The Romance of the Greek Isles
And
The Glory of the Ottoman Istanbul

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A Honeymoon Mediterranean Wishes Tour of Greece and Turkey , including a Greek Cruise
and a stay in in Santorini, all in 14 days . Tour starts weekly on Saturdays in Athens, Apr through Nov
Air fare is included between Santorini , Athens and Istanbul . Compare with th 12-Day version

DAY 1 - Saturday - Weekly - Apr - Nov - ARRIVAL IN ATHENS
Our Athens representative will meet you at the airport, assist you through customs and immigration, and escort you to your hotel in the bustling city center. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you wish. Stroll, browse the Plaka district for curios and treasures.
Add Business class air fare on Lufthansa, Air France , British Airways or similar .

DAY 2 - Sunday - (BL)
This morning you'll enjoy a private tour Athens and get to know the high points of the city, especially the towering Acropolis and the adjacent museum. You'll visit Syntagma Square, at the very heart of the city, and see the Parliament, and guards in colorful traditional outfits. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant.

Your afternoon is free for further exploring or shopping, or you could well be drawn back by the charm of the Plaka. Or take advantage of one of our optional tours, in the evening we call on you for a Greek evening with dinner in a charming local restaurant.

DAY 3 - Monday - PIRAEUS CRUISE TO MYKONOS (BLD) A 30 - minute drive (transfer included)will take you to Piraeus, the port of Athens, to embark on your four-day cruise. You'll sail into the Aegean, and by sunset, reach the jet-set isle of Mykonos. Stroll at your own pace along lanes lined with whitewashed houses, up to the Church of Paraportiani, or along the shore to the island's signature windmills. Enjoy an ouzo or a glass of retsina at a waterside cafe.

DAY 4 - Tuesday - KUSADASI (Turkey) and PATMOS (BLD)
We anchor at 7 a.m. in Kusadasi, on the Turkish mainland, gateway to ancient Ephesus. Stroll the streets and stop in at shops filled with leather goods and bargains in gold. Our optional tour takes you to Ephesus, one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. You'll re-board in time for an afternoon sailing. In the late afternoon, your ship will call at the island of Patmos. Here you can visit the Monastery of St. John where the Book of Revelations was written.

DAY 5 - Wednesday - RHODES (BLD)
Our cruise ship arrives early at the harbor, allowing a full day on the Island of Roses. The compact, cobbled medieval city is perfect for exploring on your own. You'll want to visit the Palace of the Knights of St. John, take a look at the wares in the boutiques, and spend some time in a seaside cafe. We also offer an optional excursion to the Acropolis of Lindos and the Valley of the Butterflies.

DAY 6 - Thursday - HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI (B)
We drop anchor in the port of Heraklion at 7 a.m. You can explore on your own, or take an optional excursion to the 5000-year-old Minoan Palace at Knossos and the archaeological museum. We sail at noon for Santorini, where the lost civilization of Atlantis flourished. You'll disembark for three nights or more in a villa. Sample Villas in Santorini: Dana Villas, in Firostefani with view of the volcano.

DAY 7 - Friday -SANTORINI (B)
You'll take a leisurely breakfast on your private terrace. An optional tour to the archaeological site of Akrotiri is offered. Or, you can spend the day relaxing, and take in breathtaking views of the volcano and caldera. Sample optional tours available based on Private arrangement or Local Group tour

DAY 8 - Saturday - SANTORINI (B)
The day is yours for relaxing or exploring on your own--or both! You might take a boat across to the dormant volcano, and ascend through a crater-pocked moonscape to the crater. Or savor a soak in hot sulphur springs.

DAY 9 - Sunday - SANTORINI (B)
Enjoy the views from your villa, discover a black-sand beach, savor the sea breezes from the terrace of a cafe, or try your hand at fishing. Or arrange a winery visit or another excursion. The choice is yours.

DAY 10 - Monday - SANTORINI, ATHENS, Istanbul (B) Our personnel will assure a seamless transfer to Santorini's Airport. You'll catch a flight to Athens, where you'll board your connecting flight to Istanbul .You're met at Istanbul airport by our representative, who sees you to your hotel, and answers any questions you may have about getting to know the city. As you ride into the great metropolis from the airport, two thousand years of history are revealed: towering Roman walls, ancient Byzantine churches, slender minarets framing the bulbous domes of graceful mosques. These ancient monuments float on the skyline of a bustling modern metropolis of ten million people. Welcome fruit basket in your room awaits you with our compliments.

Turkish Hamam (spa) is a Turkish tradition
that goes back for centuries

DAY 11 - Tuesday - ISTANBUL (BL)
The center of ancient Constantinople and Istanbul was on Seraglio Point, framed by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. We visit the Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet III to challenge the architectural primacy of neighboring Sancta Sophia. We then walk next door to compare achievements in Justinian's great Sancta Sophia. Right behind Sancta Sophia is our next stop, sumptuous Topkapi Palace, the sultans seraglio for centuries, filled with breathtaking exhibits of priceless jewels, golden thrones, delicate colored tiles, and lavish court costumes. We finish up in the bustling Grand Bazaar, where you can find jewelry, carpets, goat-hair rugs, hand-painted ceramics, copper and brass in labyrinthine streets holding nearly 4000 shops.

DAY 12 - Wednesday - BOSPHORUS (B)
Istanbul's history was formed by the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia, connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. Now, as in ancient times, it is a maritime vital link between the countries bordering the Black Sea and those in the rest of the world. Today we take a leisurely cruise northward along this historic waterway. Along its shores are ranged palaces great and small-Topkapi, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi, Küçüksu, Hünkar Iskelesi. Four great fortresses rise on the hills, reminding us that to control the Bosphorus was to control the destinies of nations. Our afternoon cruise of two continents, crossing from Europe to Asia and back, includes visits to the Military Museum, the Bosphorus Bridge, Çamlica Hill lookout, and stupendous Dolmabahçe Palace. Complimentary plate of Turkish Lokoom pastries (Hotel room)

Day 13 - Thursday - "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the East:" Saturday (BL)

Morning walking tour : We start with our guide in Karaköy where the foreign bankers and shipping companies had their headquarters, then take the Tünel up to istiklal Caddesi; stop in the whirling dervish tekke, and walk past the various old embassy buildings (now consulates), and point out the architecture. Stop for tea (included) at the famous Pera Palace Hotel.
Walk at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and have lunch in the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then walk up to Taksim Square and be picked up for the afternoon tour.
In the afternoon the tour visit Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a mini-palace south of Yildiz, and finish up with a visit to the Military History Museum in Harbiye in time to hear the "Mehter," or Ottoman military band (mid-afternoon).

DAY 14 - Friday - ISTANBUL(B)
There are many more things to see and do in this fascinating city, but they will have to wait for your next visit. After breakfast, our representative escorts you to the airport -until next time!
Athens : Arrive by cruise ( Piraeus) : Private Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions.

Rates per person in US$, Double Occupancy, Greek cruise cabin will be with 2 lower beds

Ultra Deluxe Stay :
Imperial Suites :
Imperial Suite on Deck 6 on the Cristal Greek Cruise Penthouse Suite with Larger private Balcony.
Premier suite at Andronis in Santorini
In Athens you 'll be at the Grand Bretagne Hotel -Classical Room.
In Istanbul : Four Seasons - standard room , or the Ciragan Palace : $ 11,750.00

Rate includes:.

• One-way Santorini/Athens airfare and one-way Athens/Istanbul airfare, in economy class , tax included .
  
• Lonely Planet travel guide books
  
• 4-day cruise to Greek Isles and Turkey .Transfers in Greece, Turkey .

• Accommodation in Santorini, sample Hotels that are used:
  For First Class , 4 stars accommodation:
  Villa style, " Sun Rocks " in Firostefani" , "Astra Apartments", " On The Rocks" in Imerovigli,
  or Chromata , "Grotto Villas" in Firostefani .
  

• Hotel accommodation as per itinerary .Hotel service charges and taxes .
  Sample hotels :
  Athens: Deluxe Superior : King George .
  Deluxe: Divani Palace Acropolis.
  First : Electra Palace , Stanley
  Istanbul : Superior Deluxe : Hyatt. Inter.Continental . Conrad, Swiss
  Deluxe : Merit Antique Hotel Istanbul, Arena Boutique Hotel
  Divan Hotel Taksim , The Marmara Istanbul Hotel. Barcelo Eresin Topkapi Hotel Istanbul
  First Class Istanbul : Richmond Hotel Istanbul, Aygun Plaza Hotel Istanbul
  
  
• All meals during the cruise
  
  
• Port taxes

Not included:

• International airfare from/to your home country
• Gratuities
• Personal expenses
• Beverages.
• Meals not specifically listed .
• Greek cruise Shore Excursions
• Trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance

Sample hotels in Santorini:
Dana Villas, in Firostefani with view of the volcano.
Chromata Apartments, in Imerovigli with a view of the volcano.

Athens : Arrive by cruise ( Piraeus) : Private Mediterranean Cruise Shore Excursions.

Compare with the Triangle of Ancient Lands : Egypt Greece Palestine and Israel

Trip Reviews: What other guests say about our services :
Adrian and Melina

-------- Original Message --------
From: "Adrian"
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 2:04 PM
To: omar@travelinstyle.com>, > Subject: We're Back!

We just wanted to let you know we made it back home after our weeklong detour through Italy. Athens was fantastic. The tours were very good, and short of heading out to the islands, I can't think of a single thing we would have rather done while there.



Although we had an excellent time in Athens, Egypt was by far the highlight of our entire trip, including Italy. We just can't say enough
about Ahmed, Isis, Ashraf, and all our drivers. We simply could not have done the trip without their help. Ahmed was very professional, courteous, and helpful, and always went out of his way to make sure we were where we needed to be at the right time. Our Egyptologist guides, Isis and Ashraf, were both very knowledgeable and made our visit so much better with their endless supply of information. We wore out both days long before they did. We will definitely try to come back to Egypt when we have more time to spend.



Thank you so much for arranging the trip, allowing us to customize what we needed to, and putting us in touch with such good people. And please find attached pictures of us enjoying a camel ride. :-)



Adrian and Melina

Combine with Egypt
A Fory into the Nile Kingdom : Legends of the Greek Isles and the Nile
Santorini Edition: A Grand 18 day Mediterranean Honeymoon Wishes Tour :
Greek cruise, a Stay in Santorini and a Nile Cruise