Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2007 - (Page 46) CRUISES Greece SAILINGA AY IN W Luxury cruises are the perfect mode of transport for Greek-isle hopping. BY DAVID EISEN Greece is a country flecked with numerous islands that hug the country’s craggy mainland and disperse outward in the Ionian, Aegean and Mediterranean seas. This means that recommending a luxury cruise to your high-end clients will not only allow them to see an assortment of venerable towns, it too will afford them unmatched views and accessibility. We recently had a chance to savor the sea as we zigzagged through the Greek Isles, visiting Santorini, Corfu, Mykonos and Athens. Here is a look at these destinations and what you can offer your clients to make sure that the gods look down favorably. Santorini: Perhaps the jewel of the Greek Isles, Santorini is a caldera formed by a volcanic eruption an estimated 3,500 years ago. Today, it can only be described as stirring, with its blue and white Mediterranean-style homes and shops that dot the volcanic landscape and perch over the Aegean Sea like gargoyles. One decision your clients will have to make once getting to Santorini is how to reach the town of Fira, Santorini’s capital, which sits on the cliff rim. One option is to walk (really not a smart choice for your less-mobile clients); another is to hire a donkey to do the work; and the last, and most efficient, is to take a cable car up, which costs a nominal fee. If your clients want a great upscale Greek cuisine experience, we recommend Kukumavlos (Fira 847 00, below the Atlantis Hotel; 3022860/23807) in Fira. (Note: The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner; because cruises tend to leave port early in the evening, the best bet is to tell your clients to lunch there.) A 12-table outdoor patio flanks a vaulted dining room that serves Greek-centric dishes such as kataifi, a Greek pastry filled with nuts. As far as lodging options go (perhaps as part of a post-cruise stay), it doesn’t get any better than the Perivolas (www.perivolas.gr) in Oia, a town on the far end of the island famous for its breathtaking sunsets. The hotel is situated on a 1,000-foot precipice and is known for its rooms that are cave-like in design. The Perivolas Suite is the best room available, and is noted for having its own indoor plunge pool and a separate, larger pool. Accommodations can be booked by contacting the property’s head of reservations, Majda Anderson (perivolastraditionalhouses @yahoo.com). If your clients want something more recognizable, there is always Starwood’s Mystique (www.starwoodhotels.com), which is part of The Luxury Collection. Hungry? In Oia, suggest 1800 (www.oia-18 00.com). The roof garden has a caldera view, but we recommend sitting inside the former SANTORINI is famous for its cliffside towns and dwellings of pristine white and cobalt blue. 46 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | August 2007 http://www.perivolas.gr http://www.starwoodhotels.com http://www.oia-1800.com http://www.oia-1800.com
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