My big fat Greek vacation
I went to Greece for three reasons. First, because I have never been. Second, so I could find out what it is really like and entice you to go. Third, so that maybe you do not have to go anymore after reading this.
Before this trip, when you said Greece, the only places I knew were Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. So when my friend Poma fixed our itinerary, and I saw names like Naxos, Paros, and Meteora, I simply told myself, “Poma, take the wheel. I will be your obedient follower.”
The rest of the gang ended up doing exactly the same thing. We were very lucky to have someone who handled everything for us—from airport pickups to hotel bookings to deciding which cities were worth seeing. At our age, having one organized friend is better than having a luxury bag.
Timing-wise, we got it perfectly. We went during the last two weeks of low season, which meant hotels were cheaper, crowds were thinner, and even the traffic cooperated. If I may suggest, go around the end of April to mid-May and stay for around 10 days. The weather was beautiful without the unbearable heat and tourist chaos.
When in Plaka
Our first few days were spent in Athens. Their city center, called Plaka, is a quaint little area lined with al fresco cafes, restaurants, and charming little shops, all with a beautiful view of the Acropolis looming in the background. It is known as the “Neighborhood of the Gods,” and honestly, it does feel like you are walking through a movie set.
And if you know my friends and me, shopping is not optional during any trip. It is practically cardio.
Greece surprised us with the cutest little stores, selling everything from linen dresses to handmade sandals to ceramics and jewelry. Unlike other cities with gigantic department stores, Greece thrives on small boutiques clearly designed to lure tourists like us inside. And lure us they did. After all, tourism accounts for around 20 percent of their GDP, so they know exactly what they are doing.
Every single shopkeeper proudly announced that all their products were “made in Greece by local artisans.” Did I believe them? Hmmm. The skeptic in me whispered that perhaps some items took a slight detour from China before arriving in Greece. But honestly, we did not care. We still bought everything anyway because they were unique, colorful, and reminded us of our trip.
The only painful part was converting euros into Philippine pesos. At one point, one euro was about P71. Every purchase came with a little bit of joy and a little bit of heartbreak.
Prices also differed depending on location. Plaka in Athens was understandably more expensive because of the heavy tourist traffic. Naxos was more affordable while Paros leaned toward the expensive side. I can only imagine what Mykonos and Santorini prices look like. Probably one Greek salad away from bankruptcy.
Sights, sounds, and purchases made
Our hotel in Athens was in Kolonaki, a beautiful neighborhood filled with restaurants serving every cuisine imaginable. It is close enough to Plaka, but walking back to the hotel involved a 20-minute uphill battle that made us question every shopping purchase we made earlier in the day.
Another thing Greece did not lack was handsome men. Everywhere we looked, there seemed to be a parade of tall, tanned Greek men with good hair, strong noses, and enough charm to make you consider extending your trip. Whether they were serving coffee, driving taxis, manning souvenir shops, or simply walking by in linen shirts, the amount of eye candy available was honestly impressive. Let me just say that Greece was not only visually beautiful because of the scenery.
Even the souvenir shops, which are usually tourist traps, did not escape us. Cute tote bags, shirts, and quirky jewelry like crab earrings somehow found their way into our luggage. I also stumbled upon a shop called Sun of a Beach, which sold towels, swimsuits, and tote bags for people who fully embrace beach life. The store alone could convince you to suddenly become the kind of person who owns a yacht.
Being jewelers, we naturally explored jewelry stores as well. We found unique little pieces that immediately became our mandatory Greece memorabilia. All eight of us ended up buying matching Grecian charms. Thankfully, my bargaining skills remained strong even overseas, so everyone went home happy.
Of breathtaking views at Meteora
One of the highlights of the trip was Meteora, which required a four-hour drive from Athens. Meteora is home to centuries-old Eastern Orthodox monasteries, perched dramatically on top of towering rock formations. The views are truly breathtaking, and the Byzantine art is priceless.
Now, let me remind you that I hate hiking and stairs with a passion. But somehow, I summoned strength from the Greek gods themselves and made it to the top.
The monasteries were beautiful, but I will admit something slightly controversial. While everything was pristine, freshly painted, and incredibly well-maintained, I felt that some of the old soul had disappeared. The murals and artwork looked so restored that they no longer carried that haunting sense of age and history I expected. Beautiful, yes. But I secretly wished parts of it had been left untouched.
If you do visit Meteora, try the 20-minute paragliding experience. I felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment after landing. I did it. I survived. And I also realized I never need to do it again.
To wine and dine (plus more shopping) at Naxos
At one point, we flew to Naxos, where we stayed four nights at Hotel Grotta. Naxos offered endless Greek and Italian restaurants, which was perfectly fine with us because when in Greece, all we wanted was Greek food anyway.
We discovered our favorite restaurant, called Vassilis, right in the center of town. The food was delicious, the portions generous, and the prices reasonable. We loved it so much that we kept returning for both lunch and dinner. Eventually, the staff practically became family. Our waiter, Dimitris, already knew our orders before we even sat down. Lamb chops with rice, sausages, and salad. Every single time.
Because we ate there so often, they started giving us free dessert during every meal. That alone deserves five stars.
We also took a ferry to Paros, where we discovered a clothing store called Fēm. that carried some of the wittiest and most stylish clothes we had seen during the trip. The bold colors and playful designs perfectly captured that carefree Greek spirit.
I say “discovered” because almost everything in Paros seemed to open at around 3 p.m., which initially confused us. But perhaps that was because we came during the low season. If I could redo the trip, I would probably stay in Paros for a few nights because I heard the island becomes magical at night. Unfortunately, our ferry back to Naxos left at 6 p.m. daily, so we never got to experience that side of it.
As for Greece itself, would I go back? Probably yes. Would I climb Meteora again? Absolutely not.
Should I stay or should I go: Greece edition
As I posted my trip on Instagram, I received so many questions that I decided to answer the most common ones here.
Should you go?
Absolutely yes.
How many days?
Ten days is perfect.
Is it expensive?
It can be. It all depends on where you stay and where you eat. Going during the low season helped tremendously. Our timing was spot on.
Is it safe?
Well, I got pickpocketed. But generally, yes. People are warm, friendly, and almost everyone speaks English. Just remember that in Europe, being 100 percent careful is not enough. You need to be 1,000 percent aware.
How do you get around?
Taxi or Uber. Booking can sometimes be difficult, so asking your hotel reception to arrange transportation is the smartest option. Do not rent a car unless you enjoy stress and impossible parking situations. Hiring a car or van with a driver is the best route. And yes, I can hook you up. Just hit me up.
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