Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008 - (Page 26)

to special food requirements in cooperation with the chef and, depending on the child’s age, may arrange entertainment as well. Kids’ activities at the resort include horseback riding and miniature golf. Bathrooms in all of the villas are marble-lined (that’s antique handmade Dionysian marble) and have double sinks, Jacuzzi bathtubs and Bulgari amenities. Contact General Manager John Sotirakos (john.sotirakos @portozante.com; 30-210-8218640) directly to prepare for your VIP. He can also assist with private jet charters and sailing excursions to nearby local attractions, such as Navagio Beach (rated one of the world’s top beaches) and the Blue Caves, an area accessible only by boat. Transfer service at Porto Zante is also sleek, with limousines and BMW X5s available for your client. PORTO ZANTE’S Royal Suite has a generous amount of living space. ADVISOR INSIGHT: ATHENS Eleni Kavarligos of American Express Travel in Arlington, VA, says that, “Visiting Greece every year is a must for me. And visiting Greece without stopping in Athens for a few days is like going to a famous restaurant and not ordering its specialty. To me, Athens is the heart of Greece. It’s where everything starts: history, culture, entertainment, sandy beaches and shopping. “Plaka and Monastiraki, two neighborhoods under the Acropolis, feature a ‘flea market’ from which I buy all my souvenirs to take back to friends and family, such as vases and coasters, all with designs resembling old scenes from mythology. For travelers looking for other items, such as shoes and clothing in the latest designs, shopping on Ermou Street, with its elegant stores and boutiques, is a must,” Kavarligos says. “When I am in Athens, there are a couple of activities I always include in my plans. A favorite is taking the metro at Syntagma Square when I am visiting the Acropolis, because I love looking at all the antiquities that were 26 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | April 2008 found while digging to build the system. “In the afternoon, I like to stop by Dionysus restaurant, which is located across from the Acropolis entrance, where I sit outside at one of the tables under the big pine trees, enjoying the afternoon breeze, and marveling at the beautiful structure of the Acropolis while sipping my Greek coffee and eating my Greek dessert, kataifi,” Kavarligos says. “Another activity I always enjoy when I’m in Athens is taking a taxi ride in the early evening from my hotel to the top of Lykavittos Hill, which is located in Kolonaki, one of the most upscale neighborhoods in Athens,” Kavarligos says. “From the hilltop, you can look down and marvel at Athens and the Acropolis below and watch the sunset disappear into the Aegean Sea. This is one of the most spectacular highlights of my trip, and I highly recommend that all visitors give it a try. Afterwards, I have a romantic, candlelit dinner with my husband at the Lykabetus restaurant, on the hilltop overlooking Athens. The restaurant serves traditional Greek specialties and has tables that are set on the verandah outside, overlooking the city and its myriad lights. “From Athens, travelers can also take a one-day cruise and visit three of the most picturesque Greek islands—Hydra, Poros and Aegina—and enjoy a delicious, traditional lunch right onboard the ship while taking in all the sights,” Kavarligos says. “From Athens, travelers can also plan a one-day trip to Delphi or Nafplion and visit the Theater of Epidavros, famous for its amazing acoustics. A coin dropped in the center can be heard from the highest seat. Many live performances, from modern to classical, take place here during the summer months, so travelers who are planning a summertime visit should be sure to add this to their list of ‘must dos.’” Before leaving Athens, Kavarligos says she “always plans a visit to the Benaki Museum on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, which houses a collection of ancient and modern artifacts and, of course, the Acropolis Museum, which is located on the sacred rock east of the Acropolis.”

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Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter London DESTINATIONS India Greece HOTELS Golf Royal Hideaway Playacar Chateau Marmont SPAS Hawaiin Spas Southeast Asia CRUISES: Antarctica Cover Story: Rocket man The Pulse Traveling Gourmet Jetset Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008

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