Welcome to Insight Vacations' Online Community THE INSIGHT EXPERIENCE Ancient Civilizations (Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt) Greek islands|
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Virtual Traveller |
would like to hear recommendations on best way to do the Greek islands - take a cruise (and if so comments on cruise line, enough time in port, food, accommodation etc) - or send a few days on various islands 9and if so what are the best and where should we stay).
Also - Athens - how long to stay, recommended hotels and what is best area to stay - I have heard the Plaka area is nice.  |
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Virtual Traveller Elite |
how about Grecian Delights tour?
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Virtual Traveller Elite |
Grecian Delights???? I don't think so John. I t sounds too much like what the Greeks are famous for and that's not nice.
Cheers General Max |
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Virtual Traveller Elite |
John can you explain why Insight is using the Metropolitan hotel for Athens this year for all of their Grecian tours? We are taking The Glories of Greece which is the first 9 days of Grecian Delights in September, and the Metropolitan is NOT in the Plaka area. I wonder what Insight is going to do about this year's evening optionals.
Bam the only reason we are taking the shorter tour is because it is an add on to the Treasures of Turkey. If I wanted to see the islands, and I do, perhaps next time, I personally would take a tour that stays on each island, rather than taking a cruise. I think Trafagar has a tour that does this, it might even use a hotel in a central area in Athans. |
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Virtual Traveller Elite |
Bam, my wife and I did the Grecian Delights Tour in 1999 and it was fantastic. We had 2 nights in Athens before the land content tour, a free day after the land content and before the cruise of the Islands (we used this for a Aegina/Poros/Hydra Cruise), then we had the cruise around the various Islands mentioned in the tour (Santorini is Magic and if you do the cruise make sure you are on deck as you cruise into Santorina), and two extra nights in Athens after the cruise. We loved it but it was very hot and on our leisure days in Athens we went back to the hotel for a couple of hours in the afternoons before going back out again.
 This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dragon, |
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Virtual Traveller |
The Metropolitan has shuttle buses running to and from Omanino(SP)Metro station it's right in the main shopping are, it's about a 20 minute ride from the hotel.
Insight is probably using the Metropolitan because they bid lower for the contract. At my hotel each year tour companies ask us to submitt bids to them for how much the costs will be if they stay with us. So I'm guessing the Metropolitan had the lowest bid. Lee |
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Virtual Traveller Elite |
What do the hotels cut back on to make the "LOW" bid offer? Would it be food quality, service, cleanliness or other items we should be concerned about when staying in hotels.
Cheers General Max |
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Virtual Traveller |
They don't cut back on anything, other then the price. We don't skimp when it comes to guests. Each room has to be sold for a certain amount of money for us to make a profit, which is usually between 5 and 10 dollars per square foot.
Say were a high end hotel and our normal room rate was 200.00 a night. So say your a tour company and you can guarentee us 250 room nights a year. We would cut the rate to say 110.00 a night, because in the end we will still make more money by dropping the room rate for you.. Understand now/ |
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Virtual Traveller Elite |
But you would only have to sell 137.5 room nights to break even at $200 per night. Less food costs and wear and tear on the rooms. 275 breakfasts versus 500. Not to mention 33,750 gallons of water.
Cheers General Max |
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Virtual Traveller |
I was just using round numbers I pulled them out of the air to explain it. But hotels don't cut back on service on cleaniness on food on anything when it comes to groups. Hotels usually go above and beyond because they want you to tell your friends who might happen travel there someday then they will stay at there hotel.
Lee |
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