Greece Travel Guide

Packages for the Independent Traveler

Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices.

One good source of package deals is the airlines themselves. Most major airlines offer air/land packages, including Delta Vacations (tel. 800/654-6559; www.deltavacations.com) and United Vacations (tel. 888/854-3899; www.unitedvacations.com). Several big online travel agencies -- Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Site59, and Lastminute.com -- also do a brisk business in packages.

Travel packages are also listed in the travel section of your local Sunday newspaper. Or check ads in national travel magazines such as Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, and Condé Nast Traveler.

Escorted General-Interest Tours

Escorted tours are structured group tours, with a group leader. The price usually includes everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local transportation. Two of the major organizers of such tours in Greece are Homeric Tours (tel. 800/223-5570; www.homerictours.com) and Tourlite International (tel. 800/272-7600; www.tourlite.com). All tours fall into the "moderate" category in pricing and accommodations, and both companies carry the risk of all charter flights -- that is, delays. Both offer some variety -- often these tours provide local guides, and often they include short cruises as part of the entire stay.

A more upscale agency is TrueGreece (in North America, tel. 800/817-7098 or in Greece 210/806-2619; www.truegreece.com), which escorts small groups on customized and more intimate tours to selected destinations.

Despite the fact that escorted tours usually require big deposits and predetermine hotels, restaurants, and itineraries, many people derive a certain ease and security from escorted trips. Escorted tours -- whether they're navigated by bus, motorcoach, train, or boat -- let travelers sit back and enjoy the trip without having to spend lots of time behind the wheel or worrying about details. All the details are taken care of; you know your costs upfront; and there are few surprises. Escorted tours can take you to the maximum number of sights in the minimum amount of time with the least amount of hassle -- you don't have to sweat over the plotting and planning of a vacation schedule. Escorted tours are particularly convenient for people with limited mobility. They can also be a great way to make new friends.

On the downside, you'll have little opportunity for serendipitous interactions with locals. The tours can be jampacked with activities, leaving you little time for individual sightseeing, whim, or adventure -- plus they often focus only on the heavily touristed sites, so you miss out on the lesser-known gems.