Greece › Best Travel Agents
Updated: August 10, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
See Also
- The Best Greece Itineraries – My recommendations!
- Best Greek Islands
- Where to Stay in Santorini
- Where to Stay in Mykonos
- Where to Stay in Athens
My favorite travel agency for Greece is Fantasy Travel. They are based in Athens and are especially good for custom island-hopping itineraries, honeymoons, families, and trips combining Athens, the Greek islands, and mainland Greece. If you want someone to arrange your hotels, ferries, transfers, and tours and deal with problems while you are traveling, this is the agency I recommend first.
You do not need a travel agent to visit Greece. Travel around Greece and the Greek islands is easy to book independently, and I plan all of my own trips that way. But a good Greece travel agent is valuable for complicated island hopping, families and large groups, honeymoons, luxury trips, and anyone who would rather have one company coordinate hotels, ferries, transfers, tours, and changes along the way. Adding a stopover in Western Europe makes the itinerary a little more complicated, but it is still pretty easy to plan yourself.
Best Greece Travel Agencies
1. Fantasy Travel: Best Overall
My top recommendation for most travelers. Fantasy Travel has been operating in Athens since 1983 and has offices near Syntagma Square. They are excellent at putting together multi-island trips and combining Athens, the islands, and mainland destinations. They can arrange hotels, ferry and airline tickets, transfers, tours, cruises, and complete custom itineraries, with emergency support while you are in Greece. This is the agency I would start with for a first trip to Greece, family vacation, honeymoon, or complicated island-hopping itinerary.
2. Hellenic Holidays: Best for Luxury Trips and Honeymoons
Long-established U.S.-based Greece specialist with a strong focus on custom vacations, honeymoons, weddings, villas, private yachts, and higher-end hotels. A good choice if you want a polished luxury itinerary and prefer dealing with a U.S. company before departure. They have been specializing in Greece since 1972.
3. Real Greece Travel: Best for Personalized Cultural Trips
A smaller custom-planning company that puts more emphasis on history, culture, food, and local experiences than standard island packages. I would look here if you want a very personalized itinerary or want to combine famous destinations with less-touristy places and experiences.
4. Kutrubes Travel: Best for Mainland Greece and Less-Touristy Trips
Boston-based agency with a long history of planning private and customized trips. Their broader specialty is the Balkans and less-traveled destinations, which makes them particularly interesting for travelers looking beyond Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos. A good option for active trips, mainland Greece, smaller islands, and itineraries with a stronger cultural or historical focus.
5. Homeric Tours: Best for Groups and Packaged Trips
New York-based tour operator with more than 50 years of experience and a large Greece program. They offer both established vacation packages and customized itineraries and have a dedicated group-travel operation. I would look here for larger groups, organized tours, cruises combined with land travel, or travelers who want more structure than a completely bespoke itinerary.
6. Travelive: Best for High-End Custom Trips
Luxury travel specialist with a Greece operation in Voula on the Athens Riviera and a strong emphasis on customized itineraries, private tours, upscale hotels, villas, yacht charters, transfers, and concierge service. They are especially good for complicated luxury trips where you want most details arranged in advance and local support while traveling.
7. Greece & Mediterranean Travel Centre: Best for Australian Travelers
Australian-owned specialist based in Sydney with a major focus on Greece. They arrange tailor-made vacations, hotels, cruises, ferries, tours, transfers, and luxury trips. This is where I would start if you are in Australia and want a Greece specialist working in your time zone and billing through an Australian company.
Do You Need a Travel Agent for Greece?
For a simple trip such as Athens plus Santorini or Mykonos, booking everything yourself is not difficult. You will have complete control over your hotels, can compare every option, and can build the itinerary exactly as you want it.
An agent becomes much more useful when the trip has a lot of moving parts. A family visiting Athens and three islands, for example, needs hotels with the right room configurations, ferry connections, airport and port transfers, and backup plans when something changes. The biggest benefit is not simply having someone make the bookings. It is having someone in Greece who can fix the itinerary when a ferry is canceled, weather disrupts a connection, or a transfer does not show up.
Families and large groups have another problem: many Greek hotels have limited rooms for four or more people, and connecting rooms are less common than in North America. A good agent knows which hotels have true family suites, adjoining rooms, and villas that work well for larger groups.
Not Every Travel Agent Knows Greece
Here’s a little secret: I regularly get emails from travel agents in the U.S., Canada, and Australia asking me for help planning trips for their clients. I am always happy to help, but it quickly becomes clear that many of these agents know very little about Greece beyond the standard Athens-Santorini-Mykonos itinerary. Some have visited Greece once or twice for a week or 10 days and are now confidently advising clients on islands, ferries, hotels, and logistics they barely know.
That does not mean you need a travel agent based in Greece, but do not assume your local travel agent is a Greece expert just because they sell trips to Greece. Ask specific questions. See how well they know the islands you are considering, ferry connections, hotel locations, and the practical details of getting from place to place. Use the information on this site to double-check their advice, ask me if something does not sound right, or use a Greece specialist such as Fantasy Travel. A good Greece trip is not difficult to plan, but confident advice from someone who does not really know the country can send you in the wrong direction very quickly.
Do I Need a Greece Travel Agent Near Me?
No. If you live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Sydney, Melbourne, or anywhere else outside Greece, I would choose an agent based on their knowledge of Greece, not how close their office is to your home. Almost everything is handled by email, phone, and online payments, so there is little advantage to using the travel agency down the street if they only plan a handful of Greece trips each year.
There are excellent Greece specialists based outside the country, including Hellenic Holidays in the U.S. and Greece & Mediterranean Travel Centre in Australia. But for most travelers who want a custom itinerary, I would start with an experienced Greece-based agency such as Fantasy Travel in Athens. They know the hotels, islands, ferries, transfers, and local logistics, and they are on the ground when something goes wrong.
What a Greece Travel Agent Can Arrange
A full-service Greece travel agency can arrange hotels, villas, airport and ferry-port transfers, domestic flights, ferry tickets, private drivers, rental cars, sightseeing tours, private guides, boat trips, cruises, and complete multi-island itineraries. Some will also book international flights.
For island hopping, the real advantage is coordination. Instead of separately managing three hotels, three transfers, two ferries, and several tours, you have one company responsible for fitting everything together.
Booking Greece Yourself
If you enjoy planning trips and want complete control over the itinerary, you do not need an agent. These are the three booking tools I use most.
- Google Flights: Use the Multi-City search when possible. Flying into Athens and home from Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, or another island with international flights avoids unnecessary backtracking to Athens.
- Booking.com: My preferred site for Greek hotels. The inventory is extensive and it is particularly useful for comparing room types, family accommodations, apartments, and villas.
- FerryHopper: My favorite site for checking Greek ferry routes, comparing schedules, and booking ferry tickets.
For more help planning the route, read my Greece itinerary guide and Greek ferry guide.
Greece Travel Agent FAQ
Do I need a travel agent for Greece, or can I plan the trip myself?
You can absolutely plan Greece yourself. For a straightforward trip with Athens and one or two islands, I would book it independently if you enjoy travel planning. A good agent earns their money on more complicated trips: several islands, families or groups, luxury hotels, private tours, lots of transfers, or itineraries where a missed ferry or canceled connection would affect several later bookings.
How much does a travel agent for Greece cost?
There is no standard fee. Some Greece travel agents earn commissions from hotels and other suppliers, some charge a planning or service fee, and others build their compensation into the total package price. Do not compare only the hotel rate. Ask for the complete trip price, what is included, whether there is a planning fee, and what support you receive before and during the trip.
How do I choose the best travel agent for Greece?
Choose an agent that plans Greece regularly and understands the specific islands and mainland destinations on your itinerary. Ask who handles problems while you are traveling, whether transfers and ferries are booked directly by the agency, what happens if a ferry is canceled, and whether you can choose your own hotels rather than being limited to a small portfolio. I also prefer agents who ask about your travel style, budget, pace, and priorities before suggesting an itinerary instead of immediately sending a standard Athens-Mykonos-Santorini package.
What are the best Greece travel agencies for island hopping?
Fantasy Travel is my first choice for most island-hopping trips because they are based in Athens and can coordinate ferries, hotels, transfers, tours, and mainland travel in one itinerary. Hellenic Holidays is particularly good for higher-end island trips and honeymoons, while Travelive is a strong choice for luxury itineraries with private tours, villas, yachts, and concierge service.
What happens if a ferry strike or bad weather disrupts my trip?
This is one of the best reasons to use a good Greece travel agent. Ferry strikes, strong winds, and other disruptions can cancel or delay sailings, and one missed ferry can affect your hotel, transfer, and plans on the next island. If you book independently, you will need to rearrange things yourself, though rebooking the ferry is generally straightforward. Ferryhopper will email you with rebooking options when a sailing is canceled. Hotels and transfers can be trickier, especially if a cancellation affects several days of your itinerary. With a full-service agency, your agent can rebook ferries or flights, adjust transfers, contact hotels, and reorganize the itinerary for you. An experienced Greece-based agency such as Fantasy is especially useful in these situations because they are on the ground in Greece and know the local transportation system.
How far in advance should I book a Greece trip with a travel agent?
For travel from June through September, I would contact an agent 6 to 9 months before the trip. Start even earlier for a honeymoon, large family, villa, or luxury trip where you want specific hotels in Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, or other popular islands. You can plan later and still have a great trip, but the best rooms and most desirable small hotels are the first things to disappear.
What can a Greece travel agent book for me?
Most full-service Greece travel agencies can arrange hotels, villas, ferry tickets, domestic flights, airport and port transfers, private drivers, rental cars, tours, guides, boat trips, cruises, and complete island-hopping itineraries. Some will also book international flights. Before paying a deposit, ask exactly what is included and which bookings you will still be responsible for making yourself.
How do I know if a travel agency in Greece is legitimate?
Check the company’s full business name, physical address, phone number, booking conditions, cancellation policy, and independent traveler reviews before sending a large payment. For a Greece-based company, ask for its Greek tourism or tour-operator registration or license details. Established agencies should also be able to explain exactly how payments are handled, who holds each reservation, and how to contact them during the trip. Fantasy Travel, for example, publishes its Greek tour-operator license information and IATA accreditation on its website.
Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to 
Hi Dave, it’s great that you take such time to answer Greece travel questions. So appreciated. My husband and I will be traveling to Greece for two weeks from late Sept into Oct. We are traveling with another couple who will have to end the vacation early(8 nights vs our 13 nights). I have planned our time as follows – Fly into Athens from Newark NJ spend 2 nights in Athens, ferry to Mykonos for 3 nights from there ferry to Santorini for 3 Nights. After Santorini our friends will fly back to Athens to catch the return home. My husband and I will ferry from Santorini to Crete for 4 nights then fly back to Athens for the return home. Does this itinerary make sense from a time standpoint? We want to avoid long ferry rides (6 hours +). Is 2 nights enough in Athens? Our friends wanted to do an extra day in Athens, but since they have to end the trip early, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Thanks so much for the help.
That sounds like a great itinerary. I love Athens, but two nights is enough time for most people. Do plan for a busy visit to try to pack in the highlights.
When Island hopping, how do I plan on how much time/days to spend on each Island. This is my first time coming. My family is from Greece. I know I fly into Athens and need to book a hotel there. Do I book Hotel for each Island we go to?
Yes, book hotels for each island you plan to visit. I recommend spending at minimum two nights on each island you visit – 3 or 4 nights is usually best. Be sure there are ferries running on the day you plan to travel between your current and next island.
Hi Dave,
We’re planning 3 – 5 weeks in Greece in May, 2022. Hope you can answer a few questions.
We’d like a relaxed pace, are thinking to do the minimum time in Athens, then more relaxed pace on Santorini, Naxos, and/or Milos & Crete. We’re don’t need time to hang out on any beaches but will visit beaches to sightsee and swim.
What’s the minimum time we should spend in Athens?
Does 3 – 5 weeks give us enough time to give the other destinations a relaxed visit? Or should we prune one stop?
We live near the beach in Honolulu, so we’re looking for some contrasting mountain time on this trip as well; can we get this in say, Naxos, or should we tack on another country? We’d like to go to Croatia but it doesn’t have to be on this trip.
We’re most likely to tack on a couple days on each end of the trip in London to visit family as well as reduce the number of connections on the long flight between Honolulu. Should we fly between Crete and Santorini? I’m assuming both have flights to London and possibly Dubrovnik?
Thanks for your advice,
Scott
3 to 5 weeks will give you a good amount of time to explore Athens and those islands. Obviously, more is better. I’d fly London to Crete, ferry to Santorini, ferry to Milos, ferry to Naxos, ferry to Athens. Spend at least 3 nights in Athens. More if you want to include short trips to Nafplio, Delphi, or the Meteora (some of my favorite overnight trips from Athens).
Hi Dave,
So much great information! We are trying to book a honeymoon for the Greek islands for June / July 2022. We had a travel agent make an itinerary and I tried to price it myself for August 2021 since the calendars for these places/travel don’t stretch to July 2022 yet. His price came in roughly 25% higher. He said that everything is expected to just be more expensive next summer as a opposed to this summer because of lifted restrictions. I have 2 questions. 1) is there an expected big price increase from 2021 to 2022? 2) how much markup approximately do you think travel agents charge?
Thanks for your help!
Andres Hartman
1. I’ve found prices surprisingly high this year in Greece.
2. I have no idea what travel agents mark up the price, but 25% seems reasonable.
Hello. I’m considering either Fantasy Travel or True Trips for an upcoming 3 week trip around the Greek islands. Do you have any comments on True Trips? Thanks.
I’ve heard different reviews of True Trips but have not had any direct experience with them. Like all vacation planning for Greece I recommend DIY. You’ll get the best trip and best prices by booking hotels, tours, and ferries yourself.
Hi Dave!
We are traveling to Athens at the end of July and have 2 weeks. We are flying direct into Athena and then would like to head to the islands. We love amazing beaches and are so drawn to the architecture of Santorini but also are more interested in the quieter side of the islands. We need to fly from an island to Rome as Rome is where we catch our flight home to the US. We’d like to spend 2 nights in Italy. Can you recommend a starting point of an island from Athens, then possibly another island, the probably ending in Santorini for two nights? Do you think Santorini is a good place to fly from to Rome or would you recommend another island?
Thank you so much!
Jen
Yes, Santorini is a great island to catch flights to Italy (Mykonos and Crete are also good). There are many great islands between Athens and Santorini: Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Milos are all wonderful. I’d recommend Sifnos, Serifos, or Folegandros if you want something a little quieter.
Hi Dave:
Do you know anything about Hellenic Holiday Tours in NYC? He gave me a price which seems to be a lot higher than if I booked everything myself.
How much does a travel agent typically make for a 11 day trip? How much are the ferries approximately and vehicle transfers? Obviously a travel agent deserves to make money for their work. Is this a trustworthy agency? He also included a walking tour in Athens, a cataraman dinner cruise, 2 domestic flights, and ferry rides and all vehicle transfers.
I do not recommend people use a travel agency to book a Greek vacation. Obviously, I’d need all the details to compare your holiday package to a DIY vacation, so I can’t comment directly, but in general you will get better rates and (just as important) better quality tours and hotels by booking everything separately.
We’re travelling with a big group next summer – mostly couples but there are 2 families – One with 2 kids (7 & 9), one with 3 kids (ages 4,6,8). Any recommendations of a Santorini hotels that can accomodate 2 family rooms with caldera views?
The villas at Aria Suites are one of my favorite places to stay in Fira. They’re wonderful and can accommodate a range of different-sized groups. (The suites are also great but don’t have the same caldera views.)
Can you recommend a Cave house for 4 in Santorini?
The villas at Aria Suites in Fira are a personal favorite of mine. Cave houses with private jacuzzi. Great location steps from restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. I love staying here.
Hi,
Do ferries run in March? I’m having a hard time finding the schedule for March from Athens to Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini?
Yes, ferries will run from Athens to all of those 3 islands but there might not be ferries between those 3 islands – those ferries start in March but the exact date differs every year and could be the 2nd half of the month.
Hi Dave,
We’re looking for a place to stay on Santorini in May. There are 5 of us in our family, all adults. We’d like a nice view, 2 bath, 3 BR, $300-$500 per night. Any suggestions?
Nothing comes to mind in that range. 3 bedrooms are rare. 3 bedrooms with view are rarer still. And 3 bedrooms with view in that price range are non-existant. Sorry.
Hi Santorini Dave, We are planning to stay in Chania on our trip to Crete. Is that airport easy to get in and out of, with many flights available? Or better to use the Heraklion airport?
Thanks for your continued assistance. You’re the best!
You’ll find more flights to and from Heraklion but Chania has a better more comfortable airport.
Hi Dave,
We live in Boston and are planning a trip to Santorini and Crete May 15-25. Is there a best airline to travel? Should we fly into Athens then book another airline to the islands? Or fly direct? Best to fly into Santorini and then go to Crete, or vice versa? Which island has the most accessible airport? Appreciate any guidance.
Love your site!
There are no direct flights from Boston to the Greek islands. You can either fly direct to Athens then fly (or ferry) to Santorini, ferry to Crete, then fly back to Athens. Or fly through a western Europe hub like Paris, London, Rome, or Amsterdam, then fly to Santorini (skipping Athens), ferry to Crete, then fly back to western Europe. The only difference between doing Santorini or Crete first is the timing of the ferries. Crete to Santorini ferries leave early in the morning. Santorini to Crete ferries go in the late afternoon. Otherwise there’s no difference.
Hi Dave, incredible site, glad I stumbled upon it. 4 of us (wife, 2 boys, 12 and 10) are starting the beginning stages of planning a trip to Greece next year, late June/early July. We thought about using a travel agent, but after reading your site, feel we can do it on our own. We’re looking to do 10 days, coming from DC.
1) The travel agent suggested Athens, Patmos, and Rhodes. Seems to be a lot of traveling in there between spots and I hadn’t really heard about Patmos. Any opinion on Patmos?
2) Our thought is Athens, Santorini, Naxos, and maybe Crete. Wondering if that is too much though. 1 day in Athens, 2 in Santorini, 2 in Naxos, 3 in Crete and 1 in Athens. That leaves 1 day, wondering if we need that extra one in Athens to view the Acropolis. Wondering if we should eliminate Crete as much as it pains me.
3) Our priorities our exploring the Greek Mythology, food, History tours (Ruins, Castles, Gods, and Olympics), cooking classes, volcanoes, snorkeling, boat ride, donkey tour, olive oil tour. Are the islands listed above good for these activities?
Thanks!
My thoughts:
1. Patmos is rich with Christian history (primarily St John) and is a great island but it wouldn’t be my first (or second choice) for first-time visitors to Greece. And yes, that itinerary has a lot of travel – Rhodes is 6 hours away by ferry, Athens is 7 hours, and those ferries do not run every day. There’s no airport on Patmos.
2. With only 10 days, Athens is deserving of 1 day but no more. Santorini and Naxos would be what I would recommend but Knossos on Crete is a wonderful introduction to Greek myth (be sure to get a guide at the entrance gates), so it would be tough to drop Crete. No clear answer here. Try to fly one way to save time – e.g. ferry to Naxos, ferry to Santorini, ferry to Crete, then fly Heraklion back to Athens. Or even better you can fly from Santorini or Heraklion back to western Europe and not have to return to Athens at all – that will save you even more time.
3. Yes, those 3 islands are a perfect mix for your interests.
I’m planning a Greece honeymoon in September. We’re coming from the east coast of the USA. The plan is to fly into Mykonos for several nights there, then ferry to Naxos for several nights, then ferry to Santorini for 4-5 nights.
How easy it to get on and off the ferries with luggage? Since we’ll be traveling for a week and a half we’ll probably have 3-4 suitcases. And do Greek ferries charge per carry on item like airlines?
Also, thank you so much for dedicating your time and making this such an informative site. It’s very much appreciated.
Jason
There are no limits to how many bags you can take on a Greek ferry. (OK, technically, there probably are some restrictions but for practical purposes you can have as many bags as you want.) And there’s no charge for bags in any way. But you do need to be able to carry them on and off in one shot, so don’t plan on returning to grab that 3rd suitcase. It is a little tricky getting on and off with luggage (rollers don’t work on the grated ferry floor) but you don’t/shouldn’t take large bags upstairs. There’s storage on the entry level (with the cars) for all large baggage.
Hi
I’m in Greece from 18 November to 26 November. I have already booked myself at Elite Luxury Suites from 23 to 26 at Oia.
Wonder if it’s the best choice that I have made!!??
Can you help planning the other days that I am left with? Some of the queries I had are:
1. Is it worth taking a ferry to Santorini one way and flying back? Or should I stick to flying both ways?
2. Would Paros be worth visiting during this time? If yes, how many days should I plan there and where can I stay while keeping in budget?
3. Is Hydra worth visiting?
4. Any day trip recommendations from either Athens or Santorini?
5. Must see historical sites in Athens? Do not wish to spend a lot of time in Athens.
6. Any must do in Greece during this time that I am missing?
7. Any other island that is worth considering given the duration and time of the year? I am more interested in good food and romantic/quiet time. I really wanted to visit Mykonos for it’s beauty of town but I don’t think it’s a good idea in November.
I hope that’s not too many questions for a single post!
1. With only 3 days there I would fly both ways.
2. Paros or Naxos are both good in November (though will be quiet). 2 nights there would be good. Or 3.
3. Yes, Hydra is great. But also quiet in November.
4. Nafplio is one of the best day trips from Athens. With only 2 full days on Santorini, no time for a day trip.
5. Read: Best Things To Do in Athens. (Do a food tour if you have time.)
6. Specific to late November, no.
7. Athens, Santorini, and Naxos or Paros will keep you plenty busy. No time for anywhere else (beyond one day trip to either Hydra or Nafplio).
This is great information. Could you tell me anything about Xenones Filotera? I am traveling with 5 in my family and through this looked nice but didn’t see any comments or information about it on your page.
Martha
Xenones Filotera is a very nice place with incredible caldera views. The defining feature (for deciding whether to stay there) is the location. You’re not in any town but a 20 minute walk from Imerovigli and an hour from Oia (in the opposite direction). Few restaurants are within a quick walk (though the brand new Cavo Tagoo is next door and they have a great bar/restaurant). There is a bus stop (with buses going to both Fira and Oia) about 2 minutes from the hotel.
Do you know what is the best/most reasonably priced way to travel from Chicago to Santorini? We plan to visit in June. Currently, flights are not available, but want a place to start when they do become available. Thank you!
Use kayak.com to search for the cheapest flights to one of the major hubs in western Europe: London, Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam. Then search for a cheap flight on a European budget airline (e.g. Ryanair, Easy Jet, Transavia, Volotea) to Santorini. If you want to visit more than one island or city in Greece then be sure to fly in and out of different airports so you don’t have to double back – e.g. fly Rome to Santorini, ferry to Mykonos, fly Mykonos to Rome.
Just wondering what you think of Dream Island Hotel? Is it close to the city centre of Fira? Is it a good hotel to stay at? We’ll be in Santorini in August.
Leigh
A good value hotel with a very nice pool area and a 5 minute walk to Fira’s main square and caldera views. The views from the hotel are to the east (not the caldera).
We will be traveling with a large family group to Mykonos. We need 5-6 bedrooms and think we need to be able to walk to restaurants and bars as half the group are boys in 20s but would also like to be close to beaches. A villa would be great but are there any that are walking (really close to town) near beaches or pools? Your site very helpful but didn’t see much on villas or large group accommodations.
Lynne
Nothing comes to mind right in Mykonos Town. A good compromise would be getting a couple of family rooms at Acrogiali Hotel on Platys Gialos Beach (several beach bars within walking distance and a short bus ride to nightlife of Mykonos Town).
I’d like to visit Greece in September (probably Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos). When should I book my flight and reserve my hotels? Is it getting too late to find good hotels?
Too late to book for September? No. Should you get looking for flights and start booking hotels? Yes. The earlier you book the better, but you still have plenty of time. The best hotels on Santorini can get fully booked 6 to 8 months in advance but there’ll often be something available right up to the last minute. If a caldera view is important then try to book a hotel at least 4 months in advance.