore history, eat, go to museums or chow down there is plenty to do for entertainment.

First Impressions of Lisbon, Portugal

Admittedly, I was not impressed when we first drove into Lisbon, Portgual.  Looking around, we must have either entered one of the few uglier areas of the city or we were starving, but it didn’t “wow’ me at first. I thought to myself, I have traveled too much, I am too used to foreign places.  As we made our way to the top of the castle our hotel was in,  I foresaw another problem.

Our first hotel was the Solar do Castelo, inside the castle walls of São Jorge Castle. Which was great in terms of service and beauty, but we walk a lot, and I knew the hilly area would wear at us more than a bit.  After a very skillful cab driver navigated through the narrow streets and crowds we pulled onto the hotel grounds. The hotel itself was beautiful and on the interesting side with peacocks roaming the grounds. This was one of those things that was fun at first but got old quickly at night when they would squawk loud enough to wake you..

To Read More About the Solar do Castelo Click Here to Check out the Reviews and Prices from Tripadvisor

Dropping off our bags we made a B-line to Ramiro’s, the best seafood restaurant I have ever experienced. It is one of those spots that people dub a tourist trap, given it was featured on Somebody Feed Phil and No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. I am here to vouch for the spot, this is no tourist trap, and only was the beginning our eating adventure. This meal was the spark the trip needed, walking through the city it only got more beautiful (well, except for an ill- advised attempted walk to the Aquarium.)

The Great About Lisbon, Portugal: The Food (The Seafood)

Yes, there is plenty to eat outside of seafood, but why would you? Not eating seafood in Lisbon would be like going to a winery for beer. The seafood in Lisbon, Portgual is the star. Who knew it was possible to gain 16LBS on shellfish and octopus, but I did it. Of course, I am sure the bread, chocolate cake, barrels of wine/Port, and 100 or so pastels I ate helped nudge the scale up a notch. I loved the food in both Greece and Spain, I will say the Portuguese cuisine beat them both. I didn’t realize there were so many types of shrimp until I made it to Portugal. Some of these were so big they should have had a saddle. Within minutes I was a pro shrimp eater, with no qualms about sucking all the juice from the heads.

Speaking of eating sea creature’s heads, the octopus had their heads attached most of the time and they were delicious. The deliciousness kept going with clams, mussels, squid, and of course the national dish: cod. I really enjoy seafood, and I could use some now, but after ten days of it, I was looking for something to mix it up..

Luckily, I discovered the Bifano, a cheap pork sandwich that when paired with a beer makes a perfect breakfast. Look for the big pot of pork stirring in the window, throw two Euros down and enjoy your heart disease. (Add a little mustard or some Piri Piri sauce to complete the package, you’re welcome..)

Alcohol

After eating the sandwich and drinking the beer, a nice glass of Ginja helped loosen up my hunger for my next meal. These little shops are located throughout the city, for about 1 Euro you get a shot of cherry liquor, which you sip on (this isn’t a frat house). Get two or three, eat the cherry inside and you may be wondering why you’re dancing on a table. At night, if you aren’t drinking some their amazing wine, hit up the Port (fortified wine). Our first hotel was nice enough to continuously supply us with a carafe of Port every day. So as not to offend them, I did my best to finish it ..daily.

Pastel

I think I must, by Portuguese law, mention these desserts. These little crisp, egg-filled wonders are all over the city.  Some were better than others, but they were all good. I found when eating them hot is better and cinnamon and sugar are a must.

There were too many great restaurants and dishes to mention in one section…I will end with this, if you still use the word foodie to describe yourself (it isn’t 2012 anymore), the city of Lisbon needs to be experienced.

The Great About Lisbon, Portugal: The History

The city is both older and newer then most in Europe. Older in the sense of pure age (it is the second oldest capital), but younger because in “recent history” a earthquake/fire/tidal wave destroyed most of the city. Of course, “recent” to Lisbon is still older than the United States, the earthquake hit in 1755. Even with this earthquake there are large parts of the city that are still extremely ancient. It wouldn’t be a city in Europe without wandering upon an old Roman Theater being dug up. This has happened so much I am starting to think these Roman ruins are plants that are put there to fool tourists.

The historical pieces might not be as well-known as others in Europe, but they are still spectacular. The Carmo Convent Ruins was my favorite find, the architecture was gothic and wrought with mystery as hidden in every corner was an interesting piece history, sarcophagus, frescos and mummified remains..Whether it is the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belem Tower, São Jorge Castle or just walking the streets of Alfama the city has history engulfed throughout the region. There are also numerous churches, because by European law there needs to be a beautiful church on every corner.

Second Impression

I really enjoyed Lisbon, Portgual on the first half of our trip. We took a break from giant shrimp and popped into Marrakesh, Morocco for two days. (If you want to, make it one of the more ambitious day trips from Lisbon, but that is pushing it..). Morocco was explained in my post in the link above, so I won’t go into detail here. I will just say we returned to Lisbon, Portgual with a whole new appreciation.

To Read TripAdvisor Reviews and Get Prices for the Villa Baixa Apartments Click Here!

I think the second half of the trip was what made us really fall in love with the city. Staying at the Villa Baixa Apartments helped, because the hotel was not only beautiful, it was convenient. It is also on flat ground. The Baixa neighborhood might be a bit more touristy than some of the other areas, but it is much easier to walk in than in Alfama. We were able to explore other neighborhoods like Barro Alto, as well as easily catching a cab to Belem.

The Great About Lisbon, Portugal: It is Beautiful

Not to get all soft on you, but this place is extremely easy on the eyes. Most places we walked had my head spinning. Yes, there was an ill-advised attempted stroll to the aquarium, that took us through some questionable neighborhoods. Take that out, and really this is the most beautiful city I have visited. First, you have the tiles on the sidewalks. I don’t even want to know how much this cost the Portuguese tax payer, but it makes my arms hurt. Looking up at the buildings themselves, they are covered in decorative tiles. It was as if you are walking through a museum.

Many of the streets empty into one of the numerous squares or parks with giant statues encompassing the area.  Then you also have narrow roads of Alfama, trollies, waterfronts, cobble stone paths and random orange trees.

Add to that the views, Lisbon, Portugal is hilly, but on the plus side you never know when you will run into a beautiful overlook where you can see half the city. Let us not forget the most beautiful thing in the city…the seafood on your plate. I feel like I mentioned that last part already…

Day Trips from Lisbon, Portugal

We didn’t take any day trips from Lisbon, of course we did fly into another continent for two days so that counts for something. There are two trips that people kept bringing up when we were looking into days trips from Lisbon. First, Fatima, a very important religious site for Catholics, about 1 hour and 20 minutes away. This was the trip we wanted to take, but we couldn’t pull ourselves away from Lisbon again…

Sintra is the other day trip frequently mentioned, it is a resort town about an hour away from the city. There are villas, palaces, a castle, the whole place looks amazing. There are plenty of things to do in Lisbon, Portugal. If you are looking to get away, and not to Africa, these are two great options.

One Downside to Lisbon, Portgual: The Hills

By nature, I am walker when travelling. I like to take in as much of the city as possible on foot, because you never know what you will find.  Some areas have ridiculously steep hills. Lisbon is still walk-able, but you will have calves that can crack open coconuts by the time you’re done. Add to the fact that Alfama is like finding yourself in Maze Runner having you walk in the wrong direction. Your shins, feet and anything else below the belt will need a few days to adjust to the stress. This is my only complaint, and it is really more of an observation. 

Final Thoughts on Lisbon, Portgual

I am not going to lie to you, I was borderline depressed leaving Lisbon. Yes, maybe I was slightly excited about the prospect of seeing my feet again, since the food in Charlotte is so terrible. There is so much to miss about the Portugal. We left like we came in…on a rabid eating quest. First, we hit Ramiro one last time, pounding shrimp, clams and these little things in seashells. I was still full from the Michelin Star restaurant Alma from the night before, but I suffered through it!

We took the Santa Justa Lift, an underwhelming tourist experience, but it had to be done. Then we proceeded to make our only bad food choice of the trip. Looking for the famous Piri Piri Chicken, we turned to TripAdvisor. This brought us to a tourist trap, that had somehow found the oldest shrimp in the ocean along with a basic chicken dish.

Not wanting to end on a bad note we said we decided to go all in, ordering a fantastic giant seafood tray from a small restaurant near the convent, Mar ao Carmo. This would make Moby Dick sick of seafood, it was wonderfully gluttonous. Walking around the city, taking in the smells of bakeries, and the last sunset over the city, I knew I would be missing Lisbon with a visceral homesick nostalgia.. If you are looking for a city in Europe that gives you great food and culture, but with less of the touristy-feel, put Lisbon, Portugal on your list…but don’t let too many people know, lets keep it between friends..

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Even with missteps, I don’t think I would change much about our food journey in Athens. I came at the place with my mouth open and was more than happy with what fell inside. So, let me start from the beginning on my quest to find the best Greek food in Athens.

First Night: Atlantikos Athens

Stepping out of the Athens Luxury Suites after British Airways tried to starve us, we were famished. To be fair, I wouldn’t have eaten the plane food anyway, but the airline couldn’t spare a bag of peanuts. We wanted seafood, so we stumbled our way to Atlantikos. To call this place a hole in the wall would be unfair. It was like I crawled into a hole and found a wall with another hole in it. The menu was also unimpressive, with no calamari or octopus to be found.

What looked like a miss, turned out to be a hit and one of the best Athens Greek restaurants. Atlantikos packed a lot of punch for a little place with tables tossed along an alley. We order so much food the owner/waitress warned us to stop. I don’t know who this lady thinks she is, but she didn’t who we were! Our first course was, a classic, the Greek salad. This would be one of probably 100 Greek salads I had on this trip, but also one of the best. We followed this up with sardines, fava beans, tuna, and a trio of fried fish. All of this topped off with two liters of wine.

The sardines were excellent, the tuna fresh (but with too many bones for our taste), I even loved the fried mixture. Usually I don’t like fried food, but they didn’t overdo the breading and kill the taste. Atlantikos is a great laid-back restaurant for seafood lovers. I am not sure if it was extreme hunger or the food was really that good, but I remember Atlantikos as so exceptional..we had to go back.

After exploring a bit, we did hit a (very) late night tourist trap. It was unfortunately the only thing open. I won’t go into detail, but I will say if a guy is trying to drag you in, it’s not worth it. The majority of Greek food was excellent. This restaurant was like most things indulged in after too much wine, at too late of an hour, regretted in the morning..

Athens Greek Food: Day One (full day)

Waking up, invigorated, preparing to shovel things in my mouth, we were on our way. Knowing there is a major food market, we made a B-line for the area. The Central Market is more like a slaughter house, with enough fresh meat to make the strongest PETA member implode. This market doesn’t hold back on showing you were meat really comes from.  Hint, it is not neatly packaged with a smiling cow on the package. Sea creatures didn’t fare much better, with every edible thing in the sea was brought in that morning.

Varvakeios

This brings me to my first restaurant, the only one I saw in the market. Varvakeios made Atlantikos look like Ruth Chris. Tiny, with a bunch of overweight Greek men blowing smoke everywhere…a perfect lunch spot. We asked for shrimp and grilled calamari, again no calamari. We were resigned to our fate when something strange/wonderful happened. The owner walked around the corner holding a squid and said, “I’ll grill for you”. It doesn’t get too much fresher than that (or we thought). The shrimp were also freshly caught, and had to be brought to the table with a crane they were so big. A great way to start the day, but we wanted octopus, so after eating here we did what any normal person would do, had another meal.

Taverna Aris

It is time for our traditional second lunch, because anything worth doing is worth doing twice. Taverna Aris was probably the best of all the Athens Greek restaurants we visited. We hit this place twice in two days, and hit it hard. The meal started with, of course, a Greek salad and continued from there.

Next, we went after a second calamari. It was just as good as the first and perfect for those who enjoy a good sea monster. We order some octopus and sausage both excellent, although as shown in the picture the octopus served non-traditionally. I prefer my octopus to look like something out of a Japanese tentacle cartoon, but this one was chopped up. Still it tasted great, and we had enough eye candy with the calamari. Taverna Aris was for me the best, casual dining experience in Athens Greece, although I probably can say that about several places. I know this, Greek food was rapidly climbing the ladder of my favorite cuisines.

To Paradosiako (Evgenia)

Yadda Yadda Yadda, walking around, yadda yadda Roman Ancient Agora of Athens, OK it’s time to eat. It’s been about four hours since second lunch, and man can’t live on beer and wine alone. All that exploring (and drinking) got us hungry so we settled down to a place that was right near the Athens Status Suites, Paradosiako. Starting with a Greek salad (just assume I always ate a Greek salad) the restaurant itself wasn’t memorable with one exception. I order the Greek dish moussaka, a dish dubbed Greek lasagna.

Now by looking at the picture you can see this clearly looks like lasagna. Tasting this and being of Italian decent I can say this is nowhere near a lasagna. Somehow, they warped layers, beef, and tomato sauce into something else. The layers are eggplant and covered with a strange egg/cream/nutmeg sauce. This is not a light dish. I am not saying I hated it, I might even try it again. It is just not my favorite Greek food, nor was Paradosiako one of my favorite Athens Greek restaurants. Lucky for me second dinner was on its way…

Vintage Wine bar & Bistro

Well second dinner came after a quick balaclava at a place that slips my memory. I also accidentally threw a Gyro down my gullet at Tylixto Greek Wrap. It may have been a souvlaki, I use the two interchangeable even though there is a difference. Either case I had enough to drink at this point where it was much appreciated.

My wife on the other hand wanted something a bit more refined, and had a craving for some lamb. We made our way to Vintage Wine bar & Bistro. This was one of the best Athens Greek restaurants (noticing a theme), totally different from the others. The first striking difference was the price. My arms shrunk a bit when reaching for my wallet at the end of the meal. Having said this, we had a great charcuterie (deer) plate paired with some amazing wine. The real star of the meal was lamb that was so juicy you would think it was picked off a tree. The picture makes my mouth water, although it doesn’t do the dish justice. We ended the night with a brandy and excitement for the Greek food to come in the morning.

Editors note: I accidental mixed up Cinque Wine & Deli Bar and Vintage Wine bar & Bistro. Thanks to the comment below for correcting me! The restaurant was indeed Vintage Wine bar & Bistro

Eating in Greece: Day Two

We woke up hungry and ready to eat, so eat we did. To begin with, like we do in every country, we grabbed so fresh orange juice. This always poses the question: Why is OJ so terrible in America? I won’t spend too much time pondering this. For our first meal we mimicked our eating from the previous day. Once again hitting Tavern Aris and basically getting the same meal. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, so we didn’t, well at least not at first.

O Kostas

You know that feeling when you know you haven’t eaten enough lamb in sandwich form? Well I did, so it was time to find what some consider the best Gyro in Athens. O Kostas was mentioned many times in various food blogs and was 5 minutes from our hotel, a match made in heaven.

It was quiet when we got there, only one other couple in front of us. O Kostas was another small establishment, making me believe that the less square footage the better the food. The place may also have been the cleanest establishment in Greece. The owner went so far as to handle all money with tongs so as not to touch it, while preparing food.

As for the food, how can I describe a perfect Gyro? The vegetables were fresh, the meat cooked and seasoned ideally. It made me realize Gyros are like pizza, most are all at least good, but when you get a great one you know. O Kostas made a great one. The only problem was I had to eat it on the street, and it made juggling my beer a bit difficult…

Daphnes Restaurant

Fast forward a bit, we were ready for dinner. At this point we threw caution (and our research) to the wind and hit a number of restaurants in a row. I started with something sweet, getting a Galaktoboureko, a dessert I loved in New York. The one I had here was disappointing, not bad, just, not great. 

After trying three or four places, we ducked into one last spot. Daphnes Restaurant had all the makings of a tourist trap, yet we still went in. This was lucky, the restaurant turned out to be one of the best Athens Greek restaurants of the day. It was not a hole in the wall, but still great.

I ordered the rabbit (seen atop this page), I am not sure if it was the satisfaction of eating what some consider a pet or if it was the sauce. The dish was so good I was sucking the meat off the bones. My wife ordered the lamb and it was equally delicious. It was nice to devour some animals that walked rather than swam. An added bonus is that the restaurant is located across the street from The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, visited frequently by Lord Byron (Google him/educate yourselves…!) and thus, the quintessential romantic dinner and a view are in place …

Wrapping up our Athens Greek food Tour

I think we did some damage for two days. Of course, the damage was to our hearts and waist lines, but it was worth every bite. For the moment it was time to say goodbye to our Athens Greek restaurants; the next morning early we jumped on a plane to Santorini. You would think both places had Greek food, so it is all the same. Yes, there were some similarities, but there was a different feel to the food on the island. We stepped off the plane, dropped our bags off at the Athina Luxury Resort and were on our way to satiate our hunger….

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The hotel offered us a nice environment, close to a fresh market, friendly staff, and a great price. All of this within walking distance of the Acropolis, a highlight amongst attractions in Athens. Once again, I used TripAdvisor for my initial research into the hotel. If most people are giving it a good review I will do more digging.  I travel a lot, so I have learned that not every highly ranked place has what I am looking for, as far as amenities. Using the link below you can read what others said and check out prices.

Click Here for Reviews of the Athens Status Suites

The Good About Athens Status Suites: A Plaka Athens Hotel

The Athens Status Suites is situated in a great location. Plaka Athens hotels are probably the most convenient in terms of getting around, and I recommend this area to any first-time visitor. The Athens Status Suites was no exception. Everyone seems to know this, with exception of the Taxi drivers we encountered, but I digress. Wandering the streets is one of my favorite parts of any trip. The hotel made it incredibly easy to step outside your door and be in the middle of the action. Yes, there may be a couple of tourist traps near the Athens Status Suites, but that is to be expected. Anytime you are near popular attractions, restaurants with tourist menus pop up around them…

The hotel is right next door to a beautiful church, marked by Templars, and literally minutes away from many smaller attractions. As mentioned, the area is also packed with bars and restaurants. Athens, the city, closes a bit early for me, but the restaurants around the Athens Status Suites were open later than most.

Of course, some people complained about the hotel being too close to the church (due to the bells) and the bars. The claim was that the noise from both kept them up at all hours… This is the same type of person who would complain about winning the lotto on Christmas. I barely heard the noise, if I wanted to be in a quiet neighborhood I would have rented an air B&B in Shady Pines. As for the church, the bells ring…like a church bell does, but I am certainly not complaining about it…

Larger Sites

The hotel isn’t only in walking distance from smaller attractions, but all the major ones as well. It is about a 30-40-minute hike to the Acropolis. Of course, it is uphill, but coming back is easier. You also need to consider you will only need to make this trip once, because one time to the crowded Acropolis is all anyone can handle.  The Ancient Agora of Athens and the Roman Agora are about a 10-minute stroll. This may be the best thing about the Athens Status Suites, you can get to most of the best sites by foot and have plenty of time for the Central Market.

The Good About the Athens Status Suites: The Service

We stayed in this hotel on two separate occasions and both times the service was excellent. I am not sure if all Plaka Athens hotels share this quality, but this hotel really surprised me. This is one of the benefits of staying at a smaller boutique hotel, it seems the people know everyone, and they treat you accordingly. On our first three nights we were upgraded to a suite, always a nice touch. Whenever I get something for free, I am in a good mood. As we checked out the first time, knowing we would be back, they kept one of our bags for us. That made our trip to Santorini a hell of a lot easier.

It was the little things that I liked: the flowers and welcome note on both of our stays.  The fact that they were extremely helpful in finding a place to eat, or simply helping us with our Greek. It is funny how easy I am to please…and how difficult it seems to be for most hotels. The friendliness must be a Greek thing, because the Athina Luxury Suites in Santorini is another one of the few  hotels I found with this kind of service.

The Value

There isn’t much to say about the value of this hotel except that it was cheap enough to put a smile on my face. For the location, room quality and service we still paid less than $100 a night. I have boarded dogs and paid more than this. The place was a steal, if you paid this in a city like New York you would expect to have to share your room with a felon.. Instead I had a great room and an excellent location for Motel 6 prices. You can check out prices below.

Click here for the most recent prices

The Good About the Athens Status Suites: The Room

Ok, first let me put it out there, the room is kind of strange, but in a good way. We stayed in two rooms, one being the suite, the other being a standard room. Both were much larger than typical European rooms. It felt like I could play football in the suite. Even the standard room was more than adequate. The rooms were clean, and the bed was comfortable. The only strange thing about them were the décor. Everything in both of our rooms was all white, it took a second to get used to, but I liked it..

One final thing I liked about the room was the bathroom was much more private than I usually get in Europe….

The Weird About the Athens Status Suites: The Hotel

Yes, I liked this hotel and yes it has some great amenities. The bar upstairs had an amazing view of the Acropolis, but the hotel itself is kind of odd. First, as seen above, the entrance is so little it was hard to find. I felt like I was trying to get into Hogwarts whenever I was returning from the day. The elevator was so small I usually just took the stairs; it felt like a place they sent you to if you were bad in solitary confinement. When more than one person entered the space, I got nervous.

Ok, there was also no pool, and I don’t think there was a workout room, and there also wasn’t much in addition to the rooftop bar. The rooms were funky, and while I liked them, some might not. The hotel is kind of strange, but not nearly enough to stop me from going again.

Where to Stay in Athens?

You want to stay close the action. You will want to have a comfortable room at a great price (i.e., stay away from the sketchy places.. even if they are cheaper). Lastly, you will also want great service. The Athens Status Suites covers these things and more. Yes, I have had nicer hotels, the Athina Luxury Resort in Santorini comes to mind. I also paid much more for them. In terms of cost to quality, this hotel is at the top of my list in places I have stayed.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor

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