Greece › Travel Agents for UK/US/Canada/Australia
Updated: February 13, 2026 • By Santorini Dave
See Also
- The Best Greek Island Itineraries
- Where to Stay in Santorini
- Where to Stay in Mykonos
- Where to Stay in Athens
- Fantasy Travel – Excellent travel agency in Athens, Greece
Planning Your First Trip to Greece
The biggest hurdle for first-time visitors is understanding the difference between Booking Sites (tools you use to book things yourself) and Travel Agencies (companies that plan and manage the trip for you). Both are excellent options, but they serve different needs.
Essential Online Tools for DIY Planning
If you want total control over your hotels and itinerary, use these tools. They are the same ones I use to plan my own trips.
- Google Flights: Use the Multi-City search to book Open-Jaw tickets. For example, fly into Athens and out of Santorini. This saves you an entire day of backtracking to the mainland.
- Booking.com: The best site for Greek hotels. It has the most inventory and honest reviews. Most agencies have a limited portfolio of hotels, while Booking.com gives you access to everything.
- FerryHopper.com: The absolute best site for ferries. It is simple, supports E-tickets, and shows all routes.
Top-Rated Travel Agencies for Custom Itineraries
Use an agency if you want a hands-off experience. The biggest benefit of an agent for a first-timer is the Safety Net. If there is a ferry strike, a storm, or a flight delay, you do not have to spend your vacation on the phone with customer support because your agent handles the logistics and re-bookings for you.
- Fantasy Travel: My #1 recommendation. Based in Athens, they have the best local connections. Excellent for custom island-hopping, honeymoons, and families. Both islands and mainland.
- Hellenic Holidays: Based in NYC. They specialize in high-end, luxury 5-star trips and provide a very polished experience for US travelers.
The First-Timer’s Planning Timeline
- 8 to 10 Months Out: Decide on your islands. Read my Greek Islands Guide.
- 7 to 9 Months Out: Book your flights and your Santorini or Mykonos hotels. The best hotels with caldera views sell out very early.
- 3 to 5 Months Out: Book your ferries on FerryHopper.
- 2 to 3 Months Out: For Santorini, book your boat tours and wine tours.
Common Questions from First-Timers
My son doing a handstand in Santorini. For first-timers, the key is deciding between DIY booking and using a full-service agency.
Do I need a travel agent?
No. If you are comfortable booking a flight and a hotel, you can do this yourself. You will save money and have more hotel choices. However, if the thought of ferry schedules and transfers stresses you out, a local agency like Fantasy Travel is worth the cost.Is it hard to book for a family or large group?
Yes, it can be. Standard hotel rooms in Greece are often small and often limited to two people. Finding triple or quad rooms can be a challenge in high season, especially in popular spots like Oia. If you are traveling as a family of four or more, an agent is often worth it because they know which hotels have legitimate suites or connecting rooms. If you are doing it yourself, use the villas or apartments filter on Booking.com (this usually means the unit will have a small kitchen) and book at least 6 months in advance.Do I need travel insurance?
I usually don’t get it myself for small trips, but for a major international vacation, it can be important for peace of mind. Beyond covering ferry strikes or weather delays, it is vital for health emergencies and sudden illness. If you or a family member gets sick or injured, insurance can cover medical care in Greece or emergency medical evacuation, which is incredibly expensive if paid out of pocket. Read the fine print about what is covered.Are the ferries confusing?
Only if you look at the old paper schedules. Sites like FerryHopper have made it as easy as booking a flight. Just remember that Large car ferries (like Blue Star) are slower but very stable in the wind, while High-speed catamarans (like SeaJets) are fast but can be a bumpy ride if the sea is rough. For more info, read my guide to Greek ferries.Does a travel agent cost more?
Usually, no. Agencies often get net rates from hotels. They sell the room to you at the standard rate and keep the difference as their commission. You get their expertise and support for roughly the same price as booking direct.Travel Companies by City
Location Agency Best For… Athens, Greece Fantasy Travel Local expertise and 24/7 on-the-ground support. New York, NY Hellenic Holidays Boutique luxury and high-end US-based service. Chicago, IL Real Greece Travel Specialized, personalized planning from a dedicated Greek expert. Boston, MA Kutrubes Travel Deep knowledge of off-the-beaten-path mainland and island routes. Washington, DC Homeric Tours Reliable, large-scale tour operations and group travel. London, UK Travelive High-end luxury and highly customized bespoke itineraries. Australia GMTC The premier dedicated Greece and Mediterranean specialist for Australians. Quick FAQ
- What are the best islands for a first-timer?
Santorini (views), Mykonos (beaches and nightlife), Naxos (families and authenticity), and Paros (trendy villages).- When is the best time to visit?
Sightseeing: April, May, October. Swimming: June to September.- Is Athens worth it and how long should I stay?
Yes, absolutely. Do not skip Athens. It is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe. For a first-timer, 2 to 3 days is the sweet spot. This gives you enough time to see the Acropolis and Plaka without feeling rushed before you head to the islands.- Do I need to carry a lot of cash?
It is always good to have some Euros for small tavernas or remote shops, but credit cards are accepted almost everywhere now. Just make sure your card has no foreign transaction fees. Use ATMs at banks for the best exchange rates and avoid the standalone kiosks at the airport.
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.