The group’s sunset cruise along the glowing Santorini cliffs was “pure magic.”

I was pretty anxious about our trip to Greece because we had a large group, 12 people! Ioanna, our Greece-based travel agent, was absolutely exceptional in managing all the different personalities, needs, and budgets. We went in shoulder season, September 26-October 4, 2025.

She suggested a wonderful itinerary: four nights in Paros, three nights in Santorini, and one night in Athens. One of the highlights of our trip was the incredible cooking class she arranged for us in Paros. It was held at a chef’s home inside a 600-year-old monastery with its own little church on the property. She grew her own produce, made her own wine and olive oil, and shared her passion for authentic Greek cuisine—a truly unforgettable experience.

We rented cars one day to explore Paros and loved discovering the island at our own pace. When it was time to move on, we took the ferry to Santorini. Ioanna had booked us in premium class, and despite all of the ferry horror stories we’d heard, our trip was smooth and effortless.

Upon arrival, we went straight to a wine tasting in a 400-year-old wine cellar at our hotel, Vedema. The property was stunning—the perfect contrast to the relaxed beachy vibe of our Paros hotel, Summer Senses. Vedema, tucked away in a charming Santorini village, had a cozy, boutique feel that we loved.

The next day, we tackled the 6.5-mile hike from Fira to Oia. It was challenging but absolutely worth it—the views were breathtaking! On our final evening in Santorini, we took a sunset cruise, and it was pure magic. Watching the cliffs and coastline glow in the evening light was the perfect ending to our time there.

Our last day in Greece was spent in Athens, where we toured the Acropolis with an incredibly knowledgeable guide who went above and beyond to help us navigate the city, our hotel, and dinner plans. Thankfully, Ioanna had organized all of our transfers—and with 12 people, that was no small feat! The private vans were comfortable and luxurious and made getting around effortless.

Overall, Ioanna made what could have been a stressful trip absolutely seamless. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, and we felt so well taken care of. I can’t recommend her highly enough for anyone planning a trip to Greece!

Travelers Louise and Lee Andrews at a rooftop restaurant in Athens on their last night.

We had a great trip to Paros, Santorini, and Athens, Greece 9/1-9/11. Our trip was planned with Eleni. We stayed in 3 fabulous hotels—Avant Mar, Canaves Epitome and The Dolli. We had the perfect mixture of history (Akrotiri, Acropolis), boating, hiking, wine tasting, and relaxing in the beautiful settings. Eleni made great recommendations for restaurants. The food was so good, so fresh, excellent fish, Greek salads, pita with tzatziki, etc. This was our 3rd trip with a Wendy Perrin travel advisor and we will soon be planning our next. Only way to travel to new places, everything is top shelf.

We had a wonderful trip to Greece. Our trip was July 14-24 2025, and we travelled to Athens, Paros, and Santorini. The team did a great job of listening to what we wanted. Since it was our first time, we wanted to visit the major historical sites in Athens and see Santorini while also having relaxing beach time, which we did in Paros. We felt we had enough time in each location. One of our favorite experiences was our private boat tour around Paros. Our guide was great, and we even got to try fresh sea urchin provided by some locals. Having a travel planner definitely ensured everything—including transfers and check ins—went smoothly. We didn’t have to worry about a thing! I’d definitely recommend the trip planning team.

Our trip to Greece from August 23, 2025 through September 5, 2025 was absolutely wonderful! There were four adults traveling in our group, none of whom had ever traveled to Greece. We started in Athens (stayed two nights), flew to Paros (stayed four nights), took a ferry to Milos (stayed three nights) and then took a ferry to Santorini (stayed three nights).

The private Acropolis (including museum) tour in Athens was fantastic. We enjoyed three boat excursions on Paros, Milos and Santorini. We experienced a cooking class on a local farm on Paros. Finally, we did a private winery tour and dinner on Santorini. The time on each island was perfect (we never felt rushed), and we had sufficient time to explore the islands on our own, which is something we requested. Our trip planner had to reschedule two of our boat excursions due to windy weather, and because the boating trips turned out to be our favorite experiences, we are incredibly grateful she was able to react quickly and reschedule both of them. Our trip planner was in constant communication with us. We highly recommend this trip planner.

My wife and I had a wonderful trip to Athens, Mykonos and Paros, thanks to Maria’s colleagues Ioanna, Eleni and the rest of their extremely professional and knowledgeable team. The preplanning was done in a way that we felt well-educated in our various options; we never felt rushed and their flexibility and transparency was excellent.

Special note to Zoe, our fantastic guide for two days in Athens, and in Mykonos to Mathilda the manager at Cali Mykonos and her staff and (especially the Yoga/Pilates instructor). Cali is amazing, and we had a room that truly took your breath away with the view of the beach and boats from the large infinity pool. At every hotel and restaurant we went to over our trip, we were given the best rooms/tables and VIP attention, thanks to the team.

We look forward to using our new friends to book another trip in the hopefully not-too-distant future.

The Bleicher family gathers on top of the acropolis.

Our family trip to Greece organized by Joanna was amazing. All three couples and our two-year-old grandson had an amazing time. Organizing different arrivals and departures did not hinder our vacation at all. Kea, Athens, Sounio and Thessaloniki had something for everyone. Cooking, hiking, history, beaches, hotels with amazing views. Everyone learned about Greece, food and wine, and experienced great hospitality.

Our trip to Greece in May was amazing. I had used Wendy Perrin for a WOW trip in May 2022 with my family. This time, it was with friends (they were jealous of my prior trip). We went to Paros, Milos, Santorini (with boat trips to other islands) and Athens. Our trip planner, Eleni, was very responsive and helpful in making this the trip that met our needs.

For our own logistical reasons, we ended with Athens. However, I would recommend starting with Athens and ending with the islands. Our two private boat rides were fantastic and the drone videos were a delightful bonus! I don’t love Santorini but everyone has to see it once in their lives—so I highly recommend staying at the Andronis Arcadia. It is really a WOW hotel! And a short walk to Santorini’s main strip. The staff is amazing.

May 12-20, 2025
STUNNING hotels we stayed in when we visited the mountains of Greece in Aristi and Ionanna. Beautiful flora, delicious wine and wine tasting. Knowledgeable tour guides in Athens on fabulous private tours of the Acropolis, a food tour and a street art tour. Trip tailored to our family’s interests.

Max, Kay, Charlotte and John visited Cape Sounio and the Temple of Poseidon.

Evangelia Galanopoulou planned our Greece trip and she and her team did a wonderful job. Her communication before the trip and the planning was super. Our guides were wonderful, and they knew their history, geography, and gave us much opportunity to ask questions. Our hotels were perfect for what we wanted to accomplish, as we were gone most of the time, but very good facilities while we were there.
We loved the tavernas, cafes, and mountain top villages, and their restaurants as well. We saw as much as we could in the days were in Athens, Paros and Crete. Any change or addition we needed was communicated through the app. Our flight was canceled on the way home, but our transport to the airport was changed immediately. The restaurants recommended were delightful and represented all Greece had to offer. We are so glad we went to the Dionysos Zonars’ Restaurant in Athens our last night—what a wonderful meal and view of the Acropolis. Evangelia added much value to our trip!!! Would ask her again.

“Our cooking class took place in the wood-burning stove kitchen of the home, originally a monastery in the 1200s.” Photo: Traveler Fran Gunner

Our trip to Greece was ten days from April 29 – May 9 with three nights in each Athens, Paros, and Santorini. Joanna (Jo), our trip planner, scheduled our hotels, all of our transfers perfectly, airport concierges, and excursions seamlessly. Jo quickly understood our style of travel and set up an itinerary that matched. We had days of rest intermingled with days of activity. At our request, she altered the schedule of a planned excursion with ease and grace.

In Athens, Jo arranged for us to stay at the AthensWas Hotel. It is a 5-star hotel located perfectly in the heart of Athens minutes away from the Acropolis. With limited time, this hotel was ideal for its proximity to the Acropolis and experiencing the vibe of the city. The hotel staff was very helpful, friendly, and hospitable…going above and beyond what would normally be expected. For example, it was necessary for us to depart the hotel at 4:00 a.m. in order to check in at the airport on time for our flight back to the states and, to our pleasant surprise, the hotel prepared a boxed breakfast to take with us when we left. The staff recognized us from the onset and always greeted us warmly by name. A full breakfast was included daily offering choices from a full menu; all of our selections were delicious as was room service on one of our nights there. While in Athens, Jo arranged a wonderful guide for the Acropolis. She was well-schooled but didn’t make us feel as if we were in a class lecture preparing for an exam; she was friendly, sensitive to our needs, and enjoyed a sense of humor. She was informative without being long-winded and/or boring. Shopping in the flea market was super fun, walking around the city is charming, and especially intriguing was changing of the guard at the Hellenic Parliament.

In Paros, our agent recommended the new 5* Avant Mar Hotel, again, a beautiful hotel in an ideal location with a room overlooking the Aegean. We had direct access to the beach where our hotel had comfortable, well-appointed lounges with service provided for towels, drinks, and food. Avant Mar’s location is within walking distance of the village, which is charming in every way. However, since my husband was experiencing back pain, we were graciously provided the hotel’s car and driver for transportation. Overall, the hotel service was excellent in every way…attentive without being overbearing and kind beyond expectation. We both enjoyed the hotel’s spa services and were very pleased with our treatments, both of which were outdoors in a sheltered area of the hotel. Shopping and restaurants were great in the village with a fun vibe around the port.

The first night in Paros our agent arranged a cooking class. We had been to a cooking class in Morocco, but this was in no way the same. In Paros we were welcomed into a private home by Maria, the home owner along with her assistant, Natalia. Our cooking class took place in the wood-burning stove kitchen of the home that was originally a monastery built in the 1200s. My husband and I were treated to an evening of fascinating conversation while, together, cooking our meal of Greek specialties. We engaged via translation with Maria’s husband, who made olive oil from the olives produced in the property’s olive grove and beeswax candles from hives on the grounds. The home was fascinating as both a functioning family farm and monastery. The monastery itself was beautifully maintained and a privilege to visit with its incredibly built altar, ornately carved icons, and an iron door key the size of a carving knife and flour bag’s weight. Our evening was unique in every way and an experience we will fondly remember.

The day before we were scheduled to leave Paros, in conversation with our waiter, I shared that we were going on to Santorini. He said I could ask him anything about Santorini so I inquired about restaurant recommendations, since I would be celebrating my birthday the night we arrived in Santorini. He was so helpful to call ahead and make our dinner reservation, which ended up requiring multiple calls since the night we wanted to go was the restaurant’s opening night for the season and reservations were in high demand. (I will add that our planner graciously reached out on our behalf as well.) But, setting aside the night of my birthday, I would be kicking off my birthday in Paros before heading to Santorini at 10:00 a.m., leaving just enough time to enjoy a quick breakfast which I did and during which, to our complete surprise, the entire staff came out singing happy birthday, serving delicious Greek treats topped with a lighted candle, and bearing a gift from the hotel. It was truly so thoughtful and special; I will always remember it fondly.

Santorini was spectacular in every way. We stayed at the Canaves Oia Suites located at the entrance of Oia’s marble path…the absolutely perfect location. The shopping was perfection and the restaurants divine. Our hotel was perched on the side of as cliff over the Aegean. The accommodations were perfect with a large living room, bedroom, and balcony with a heated pool. The staff was exceptional in every way. My husband had a fall and the hotel provided him ice packs around the clock and never failed to inquire about the progress of his recovery. Every member of the staff was engaging, friendly, and fun. It was a pleasure to be attended to in such a demonstrative and efficient way.

Our agent planned a boat excursion to tour the islands originally part of Santorini. The company provided a beautiful boat and a terrific two-man crew—one actually demonstrated and danced the “Opa” for me since I had yet to see anyone dance it since we had been in Greece.

Our last night was back in Athens where we were warmly greeted again by the staff at the AthensWas Hotel. They graciously stored our luggage and had it ready for us at 4:00 a.m. the next morning (along with that surprise boxed breakfast). Our farewell dinner at Balthazar was not to be surpassed by any other dining experience in Greece. Everything from the food to the clientele to the atmosphere was memorably fun and a great way to say goodbye to Greece.

Phenomenal trip. Every pick-up was smooth, the tour guides were great, and we got to see a lot of off the beaten path experiences including great small wineries.

I had wanted to go to Greece since I was a little girl, so finally started to try to plan a trip there this last year. With so many islands to choose from I quickly became overwhelmed, however, especially when I tried to also figure out the logistics of island-hopping. Marianna came to the rescue!

We were a bit open on dates and after a call with Marianna, we booked a flight out of Chicago on 9/29 and then one returning from Athens on 10/16. Marianna took care of all the rest. She worked with me to custom plan an itinerary that would allow us to visit five islands and also to get some needed rest and relaxation by structuring our trip to take advantage of beach time at the beginning and to do more excursions toward the middle and end.

From the moment we landed in Athens we were treated like rock stars. She had someone waiting for us right after we deplaned, who took us on the fast track past all the people waiting in line at customs, and got us right through in about two minutes. We then went to the Mykonos Grand, which was an absolutely delightful property on a bay and one that captured my heart. It was far enough away from the town center to be quiet, but close enough to catch the free hotel shuttle and visit for dinner. When we checked in we were told that our accommodations had been upgraded. Little did we know that this was going to become a common theme.

We spent four incredible nights on Mykonos and then had a private transfer to a ferry that took us to Paros. After three nights in Paros we ferried over to Santorini. While in Santorini we took a sunset cruise that Marianna booked for us and that was one of the highlights of the trip. From there we flew to Athens and then to Corfu, where we enjoyed three wonderful nights at the Olivar Suites, where we also were upgraded upon check in (as we were in Paros and in Santorini). While on Corfu we did a private olive oil tour that Marianna booked for us and that was another highlight of our vacation. We finished by flying into Athens and staying there three nights before returning home. Each property that Marianna had booked for us was absolutely beautiful and all of our transfers and excursions first class.

We could not be happier with our trip or with Marianna and the service she provided. The app was also so helpful, with all of our itinerary on it, along with tickets, tips, and recommendations. We have told everyone about Marianna and Wendy Perrin’s services, sending links to at least four people planning trips currently. Our vacation exceeded all our expectations! We cannot wait to plan another one with your recommendations.

We had a wonderful trip to Greece planned by Olga and her team. After spending some time with us by zoom, Olga gave several options for our trip, knowing we wanted to explore different islands and were interested not only in the beauty of Greece but the culture and history. Once we decided on the specific islands, the real fun began as we chose our resorts and excursions. We expressed our interest in boutique hotels close to the action of wherever we were, admittedly after a couple of exchanges regarding price points and room sizes. Overall, the accommodations were great, with the Katikies Garden in Santorini being a highlight.

Our trip started with someone taking my husband’s luggage and bringing it to Athens. Olga’s team was helpful from the beginning, and as I was worrying about meet ups etc, my husband’s response was, “You used Wendy Perrin, didn’t you? I’m not worried.”

Olga arranged some great tours for us. The guides were all personable and incredibly knowledgeable—and knew we were serious when we wanted to stop for baked goods or gelato.

We were all most surprised by the leper island (which was not just a leper island) off Elounda, and Akrotiri in Santorini. These were admittedly given as options by Olga, who tactfully kept encouraging them vs. some of the proposed excursions. We think these are must-do if you are in Elounda, Crete, or Santorini (along with a sunset cruise). We loved the traditional excursions as well (Acropolis, Delphi, a difficult walk from Fira to Oia) but these were unexpected.

Finally, Olga suggested restaurants throughout our trip and made dinner reservations for us (whether or not she recommended the restaurant). Towards the end of the trip, our companions said, “Do you realize we always have the best tables in the restaurant?”

Overall, our trip to Greece was wonderful and as always, the travel specialist recommended made everything on the ground easy.

Maria was so helpful in planning our trip to Greece. We had part of our trip already planned separately with friends, but knew we wanted to extend our trip to see the ancient historical sights of Greece as a couple and didn’t know where to begin.

We did a Zoom call with her to talk about our budget, wants/needs, and get a feel for how many extra days we’d need to see everything we wanted to see without feeling like chickens with our heads cut off.

After that, she went to work and planned out everything. Our favorite part was the two nights in lovely Napflio, where we really felt immersed in Greek culture and didn’t really feel like tourists.

Our transportation was incredible. A spacious Mercedes van with private driver who was a welcome sight each day. He would coordinate our private guides each place we went.

We really felt like we saw all of Greece during our stay, and are so glad we used Maria to help!

Ioanna Thomollari planned a wonderful June/July 2024 6-day pre- and post-cruise Greece trip for us!

Ioanna understood what we were looking for in our travels after our Zoom call. I highly recommend a Zoom meeting with any travel expert. All the drivers Ioanna booked were prompt and excellent drivers. The guides were knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. Ioanna’s restaurant suggestions were big hits. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour day of the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum and the Agora. It was hot when we went, so in between the Acropolis and the Agora our guide took us to a quiet café for refreshments.

We drove to see the incredible ruins and museum at Delphi. Another impressive sight and another hot day. Our guide made sure we were in the shade and had plenty of water.

The after-cruise portion we stayed in charming Nafplio. We relaxed the first day then the next day we went to Olympia — another impressive site and museum.

I definitely recommend Ioanna and her team for any travel to Greece!

Josie, Nicholas, Vincent, Nelson, and Joseph Mongiovi in Meteora with three monasteries in the background.

My wife and I, along with our three children (middle school, high school, and college aged), worked with Olga Rapanaki in the planning of a trip to Greece in June. Based on our desires and interests, Ms. Rapanaki provided several trip ideas, lodging and restaurant choices, and transportation options to meet our needs. She made sure all of the things that were important to us were included in the trip plan and was responsive to questions. Our family was able to mix in multiple guided tours along with time to relax. Our first stay was at The Foundry – Urban Luxury Suites in Athens. The service was great and the rooms were nice. The provided breakfast offered a lot of options and was delicious. The rooftop offered a wonderful view of the Parthenon during the evening. We visited the Acropolis (Parthenon and Erechtheion), the Acropolis Museum, and the Ancient Agora. Our guide was exceptional and enhanced our experience at the sites.

Our next stop was Delphi where we toured the museum and site with a guide, followed by Meteora, which was a highlight of the trip. Our guide in Meteora took us to several locations from shepherd caves and hermit monk sites, to seeing six monasteries and touring some of them. Next, we went to Mykonos and stayed at the Mykonos Riviera. The hotel service, views, and room were fantastic. The hotel was close to the Chora (Old Town) and we were able to visit the area multiple times, along with the Little Venice area, and the windmills. We took an interesting tour of Delos with a guide. The following day, we went horseback riding to Fokos Beach, which was a fun excursion and allowed us to see a different side of Mykonos.

Our last stop was Santorini and we stayed at the Vedema Resort in Megalochori. It was nice to stay in this area as it was much quieter than Fira and Oia. The hotel employees were wonderful and the stay was great. In Megalochori, we were able to see underground caves, visit a winery, and the Symposium Music and Mythology Cultural Center. We took a fantastic sunset caldera cruise on a catamaran that left from Oia. We got to see Thirassia, the Black Mountain, White Beach, and Red beach, had a wonderful meal, and saw an awesome sunset. We also visited Pyrgos and saw the castle, some churches, and had a wonderful view of the entire island. This was an amazing family trip full of friendly people, amazing history, beautiful sites, and gorgeous beaches.

Ms. Rapanaki provided wonderful tour guides with a deep knowledge of the area where they provided tours. During the trip-planning process until the end of the trip, Maria’s team offered assistance and took care of the details so we could focus on enjoying our trip.

The happy couple, Connor and Coyann Whisenant, at the Acropolis.

A honeymoon HAS to be PERFECT as you cannot do them over. I booked a honeymoon trip for my son and daughter-in-law with Maria’s office. Eleni Anagnostopoulou and her team are THE BEST!!! Eleni worked with my son, daughter-in-law and me to discuss what the couple wanted in a perfect honeymoon. The happy couple picked from amazing choices for excursions, sites, cooking classes, boating adventures, wine tastings, etc. Eleni delivered BEYOND their wildest expectations!!! From the moment they were picked up at the Athens airport until they boarded their flight to go home in Santorini, Eleni had it planned to perfection. She handled any special requests with ease and made them happen…at one location wine was offered but my son likes beer so she had Greek beer ready, cold and waiting for him. She also was a huge help with dinner reservations. She gave the couple an extensive and descriptive list of different restaurants in each of their honeymoon locations (Athens, Mykonos and Santorini) and made suggestions as well. She made the reservations as requested. One restaurant location in Mykonos was in a cave along the water. My daughter-in-law said she felt like a VIP as the best table in the restaurant was ready and waiting for them when they arrived.

Eleni was also very good at explaining why some excursions were priced higher than I initially thought they should be…i.e. the boating excursions. Once she explained more detail regarding the type of boat, that the couple would have the entire boat to themselves for the sunset cruise, and the private dinner that was cooked and served on the boat for them, I happily booked the boating excursion. This turned out to be one of the couple’s favorite things they did on their honeymoon. They said it was the perfect way to end their honeymoon…a private sunset cruise in Santorini with a fantastic dinner…just the two of them. The crew even played their song that they first danced to at their wedding for them!!!

Other things they enjoyed were the cooking class which was at a farm. My son is not an adventurous eater but he loved the different cheeses made on the farm and tried everything. The hotels that Eleni booked were amazing. In Athens, they had a view of the Acropolis at night, and in Mykonos and Santorini she booked rooms with a hot tub and another with a plunge pool.

When they returned, I asked them what they would change and the answer was “absolutely nothing!!! We loved our honeymoon and thanks so much!!!” This is exactly what you want to hear as a parent, because as I stated at the beginning, a honeymoon HAS to be perfect because you only have one! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Eleni Anagnostopoulou and her crew!!!!!!

We had one of our best family trips in years, thanks to Maria’s colleague, Irene.

Irene was attentive to our needs and interests from the very start, and always available to answer a question or provide excellent recommendations. She was also highly available and responsive during our trip, on the occasions we needed a quick activity change to meet the needs of our two teens, or for a meal and activity out of the heat.

We started in Athens, where Irene booked us in a spacious, modern “apartment” at The Dolli, which had excellent service and food. The rooftop pool overlooking the Acropolis was a huge plus given the heat, and the day trip to the ruins at Delphi was a family favorite.

Then it was on to Paros, where we enjoyed the beautiful accommodations and staff attention at the Minois Hotel. Our teens loved the amazing outdoor space with our own small pool, as well as the resident cats. Our most favorite day of the trip was on a speed boat, where we traveled to the Blue Lagoon, went cliff jumping, and visited remote beaches in Antiparos and Despatiko. Nikos, our driver/guide, was fabulous, and we had a delicious lunch on board.

We then ferried to Santorini, where we stayed in the breathtaking Grace Hotel. The geology, ruins, and small towns in Santorini didn’t disappoint, and we enjoyed special attention at dinners that Irene arranged and various recommended restaurants, some off the “beaten path.” We also loved our fascinating guided tour to Akrotiri, a town even older than Pompeii that was also destroyed — and then preserved — due to a massive volcanic explosion.

Our meals, guides, and hotels were all impeccable, and even with the heat and crowds, we always felt supported and well taken care of. We would highly recommend Irene and the team to anyone planning a trip to Greece.

The Rosen Family in Megalochori Village in Santorini, Greece.

Doug & Marlene Rosen & Avery (20), Lauryn (18), Emerson (15), Delaney (15).
Trip to Greece – Paros, Santorini, Crete, Athens – 6/10/23 – 6/23/23.

Maria’s colleague Olga planned our amazing family trip to Greece this summer. No detail was left unattended to. The itinerary was full of fun, engaging activities to keep our 4 teenage daughters engaged and excited about visiting this beautiful, historic country. We focused our trip on activities including food tours, boating, wine tasting, cooking and active excursions to keep everyone engaged. The planning was flawless with amazing, knowledgeable guides and excellent execution of coordinated transportation at every turn, whether at the airport, sea port or hotels and excursions. Everyone’s favorite day was our private catamaran tour that lasted the whole day with our own captain and steward, snorkeling in crystal-clear blue water, lunch on board with the biggest freshly grilled prawns we have ever seen. Pure relaxation in the middle of our trip. We would highly recommend Olga and her team to anyone planning a trip to Greece. She was very flexible and helpful with changing the original suggested itinerary to more closely meet our vision, especially to accommodate the kids. You will not be disappointed!